CNN

please give the president a change it can"t get no worse, you did not complaine when President had his stimulus what is wrong with youso call relegion people just give him a chance stop being devils, show that you are true Americans,do,not let the devil stray you come on show the world that we can work together.

"Can't afford to wait" is Obama speek for "I am breaking a campaign promise I used to get elected and NOT let the Ameican people see this bill for 5 days prior to it being voted on"

He is smart and intelligent. He delivered his speeches so well. But he lacks experience so that he has to listen to NANCY BOTOXY AND HARRI REID.

I knew there was not much change once he nominated ROBERT GATES as his DOS. He failed us who voted for him. He even proved that he has very bad leadership and judgement when 3 of his nominees were TAX CHEATERS. His administration was tinked – no integrity, low moral standards.

I would not had voted for him if the election was held today. His eloquent words and his poor leadership goes opposite direction. Too bad, too sad for those who voted for him.

Sniffit February 9th, 2009 3:07 pm ET
Can't wait to hear him tear the GOP a new one . . . .
-----------
Good place for you to sniffit, Sniffit . . .

CHANGE ... CHANGE WHAT ?

I regret voted for him. I was cheated.

He was soooo soooo good at words, campaigns, yet not good at govern. Look at the way he answered the reporters' questions, it upset me a lot. He didn't seem to have the ability to take the heat at all. I never saw Clinton answered questions so naive.

He uhhh, ahhh too much.

I give CNN a A+. Your coverage is fair not lopeside you report the good and the bad of Obama. On some of the other News stations you would believe their was nothing good about the Prisident.

I don't watch any other news station now because I want the whole story not just somebody's opinion.

I thought he was supposed to be intelligent and yet he is trying to repeat the same mistakes of the past.
Unless there's a war like there was with FDR, this depression is here for the long term,
Thanks for nothing barack.

Can one GOP person please tell me how tax cuts "stimulate" the economy?

Suspend the capital gains tax? Won't help me as I don't play the markets. How does that help the average American?

Corporate tax – make it lower. And just how will that help? Companies will stay lay off people. The tax rate isn't going to stop them from laying off people if nobody is buying their products. They'll just pad their bottom line.

Please explain.

@ Marc, we are not advocating to do nothing, we aware that this is the same thing the government did in the 1930s that actually made the depression longer.
What the Government should do is reduce spending, thus lower taxes.

Greg in Colorado, YOU read a book. Bush vetoed almost NOTHING in eight years.

Wow this is a great change, a president who actually goes directly to the people to hear their concerns! At least he isn't afraid to take his case to the average citizen.

Dems control the House, the Senate and the White House – why do you need Republican votes? Oh, right, a figleaf for Democrats.

Republican Senators, just say NO!

The Rethuglicans got us in this hole and wants to keep us in it. Even most of you white folks can't afford to go to the country clubs where they go. Don't listen to Rush and the rest, they want feed you bull everyday and most of you walk around with your heads down eating it too. Move away from that table and come over to the Great American table where all are welcome.

Yeah, we don't want to think about spending a trillion dollars...just do it. I mean, there can't possibly be any negative consequences. Just rush in and throw down the bills for some pork!!!!

To Spender!

your comments about our President flying to make the case to American People are so wrong that even you know it. First of all, the execs of auto industry came to Congress to borrow taxpayer money. l know that it was not a big deal compare to other useless spending the auto industry does, but for the public eyes was stupid (public who does not know math). Second, it was a perfect pic for the senators to show to the public "you see we care about your money". The question l would ask is where was the financial restrain when it counted (the last 8 years), not now when the economy needs investment to recover. The difference is that instead of going shopping as the Repugs asked people to do, invest in the future of the country. Stop being a hypocrite. l bet you had no problem before Obama took the presidency.

Of course he goes to one of those blue sucker states.

Socialism: Biggest joke ever.

Yes Capitalism is at the edge of the cliff... looking at socialism way at the bottom.

Does anyone else think it is sort of ironic? We are going to borrow a trillion dollars from China and Saudi Arabia, so the economy will get better... So, we can buy more electronics and oil from Asia and the Middle East.

It's offical, the rest of the world has us by the sack, America is doomed.

By all means what this country needs to sustain itself is a welfare system for every business, man, woman and child. I guarantee you the government knows better how to spend your hard earned money better than YOU do. The CHANGE WE NEED is coming out of YOUR wallets and purses.

Does anyone else think it is sort of ironic? We are going to borrow a trillion dollars from China and Saudi Arabia, so the economy will get better... So, we can buy more electronics and oil from Asia and the Middle East.

It's offical, the rest of the world has us by the balls, America is doomed.

Based on the population of America estimated at 301/million including men women and children an 800/billion dollar stimulus package would equate to less than $3,000 per person to get a meaningful job. Let's overreact to this pence while Wallstreet divided 18/billion between 400 people. We are a country of hope, to always pretend that decisions are made based on what will be put on the next generation is overreaching. First of all the next generation is far smarter and I have total confidence in their ability to make a better way for themselves.

Being a easily duped Democrat must really be a miserable thing ? Tax cuts for the rich...didn't make a "mess" of the economy ! Morons !!!!!

this 'change' is what Cuba experienced and it was led by a so called community organizer

Its certainly true that the Republicans, led by President Bush, really messed things up by loading us up with 4 trillion of additional debt.

However, that is not an excuse to add another trillion or two more!!

If we are simply borrowing to create government jobs, which Democrats seem to want, $150 billion is enough for 3 million jobs for one year, each paying $50,000 . Why not start with that and eliminate all the bells and whistles?

If anything, Obama's practicing for the job he'll be starting up in 2013 – either used car or vaccuum salesman. I can hear his line now, "If you don't get this vaccuum now, your carpets will NEVER be clean."

Then all you freak lib kooks will be on here posting, "The Orec upright vaccuum is the vaccuum America needs. Clean, like we need it. Yes we can......"

America's going down the toilet, and Barrak's pushing the handle.

Spender – Shut the heck up!!! This man first all has priviledged access to the Air Force One, to go wherever he wants just like your stupid President Bush went on vacation trips and hunting trips with it.

Secondly, yes your tax dollars are paying for it just like it did for all the previous Presidents. That's how they get paid idiot by your tax dollars, just like our herioc soldiers get paid. I guess you think we shouldn't be spending our money on our soldiers in order for them to have the equipment they need to stay safe in this unrelentless war your stupid president came up with.

It's fools like you who shouldn't be allowed to vote.

President Obama did not put us in this mess......the "other" President put us in this mess...so quit blaming Obama who is trying to at least help us get out of it. My God....you people are complaining and don't have your facts straight! So he flew around on Air Force One....so did Bush....Bush took more vacations than I can count and where were you naysayers then!

French are putting 4 trillion into their economy. British,Chines, Europeans, Canadians- all contributing their economies.
For American economy of 15 trillion, 850 billion may be the right scope.

What can I say, the Republicans suck!!!

Thanks Mr. President for such an informative townhall meeting. Please do so from now on to get in touch with people more & more. This is new to American and we love it.

Republican had 8 years to try their OLD IDEAS and it did not work. THE ECONOMY WILL NOT BE FIXED BY TAX CUT ONLY.

They are a regional party now and with Mr. Obama's push, I HOPE THAT THEY WILL BECOME ONE PERMANENTLY.

What most Democrats fail to acknowledge is that most Americans realize that their "stimulous plan" is little more than a gargantuan spending spree.It will not provide long-term enployment.The only item in it that provides jobs requires less than 5% of the package.T he rest is nothing more than spending.Worse,this is money borrowed from foreign sources.It has to be re-payed.Obama wants to lower taxes as Dems want to put us further in debt.Makes no sense.When this borrowed money is gone what will the Dems do?Borrow more and put us ever deeper in debt to foreign governments?Common sense calls for less spending and more saving.Rather than spend all the money we get we should be saving and investing in manufacturing and industry.I,personally,have a plan that would work,though it would take a lot of time.Profligate borrowing and spending does not work.

Sniffit, are you suggesting that all money and wealth belong to the government?

What scares the bejesus out of me is that so many people seem to think like you do. You truly do not deserve your citizenship.

To watcher,
Wow are you out of touch. Nothing could get donw because anything the Congress tried to do would be vetoed by Bush. Read a book or something.

Good that CNN is reporting the BIG NEWS instead of Junkies like what happened to Obama hitting his HEAD.

