CNN

why won't these liberal bloggers wake up? Answer–they still think the rest of us Americans are dumb enough to pay their way.....

@MatthewDetroit

FACT:

You obviously do not understand economics. 5.5Trillion toward a useless war with absolutely no return on investment is a waste of money. 10Trillion toward healthcare, infrastructure, jobs, and a forward-thinking view are what we term as return on equity. I use equity as the "shareholders" in this scenario are the taxpayers. Read a book.

This forum is just everyone blaming each other. It is the AMERICAN PEOPLE'S Fault. Bush, Obama... There is no difference in spending habits or war mongering. But go ahead and fiddle with your d i c k s and blame the other parties america while we go the way of the do do bird.

Relax Governor Pawlenty. The administration is going to spend our country into prosperity. Following this logic, I'm in the process of eating myself to a healthy weight, and drinking myself into sobriety. I'll let you know how it works.

Obama will give you pain pills instead of an operation , he
can save money. You can,t trust him or his word

Where was Puh lenty...er Pawlenty.... when his neo-con boys were asleep at the switch as the foundation of this fiasco was put in place. By the way what is the current size of the Minnesota budget surplus with Puh Lenty as governor? He does hold the distinction of allowing his state to be the only one currently with one ( 1 ) US Senator being seated.

I too am upset about the debt and deficit, but the GOP thinks that the best way to fight that is to... wait for it... INCREASE debt and deficit by giving out even more unnecessary tax cuts to their corporate buddies! Guess what, Bush's tax cuts didn't work! All they did were delay the crises, at the expense of future generations! We are back at where we were in the 90s economically, except with twice as much national debt! How can you decrease deficit if you keep INCREASING with more tax cuts every time we come close to balancing the budget? 'Tax cuts' are a misnomer. They should be called 'tax delays' because all they do is increase the national debt for your children and your grandchildren to pay!

So he talks about all this fiscal conservation but if you look at the situation here in Minnesota he is doing worse than anything Obama has done with the state's budget... With IOUs and other ways of spending.... what a hypocrite.

Price for democratic plan on affordable health care: $1.6 trillion over ten years. Current spending by Americans that goes into the pockets of private insurers and health care providers: $2 trillion PER YEAR! The private companies are already ripping us off for over ten times the money the public option would give us. And don't think they're free of bureaucracy either! 30% of that $2 trillion goes to their bureaucrats, who decide what doctors you can see, what ailments you can get treatments for, what treatments you can have. And they're making profit out of denying you all of this because of various excuses! They spend a lot of your fees paying bureaucrats to deny you the health care you need! We need a new option!

How's that election for Senator coming Minnesota??

Pawlenty conveniently forgot to mention the other half of the problem. "We cannot afford the current system of Health Care."

Thus Obama's plan is to "restructure" our current system and spend money to move to a more affordable system that covers everyone. Our current system is bleeding us dry by feeding insurance companies, drug companies, and other medical conglomerates enormous amounts of money. We cannot afford to keep "wasting money on a broken system"

Te truth of the matter is that this country was already in debt when President Obama got in office and its going to take spending to get us out of it. We want better schools, better education for our kids, better heath care,better jobs A BETTER USA well all this going to take spending if its going to get better. yeah Bush spent but he was spending it on the wrong things he never tried to fix healthcare or shools no he tried to support spending on 2 wars so now the democrats want to invest in americas future thru spending now they are spending too much.

I totally agree with JT!

John King is totally in the tank for the GOP. When he interviews a Republican, the interviews are so soft and he never follows up on a question or challenges them.

Where, oh, where were these 'fiscally responsible' republicans for the past 8 years when Bush Jr. doubled the national debt? And don't think republicans were clean of bailouts either! In 2008 they voted along with everybody else on the $700 billion bank bailout without questions. Heck, they gave AIG its first bailout back in 2005, when they still controlled the Congress as well! Where was their outrage then?

So what's the grand, brilliant GOP alternative plan? It's a 3 page outline, with no cost estimates, and 80% of the points in it were stolen from the Obama plan! It's just like their 'alternate' budget proposal which was a 16 page outline with NO NUMBERS! How can you have a budget proposal with no numbers?

We spent record amounts when we were in office. But, that is beside the point. We will not tolerate any Democrat spending record amounts! We must vote them out of office.

The depth of our debt caused by the GOP may never be overcome. We have to spend to get this economy moving again. We are spending here at home, when the GOP spends to line their pockets. These fool don't know whats good for America.The Democrats need to stay in power for many years to come if we ever want to climb out of this DEEP HOLE

Most cases when you drill for water you have to prime the pump in order get the water flowing. The ecomony has nearly stop and the only way to get it moving again is to pump money in it and that what the Adminstration is during at this time.

Let's see. All this coming from a party that gave away to the mulitudes three trillion dollars that a Democrat who balanced the budget and left this money in escrow. Then plunged this economy to the lowest since the depression era. THE NERVE OF REPUBLICANS WHEN IT WOULD BE BETTER TO JUST KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT. YOUR INSURING YOUR DOOM IN 2012. You people are the reason this country is in the shape it is in. Give the Democrats a chance to salvage something for Hillary 2012 then we will be on the ROAD TO RECOVERY. Americn people quit himhawing around we need to clean house in Washington.

Pawlenty needs to stop the obstruction of the Minnesota senate race and let Franken have the seat. He also needs to read a little about what caused our financial problems in this country and what would have happened if the government put a spending freeze into effect – McCain's brilliant idea to handle the recession/depression that grew during Bush's administration.

Can a responsible member of the media PLEASE line out for us what the costs are to federal employees (including the well-tanned representative) for their health care plan? And, by line out I mean the monthly premium they pay, the co-pays, their costs for Rx drugs, etc.? I am most curious. Or, will this be treated like all the Republican plans and solutions that we always hear about in the abstract?

Thx!

I need to know why the Republicans never spoke about the Bush administration's massive spending? But we all know the hypocrisy of Republicans.

It looks like one more Republican is afraid there will not be enough money for the NEXT WAR. OBAMA needs to repair the damage done by the Republicans get health care for the AMREICANS before we worry about people that have their own countries to care for them.

"Turnabout", if you don't pay taxes in the first place why do you think you have a right to government services????

Just remember, to expand Governmental control over every aspect of our lives requires completion of task #1- crush the middle class financially and make them dependent on Government hand outs. What we are experiencing in our economy is not resultant of 8 years of Bush, it is 40 some odd years of the Democratic social experiments in complicity with the Lyndon B. Johnson "New Society" package coming to fruition. You must first drag upper class America down to bring lower class America up. That's the idea and I think we will soon be there. Anyone awake should be seeing a pattern developing here. I hope the American sheeple are waking up soon!

Please, someone at CNN,send John King back to his toy maps or find something else for him to do! He is a joke with that show, how about FOX news??

