Obama's Wall Street response rated best

Sounds to me as if those pundits on the right better start doing a better job of selling this crisis as a problem brought on by the democrats. All that evil minorities forcing banks to give them bad loans just isn't cutting it. The American people aren't as stupid as the republicans like to believe. 6 years in total power give you one other thing.....accountability!

Obama and McCain both support this bailout. I don't see much difference between their positions.

This whole thing disgusts me. I am not a Wall Street fat cat who mortgaged his company's future with irresponsible loans, nor am I an irresponsible debtor who borrowed more money than I could afford. I am just one of the millions expected to pay for it.

Bush, McCain can run. But they cant hide anymore.

What ever congress does to try and fix our stunning economic catastrophe needs to be done very carefully. Congress needs to take their time, and be sure of what they are doing. Whatever is done needs to be sharply focused at helping, and protecting the best interest of the ordinary Americans. In particular the vast American middle class. 700 billion dollars is a lot of the peoples money to spend to bail out a bunch of corrupt Bush loan sharks.

When have you ever known any government plan, or project to only cost what the government said it would. Remember the war in Iraq. Bush and his so-called advisers said it would only cost you about 80 billion dollars. But we now know that the war in Iraq will cost you, and your children, and your grand children over a trillion dollars, and still counting.

So if 80 billion can end up costing you over a trillion dollars. How much could 700 billion end up costing you. Any math wizards out there. I come up with 9 trillion...:-(

My fellow human beings, just as I warned you ahead of this catastrophic economic meltdown, I must now warn you that what is ahead has the potential to be even more catastrophic than what we are going through now. The worlds geopolitical landscape has been booby trapped by the Bush McCain administration and their republican allies in congress. These booby traps are poised to spring at any time.

Fortunately the Worlds Nations have been blessed with many excellent leaders (except the US) who have been careful, wise, strong, and self-restrained in dealing with the provocations, and antagonism's of the Bush, McCain administration.

Barack Obama and the democrats are your best hope now. Tell your family, friends, and everyone you know to support them as best you can, and vote for them like your life, and the lives of your loved ones depends on it. Because it does. You will not survive 4 more years of Bush McCain.

JACK SMITH - WORKING CLASS...

I'm with Herb, none of this helps most of us at all. Democrats and Republicans politcians are lining up to hand out tax dollars to all their buddies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5tZc8oH--o

Learn about the financial meltdown.

Absolutely MUST SEE video! Everyone should see it, and share it!

THE BAILOUT

W.I.I.F.M.(what's in it for me), On Main Street?

Wait.. What? The majority of Americans DO NOT want this bill, yet support the Dems in the house more than the Repubs? Huh.. Makes you wonder how much people actually know about the situation..

Anyway, let's face it, both parties want the bailout.

Nader-Gonzales 08!

let's start over again with Washington,
Jefferson,Lincoln and Roosevelt.

I am a businessman. I am not pleased that Obama has been given an even chance to be elected. What I most fear is that once elected he will confiscate that which isn't his for redistribution to others. I fear that he is an American Chavez. The media has not done its job and will be incredibly regretful if Obama is elected, like those in Venezualia are right now. A free press needs to have an active brain which is currently missing.

Most Americans couldn't tell you what the crisis is, let alone what the cause was and who enabled this to happened.

Bill R - Sometimes the fact are difficult to shake - lonas made to those who could not afford them, those were packaged by Fannie & Freddis as investments sold to banks as risk-less investments. Their are a lot of fingerprints on this, on both sides, but the vast majority of the fingerprints do belong to the democrats - sorry Billy, but those are the facts.

What the GOP has a failure to do is to communicate these facts at a level that the undereducated American public can understand.

I guess I was watching a different debate. What was so special about the Illinois senator's statements about Wall Street? McCain made a mistake by not driving home the fact that it was his intercession that gave House GOP members the ability bring some sanity to the table. Obama said virtually nothing substantive but in an intelligent way.

To anybody who can stand back and examine these two men it's obvious Barack Obama is a decent person. But I hope other voters like me are concerned about who is behind him calling the shots.