I loved the townhall meeting, he should do more of this and answer people's question. This is one way of educating publics in simple terms.

The Right-wing TV/RADIO shows are distorting the truth and fool Simple and uneducated people. Hopefully with Obama's push, the Republican party will become (as is right now) a regional party Once and for all, until they come back with better & new ideas than OLD 60's and 70's ideas (like TAX CUT FIXES ALL).

It's very simple to understand that OLD TAX CUT IDEA does not solve the economy problem. HERE IS WHY:

If you 've a well paying job, and the economy is bad, and you recevei TAX CUT, what do you do? you most likely save the money instead of spending it, so it does not stimilate the economy.

IF you are a corporaation, and the economy is bad, and you receive tax cut, what do you do? you keep the money, so just in case you can prevent layoffs. it does not create new JOBS or stimulates, it may only maintain their cash flow for a while.

However, if you're unemployed and looking for a job, a tax cut may help you but what will help you a bit more is unemployment insurance until you find a job.

If you have a job, but not huge income, then if you get a tax cut, you will spend it, So it's good to Give tax cut to the low income family (Obama's plan) and not to wealthy or Big corporation (Republican Plan). The amount of the tax cut must be reasonable not like what senate is proposing which seems to be almost %42 of the stimulus package.

You all don't get it!!!! Anything to tear down Obama. He's only been in office for three weeks and already some of you are on his case. I can't wait for you to be judged, or when you have to take on something is out-of-control. I want you to be the U.S. president and then write back on this blog and see what you'll say then. The republicans are done and in their not supporting this bill is just the bluff their blinding you with. WHY NOW, WHY NOT THE LAST 8 YEARS???? All of a sudden the repubs have comment on fisical responsibility. I think they need to sit down shut up and play along. Lord knows they have lost CREDIBILITY. I am moving forward!!!!

YES WE CAN!!!!

Anyone saying they don't understand the need for the S-PACK at this point is lying and just plain hateful. Limbaugh, Drudge, and many Republicans, like Gov. Sanford of SC, are so tied to their ideologies, that they would rather die than switch. SC has 20% below the poverty level. More than 50% of the now working poor, including those who have been laid off, are using food stamps. And he says he won't apply for aid from the S-PACK. If I were a voter in that state, I'd kick him out of office. Pride and hatred goeth before the fall.

ACTUALLY, THE FACISM OFFERED BY TCM IS TRULY A MENTAL ILLNESS. GO BACK TO YOUR MEDS, YOU CONSERVATIVE BRAIN DAMAGED MORON.

watcher – the economy was doing well a few years ago – ON THE SURFACE – underneath things were falling apart and the Bush administration knew it. Remember when Bush decided to speed up daylight saving time so people would shop longer during the season or the 168 billion dollar tax refund – Bush had been doing things like that in an attempt to hold up the economy. I was never intended to crash when it did. The GOP had been trying to hold things together until after the general election, but the price of gas; which America can not solely control got in the way. It made all the effort by the Bush administration unravel. As a result the economy crashed before Bush left office. The GOP knew the disaster was coming and didn't know how to fix it so they attempted to patch it until Bush left office. Then the GOP would lie, mislead and misrepresent the facts to say it wasn't their fault. Why do you think so many are leaving now; they want to be out of office before they are disgraced.

Watcher.. you are a ridiculous republican lapdog. Trying to blame Bill Clinton for this recession is simply evading the truth.

WELL DONE President Obama. I watched you speak today, and despite everyone's "negativity", your doing a GREAT job. My hat goes off to you. Unlike most "haters" in this blog, I'm behind you 150%.

Don't listen to all these pundits and critics who aren't bringing anything to the TABLE except a lot of hot air. They don't know SQUAT, but yet continue to criticize everything under the sun. Everyone is an expert, and yet NONE of these folks have ever been a President!! How about that?

I have tio agree with (Sam and Who Cares) The GOP have had 8 year to make this country better what did they do they bury it in DEBT So now we have someone who want to clean it up and make it better for all people and here they are hoping that the man fail at what he want to do, I am so happy they are not in control.

BO still at 'campaign mode' and NOT LEADERSHIP MODE!
WHY I AM NOT SURPRISED?

It seems to me this economic recession is not the result of government policies, but rather greed and excess by corporate America. And when has the government ever been the solution to greed and excess?

Democrats make the Republican party look better and better.

The current problem with the banks needs to be fixed before any of this spending should take place. If that isn't fixed, it won't matter whether or not you have a job.

HOW TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY?

#1 Lower the rate on Consumer Credit.
Most Americans are swimming in debt. This causes them to cut back on spending. With a 33% tax rate and 33% credit card rate families have less that 40 cents on a dollar to spend.

#2 Regain control of the economic policy by COMPETING (NOT BAILING OUT) banks.
Banks are not will lending because they are focusing on padding thier infrastructure while neglecting thier service to the American people which is to provide interest on deposits and to lend. Do this by creating a government backed credit vehicle which runs at max rate of 8%. This will provide wrangle power from the banks and force them to become more competitive.

#3 Fix the HMOs which currently rob people with useless co-pays and deductables. 70% of all debt is medical related debt which is a clear indication that the HMO's are not working. Fix them!

SO, congress was yelling at auto execs for flying to Washington on private jets to make their case in front of Congress!!

But, now it's OK for Obama to fly OUR jet Air Force One around the country to make his case to a few people!?!? What's he spending on all of this? He flew to Williamsburg Va last week for a Democrat Retreat to woo reps to support the bill.

Sounds like a hypocrite. I guess if it's our money that he's taking and spending, then it doesn't matter? Show some fiscal responsibility and then maybe we'll take you seriously....This was the same message that you told auto makers....

The problems with this is
Many companies fire people to keep from paying unemployment. Many states won't let someone draw unemployment if being fired.
this didn't start this year, it's been going on and many people still have no found jobs unemployment benefits have run out.
Some people didn't even make enough to pay income tax and got nothing from the last stimulus.
Yet NO one has done a story on how many people didn't see a dime of it

The numbers are incorrect.

Someone please do a story and find out the truth!!

The real numbers is what we need now.. the real truth

i guess GOP is the enlightened bunch because while the rest of the world all working on or implementing their stimulus plan to jump start their ailing economies the GOP like the SC governor stated, we should let the bad banks fail without any government monetary help, just let the process of elimination take place? unemployed stay unemployed? no need for stimulus... until all the bads go away, the best will resurface? wow, do nothing? right, this is why we don't need economists, such simple analysis, JUST LET IT BE! eventually, when other countries are advancing, we're still doing tax cut-only and wait for economy to heal itself, indeed very natural
while the credited experts around the world say the U. S. needs more than 1.4 trillion $ to stimuluate, some Americans rather slow our recovery by cutting our current 800+ billions in half? are we a little pompous of what's really happening?

I have seen many post and most of it stikes me as hogwash. However I do like one of the thoughts, if you think that the plan is wrong do not accept the money. I know it will get spent elsewhere and the taxpayer still has to foot the bill but at least you stood behind what you believe. To that end, if I receive a check from this stimulus package I think I will frame it and make it go toward my part of paying back this huge debt that we are incurring.

Maggie from Virginia @ 3:56 "According to ABC News… Recent polls show the congressional republican disapproval rating is at a staggering 58%."
=================

Maggie - typical liberal misinterpretation of facts. It's 58% disapproval ON THE STIMULUS BILL. You also forgot to mention that the approval rating for the Democrat-led Congress dropped from 14% to 12% last week.

To - insanity

YOU need to get YOUR facts straight.

True enough, it is supposed to be a non partisan organization, BUT the CBO is currently controlled by the democratic party and they are the ones that issued the warning.

To your 2nd point, true enough it is based on GDP, but they state that the GDP will be ADVERSLEY affected for anywhere from 7 – 10 years in direct relation to this stimulus package.

It is a HISTORICAL FACT that the average recession only lasts from 5 to 11 months if the MARKET is allowed to correct itself. What this packaged is going to do is to drag this recession on for several years and that is according to the CBO.

For those of you with the negative comments, give me a break. You know darn well when that checks come – your not sending it back. Everybody will be a democrat when the checks come rollin – no matter if it's a future bill or not. I don't see the problem – this country will always be in debt, just like any other country. Just like we all have some kind of bill to pay – get over it and be happy.

I have an idea, why don't everybody get together with their checks and pay off my student loans – I won't stop you!