The day I listen to fiscal advice from a modern day republican is the day I need to have my head examined.

We're cleaning up the messes of republican fiscal ideology – his opinion doesn't exactly carry much weight with me.

I'm sick of Republicans ignoring the fact that Bush ran up a 1.8 trillion debt. Pawlenty, quit whining. It's time we invest in our country rather than other people's countries.

Let's tackle the deficit once we get healthcare and Cap & Trade in the budget.

Hey Pawlenty, there's a way to stop it – have more votes. Oh, you don't you say because the majority of Americans wanted President Obama over your old guy. Wow! Looks like you need to sit down, shut up and try to work with him towards some solutions in this country. What? Oh, you don't have any solutions? Then just shut up.

To all libs: stop blaming Bush. Obama is like a little kid in a toy store. He has no concept of the trouble this country is in. IT IS BROKE and his answer is to spend; spend like there is no tomorrow and there won't be if this stupid spending isn't stopped.

Tim Plenty.... Obama inherited a $1.3 trillion deficit from you Pubs; where was your voice of reason and concern then. Hypocrit!

Pawlenty is correct. When you are out of money you stop spending! Just because Bush started it doesn't mean Obama needs to continue it. Stop already. I'd like to have national health care too, but we CANNOT afford it.

CNN needs to change its name to RNN (Republican News Network).

Remember the last few years of the Bush Administration the DEMONCRATS were in control of the congress....... so who was making and passing the legislation....

Come on folks... get a clue here......

This spending has got to STOP! It is out of control!

@Thinkaboutit.Great post.Grover is the lowlife behind all this.He is the republican operative behind taking over America.He is a traitor and should be treated as such.

Why didn't he say that to Bush Junior? After all, it was Bush who wasted 6 trillion dollars in 8 years, not Obama. If Obama wasn't there for the Republicans to blame for everything, they'd be even more useless.

Too bad you never gave the same "no spending" advice to George W. and his buddies during the last eight years!

Pawlenty another representative that was elected while voters were asleep at the wheel. The price tag we pay now is ten times bigger because as taxpayers we pay for the bill anyway. The un-insured go to our ER's and hospitals anyway when they are ill. Unless we turn the un-sured away at the ER and hospitals, get over it, the tax payers will keep paying the bill. What Pawlenty does not get either because he is dumber than a bag of hammers or just playing to his base that has a mirror intelligence level. The only profit that insurance companies will make for the for-seeable future is from denying claims. At this time in this country more is being paid out than being put in, simple, not complex, not a rocket science to understand. I feel if someone research Pawlenty financial support indepthly, he is well funded by insurance, drug companies and specific health care that is way over cost. Does anyone remember the banking industry?

During the Bush years we had very little Goverment involvement, which is why so many of us fell through the cracks. Wake-up people, its time we realize the importants of having a "paid-for" Goverment help in more ways than just starting wars. Whats wrong with Gov. jobs or Gov. competing with Businesses to stablize the out of control health industries. I'm paying for this Gov. (in the form of taxes), I want my monies worth.

The Federal Deficit is a direct result of the policies of the GOP over the last 20 years.

The "Spending" from Obama is a small, less than 2% factor into future deficits.

Over 20% of current deficit spending is Health Care costs (Medicare and Medicaid).

That's why reform of a broken system is so important.

He might as well have told him to quit breathing...

Give us some solutions and stop criticizing!

I think hearing comments from Pawlenty on how Obama is dealing with the economay is kind of funny being that Pawlenty just became a dictator in the state of Minnesota. He decided he didn't like the budget planned by the Democratic controlled congress this year in Minnesota and used a law called disallotment to make his own budget that is causing thousands of job losses and problems with funding cities in MN.

Pawlenty is a disaster for Minnesota. He insists on not raising taxes, But at the same time, it cutting funding to everything that makes Minnesota operate. From health care, public schools, transportation. etc... The latest choice he made was blocking the stimulus money meant for the states school system. He is keeping it to help pay off the debt Minnesota is getting into, because of his no new taxes policy. Also, when he first ran for election against a popular Dem. it was projected the Dem would win, since everyone liked him, but convienetly for Pawlenty , he died in a suspicious plane crash. The rep. party blocked all the money raised, and only allowed $1K for the replacement Dem, candidate to use for his election bid. Pawlenty is a crook.

@ girlyman do you think u can comment on the issue of discussion.

Bush spent way to much money.
Obama spending way way way way way to much money.

People stop the madness. Use some Common Sense.

Well, there's someone in Washington that has a brain, and uses it, at least some of the time. Don't worry about the deficit though. The American taxpayer will cover it at 75% of their income. Don't forget the taxation of your health benefits. When you gt that $3000 MRI and you only pay your $50 deductible, your income just went up another $2950. Great plan.Obama was against before he was for it.

When Ronald Reagan took office this country was in a recession and what did he do? He borrowed three trillion dollars to build up the military. I remember because some prominent Democrats spoke out against it because they said we were creating debt for our childeren and grandchildern. But the eighties was a very productive decade and we were able to eventually enjoy a budget surplus.
I think President Obama is trying to do the same thing with his economic stimulas spending.

The opposition is bigger than the Republican party, I don't think all the Republican are against what Obama is doing, it is the culture in Washington that has to change.

Geeeez Gov, why weren't you yelling that when President Bush was on his spending spree?????? Didn't see any of your Republicans falling off the wagon to make him stop or slow down.....

How much money are you spending in MN with this Senator race...don't you think it is time you say enough....Coleman lost so get over it and let your State move on...with this going on your State doesn't have any representative in Congress....Don't say you got Michelle, she is way out of it and I don't know how your people voted that nut case in....I would be yelling foul on that one....

8 yrs of GOP tax cuts to the top 5% with a negative net job growth, 7 yrs of GOP unbudgeted war costs with little to no accountability, GOP TARP to Wall Street with no accountability. We need affordable healthcare with a public option. We need energy policies that will reduce our need for fossil fuels and reduce our dependency on foreign oil. We need jobs that will pay family wages and allow everyone to reach for that American dream. We need reasonable regulations that allow capitalism to flourish while providing protections for Americans who work and invest in the American Dream. We need modern infrastructure and better educational standards so our children can compete for jobs in the high tech and science fields. If we need to go into debt to get these things done, so be it. Better than more tax breaks and deregulation that didn't create anything but more billionaires.

If the country is out of money, it's because the republican party spent it all for 8 years of Bush on the rich. Now people like Pawlenty think the working class should suffer for it by not having affordable heath care. If the republicans can not come up with a solution, they should just shut up and stop being part of the problem.

John King, the media outlet for the GOP.

@Steve,the wrong one.My heart bleeds for you.Ever stop to think you may be wasting your time?You think your so smart,are you?Werent you behind that other little moron from Texas?

No problems, keep the spending spree on; our banker China is willing to extend much more credit.