This little love affair the media has with Oprahama only shows the clink in their collective armor. The media refuses to criticize the great baloney slicer in spite of overwhelming evidence of wrongdoing. Please take your 'political correctness' and get on the bike, the free press has turned into 'if I pay you enough money, will you continue to say great things about me'?

Barack
didnt
have
a
response
to
Wall
Street.
He
was
just
at
the
beach
practicing
for
the
debate!!

Today, McCain spoke in Ohio, touting the suspension of his campaign to rush to Washington to lead on the financial crisis while Obama phoned in his assistance. Please! He used just about every one of Obama's campaign phrases, "It's not about me, this election is about you!" "We need to reform the status quo in Washington!" "That's real change!" Does the old guy ever have an original thought?
No one likes the bailout. No one is happy about being saddled with more foreign debt. No one. The trouble is, if the U.S. doesn't do something now, everyone suffers- a lot. Already restaurants, car dealerships, small businesses can't get the loans they need to meet their payrolls, purchase inventory, and meet their overhead. Tight or no credit causes a snowball effect- more job loss, no purchasing power, more bankrupcy.
Where is the outrage towards Bush? He and his appointees let this go, hoping that the market would self-correct, and they were wrong. Why isn't anyone pointing out McCain's votes for deregulation that allowed the fat cats to prosper while the economy went down? Why isn't anyone talking about McCain's history of close ties to lobbyists throughout his career? He's still getting a pass from the media, and it's infuriating.

When the regulators came to Washington and told lawmakers Fannie and Freddie were in trouble;
guess what group accused the regulators of being racist, incorrect.

So the people who pay their bills will now being paying the bills of those who can't pay their bills.

"We shall destroy you from within!" -- Nikita Krushchev, during the Kitchen Debate, 1959

The "within" is occurring.

I will admit that Barack Obama did better in the debate than I expected he would.

He came across as knowledgeable.

However, McCain came across as both knowledgeable and wise. His wisdom is born out of experience -- something Barack Obama is sorely lacking.

McCain '08

Sooner or later the public will realize that this financial mess happens under the watch of the Democratic-controlled Congress. At least John McCain came back to Washington to work on a solution. Where was Obama?

Looks like a typo or bad info. Republican Leaders with 41 (in article) If truly 41 they are better than McCain and that paragraph removed.

McCain didn't go to Washingto work on the problem -- he had no place in any of the committees who had the authority to put together a deal. McCain had no reason to BE in Washington until good 'ol GWB called that ridiculous meeting together, just to save McCain's behind. Everyone involved said that having McCain and Obama there would just be a distraction.

And this problem did NOT just happen in the last year & a half. It has been going on for years, and is simply because of the fight for deregulation of which McCain was smack dab in the middle.

We should be angry at both McCain and Obama!

http://www.boppoll.com

Man I need some stress relief. This is crazy.

The fact remains that IF nothing is done, our economy and our country will fall apart.

Imagine no credit cards working.

Imagine no debit cards working.

Imagine not getting paid.

Imagine not receiving your monthly Social Security benefits.

Imagine not being able to buy a car, or a home.

Am I extreme? NO...just seeing what the future could be like and it's not a pleasant sight.

The Republican house just rejected the Republican president liquidity solution to a republican created problem. Can this realy get any stupider?

Most Americans couldn't tell you what the crisis is, let alone what the cause was and who enabled this to happened....

Posted by: Terry | September 29, 2008 1:12 PM
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We are of the same mind. We have reached the point where the American public is just totally beyond understanding something of this complexity. Barack Obama has done absolutely NOTHING to resolve this problem one way or the other.

Anyone who believes that he has is just ready to believe anything. We have a hopelessly un-informed / ill-informed electorate.