We really are not all that different are we?

The Rebublicans believe that govenment is the problem and are puttung in every effort to make it so. Obama and the Democrats believe that govenment can help and they are puttiing in every effort into making it so.

You right-wingers just don't seem to get it. Tax cuts are not going to get us out of this mess. The President asked the Republicans for their input and all they've been doing since is bickering. I haven't heard any real suggestions from these guys yet except for more tax breaks for the wealthy . They keep trying to make this their bill. They can beat around the bush all they want and hold this bill up, the American people will do away with the GOP once and for all.

Wow! I really applaud the President for going into what could be a hostile environment to answer questions from angry, and scared people who are confused about what the futrure holds. He could sit up in the white house and have BBQ's everyday and say the hell with the rest of us. I think that it's ridicules for the President to have to go out and campaign to try and get these loser republicans to support him in trying to help the country.

i support your plan, mr. pres. , 100% good luck an Godspeed in turning the economy around,,,,,p.s. i have a job and the only thing i want out of this is your sussess an to tell the repubs. to kiss my fat xxx

The economy, again, needs a SURGE. It's now or never. How has cutting taxes helped innovate AMerica? I think we need to DUMP tons of money on research of science and green engery to move forward.

Hey watcher – kind of a stretch to blame our current problems on Clinton and the last two years of a democratic congress ( as if they controlled Bush ). nice try though.

To watcher...

W left office, leaving us, 5 trillion dollars worth of debt. You mean to tell me that these DONKEYS, with a slim majority, were able to spend 5 trillion dollars in 2 years? So all that time, W tried everything possible to SAVE every penny? Have you heard what the investigations revealed about his spending habits with two wars and reckless deregulation of oil companies?

Why do so many in the media have difficulty putting the title of President in front of Obama's name. For goodness sake ...have some respect.......he surely earned it !!!!!

So cool how he's out there talking to the citizens as if he's still on the campaign trail. The people's president!

After Obama bankrupts America, what make you think the democrats will be voted back in. LOL

watcher @ 4:06 "I need to point something out to folks ..."
===============

BRAVO!!!!!

Dodd, Frank, Pelosi, Reid, etc. People will eventually wake up - but probably not until after they have another "essential" $4 latte, check the news on their iPhone, before they drive their late-model Prius to get back to their 3-car garage.

Ok, so we are going to stimulate the economy with more government bureaocracy??? All of a sudden this deficit the dems whined and moaned about doesn't seem to matter. This stimulus is just the first part of the socialistic spending spree this new administration has planned. The sad part is that this along with all the other spending is going to be spun as being a god send to the country and people arent going to realize how bad it is until it is too late.

boered1-

You must be looking for free condoms or work for ACORN if you need this now.

CNN ran a commentary today about "Cheats". Since the word cheats is defined as deciving. Why didn't CNN include the confessed Tax Cheets of the President's cabinet? For that mater, it would be best if the president would defer to the dictionary before re-defining the words like stimulus. Stumulus is defined as scratching the itch and spending is defined as spending. Therefore, Washington re-defining word meenings to scratch there itch is also deciving or should we use CNN's word "cheaters or just be honest and use the word frauds.

Elkhart's Jobless Johnny

change is good! GO OBAMA http://www.morphbots.com

We can't afford to wait, but can we afford to go forward in the direction Obama wants.
My only problem, other than the Pork is the infrastructure jobs. These seem to be advertised as highway and bridge construction etc.
Has anyone ever seen anyone other than possibly people that look an awful lot like illegal aliens doing this sort of work. If I am wrong, are these the types of jobs that will employ people laid off at credit card companies, auto dealer manufacturerers etc.? Once these so called jobs are complete, where will we work then, as these types of jobs don't create anything lasting other than the highways and bridges. Jobs cease to exist once they are completed. This is what they discovered after the depression.
Maybe what Limbaugh suggested isn't such a bad idea. Why let all our money ride on one lottery ticket, let's buy two and see if one works better than the other.

To "Who Cares?": I agree with you 115%. That really makes sense. When you look at it, if this stimulus plan works, the republicans will see their demise,and will be the laughing stock of the universe. God gave them 8 years to make up their mind, look where we are now!!. They are such jealous "girly-men"!!

watcher February 9th, 2009 4:06 pm ET

I need to point something out to folks who are saying that we are in a recession after 8 years of failed economic policy.; actually, the economy was doing alright up until about two years ago. Think about it, financial crises, like the collapse of Enron or Worldcom, failed to bring things down. Even the attacks of 9/11 couldn't crush the US economy. However two years ago, under a Democratic majority in congress and the senate, things started to unravel. And what was at the root? Policies enacted during the term of Bill Clinton. So who deserves the blame, here folks?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stop, you are soooooooo wrong for that....HAHAHAHAHAHA.....I honestly laughed when I read that comment...Rush, is that you ???

watcher February 9th, 2009 4:06 pm ET

I need to point something out to folks who are saying that we are in a recession after 8 years of failed economic policy.; actually, the economy was doing alright up until about two years ago. Think about it, financial crises, like the collapse of Enron or Worldcom, failed to bring things down. Even the attacks of 9/11 couldn't crush the US economy. However two years ago, under a Democratic majority in congress and the senate, things started to unravel. And what was at the root? Policies enacted during the term of Bill Clinton. So who deserves the blame, here folks?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stop, you are soooooooo wrong for that....HAHAHAHAHAHA.....I honestly laughed when i read that...Rush, is that you ???

WHEN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,RONALD,,,,,,,,,,,,,REAGAN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,TOOK,,,,,,,,,,,,,,OVER,,,,,

UNEMPLOYMENT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,WAS,,,,,,,,,,,,HIGHER,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,THAN,,,,,,,,,,NOW,,,

DOES,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ANYONE,,,,,,,,,,,,,RECALL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1,,,,,,,,,,PLUS,,,,,,,,,,TRILLION,,,

IN,,,,,,,,,,,,,STIMULUS,,,,,,,,,,,,,AT,,,,,,,,,,,,THAT,,,,,,,,,,,,,TIME ? ? ? ?

HOW,,,,,,,,,,,,,DID,,,,,,,,,,,,REAGAN,,,,,,,,,,,,TURNED,,,,,,,,,,,,,A,,,,,,,,,,WORSE,,,,,

ECONOMY,,,,,,,,,,,,,THAN,,,,,,,,,,,OUR,,,,,,,,CURRENT,,,,,,,,,ONE ? ? ? ?

Wasabe kid –

President Obama and his advisors did not come up with this package. This bill was put together by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

I find it terribly disturbing, after the past 8 years of a closed door untrustworthy administration, that our President is out their telling people that THERE ARE NO EARMARKS in this bill LYING TO THEIR FACES! He impressed me last week taking responsibilty for the lack on forsight on the Dascle pick. But lying to people...just disturbing.

If you think the republicans got creamed in the 2008 election, just wait until 2010!

Isn't that what he said about pulling troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan?

Only 3 weeks in and back-peddaling already. Four years is not a long time. He may not be so lucky in 2012!

Isn't taht what he said about pulling troops out fo Iraq and Afghanistan.

Only 3 weeks in and back-peddaling already. Four years is not a long time. He may not be so lucky in 2012!

"We can't afford to wait".....on spending millions of tax payers money on new office furniture for the Homeland Security building? On $200 million for condoms? Seriously?? You can't wait for this stuff?? Get serious bonehead...can't believe you liberal pukes fell for this guy...

I just can't understand something here:
are tax cut ,small gov.,less spending =i1trillion Dollars deficit?
If the answer is yes then the world is getting crazy.

Mr. President: For an individual that has been in office exactly 21 days I can say you truly are trying to stick to your words. Because of that many will criticize you, however many of us will support you in this effiort as your plans make the most sense.

The GOP does not want to get it and McCain who suspended his campaign in the fall to "rush" back to DC to sign on the dotted line for the 700 billion bank bailout seems to have once agin flip flopped and now calls this bill irresponsible.

I am ashamed that given the magnitude of the problems we as a country are facing that only 3 moderate repubs seem willing to vote yes on this revised bill shows me that they would rather see this country fall, after their 8 years in power instead of REALLY working towards a solution for all.

At least their are a few individuals in this country willing to stick their necks out for AMERICA and its people, lest they forget whom they work for......

GOP if you have better solutions then why didnt you put them on the table before .....you had years....