I hear and read all the news from both sides. If they want to continue on this path of destruction, keep defending the past 8 years. People need to WAKE UP and smell the decaying spores that spew from the news commentators. The House narrowly passed a TAX HIKE for everyone. Those with means won't feel it as bad as those of us who live on fixed income. What do you want us to do? Lite candles to find our way in our own tents or put food on the table?
Congress does NOT care for those of us who are out of a job, no healthcare, no hope for the future so why all the concern now. It has been like this for years. The rich prosper and may donate to charitable foundations, but only if it benefits them.
Guess those of us on fixed incomes need to re-start that old job of dumpster diving to feed our families.
Bring all the military from around the world back home to protect our own borders.

im sick of demorats spending

you guys are finnally seeing that obama is spending more than we can ever make

John King, the media outlet for the GOP.

Change in America June 28th, 2009 12:57 pm ET
The republican should have told that to Bush I am so tired of these whinning Republicans they act fools and cheating on there wives.
Republicans are doom in 2012. Vote Demoncrate 2010 and 2012
--------------------------
So you are saying don't worry about the person or the policy, just vote the party? In a work...NO!
Both parties whine! You whined for a whole 8 years, remember??
Pawlenty is correct Obama should stop spending so much, and Bush should not have spent so much.
Yet YOU and your party will whine " where were you 8 years ago?" I was saying the same thing back then too!!! I didn't get listened to then, I don't get listened to now!

Quit spending? Where was this vioce when Bush spent $$$? Part of the debt is from Bush's era.

I'm very rich. There's no health care crisis. I dont know what you people are talking about. In fact, I can afford everything. Quit trying to fix things that aren't broken.

Lets take all that money we blow on education and put it toward building up our military so we can wipe all those that disagree off the map. In fact, we should bring back the draft. We can cite our superior religiosity and morality. The poor are suckers for that sort of thing.

The GOP stops telling Obama to quit spending. I am laughing so hard I fell off my chair. The repub spending is what has destroyed our country and hurt most of the worl'd economy and the have the nads to say to the Democratic Prez to wuit spending. What a joke. They have bankrupted our country beyond repair on Bush's personal agenda at making money off of oil and showing up his daddy, that he sacrificed us. Shut up Pawlenty.

I don't know if it's funny, or just plain sad, to watch this bumbling idiot of a President we have, and see the Obama followers stick up and defend this man's actions. Do you guys spend money when you're broke also? You should try it if you're a true follower. That's what your leader is doing. You stick up for him, but you wouldn't do what he's doing to manage your household. Thanks to the government, we now have a "car czsar" forcing dealerships that were profitable to close. We have N Korea telling the world that they'll wipe us off the map, and Iran smacking Obama in the mouth. Thanks alot.

Quit spending!!! Because now that W. and Cheney are gone, Halliburton and KBR are not getting the cash!!!

Go Obama! If you think we need to do it, DO IT!

Its gonna take at least (8) years to get out of this mess it took us (8) years to get into!!!!!!

Time for a few capable republicans to get Obama to rein in spending. Pawlenty, Ridge, Crist, even Schwarzennegger need to step up.

I agree you need to invest to make money, but the investement has to be right sized and made wisely. If $10m gets the job done, you don't invest $20m or $30m. I agree the economy needs some stimulus, but that doesn't mean throwing money at problems willy-nilly.

Neither the bank nor the auto bailout have been well thought out. For every dollar spent wisely $7 or 8 have been wasted. This dates back to the Bush/Cheney administration. There has not been enough transparency of expectations to the public. An example is Ford and Nissan have finall gott\en investment loans long after billions were squandered on GM and Chysler. Did it occur to the current and past adminsitrations that some moeny should have been spent on the healthier players to create future jobs.

Similarly the banks have gotten loans to cover mistakes, but are not making loans at the expected rates, while paying themselves bonuses.

There is no oversight. this isn't a democrat or republican problem, it is a gov't problem and we as the taxpayer pay for all these mistakes.

Obama will quit spending when they quit outsourcing jobs.

Republicans spent just as much on things that didn't help the American people for 8 years.

Lets get things fixed and working again, and then get our finances back in order.

Quit obstructing Obama tells Pawlenty. These fools always have a voice and home on CNN. Unwatchable.

Who cares if its a Dem or a Rep – they all cheat on their spouse's, take bribes and have forgotten who they serve – 2010 we vote the bum's out – I will make sure I vote in the party primaries and if the incumbent wins – I am voting for the other canidate.

Laughable. A tax credit would do nothing to help people who are poor, disadvantaged, etc. and lacking health coverage. I find it amazing that anyone subscribes to this absurd notion that tax credits help anyone but the wealthy.

Pawlenty and the rest of the republicans are so out of touch with the average person they think that "tax credits" and tax cuts will fix everything. Since we are all paying for deluxe health care coverage for these people, they have no idea what it costs to buy it from insurance companies who are all about profit. I pay $400+/mo. for insurance that carries such a high deductible I can't even use it. And I'm "lucky" I can pay it. And $400 is cheap. So what's so bad about a "public option" you "public servants"? YOU are the beneficiaries of a "socialized" plan, but you want to deny the rest of us that choice? Get a grip on reality. The United States is the only industrialized nation that doesn't insure that ALL of its people have equal access to affordable, quality health care. Republicans need to get off their thrones and help do something about that.

BeefMasterX: Who will be in the white house in '12? It won't be the timid, spineless, uneducated lawyer from hawaii.
________

Please it is ok to disagree with policies;but to call someone with Obama's level of intellect and education an uneducated lawyer only shows you are unaware and attack for the sole purpose of attacking. There is nothing in your post that shows you have any understanding of what is going on in the world. I do not mean to suggest that you are uneducated; only that you are posting remarks without regard to the topic just to anger and cause further divisions.

Nobody said anything when the Bush Administration was spending in a way that would benefit himself and his cronies. Don't you wonder how much money they made from kick backs and profits from corporations like the big oil companies and the financial industry?

All these simplistic "blame the Republicans" goofballs should know that the Dems. OK'd every penny that Bush ever wanted to spend (including all the war spending) and added an immense amount of spending to it themselves.

This country desperately needs alot more people saying "NO" right now, before these idiots in charge put us in such a hole that we'll never dig our way out. "NO" IS NOT A BAD THING!

All these gasbage in Congress need to be given the boot. Every last goofy one of them....both Dems and Republicans. We all need to vote against EVERY incumbent in the next elections.

Matthew,Detroit
Fact:
George Bush spend 5.5 trillion to destroy the country and the economy
Fact:
Obama spend 10 trillion to fix what George Bush destroyed
Fact:
you watch too much Fix news

Let's hope Republicans will be able to undo the damage being done now, by Obama, Pelosi, Frank, and the gang. Obama's election was a historic mistake.