What I want to know and NOT ONE far-right type has answered my question is:

WHERE WERE THESE SO-CALLED-FISCAL-CONSERVATIVES DURING THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WHEN BUSH WAS SPENDING OUR NATION INTO A ………OVER A $12 TRILLION DOLLAR NATIONAL DEBT?????????

MARI – your posts are incredibly shallow.....they were in congress up to two years ago when the dems took over. Remember 3-4 yrs ago? Gas prices were down, unemployment low, house prices high...my personal 401k was 100's of thousands higher.......now, since your beloved dems took control.....UNEMPLOYMENT HIGH, GAS THROUGH THE ROOF, HOUSING MARKET COLLAPSED.....EVERYONE'S 401K MUCH LOWER.....

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, OR DO YOU NEED TO SPIN BACK TO OBAMA'S WEBSITE FIRST? MAYBE HE COULD LEND YOU A TELEPROMPTER....

Bush spent far too much money....I'm not a fan of his...however, you don't resolve an issue by creating a bigger problem, by electing an inexperienced, thug from Chicago that spouts a few buzzwords.....in a year or less, we'll see Obama's popularity nearing single digits, unemployment >20% and crime aplenty...all because the selfish ill-educated liberals didn't like Bush.....wow! you sure fixed him alright! Vote in a disaster, that'll get back at Bush! I bet he's home in Texas crying right now! See how narrowminded liberals are?

@ Maggie

Thanks. That made my day hehe. It's no wonder they jump all over slight fluctuations in Obama's approval...they need the smoke screen to hide their horrific failure.

I don't understand why we can't have tax cuts PLUS a stimulus package... Think about it

The stimulus package will plunge most of it's money into the economy both immediately and over time (which is really how you get things stable) While tax cuts to the big industries and corporations will encourage business back to america, getting factories and offices built up (creating jobs for building and then running them)

Best of both worlds is what I'm for..... we need more moderates commenting!

For those who are repeating the tired old mantra about leaving our children and grandchildren a lifetime of debt... tooo late...Bush already did that...
Now its up to the Dems to get us out of it...just as they have done before...

We will spend according to economist 3 trillion dollars on the war in Iraq. I was there and I saw our tax payer monies paid for roads, schools, trucks, car etc. for the Iraqi’s. I did not hear one senator state that we were wasting tax payer’s monies. Most of these spending were done to so call stimulates the Iraqi economy, built capacity and modernize Iraq.
Now the republicans decided to be fiscal responsible. We have spent over 10 billion dollars in the last 3 years in supporting Iraqi security forces and if you add what we have spent in others areas that amount will multiplier 10 times. My point here is, the congress was ok in running up the deficit to almost 10 trillion dollars, but to spent 1 trillion dollars to stop hemorrhaging we have republicans playing politics. None of us know the right economic mix to fix this problem. We are in un-chanted waters and we have to do something.
Tax cuts have been used in the past, and we have not seen much net effect. We have a lot in congress that is now playing Monday morning quarter backing. If they had done the job they were elected to do, we would not be in the predicament we are in. Let us not play politics and help the American people who are in dire need of help.

STOP TALKING AND START WORKING,
WE DO NOT NEED FAILURE NOW THE LAST 8 YRS HAVE BEEN
DISGUSTING, WHAT A MESS THE PRESIDENT HAS TO CONTEND WITH!!
PEOPLE ARE GETTING ANGRY AND I FEEL WE WILL HAVE A REVOLUTION SOON BEWARE ....TAKE HEED ALL U FINE POLOTICIANS, !DO U CARE,? HURRY, WE ARE SINKING OUT HERE.................

The American ship is sinking and the GOP want to slow down while people are drowing and losing their jobs? The experts have provided their guidance to the President. It is anti-GOP policy for a solution to today's crisis. Stop blocking progress for selfish gain. America is paying attention to the obstructions and false claim for desired collaboration. Where are the GOP solutions? What have they been waiting for the past few months to get to work for us on a solution.

This is not a stimulus package, it is a get out the vote for unions, and government growing package. Along, with the census manipulation that will be done in 2010 by Emanuel, our country will be marching towards a bigger more bloated government, where the goal of Barack is to make those working in government to exceed the number working on main street. When they do, they can continue to shove down our throats socialist policies that have bankrupting California and Michigan and New Jersey. Believe me with the doubling of the Education department with cushy jobs, the creating of a huge new numbers under the guise of unions, the redistricting of the Congress by Emanuel, $3 billion for Acorn to get out the Democrat vote, etc.. we will all be pissed at governemnt, but unable to change the government as they will have more people working for the governemnt trying to keep their cushy jobs then those that oppose Socialism.

We have to stop them in two years or our country will become a one party system like California, Michigan and New Jersey. All of which most of us would agree are bankrupting their people and providing little for their excessive taxes forced upon their citizens.

Well, Bino – that wouldn't surprise me as the US has the HIGHEST corporate tax rate of ANY country. You people don't want corporate tax cuts? well, lose the companies to other, lower taxing countries. Get it?

Barack is a great politician buy a lousy leader.

As the economy withers away Obama continues to show a lack of good old common sense. Why doesn't he wave to the folks two steps from the door way of Marine One before he boards. Timing, poise in a time of crisis is crucial. We are sick of the innocent mistakes and constant lapse of concerntration that even leads to HEAD BUMPS! Good gracious! How much more do the people have to wait before pain level from all his head bumps reach 10?

well… it is very well understood that

1) The Governement HAS to intervene and reignite the economy
2) The Dems are going to have Pork and barrel spending and push political agenda items like the Hollywood one.

What is NOT likeable and appreaciated is ALL these MOTHAPUKKAS who complain about the PROBLEM (Stimulus) AND not pragmatically come up with what someone needs to fix and CUT down in that bill….

The GOP is behaving like the regular idiots here – if you STEP UP and list what items need to be cut out and seek public support, I will be the first one to support and there will be tonnes of solution oriented folks!! Is anyone interested in NOT just politics there??? I should give credit to Obama for reaching out and trying to get something done…

REMEMBER IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION, THEN YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM – period!!!

I don't hate Bush or Obama. Bush is a historical matter at this point as far as I'm concerned. I voted for Obama because of his inspiring speeches and attitude. But where has that gone? Now all I'm hearing is gloom and doom. I personally think the huge spending bill is a knee jerk reaction. People are saying, "Well, we've got to do something." Well, that's how we ended up in Iraq, isn't it? No one is explaining HOW spending 1 trillion dollars will correct the problems we have in the economy. I was hoping that people would sort of get it out of their systems when Obama got elected and turn the page. But it seems like things are just getting worse.

@ MARC – yes I have seen the corporate tax rates...maybe you should research somewhere besides websites that fund Obama....

@Maggie from Virginia – you're citing a poll from a liberal support of Obama...might as well as CNN! That's like going into a seafood restaurant and asking patrons if they like fish! hahaha....so little education.

Look, you liberals are just plain lazy, and refuse to research further than websites that love and adore Obama....that's biased by default....liberalism must be a brain eating cancer.

Since CNN allows 90% of pro obama posts and only 10% of posts that are at all critical of the blessed one....I see that many of you have stated:
"George Bush and 8 years of Republican Rule got us into this mess"

Can at least one of you....just one of you....put your hate aside for two minutes and name 5 specific actions of GWB that caused this recession....and then please also point out 5 examples of what caused a record 52 months of job growth under the same GWB.

Thank you

Bailout I did not work, and neither will bailout II do anything for main street America. Every Government job created will cost ten jobs in the private sector. You folks that think that everyone can work for the government? Do you remember what they call that back in High School?

How can a tax cut help a person who has no job? How can a tax cut help a person who can't afford to claim a house on their taxes because they lost it to foreclosure. Let's see, companies are laying off workers and we should give them more tax cuts to lay off more workers? I don't get people! It's been eight years of crap and they want to throw more of the same old crap at us and ask us to eat it! Oh, by the way, John McCain LOST the election! Remember "The fundamentals of our Economy are strong"! It's a shame that people are on a sinking ship and they want stay on it because of who's here to save them. This kind of reminds me of the story of the white guy drowning because his ship is sinking and a black Coast Guardsmen shows up to save him. He gets pulled out of the ocean from certain death and the white guy says, he should have let me die! What a crock! I'm watching governors (Republican) and Mayors (Republican) saying give us help because if you don't my states and cities are at a point where they won't survive. But the people in the states and cities saying, we're going to work ourselves out of it with jobs we don't have and money we can't find!