To the blog and comment moderators at CNN:

Do you folks get a rush or high or just sophomoric satisfaction by selectively allowing a glut of pro-Obama bloggers to simply pile on anyone and everyone who disagrees with Obama's policies and behavior, by posting the same tired and worn-out insulting drivel, circuitous logic (illogic) and schoolyard nonsense? Aren't we all just a bit too old and aren't the issues confronting us today just a bit too important for a "Nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah" mentality and ridiculous sentiments such as "We won!"?

Is there no room on your site for actual discussion of the topic – sans the childish insults and boorishness – and civil, polite repartees among your readership?

Just less than half of this Nation's voters voted against Mr. Obama, yet the posts that you "allow" to come through are giddily and resoundingly pro-Obama and spitefully and vulgarly anti-Republican and/or anti-anyone who dares to criticize Mr. Obama by a ratio of probably 8 or 9 to 1. To me, that smells worse than a three day old fish rotting in a garbage pail.

So, your obvious partisan behavior begs the question: How can anyone possibly believe that CNN reports the true climate in America and around the world in an accurate and fair, unbiased fashion?

I now regard CNN as being nothing more than a PR firm for the Obama administration.

Right....and the Democrats in Washington all live in low income housing. This isn't politics, it's all about economics.

Tyranny is what Obama knows take away your choice in Cars. Regulating your enegry prices. Giving more power to the Excutive branch of the country. Tyranny is what Obama knows.
Spending is what Obama knows write a check know and worrie how to pay it later. This never worked for normal americans how is it going to work for the country.
Killing jobs is what obama knows. Cap n Trade bill will destroy 2.5 jobs for every one clean energy job. Cap n Trade will cause increase at the Pump also. Cause increase in your electric bill.
Of course Obama knows how to spend money because he has the dum down American Public to pay for it in taxs.
After 8 years of Bush killing the Constitution I can't see how we can let Obama destroy the Constitution also.

What other countries have tried this and failed? Italy?Canada? Oh wait, those countries actually have free healthcare and with that, a people with longer lives than we have in America. And I personally know people in both of these countries who are happy to pay the extra 1% in taxes to be able to walk into ANY hospital and get quality care. Lift the wool from your eyes and see what the reality is, and what it CAN be.

It's too bad he didn't tell George Bush that....we wouldn't be in 2 wars and this crap hole of debt.

The Republicans almost ruined this country by serving their "masters"–the top 1% of wealth holders. Obama represents the future. Note to the GOP: you are irrelevant.

The republican should have told that to Bush I am so tired of these whinning Republicans they act fools and cheating on there wives.

Republicans are doom in 2012

Vote Demoncrate 2010 and 2012

John King enables the GOP again.....

Why don't you let some more bridges collapse from neglect. How about you shut up grow a pair and seat a US Senato idiot.

In the world of investment, one must spend money to make money. Where was Gov. Pawlenty when the Bush administration was wasting money on an unnecessary war? It appears that Pawlenty has the interest of the wealthy at heart. The real argument that the Republicans have is that they will be unable to visit their doctor for fear of overcrowded patients. Why is their health and wealth more important than those less fortunate? How inhumane is that logic? We are all created equal in the eyes of God. How dare these rich Republicans think that the poor should be treated unequally? They have a similar philosophy to the dictators of Iran. Only they are pretending to be concerned politicians. (Wolves in Sheep Clothing).

Donkey Party glad to see you back so.... what has Obama done lately I'm still trying to figure out that I mean with Iran and your buddy Chevez saying well US is a threat and North Korea threatens to wipe us off the map but everybody says oh well wipe Alaska off the map well all roads leads to alaska but everybody seems to be so concerned about michael jackson

Who watches this Fox News agent (King) on CNN?

Keep on whining there T-Paw! The way you've managed the Minnesota Economy is nothing to be bragging about either. I'm so glad you decided not to run again – Oh wait – that's right you narrowly won the last election – can't take that chance again, can you!

Yeah, yeah. Keep talking just to keep YOUR lamea$$ name in the news. You speak with the same level of believability as the South Carolina governor and the Nevada senator. Both of them will be out soon. Americans are smart enough to know that you and your complaints mean less then nothing. I'm just hoping to find out what YOU'VE got hidden in the closet, because then you'll come crashing down too.

So let me get this straight. Massive spending for military operations that consequently contributed to the current economic problem... okay. Targetted domestic spending to try and rebuild the economy... not okay?

For those criticizing, remember that McCain's economic plans would have cost more than Obama's.

If anyone has a realistic solution. Put it on the table, oh wait... no one does. So put up or shut up.

Stupid posters. Wow.
Obama is Bush.
Who will be in the white house in '12? It won't be the timid, spineless, uneducated lawyer from hawaii.

First of all Gov. Pawlenty, the information there is on price and quality isn't all that good. Second, health care is a very heterogenous good. It's not like health care is produced on a factory line and we just look to see which has the fewest defects. Third, the Republicans still have never answered how tax credits for purchasing insurance will help someone who can't afford the insurance in the first place.Fifth, the health industry has more market failures then any other industry in the economy. What that means is that the free market with complete absence of government intervention will produce very inefficient results. The free market is far from perfect and it is the least perfect in the health industry.

Sixth, I'm disappointed I won't get the opportunity to vote you out.

Pawlenty is correct. The Obama administration and democratic liberals
are moving the country into a socialized state. The press and American people better wake up before we have an army of bureaucrats trying to run the country and involved in everyones personal life.

Other countries have tried this and failed.

You are correct Sheila! While everybody was consumed with the death of Michael Jackson, Pelosi and the democrats slammed this huge spending bill they called energy down our throats. And let me tell you-if the folks in the Senate don't stop this-all of you Obama lovers are going to be pissing and whining 3 years from now and blaming the Republicans for your skyrocketing energy costs. You have nobody to blame but yourselves for falling for this pile of crap that Obama is driving this country into.
And guess what, I am either "left" or "right". I know what looks "wrong" to me and this presidents policies are taking us in a very wrong direction.
But I do have to side with him in this whole Iran thing-because right now with all the pee whining coming from that guy over there- he just makes himself look stupid over there. And it is a shame because I believe the people of Iran know it and that is what they were protesting against....

Democrats / Republicans and all you polical supporters need to quit living in the past. I think we need a new party called the economist party. Our country is going broke and we don't know what we are going to produce in the future to fuel GROWTH. A strong economy can pay for any healthcare program. Lets get folks back to work so they can pay taxes to fix the many problems we have in this country rising Healthcare, Energy, Education costs. The list is endless.

I mean, I get it, but why does the GOP and its cohorts think the American public is this stupid to believe they are now somehow the gate keepers to fiscal responsibility? Who are they trying to fool?

This dude also needs to get his thoughts straight. May be he can take Sarah Palin with him. Where were these conservatives when Bush was wasting billions of dollars on his pet projects like Iraq?