@ SNIFFETT – I didn't agree with the last bailout, and this ones the same.....nice try to slide the topic back to Bush, and away from Obama....typical liberal ploy.....Bush is totally out of the picture...wasn't a big gan....... you seem to not be able to comprehend...the tax cuts have worked to pull us out of EVERY recession, or every downturn that a democratic president has got us into....now, with a democratic congress that caused a complete financial meltdown during Bush's tenure, only to get their dem puppet in place...well, .... So, I see you'd rather refill the welfare buckets...so that illegals can keep having anchor babies....the problem is, anyone that disagrees with Obama is a Bush lover and wrong...but that's simply not the case....we don't need a spending package...that's merely payback for the wave of corruption that ushered Obama into office...in 6 months, he'll be back again... too many blind people bought his line of crap during the election, and now we're all paying.

For the past 8 years republicans have done basically whatever they wanted, and didn't listen much to popular opinion. Suddenly they aren't being heard. Right or wrong, I think this bailout is a great taste of their own medicine.

Most of you young people not around to experience the terrible INFLATION of the Carter years. And that is where we are headed; it is economics 101.
You probably think inflation is when you blow in your condom!

I need to point something out to folks who are saying that we are in a recession after 8 years of failed economic policy.; actually, the economy was doing alright up until about two years ago. Think about it, financial crises, like the collapse of Enron or Worldcom, failed to bring things down. Even the attacks of 9/11 couldn't crush the US economy. However two years ago, under a Democratic majority in congress and the senate, things started to unravel. And what was at the root? Policies enacted during the term of Bill Clinton. So who deserves the blame, here folks?

I'm tired of all this doom and gloom talk. We have been hearing it way too long. This will become a self fulfilling prophecy if they don't stop now !

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA – Did you read the papers and magazines lately? The whole world is going theoretically Keynesian since the 'down with the regulation' led it to where it is now.
Did you watched the coverage about Davos? And compared it to the previous editions of the yearly meeting? All that was comdemned and sentenced to extintion by the people there are now back to the governments agendas, like theoretical Keynesian ideas.
Even China is having to adjust itself to the new reality (and like everywhere it's not a pleasant ride).
So, since the majority of the economists that STILL have some credibility around the World are not against government intervention on the current crisis/recession, in the shape of Stimulus Bills all around, it might be the answer or, if you prefer, the bad tasting remedy we are needing now.
Doing nothing, while waiting that the Economy by itself gets better, is NOT an option...

Our grandchildren cannot afford this bill.

Specter's Office Receives Suspicious Envelope. This just happen in the building I work at his Pittsburgh Office. The repulicans will stop at nothing to get their way.

Please would you Rethugian wake up and understand this. Your boy GWB gave us all of this government, remember the last 8 years, come on now you must remember, the country was growing at a steady pace, every month, and every year. Now, in 2008 GWB, DC and the Rethugian your plans fell apart, and the whole world is falling apart. Now, guess how this happened because of Ronald Reagan and his Rethugian cohorts have been stripping the regulation first from the banking industry and then the housing industry, put them two together and we have this current economic crisis.

First, their are these two wars, the first one I was all for it. The The Rethugian and the Neo-Dummies went into Iraq, and how is that working out for you.

Second, we finally have a president that wants to help the people again al la Clinton. and clean up the Rethugian mess.

Barack is naive and arrogant.

Yes We Can afford to wait. And if we wait long enough, our little resession will be over and this obese spending bill will have no place in our future. This is nothing more than a ploy to piggy back these items into the general budget

There is a time when biudgets need to be dalanced. There can be multiple comments about what caused this mess . . . it makes no difference to give blame unless that is the only comment you are capable of making. Come on people . . . please, please show some intelligence.

I love him, Barack Obama. Call me crazy, but I love Barack because I love my country. He's the best man for the job, and after three weeks, it shows.

I'm so glad I voted for him and the country is as well.

Barack Obama 2012.

If we can't afford to wait then why is the GOP dictating how this is going to happen? Republicans are enjoying making a monkey out of Obama, Congress and the United States of America. Change? I don't think so. All I see are Republicans still running everything and the Democrats and allowing them to do it. Get real and let them filibuster the real way if they don't like what's happening. This is ridiculous and Democrats are showing how easily manipulated they are.

I love all these interesting comments. Bush didn't get us in this mess completely. It started in the 90's and continued into Clinton and then Bush. The gov't felt everyone should own a home and put pressue on banks to approve people for loans. Then once the ratings commission started rating this securities better than they really were which resulted in other banks buying this "good" securities and when the interest rate changed people couldn't afford the payments anymore. The homes in CA and FL are all about supply and demand. The demand was really high in both places so the price of the homes went through the roof (basic economics).

The jobs being sent overseas, is called free trade and outsourcing. It is good for both countries. Yes it stinks when people lose their jobs. But what the media doesn't tell you is that when most of this began the US lost about 220K jobs per year overseas. But 250K jobs were created per year after outsourcing scare. There are plenty of economics articles out there that can educate you guys on this. Less than 20% of the people who lose their jobs due to layoff do not find a higher paying jobs. This is our second major recession in 25 years, they use to happen much more frequent. I don't think the gov't should just sit back and watch, but if they let it play out more everything will come back to equilibrium ie the housing market. Once the housing market comes back to the equilibrium point banks should begin lending money and companies will start hiring again.

On a side not, why in the heck would someone only making 50K-100K per year even try and get a home for 700K+. Even if the bank says you qualify. People in this country must really be dumb to think the bank knows their financial situation better than themselves. I feel bad for some people how loose their homes, but the people who just go in over their heads, sorry you had to learn a lesson. I could type pages on how this isn't just Bush's fault. Clinton is to blame also.

Please show me one comment from a democrat that has some intelligence and facts. Here is a good comment with facts . . . there are two groups of people that are not effected by the economy . . . the politicians and the welfare recipents. Scary isn't it. And one more question . . . what is the estimated cost of the bill to each tax paying American? I dopn't want to know for each American, but the ones that will be required to pay the bill. And one more question, why should this bill cover state and cities that have a problem with managing their own budget. Why give something for poor behavior.

wtg!! Obama he shows tenacity, he's encouraging, and he shows gratitude, what President will go the extra mile for the little people.

Mr. President:
So sick of the Politics, the Republicans will say and do anything to
keep you from fulfilling your promise to help the everyday American.
I say stop reaching across, they are not worth it.

"When You Got Nothing, You Got Nothing To Lose."

Hey Sniffit,

According to ABC News... Recent polls show the congressional republican disapproval rating is at a staggering 58%. They are well on their way to annihilation.

The Republican party needs to support President Obama's stimulus and shut up!! After the past 8 years, they have no reason, or for that matter right, to condone or criticize. If the stimulus doesn't work then I suppose we may be subjected to more Republicans in the next Congress, but if it does work they could claim bipartisanship and take some of the credit. The Republican party is not the know all or end all in this country and it's about time they woke up to this fact!!!!!

Maybe we ought to quit playing the blame game? Don't get me wrong: I voted for Obama and hated Bush. But it wasn't what Bush did, it's what wasn't done that infuriated me. However, the overall problem we are confronted with right now wasn't 'caused' by Bush. There is still very vague reasoning about 'what' the source of the problem is/was.

While I support Obama, here's what I want to know: Clean energy, new jobs, etc... it's all the 'right thing to do'. But where is there a substantial, logical connection between those and our problem? The way i see it, people have been making about the same US dollars they've been making annually for years, but things are costing more. This has caused businesses to become leaner, cutting jobs, putting more people into poverty. So in short, if we can curb inflation, we can alleviate a lot of our issues. Our dollars will be worth more. Are there any resolutions involving reducing the amount of money in circulation so that prices will decrease?

I wish that President Obama would make a stop out to Goshen College, in Goshen, IN, near Elkhart. As a student body we pushed very hard to see him succeed in the area and for the size of this small college we had a huge proportional impact. I realize that President Obama has much on his mind right now, but maybe someday, with all of his trips to the area he could stop out here and inspire all of us once again. President Obama still has my continued support and I hope that his administration will stick to the standards of peace, humanitarianism, and social responsibility.

Even if the people in Elkhart got to go back to their RV Industry jobs, the left will again squelch them because of those huge gas guzzling, environmentally damaging vehicles. What a dog and pony show!