Yeah, the private sector has done a standup job for the American people – the rich Americans! I believe if Obama said lets do nothing with Health Care the repubs would go – WHAT IS HE THINKING, what we have going on now isn't working!

The party of NO = Republican Party!

RUFF!!! June 28th, 2009 12:42 pm ET
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
@Donkey Party June 28th, 2009 11:54 am ET
Where is all the phoney outrage over the MASSIVE Bush spending years????? HYPOCRITES!!!!!!!!!***Good Response!!!!
John King should Join FOX NEWS!!!!

Where was this mealy mouth twerp when Bush and Company were minding the store? And, none of these big mouths will say Sanford should step down – not because he had an affair but because he took off and left his state without leadership. If this were a Democrat they would be tared and feathered! How many ways can we say hypocrites?????

He can't stop spending, he has one war that was a complete lie to the taxpayer that we have to continue to pay for!!

Governor, if this economy wasn't in shambles, he wouldn't have to spend as much as he has to. And another thing, are you talking about domestic spending or defense spending? If you're only talking about domestic spending, that smells like pure hypocrisy.

@Donkey Party June 28th, 2009 11:54 am ET
Where is all the phoney outrage over the MASSIVE Bush spending years????? HYPOCRITES!!!!!!!!!***Good Response!!!!

Wake up, America! Most of the world has universal health care, and it works! Look at Canada!

I'm an unemployed new engineering grad and you know what DOESN'T scare me? The fact I can't pay my provincial medical premiums. Because if I walk into an ER, they would never turn me away. I wouldn't receive a bill, either.

Bite the bullet. Pay now, so that you can have a consistently healthy population. Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's a "Socialist" idea. So what? Get off your high horse and realize the system you have right now is a pile of crap. Just because you're the United States doesn't mean your idea is the right one.

"Mathew/Detroit"
FACT:
You are the biggest idiot, not the President!
Got it?

TCM – I noticed the latest 'proving ground' fro the GOP is now Ohio. Maybe you should go have a 'Tea Party' there. The Tea Parties accomplished a good deal, didn't they? Really had a huge effect on the nation........you and your buds are really good at helping the nation climb out of these messes we are in. I'd thank you but my head would explode from sarcasm.

Where was this "fiscal conservative" when W was spending like a drunken sailor? Why didn't he insist that W put the cost of the war on the books so that America could see it all? Why didn't he interfere when W first created the stimulus package for the banks? Why Pawlenty, why? Because W was one of your own. All of a sudden you are concerned because you and your G"NO"P buddies don't have control. President Obama isn't so much trying to spend his way out of this mess as he is dealing with the reality that doing nothing will only worsen things. For those of you who are so 'concerned' that we are leaving a debt to our children and grandchildren: where were your concerns when W was running up this massive debt that WE now have to deal with? Oh, I get it. It is okay for a Republican president to make a mess but it isn't okay for a Democratic president to try to undo the mess. Please people get real. If you have a better idea, let's hear it Pawlenty. By-the-by, tax breaks for the rich are not going to help the rest of us. Next idea? Anything? (sound of crickets)

Not surprising coming from one of the largest recipients of the health industry's lobbying efforts...

Perhaps this dude needs to go off somewhere quiet to get his thoughts together on this issue. He could, for example, go and hike the Appalachian trial to Buenes Aires? Maybe he'll realize that it really doesn't fit with his Evangelical Christian facade to do everything he can to deny health care and a good life to people who aren't part of his $ocial network.

Of course, what Pawlenty and the Republicans ignore is the fact that the private, unregulated market failed miserably under the GOP Administration and Congress to address the needs of Americans–our banking system failed, our auto industry failed, our health care system is failing, our energy system is failing. We are still reeling from their failed policies. We need action, not GOP negativity and ideological assurances that the private market will ultimately take care of everything.

Oh! Poor Republicans!

They see only themselves spending money-
2 wars Halliburton, NO SEX education- Mr. Sanford's South America trip to see his mistress, Palin taking her brood everywhere, makeup, tanning and high heel shoes– let me think!

SHUT UP!!!!

This won't stop because it is too easy to spend other people's money (OPM) when you can us the IRS to throw them in jail if they don't cooperate.

What I don't understand is why we don't try the following first?:

1) we don't try making health care expense 100% deductilble above the line (you CPA's know what I am talking about)

2) Have everyone with who pays for healthcare private and employer provided (employer provided is actually part of your pay if you don't know that by now) .......take $5,000 of your pay and buy your neighbor health coverage for a year.

This is essentially what is being done with the national program. If you are ok with giving AT LEAST an additional $5,000 to pay for other peoples health (which you have absolutely no control over how they live, lifestyle, smoker, promiscuous, than by all means write your congressperson and have them support the Obama plan.

Personally, I prefer to help others by CHOICE. Helping others by CHOICE would be a welcomed CHANGE I CAN BELIEVE IN.

Where were the supposed fiscally conservative republicans when George Bush ran up the deficit to fund wars in Iraq and Afganistan off the books. Not a peep out of them. Now these same folks object to plans to get health care reform. I ask, do the republicans hate America so much that they are only willing to go into debt to wage wars and fund the rebuilding of other countries?

And this from a man whose own state can't even seat the winjner of the 2008 election to the Senate? Who gives a fig what this flake has to say about anything. Anyone who can't see we are in crisis and in meltdown over healthcare and whose best advice is to quit spending has all the credibility of a pebble in a stream of effluent. Just one more incredibly stupid voice from the party of NO,

I don't remember any gov speaking to Bush this way.

I'd like to tell Pawleny 'quit whining'

I have one question for those who ask "should we really be moving towards a Canadian or British health care system." Well how about moving towards an "Canadian/British/German/Spanish/French/Dutch/Sweedish/Japanese/Austrailian/Finish, etc health care system?" Why is the US so far behind in this regard?

Pawlenty is full of empty fear BS!!

As a lifelong Minnesotan, I would like to say

SHUT UP Pawlenty. He ran our state into the ground! He is a HORRIBLE Governor, and that is why he decided not to run for reelection, because he KNEW he would be slaughtered by anyone the opposition decided to run!

GO AWAY TIM! YOU ARE A TERRIBLE LEADER!

Is someone looking to be a front runner in the next election. Step up and then look at the past front runners and what they did to lose that title. Let this current president run the counrty as he was elected. If I recall the past president left us in this hole and all Obama is trying to do is fix what Bush broke. Gov Pawlentey should try and fix whats broken in his back yard. Don't you just have one senator working for your state. Maybe you should ask Coleman to step aside. Oh thats right then the DEM would have control. Got to love the GOP and the right for trying to throw a wrench into thw works to prevent work that is long over due ie healhcare reform, medicare and social security reform. I guess having 2 wars isn't wasteful spending, huh Pawlentey ? Stop positioning yourself as a front runner and do what you were elected to do and run your state. And do us a favor and get you buddy Palin and stick a sock in her trap.

your neighbor to the east ( thats Wisconsin )

Some of you folks are paethetic and obvioiusly care about picking a party / team over the best interests of this country. Politicians and their spending is rediculous on both sides. Read that people? Republicans have spent a fortune and now Democrats are taking it to whole other levels. That does NOT make either of the right but it does make all of us taxpayers the losers in this situation. Wake the heck up you idiots.