Where do you Republicans get that Bush inherited a recession.? What was the unemployment rate 4%? 4.5%? what was the prime interest rate (%? 9.5% He also "inherited" HUGE budget SURPLUS that he quickly wasted with his asinine "tax rebates" that I did'nt want or need but evidently the rich people did as repayment for financing his theft of the presidency.
I don't see any reason a Republican should open his mouth for the next 4-8 years when the Democrats finally straighten out this mess as Clinton did after Bush 1 and then they also say I told you so again. Then lets see what you Republicans have to say!

For all those thinking that we are leaving an incredible debt for future generations. . .what about the debt that we face right now? If and when the economy starts flowing again, we have a good chance to eat into that deficit every quarter and who knows, maybe the situation will be a lot brighter for subsequent generations. I do know that by doing nothing now, the existing debt is too large for this generation.

Stop making excuses and get something rolling!

Instead of cutting tax rates, instead of cutting capital gains taxes, instead of cutting taxes on business profits–all of which would make Americans wealthier and create jobs–the Obama strategy is to take $1 trillion from us and give it to the government.

Welfare spending, government medical programs, subsidies for Amtrak, STD research, blah, blah–they all put money in the pockets of government workers. But what do they do for working Americans who create jobs and pay taxes? NOTHING

TCM,

No matter how often you say it, supply side economics does not work. Industry does not make hiring and layoff decisions based on tax credits, they make those decisions based on demand. Tax cuts to corporations when no one has any money to buy their products is just plain stupid and is one part of what has gotten us where we are.

Go back to school and get an economics education before spouting off about something you obviously know nothing about.

This has to be one of the most irresponsible and senseless pieces of legislation ever proposed in the history of this country. With leaders like this, how can this country NOT be heading for economic collapse. Even a child knows you don't become prosperous by spending. You become prosperous by saving. Nations are no different. If this bill was restricted to only infrastructure spending and BUSINESS tax cuts, it would be one thing, but it's not. It's full of pork to repay all of Obama's supporters and coffers.

The gauzy feel-good fluff of "yes we can" is yielding to the hard economic reality of "well maybe we can't". Even Biden admits that "if we do everything right, there's a 30% chance it won't work." Is a theoretical Keynesian spending spree of trillions preferable to suffering the temporary but purgative pain of a severe recession? Not if you're spending other people's money.

I used to be a republican, but they have no principles except when they don't have power. As soon as they get power they become kings and queens and only care about the nobles that help keep them in power. I don't believe anything they say. I've been listening to them on the Senate floor with their disingenuous and misleading criticism of the recovery act. Shame on them.

Their goal – delay as long as possible with the hopes the economy gets worse for 2010 so they can blame it on the "do-nothing" democrats. The democrats rolled over for Bush so that we would be united in the war on terrorism. The republicans don't want Americans to have hope this bill will help the economy. Shame on them.

To Baracking up the Wrong Tree and Kaye in Jacksonville, FL

AMEN!. When Bush came calling for his billion dollar bailout for a small group of people who swindled their money ie WALLSTREET, the REPUBs voted quickly, McCain stopped his campaign (because the economy needed him), and Paulson ripped us the American People off. and NOW they (the Republicans) think its the wrong plan for the wrong time. GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK. Let's all say it together. America is not first for the Republicans, its me me me me and how I can be the one to hold up progress for THE ONE, President Obama. SHAME and like Kaye from Jacksonville state, don't accept the money if you vote against it.

Obama still out on the campaign trail. Our country is going deeper in debt by a person who knows only how to talk it and nothing else. More of the same in-effective goverment.

Hope I get my check first.

Those people are NOW either Laid – off , and on un-employment, or
on welfare by now, if their unemployment ran out, already..

Obama is not only staking his reputation on this Bailout, but his re-election, is how I look at it…

And as for Elkhart, Indiana, I've been throughout ALL of Indiana…
And let me tell you something – I know why he went to Elkhart …..
There is several Huge Factories there, and the reason that the
un-employment is 15% is because the majority of those people that live there, work for that outfit that manufactures all those RV'S /
HUGE MOTOR HOMES / Huge CAMPERS / AIRSTREAM / and other Major Brands of Mobile Vehicles…..There must be thousands of people that used to work at these manufacturing plants, that put these together, and they typically order the Engines for these type of Mobile Homes & CAMPERS from GM.

@ Kaye -Jacksonville FL
I totally agree with you. A No vote and your state gets No money from the stimulus!

The "stimulus bill" or "psending bill" as it is referred to by the all wise semantics of the Republican party is amsut to get the country moving. Is it THE answer? No. "Free Trade" must be regulated. "Free trade "should not mean our workers are paid too much but also that developing countries that are not paying a living wage should should be forced too thru tarriffs. Look what deregulation of our bandks has brought about. "De regulating" forign trade has made this a one way street (and we are going the wrong way!) We becoming a service sector country instead of a good producing, industrial leader.Who ever decidied we had to lower our standards instaed of the world raisng theirs? Reagan, Bush1 and Bush 2. The only people that amke money from free trade is the manufacturing company and it's owners. Here and abroad. So lets get the palying field level again. Protectionism isn't the answer but balancing wages fairly is.

Thinking people don't have Big Mortages-No Credit Card payments past 30day-have a paid for car. (150,000+miles but paid for) and have saved for a rainy day. Well it is pouring out and the thinking people will do just fine. Those that lived on credit on a day by week basis with no
saving are going to suffer. They in most cases just blew it.

Obama in Elkhart is a waste of tax payer dollars. Let this president set and example and not waste helicopter and jet fuel on a stump for his
plan to spend a trillion dollars. Child like move.

I agree to both sides of the argument. We need a stimulus package that is a little cheaper. Maybe about 550 billion and that should be directed in making jobs effectivley. Regulation must be put back in order. This money should not be directed towards the wallstreet goons and greedy CEO's. It should be put in the hands of the hard working americans that innovated this country. Make new construction programs and alternative energy programs directly and don't trust greedy corporations. We should all get a check equalling up to 300,000 so we can stay in our homes and keep the money flow going. This stimulus does go against the laws of supply and demand, but the stupid conservatives already screwed it up with CDS's and CDO's. We also cannot let liberals go on a socialist frenzy either and turn everything into Gov't owned. Let the citizens of this great country bring it back to the top of the pedistal and not let some deciver on wallstreet drive it further into the ground.

@ TCM

What don't you understand about the facts and evidence accumulated from the past few decades proving that tax cuts for the rich don't work? You think that after we gave corporate America $350B of unsupervised monopoly money and watched them waste it on themselves and their own, we should trust them to spend tax cuts responsibly? TAX CUTS/REFUNDS ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN UNSUPERVISED BAILOUT MONEY. Corporate America is NOT to be trusted to spend it ethically. Tax cuts will just go in their pockets and pay for $30,000 toilets.

Stop looking backward to Bush people...and start looking forward...by choosing to focus on thinking for yourself; not because the president tells you it is so...either president.

It doesn't matter if it is Bush or Obama...don't let your feelings about the inappropriateness of the last stimulus bill make you forget that this new one isn't going to be any better...it is just a different hand that will sign it. Afterall, it was Dems in control when the last one was presented and it is Dems in control this time.

If you didn't like the last one then surely don't sign this one...they both came from the same party. Don't you keep up with who has been in control of congress for the past two years?

You may not like my Negatives. But I know what it is like to be Born Poor... No Money No Food, but lots of Bills.. Dreams are for Dreamers..

Obama is doing the politics equivalent of what guys used to do in high school: "If you really loved me, you'd have sex with me."

Although in the end he will end up screwing the country, no matter what we say.

And people like Sniffit will be supporting all the way...into the gutter.

I keep hearing this comment "leaving our children and our grandchildren with a lifetime of debt" from those who are hesitant on the stimulus bill. If we don't do something NOW, there won't be a country for our children and our grandchildren to live in. Not everything FDR tried worked to bring us out of the Great Depression, but when something didn't work, they stopped, changed directions, and TRIED SOMETHING ELSE. Not doing anything is as much a wrong decision as doing the wrong thing.

Oh, and guess what? Our parents and our grandparents LEFT US a truckload of debt, too. I'm 58, and I've been paying off the bills from the Great Depression, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam all my life. Some debt is ALWAYS a legacy to the future.

Dont blame me said February 9th, 2009 3:21 pm ET
he democratically controlled CBO ( Congressional Budget Office ) stated on Thursday that this bill will do more HARM than good to the economy.
So, if the CBO which is controlled by the democrats is stating that this bill will do MORE HARM than good, WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
---------------------------------
Dear Don't Blame Me,

First of all CBO is non partisan organization. It's not a democratic organization like you stated.
Secondly, it was looking at only the GDP, and not other factors like, jobless rates, healthcare coverage, etc. Even so, it only predicts a 0.1% drop. That's less than the amount US give in foreign aid.
However, the stimulus is a must if you want to control the unemployment rate, and if you want to stop the downward spiral.

Being "no stranger to politics" is a little exaggerated.

"A high profile surrogate" for McCain" simply meant his record on women's issues was terrible and they some woman who was willing to let them use her to help cover it up.

That's really not a substitute for political expereince. Let's face it, if she didn't have a net worth of $1.4 billion, no one would take her seriously.

lets see obama is in elkhart seeking support fromn the locals on his pork bill little problem with that they make rv there you know gas guzzlers this is the same man who said 4 dollar a gallon gas was ok
except it happed to quick also the richer people buy rv but remember we now hate people with disposal incomes. at one time obama stated we could drill our own oil this would creater cheaper prices per gallon and create real jobs and real wealth. also a steady price and real jobs might make people more ready to buy rvs.. but he now won the election and doesnt need our support anymore. so he lied again...............................................

Post this spending / Chicago style Dem jobs patronage package on the internet for five days before voting and signing it like BHO said he would do. I want to read the bill. Why is some spending being held until 2011 and 2012? This whole thing stinks like a porker. Lipstick on a PIG.

what a bunch of idiots! We NEED this NOW! ANY money into the economy (and yes I understand we, as a nation are going further into bushes debtland by doing this) will aid in getting things started, money into the infrastructure items will help put blue collar, (NASCAR dads and moms ie those without college educations but good trade skills) back to work! Is there some waste in the bill? Yep I bet there is, but if you add up all those things the Republicans have complained about it is less than 2%.. but hey let the country go to he** so the repubs can get brownie points

idiots

How about an approval poll for the GOP in congress? ha...I'm willing to bet you they're throwing everything they've got at Gallup to prevent that from happening.

It would be very irresponsible for government to give money directly to the American people. They cannott give each person enough to satisfy them even for one year, so they must figure out ways to create jobs that can pay people the money. Even if you give each person 50, 000 dollars and we all go buy new cars, in 2 years max we would all be broke and the economy would be even worse. Hope that clears things up

Look before leaping February 9th, 2009 3:14 pm ET Can we afford a failure?
_______________________________________________________
You should have said CAN WE AFFORD ANOTHER FAILURE?

that stupid bush and gang caused this diaster. they had control of house & senater for 6 yrs. so you should ck your facts. He has to do something, since nothing has been done for 8 yrs except start a war over lies.

Yes, to quote the intelligent people on here posting: Let's shrink govt!

I mean it's not like govt jobs are real jobs, so lets make the govt smaller and put more people out of work.

Republican's answer to creating more jobs: put people working for the govt out of work!

Bravo!

Let's see. The Rebublican's had it their way for the past eight years. Under their guidance we are in the worse recession since the Great Depression. They are the LAST people I would think to offer ANY advise as to this stimulus. Their time will come next election. Either get on board or move out of the way.

Even heard of Cheyne-Stokes breathing? Yeah, that's the GOP's death rattle we all hear...

Bush's $700 Billion was essentially a failure because of a lack of oversight. Obama's plan will have strict oversight on any companies taking tax payer money. Nothing is perfect. It's common sense that if you choose to always wait, you'll always be waiting. This bill is not seeking funds from other countries. It's redistributing funds we are either already getting from other countries, or are putting towards other things. Ramifications of Obama's plan failing are actually quite minimal. This discussion of a 'deficit' is inaccurate. Money only possesses a value that we decide on. If I made a single coin and convinced enough people it was worth a billion US dollars, then that is how much it's worth. In reality, the coin cost me nothing more than time and materials. So we're in debt right? We just need to figure out how to use other means of trade & diplomacy with other countries so that they 'feel' we no longer owe them.

What I want to know and NOT ONE far-right type has answered my question is:

WHERE WERE THESE SO-CALLED-FISCAL-CONSERVATIVES DURING THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WHEN BUSH WAS SPENDING OUR NATION INTO A .........OVER A $12 TRILLION DOLLAR NATIONAL DEBT?????????

The "fiscal-conservatives" keep whining, moaning, criticizing, complaining, but they do not have ANY NEW SOLUTIONS!

STAND BACK AND ALLOW THE PRESIDENT TO LEAD OUR NATION BACK TO PROSPERITY!

Of course, the far-right would rather see our president and Nation fail!

AMERICA .........YES WE CAN....... AND YES...... WE WILL......... RETURN TO ..........PROSPERITY!

Wake up America, some of you say. Wake up and do WHAT? We can do nothing but trust the leaders we have chosen. If this doesn't work, then what can we do? I see you have no answer for that.

What really scares the GOP is that this stimulus package WILL WORK.

Which will make Obama's and the Democrats power increase.

Why the heck do you think the Republicans are against it? If it was going to fail they would sign on and bury Obama.

Use your brain and think about WHAT THE REPUBICANS WANT.

They want Obama to fail and thus are against the bill because it will work.

I really wish we had had this much hesitation when Paulson came begging for Wall Street money.

I support my president and Congress better do the same.

Let's Go President Obama!!! We will drown in our 8 years of mistakes if we don't move fast to stimulate, not only the economy, but the confidence of the people. Get it done!

Stop the debate, It's now or never!!! Let's vote!!!

Hey – I suggest that every Senator who votes against the package forego any stimulus money for their home state. Why would they accept taxpayer dollars that they believe are not being wisely spent?

Just repeat after Sarah "Thanks, but no thanks" and the rest of us will be happy to have those dollars pour into our states and begin to fill the monstrous economic holes left by 8 years of George W.

Yeah – if you don't support it, don't accept the money!

I watched the Town hall Meeting President Obama Did great! He Explained His plans.Great seeing a President get out there with the American People instead of Hiding in some Foreign country ( GEORGE BUSH) Keep up the great work President Obama!

What's their stimulus proposal? Oh yea, tax cuts. Nice broken record.

I wonder if we had tax cuts in the last 8 years.......hmmmm maybe if there were tax cuts in place for the past 8 years we would not be in this mess. Because tax cuts create jobs.

OH NO! My co-worker has informed me that we have had tax cuts in plcace for the last 8 years. But then where are all the jobs.....?

P.S. Isn't a government job still considered a JOB? Why the stink about making the govt bigger if it's going to put people to work?

Sounds like a broken record. Bush inherited a recession and left with a recession. And you waited this long when you had $350 billion dollars at your disposal. Go away! American people took over the reigns while you were on a retreat. We love our independence and will fight to keep it.

We are so stupid. I guess 8 years of George Worst President Ever Bush didn't teach us very much. We need to continue to suffer. The Dems and the Rethugs are acting as if John McCain won.

I don't want tax cuts, I want to try spending for a change. Barack has incorporated both, let's try both and get this country moving again. We are waiting to hear from our president, not Congress. They get in the way, over and over and over again. Allow Barack to lead the country. That's why we picked him. Get out of the way Nancy and Harry and all of you Rethugs.

Ask you self something.... Say you lost your job and your on unemployment. You have a 2,000 mortgage and your were making 96,000 a year. Now the Repubs give you a tax cuts which would amount to only an extra thousand or two depending if you have kids. So let's say you are getting back 5,000 in taxes. But, you still have your mortgage payments, credit cards, heat, gas, car insurance, possible car note ect ect... How greatly does that 5,000 benefit you. Would you rather have that 96,000 or even 86,000 a year job again? Not to mention healthcare for you and your family. What good will a tax cut do for the millions of people whom have lost their jobs and have lost or will lose their homes? All President Obama and the intelligent people he has working with him is trying to do is put the american people back to work. This is the only way the economy will begin to regain some sort of hope. Remember, Bush already gave these Corps major tax cuts... but guess where the jobs still ended up going in spite of their tax cuts... If you guess overseas.. you are correct!