Tim Pawlenty is still sore that Palin got chosen instead of himself.

Pawlenty was loyal to McCain and he got the shaft.

Poor Tim. Grumpy.

He apparently, as with most GOPers, is aghast at the idea that something should be done to bring down costs. No, just give everybody health vouchers or tax credits to pay for their exorbitant health costs because, obviously, vouchers and tax credits don't cost anything. Their bottom line is don't mess with the extreme profits of pharmaceuticals and the rest of the medical industry or those fat envelopes of "campaign contribution" cash will stop showing up. The republicans still don't seem to understand they caused these problems and they DO NOT get to complain about what has to be done to correct them!

If people don't think anything has to be done with health care, how about $70 just to sign in at a dr's office, and another $150 for the dr to see you, and that is graded according to your age.. How about "1" blood test to the tune of $355, fortunately we have insurance. Just to have a test for lipid profile is around $200, is something wrong.. The dr and labs will charge what the insurance companies will pay, and it is the same for dental work, it is becoming obscene, and still this debate goes on, give the American ppl what senators and congressmen get, after all we pay for it...end of discussion, so simple but "WE" the american ppl have to continue with continued blickering while they enjoy the fruits of "OUR" labor with good health insurance.

John King,. . . Please ask some challenging questions like you do the DEMS. What about the election of Franken/Coleman? All you do is talk to republicans all the time. That's why I can't stand your rightwing show.

TCM June 28th, 2009 12:03 pm ET

Obama's plan is to run the country into the ground, and then all will be at his beck and call; tyranny…..he's all about power and control. It's not going to surprise me when the riots and government revolts start in this country. Democrats and repubs who voted for the stim pkg, climate bill and are planning on spending on the health bill should really look around;people aren't liking their reckless ways….and there will be a price to pay if they continue…IRan's people are an indicator of when "enough's enough….."
__________________________________________________________
I'm at a point now I can't wait until the "government revolts" get started. I've had enough as well as millions of other Americans. Count me in!!!!

I hope everyone caught the CBO's report in NYT The caucus..that said our federal debt has nothing to do with Obama or his plans rather it is the past 8 yrs and the unsustainable health care costs..get your facts together

BUSH AND THE REPUBICANS DESTORY THIS COUNTY AND PRESIDENT OBAMA IS TRING SO HARD TO FIX THEIR MESS, BUT ALL HE GET FROM THE REPUBICANS IS COMPLAINTS FROM THE PARTY THAT COST THE FEDERAL DEBT!

CLOWNS AT THEIR BEST!
GOP – RIP! YOUR PARTY IS DEAD AS MICHAEL JACKSON.

This has been the Republican strategy for a long time: Build up huge deficits by cutting taxes for the wealthy, spending huge amounts on the military and letting the financial system run amok and then bailing them out:

Reagan tax cuts for the wealthy + huge military buildup + S&L bailout
Bush tax cuts for the wealthy + 2 wars + AIG, etc. bailouts

After the Republicans have created all these deficits, they cry foul when government wants to spend money on infrastructure (roads, bridges, investing in renewable energy) and the middle class (tax cuts, education, health care).

What is the goal of this strategy? To eliminate social programs, consolidate the wealth of our country in the hands of the top 1%, and create a dog-eat-dog society where only those with money and power enjoy prosperity – and to hell with the rest of us.

If you don't believe me, I'd like to refer you to the writings of Grover Norquist of the American Spectator magazine and other Neocon architects (with Karl Rove as their strategy pointman) – they have all been very explicit in stating their goals.

Norquist wants to "wants to shrink government down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub." And send us all down the drain ...

I would have a lot more respect for Pawlenty, McCain, and other so-called fiscal-conservatives if they had EVER stood up to GWB and told HIM to stop spending money we don't have.

Repubs love spending money – as long as it's for wars.

I hope we do get a public option because if people know they can get quality care and not have to file bankruptcy in order to pay for it this will force insurance companies and hospitals to stop charging $50 for a Tyleno pill in the hospital. It will force the hospital to stop sening you a bill from each depatment in the hospital and have one understandable and reasonable bill. See they are not going to charge you a million dollars for something that could have been $2000 because they know that the government will be all over them. This will force the insurance companies to bring down their cost and people will be able to afford health care again.

Why is it that anything that can help the American people the Republicans are agianst it. Anything that will allow the average American to get their head above water and take some of the pressure off the Republicans are against it. These patriotic America loving people are against everything that will help and benefit the people. I don't see how anyone that is not rich regardless of their color or background vote for these people that hate them so much.

The republicans have always pushed for a good start on a solution to cutting health care cost. it is called TORT REFORM! When I lived in New York (Up State N.Y., the real N.Y.) in 1985 a local report made the mistake of covering an issue of medical cost and made the statement that 1/3 of your medical bill was to pay for malpractice insurance to protect the doctors and hospitals form the lawyers. The democrats will not go for Tort Reform because it will take cash out of their lawyer special interest groups, thus out of their campaign money. As a paramedic in 1978 the companies I interviewed with were paying $10,000.00 a year for each paramedic to ride the ambulance and the hospital my mother worked at as a nurse was paying $10,000.00 for each nurse. Who do you think is paying for this? You and I! With Tort Reform we also need the insurance companies to cut their malpractice rates and then the medical profesion can cut their rates. My Aunt who is a retired civil servant has government medical through Blue Cross and Blue Shield not the HMO I have for my military retirement. For a government plan it should be an HMO like the military has had since the Clinton Administration. Why should civilians get a better program than those in uniform and their families.

Unfortunately we need to spend money. We never asked for this. We need health care reform, we need better road ways, we need a greener environmental practice. All this will generate money in the long run, make us safer and more independent in the long run. The GOP is almost always on the wrong side of the issue. If it doesn't benefit the cooperate elite, they want no parts. Same as they have always been throughout our history.

Republicans are just mad that Democrats are doing the spending.

If the Republicans were back in power they would spend as equally.

The difference I see though is that at the least the Democrats are spending at home. When the Republicans were in power they ran up the debt spending overseas and on big corporations such as Halliburton.

FACT:
President Geoge W. Bush added 5.5 Trillion to the National Debt.
FACT:
Barack boy is adding 10 trillion to the national debt in 4 years.
The idiot is adding 2 trillion this year alone.