The Republicans put us in this mess, now let's not let them keep us in it. Mr. President...follow your own plan and fight for it. Where do they get off taking shots at what you are trying to do, when they screwed up so badly themselves. How dare they tell anyone else how to run this country.I'm scared and holding my breath to get the USA back to the great country it was and if left up to you I think it can be done.To all of you who critisize these efforts, have YOU got a better idea? Probably not.

Can somebody please explain to me why the government will not bail us out? Why won't they give the money right to us instead? It has been mentioned in many places, and I am sure the government has heard this idea. But, nobody can explain it to me.

So is the reptilian wing of the Republican party going to offer up anything other than their dusty, old, fossilized talking points from the beginning of time through their new token mouthpiece, Michael Steele, or are these bald, old, pot-bellied rich white men with their over-botoxed, under-sexed wives going to pony up something new and different?!

"controversial $800 billion stimulus package"

Oh, give me a BREAK!!

It's only "CONTROVERSIAL" because every Republican windbag within a mile of Washington DC was on the Sunday morning talk shows yesterday wailing about this 1% of it or that 1% of it.

And they say the media has a liberal bias. Yeah right!!

I love this guy, my President Obama. He's so American. He wants to work with Republicans, even though they are snakes. They want him to fail and consequently, they want Americans to fail. Well we support Barack, and we will back him up 100%.

I really don't get the GOP and I want them out of Congress or marginal. Maybe 2010 will throw the bums out.

TCM – 'Tax cut' mantra? And you want to criticize anyone? Specially the President and those who does not abide by it?
Second, did you ever saw what are the corporate tax rates in Europe (specially France)? Bet you didn't, since you came up with this 'we pay...'.

Face the music cynics...Bush got us into this mess....let Obama fix it.

I am so proud of our President Obama is really trying his best to bring our country back together and that why Obama would win my vote 2nd term look at the presdent talking to American people about how he going to fix the economy problems did Bush ever do such no he didnt.

I wonder how many people who don't have jobs get on the blogs and criticize the president for wanting to spend so much money. I have a great job right now, but I'm willing to be a year's salary that less than 5% of the people who are marching against this plan have recently lost their jobs.

Only half of the first package has been sent to banks...the rest will be tightly regulated. Obama's package is full of work projects, incentives, and Republican tax cuts that have no effect! The Democratic package was primarily work and stimulus, but Republicans couldn't bear to think Obama would be right, so they are playing devil's advocate...actually, mostly just devil.

When the country slides into Depression, maybe then Rethugs will wake up, but I doubt it...nothing is EVER their problem or fault. Funny, if they're so wise, and Bush was such a great leader, how did we get here?

No, we can't afford this stimulus bill. Give us a real bipartisan one that is about half in cost. Then we will listen.

Liz that is a dumb quote you cant wait to feed your kids now either

I'll do my part as soon as I get my check.....WHERE'S MY REBATE CHECK???

The democratically controlled CBO ( Congressional Budget Office ) stated on Thursday that this bill will do more HARM than good to the economy.

So, if the CBO which is controlled by the democrats is stating that this bill will do MORE HARM than good, WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

WAKE UP AMERICA, before it is too late!!!!!!!!!!!

Liz: – 3:06 pm ET

Our chidren, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are already saddled with a lifetime of debt because of 8 years of the failed policies of a Republican Administration, doubling the deficit from $5- to $10 trillion. It's a little late to start worrying about that now.

I think we should follow this man's lead. Conservative leaders, of course, have returned to the standard Goldwater rhetoric of free market + tax cuts as the program to solve all problems from Afghanistan to toothache. That is what they always say and that is what they never do when they are in power (like from 1994 – 2006).

They don't believe in it, don't mean it, have absolutely no intention of implementing it, and it doesn't work.

Obama's a smart guy. He has surrounded himself with smart advisers. This stimulus packages is what they came up with. We have to do something. All Conservatism offers is another bag of hot air.

I've noticed you've been using a phrase about the Obama administration "Keeping Them Honest". While I recognize the importance of monitoring government, I don't recall the use of such a headline phrase during the previous administration. I don't like what it infers and wish you would change it.

Liz must have a job and savings – or a hubby or ex-hubby supporting her. Not a clue about how long hunger and cold will wait. NOT ONE MINUTE LIZ

Rememeber while he is out there campaigning for this, he has his press secretary saying he is not out there campaigning.

It is these small lies that fascinate me. It is as if he does have to even try to hard be honest. As if he is pushing the lie envelope to see how far he can go.

Like when he said he had bipartisan House support and no republicans voted with him.

Has someone started a lie tracker web site on this guy yet?

Do you realize what Obama's carbon footprint IS????

How about sitting behind your desk in the white house and TELEVISING a speech. Why are you running all around the country screaming I NEED this bill NOW NOW NOW!!!!

It didn't work for Bush and your $700billion won't work either...how about showing some true leadership and SHRINK government. The only people this will help are healthcare and government employees...

That's a scary unemployment number in Elkhart, IN. The GOP will still not apprehend the gravity of the current grave situation and will, most likely, keep erecting stumbling blocks to the stimulus plan. They are behaving even worse than zombies, particularly, Shelby, with his southern Alabaman drawl, and Mike Pence, with his poker face, sounding their oft-repeating slogans of their "dIsastrous" attitude towards the economic plan.

54 percent of the people polled support Obama's stimulus package. That's the same number that voted for him in the election. So, go figue. The Republicans don't want to give the man a chance to do anything before they start to criticize him. He hasn't done anything yet but try to clean up after Bush. Republicans only ask for more tax cuts as they have branded abortion as the only sin on the planet. Tax cuts are not the only way out of the mess we're in right now. Just as the President said in Indiana today ; if we have to spend this much money we might as well have something to show for it in the long run.

Can we afford a failure?

Mr. President and Senators.., something is better than nothing. Bush proved that. We need help. Mike in Montana

Yes we can!!

Go on Mr. President, finish the sentence: "We can't afford to wait"....Because the public will wake up and realize that the $700billion that Bush spent didn't do anything, and the $800billion that I'm proposing to spend won't help the average person either...

This is just an excuse to grow government and take more of our hard earned money to be spent by government. If you are Democrat or Republican, I'm sorry for both of you because your parties are making the SAME EXACT mistakes and are blindly moving forward. It's ridiculous to hear you two parties argue that THEIR $700 billion will work when the OTHER's didn't... How laughable!!!!!!!

I love this. It's like he is telling Congress to SUCK IT!!!

Shelby doesn't get what America voted for... He says the spending of the stimulus package is unprecidented... (I am paraphrasing, having been unable to find the correct quote) HELLLLOOOO... America's current economic situation is pretty darn unprecidented as well. The Congress needs to unite and get the show on the road.

Go on Mr. President, finish the sentence: "We can't afford to wait"....Because the public will wake up and realize that the $700billion that Bush spent didn't do anything, and the $800billion that I'm proposing to spend won't help the average person either...

This is just an excuse to grow government and take more of our hard earned money to be spent by government. If you are Democrat or Republican, I'm sorry for both of you because your parties are making the SAME EXACT mistakes and are blindly moving forward. It's ridiculous to hear you two parties argue that THEIR $700 billion will work when the OTHER's didn't... How laughable!!!!!!

with this plan, we can afford to wait FOREVER...it does nothing but refill the empty welfare funds....so they'll be empty again in a matter of months....only 8-9% is slated for job creation....what the American people don't understand is it's not the government's job to create employment! They need to reduce taxes on industry, and make it more attractive for business to expand.....we pay the highest corporate tax rates in the world...and liberal idiots here still think if they tax the corporations more, it'll work out! Liberalism is definitely a mental illness....totally cureable with a dose of reality, a job, and a repeated administration of responsibility.....

Yeah. Hurry Up! Brazile is getting tired of waiting for GM to invest 1 billion of taxpayers money to create new jobs there – what's the hold up!

So much for the politics of hope...
Looks like the politics of fear is alive and well...

Change... yup

You go Mr. President.
It is refreshing to see a President who will stand up and take questions, not from a tightly controlled set of plants, but from a cross section of the country.
To you Republicans, The people cheering for the President of the United States hold YOUR future in THEIR hands too. Better listen to them.

Can't wait to hear him tear the GOP a new one during his prime time press conference tonight. Break out the popcorn...

"Anything worth having, is worth waiting for" Author unknown
Let's take time to iron out the wrinkle before we leave our children, grand children and great granchildren with a lifetime of debt