Apparently no matter what Obama does in his administration its completely Bush's fault. Can't wait until the news stations stop giving him a free ride. That is If they ever stop reporting about Jackson's death

Barack is a clown, he needs to stop spending money.
Big rumour now is that Michelle is running the white house. She is planning on pulling a hillary and running for pres. in 2016.
She should be able to steal the election now that they are paying ACORN to get out there and steal votes for them.
Total garbage but that is the way the country is heading.
The good news is that after they wipe out everyone that is paying taxes, all the bottom feeders wont have anyone left to steal the money from...
You can only soak the workers for so long before you wring them dry.

@TCM

I remember folks like you during the general election. People like you said "yeah, McCain is going to win by a landslide!" Just like now, you are spewing forth useless information that is founded on heresay and speculation, not facts and logical reasoning.

And one thing about terrorism: the other day when the conservative talk show hosts called upon their listeners to "overload Capital Hill" with phone calls, isn't that a form of terrorism? They succeeded in overloading the system and shut down a part of Washington during the time of a very important legislative session. That sounds an awful lot like terrorism to me. And who was there to not only allow for it but think it up and push for it? REPUBLICANS.

The media didn't cover the cap and trade bill to help Americans understand what is in it. Nancy Pelosi rushed the vote so she could start her vacation. The media will not report the ideas and alternatives of many Republicans because the media is biased. Think people! What is wrong with taking some extra time, to read and understand the cap and trade bill? Why did the Democrats rush it so fast, if they have nothing to hide?

Repubs would AGREE to spend money on unneccessary war and Iraqi's but when we spend money for our own American people it is waste, I do not give a BS to repubs and Mr. John King.

yeah Gov. You got yours. huh?

Once again, the cynical Republicans have decided to place their own political interests above the interests of the 10% of the population who are out of work and the millions of people who's jobs are in danger.

The money being spent by the federal government is designed to prime the pump of the economy (not unlike the Bush era tax cuts, by the way, which the Republicans cheered). So, if Pawlenty id in favor of economic improvement, then he needs to get on the bus or get out of the way.

TO: Nota Bushfan

Excellent Post! That's exactly true and I share your sentiment all the way.

After all these years, why has the party of the people become the party of monopoly money? I don't want to leave my independant status for the republicans, but they make more sense right now than what is coming out of Washington. If you're in the hole, stop digging.

What can you expect from a Republican? Why can't they start working with the President instead of always always being against each and everything he says or does. Can't we have an unity here?

It has become a no brainer in politics. As soon as the President opens up with any idea the Republicans have some big mouth who blasts it with no ideas of their own. What do Republicans do all day besides have affairs?

Sure, give them a tax credit and "good information." What an idiot. If you are unemployed, what good is a tax credit going to do for you? If you go to the ER and they ask for your insurance, what are you going to do? Say, "here's my tax credit!"

The hard truth of uneducated impoverished folks is that they keep the cycle going by not getting themselves out of a whole. If they were indeed given a tax credit in the form of a refund at the end of the tax cycle, do you think they are going to put it in an escrow account at the bank as an emergency health care fund? Get real, they are going to buy pot, booze, and hard drugs worst case scenario and best case scenario buy diapers, cat litter, and Cheetos at Wal-Mart.

Same old Fox talking points. Can't he come up with something original?

Can't stand John King and his Republican B.S. every Sunday!

I hope everyone caught the CBO's report in NYT The caucus..that said our federal debt has nothing to do with Obama or his plans rather it is the past 8 yrs and the unsustainable health care costs..get your facts together

Lou June 28th, 2009 11:46 am ET

He wont quit spending it. He thinks we can just print more and go on with life as if nothing has happened. Look, John McCain and Sarah Palin all warned us this would happen.

Wake up Barack. This is not your money you are playing with!

------------------

Sarah Palin didn't warn us about anything. Sarah Palin parroted what she was given to read over and over again. As for your issue with Obama spending, you think the same tired thing Republicans have done for 8 years and did work will have worked with McCain being in the WH? You need to wake up yourself! Tax credits that are not refundable are of no use to the working poor who don't make enough money at their jobs to owe taxes in the first place! Idiot!

Obama's plan is to run the country into the ground, and then all will be at his beck and call; tyranny.....he's all about power and control. It's not going to surprise me when the riots and government revolts start in this country. Democrats and repubs who voted for the stim pkg, climate bill and are planning on spending on the health bill should really look around;people aren't liking their reckless ways....and there will be a price to pay if they continue...IRan's people are an indicator of when "enough's enough....."

Pawlenty is a typical Republican. Same campaign slogans we've had since Eisenhower.

Since Republicans are so good at finger pointing and trying to save their drowning party I have one question–WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THESE TIMES?

The Republicans got us in this horrible mess, and they take none of the responsibility for it. Spending was way out of control during the Bush years as he was making his buddies rich off the Iraq war. The national debt went from $5 trillion dollors to $11 trillion dollars in 8 years.

President Obama was left this mess to clean up, and I think he's doing a hell of a job.

GO OBAMA.

Republicans–relax on health care and quit running your mouths till we have a final draft to look at. It's a very complex problem and will take a lot of money out of your pockets that you've been getting from special interests and the insurance lobbies--Sorry!

Pawlenty is entitled to his opinion. Good for him for using Obama's words against him and the fact he is a governer doesn't mean he is less credible. We should stop spending. And probably will because all the people who make money will be paying for the ones who don't. Just keep raising taxes, especially on businesses, that's a perfect way for them to create jobs in the nation that taxes them more than anyone else. This new cap-and-trade bill is supposed to be create jobs. Spain did this same thing, their unemployment is at 18%, all because it costs way too much money to create jobs (on average 800k per job is spent to create-read up on it). Since when was having your own opinion condemned in the USA? Oh that's right.... Bipartisan doesn't exist anymore, silly me.

You got to laugh at this clown and John King too.they are like two crickets at night.We dont care what you think and dont need more votes.hahaha We won and will continue to win every issue.

Eventually Barry will make us 3rd world. Yep, have a look at the governments in Africa, Detroit, Atlanta, Birmingham, etc. He couldn't run amok in a Moking factory. Redistribution of the wealth. It's there in black and white or better said white to black.

I keep hearing comments about the problems of "moving towards a Canadian style health care system." Americans have a right to the truth. A VAST majority of Canadians like their government provided health care system and we have a far more efficient health care system than the current one in the US by most standards. Poor and rich all get top-quality care in Canada without the insurance company profit motive interfering in the process. Americans have expressed worries about the government choosing who gets what care, but what the US has now is insurance companies who only care about their own profit. From personal experience (in both American and Canadian systems) I can say that a government that has the interests of its citizens and can be held to account through the democratic process is much better than a company whose only serious interest is the profit of its shareholders.

About 50 years ago we had all the same debates that they are having now in the US (and had at the beginning of Clinton's admin.). However, in Canada, when we had this debate, the government run program side won and it took about all of two to three years before people realised that the government run option was far superior.

I have one question for those who ask "should we really be moving towards a Canadian or British health care system." Well how about moving towards an "Canadian/British/German/Spanish/French/Dutch/Sweedish/Japanese/Austrailian/Finish, etc health care system?" Why is the US so far behind in this regard?

Pawlenty is a joke. He makes a living disagreeing with everthing Obama says. Where is the republican plan or something original.

Bring our troops home from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Cut defense spending. Cut all the "free" money to Isreal . That should free up some funds for health care.

Pawlenty defines the term 'lightweight'.

The SC newspaper, The State, has an online update to the Sanford story. Looks like there were at least 3 affairs.

Great we're on the high road to Government DOo ALLL=Socialism

Yes, Mr. President!
Go ahead, we need public option in order to control insurance companies. Don't listen to party of NO!

President Bush took this country from a surplus to the largest deficit and largest government in our history. President Bush did not include the wars in Afghanistan and Iran in the budgets and actually borrowed money (to be paid back by future generations) to fund them. Where was Tom Pawlenty's voice of dissent then? Was he not concerned about runaway spending? I doubt if he would say anything if this was a GOP administration? Remember President Obama is cleaning up a GOP mess and those on the right need to quit being hypocrits.

Nuclear energy? Until Governor Pawlenty agrees to a nuclear waste and recycling facility in his community, across the street from his home, he is a dishonest advocate for nuclear energy. I'll happily support solar installation on the roofs of EVERY house in my neighborhood.

Why aren't you asking him about Senator Franken?

Where is all the phoney outrage over the MASSIVE Bush spending years????? HYPOCRITES!!!!!!!!!

We have always passed debt to everyone so quit crying like this is all new. Furthermore,I can give a darn about the insurance boys like Aetna Blue Cross Blue Shield, etc. They can all go under for all I care. Nationalize health care so what?? The Christian in me says people deserve to live a fruitful life. That means everyone. Pawlenty you have a form of nationalized health care as well paid for by the taxpayer. Are you saying only you can have it??

Where was Pawlenty when the Bush administration and the republicans ran up trillions of dollars of debt for a war that done nothing for the U.S. except get revenge for Georgies daddy ?

By the way, 72% of America wants a public option, but it's more important to these right-wing losers to keep their pockets lined with money from the health industry. Republicans are no different than the ruling Theocracy in Iran, except thankfully, they aren't in the White House. They care nothing about the people, only about gaining and retaining power.

This from the guy who plays the shell game. I'll not raise taxes but I will create fees, I will not raise taxes but I will cut aid to communities, so they have to raise your taxes, Let's borrow against bonding for money we do not have, so that it costs us more in the long run.

The deficit that President Obama inherited was from a wasteful 8 year Bush spending spree on a debaucle of a "war".

Finally we have a president who wants to help those in our own country. We cannot afford to ignore our need for health care reform and President Obama is making sensible decisions to move our country in the direction we need. to go

What good is tax credit, voucher for people who have no insurance, are out of work and worrying about putting food on the table.
The republicans continue to refuse to become realistic about what
our country really needs. A public option is public choice, which the republicans do not want as their insurance companies would have to become competitive. We can no longer allow big business, lobbyists, special interests to run our country, making crucial decisions for us. Look what they, along with the republicans have done to us these last eight years. Diasters in every area.
Am so sick of the hot air, irresponsible, unworkable ideas (that is when they actually have one), obstruction and hypocrasy coming from the GOP. You would think with their ratings in the gutter, they would realize that we do not buy their party first, politics as usual stance.
But they appear to be oblivious, uncaring about what the American people want.

Shut up and do your job and sIT Franken. You are no better then the Iran leader. SHUT YOUR PIPE WHOLE UP! I stop listening to you and the repulibcan months ago.

Yet another GOPPER who sees no problem for wasting trillions on an illegal war in Iraq, but refuses to offer our country any solutions, only joining his partisan band-wagon of obstructionism. These hypocrites are ruining the country. Why won't Pawlenty do something newsworthy, like seating the Senator who won the election last year???

Pawlenty is telling the President to quit spending, but he is spending millions of MN taxpayer's dollar in order to let the Senate race there continue. Give me a break. If Pawlenty or any other Repub was in office now, we would be continuing the same failed policies that got us here. Repubs need to stop their whining and come up with solution already.

He wont quit spending it. He thinks we can just print more and go on with life as if nothing has happened. Look, John McCain and Sarah Palin all warned us this would happen.

Wake up Barack. This is not your money you are playing with!

I appreciate the hand-wringing about what we can and cannot afford, but let's start by asking why we could afford to give $700 billion to Wall Street, why we can afford to maintain wars of choice in two countries and why we can threaten Iran and North Korea. Why didn't we have years of study on these two major financial decisions. Did we not know the costs would be so high? I want U.S. treasury dollars to flow into local, community banks to help homeowners and small businesses, local governments (in the form of block grants), universal medical care and public schools. What you see about all these priorities is that there's no profit in them and the corporate lobbyists who roam the capitol corridors won't stand for anything that cuts into corporate profits.

It appears to me that >OURNO< will be like the dionsaurs.... A thing of the past.

Pawlenty, another rich Republican, who gets everything for nothing and offers no more than lip service. Pawlenty's family doesn't have to worry about health cost or anything else for the rest of their lives because you pay for it. That's right, you pay his salary, healthcare cost and the wonderful livelihood of his family. Don't be a sucker and buy into the idea these Republicans care, look back at the past 8 years, they didn't care then and they don't care now.

Pawlenty ...

Just another moron with a mouth

THE PARTY OF NO ... ideas

Do Republicans think independently or do they just follow orders to fall into the same old propaganda they spew out time and time again?

Pawlenty is void of brain cells. Come up something that works or shutup. Pawlenty's same old same old has not worked and will not work. Hard to distinguish Pawlenty, Palin, and Romney they are all equally brain dead.

the GOP just doesn't get it.

we can just keep passing this debt along. Let our children and grandchildren worry about it.

Obama, Pelosi, Reid, keep spending!

Pawlenty is missing the whole picture. How then can he expect to be relevant? Vouchers? Seriously? Does he know how much health insurance costs? Does he know how much a doctor charges these days, especially a specialist? How about hospital charges and prescriptions? I wonder how he feels about spending money on war, or the greedy sob's on Wall Street in the name of capitalism. Want to bet he thinks that's ok?

Very good advice Gov. Pawlenty, but HRH and his administration think they know what is best for this country, all the while they destroy.

I have my own concerns about the massive spending that is taking place in this country but it is ironic that the Gov. of a state that can't elect a Senator is trying to tell the President of the US about spending.

quit your whinning Pawlenty. I would never take advice from one the idiots that got us into the mess we are in. Obama is trying to fix what eight years of republican stupidity have brought us.