As to the point of this thread, a poll of the American people doesn't prove that the people actually know anything about this problem. Financial literacy in this country is woeful – as are reasoning skills and civics. Note that 68 percent of the American people disapprove of GW Bush's handling of the matter. Yet only 51 percent disapprove of Paulson's actions. A large number of people are obviously reacting simply to names. If they like the person, or don't really know who he is, or don't understand that Paulson works for Bush, then they state an opinion based on personal like or dislike, not on facts or the official's actual conduct in this matter. Based on just looking at the numbers, I'd guess that those who are going to vote for Obama simply said they liked Obama's response because it was Obama's response, not because Obama's response was more correct than anyone else's. Likewise, a large number of Republicans likely said they like McCain's response simply because he is the GOP nominee. But I think there is a lower number of those in the GOP camp than in that of the Democrats this year.

I'll ask it again, what POLICY does Barack Obama have for the economy? Other than more taxes and more government programs (he added some more when asked what he'd cut during the debate). How will increasing spending save the economy? Can anyone figure this out, because from his comments I sure can't!

I am 58 years old and grew believing that we should trust our leaders. The last eight years We have been lied to and taken advantage of by the very people that we as a nation have elected to lead the government of the United States of America. Our standard of living has decreased and I sincerely believe that my daughter will never enjoy the rights, freedoms and liberty that we used to cherish.

Tad, yes, their names are Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer! Search youtube for "Fannie Mae hearings" and you'll hear Barney Frank saying how there's "no crisis" at Fannie Mae and how republicans such as Christopher Shays are continuously shouted down by people like Maxine Waters as they defend the corrupt former Fannie Mae CEO, Frankllin Raines. Raines caused this. Watch as he says the mortgage-backed securities Fannie was selling have "almost no risk." Be appalled like I was.
Who is Franklin Raines, only OBAMA'S TOP ECONOMIC ADVISOR!
And don't forget former Countrywide Mortgage CEO Jim Johnson, who headed the committee to pick Obama's running mate.Open your eyes, people, this crisis has Obama written all over it. Don't let your anger at Bush cloud your judgement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

This whole idea that subprime loans to minorities is what has caused this crisis is absolutely ludicrous. Look at where the houses are being foreclosed...and whose! Fannie and Freddie do not issue a single loan. But they do act as guarantors and buyers of mortgages.

So who was making these loans? Banks, who are interested in a profit, of course! And considering how hot the real estate market had been in the run up to this crisis, it only stood to reason that banks did not want the ride to end. And the proliferation of unregulated mortgage backed derivatives allowed the risk of bad loans to be spread to a wide sector of the economy.

But it is the original lenders who should have been acting as the gatekeepers. Instead, seeking higher profits, these lenders took greater risks. And now we are saddled with the mess - but there is no choice except to bail them out. This is no longer a crisis confined to the mortgage industry, but now impacts the economic well being of all of us, even those who do pay on time and contributed nothing to the problem.

Tad @ 4:53PM, what we're witnessing is the expansion of Socialism into our country. It's Modern Liberalism run amok. This has been going on for the more than 8 years, it's just that the bursting of the tech bubble under Clinton plus 9/11 has exposed it more.

Bush hasn't been a good Conservative. Congress is full of Modern Liberals and we can see that their ratings are in the single digits.

Obama represents the worst of these forces. McCain isn't perfect, but he's much better.

What we need is leadership and that means some serious Conservative elements. Modern Liberalism means despair and hopelessness like what has happened to the Liberal-torn inner cities. It's just spreading now.

Neither he nor McCain really has any say in the matter. Plus, if this is supposed to be a once every 100 years type of event, this is predictive of virtually nothing.

Let’s put this in perspective:

Obama by doing NOTHING… Is best(?)
The House democrats agreeing to give money with no strings attached to the corrupt that got us there… Are better(?)
The House republicans which challenged the President and Democrats in Congress… Are bad(?)
McCain who acted responsibly and suspended his campaign to do his job… I worse(?)

What’s even worse… If the polls truly present a picture of how a cross section of Americans feel; The American Voters are a bunch of ignorant idiots that may get what they deserve; Obama and Depression. Unfortunately the rest of us will have to come along for the ride. You liberal freaks… What have you done with our country?

Now to the question of who got us here?
Well the Democrats… Starting with Internet Stock bubble (greed by investors)… Changes in regulations in 1992… Greenspan and all the flunkies in Congress (both Republicans and Democrats) that didn’t want to admit that we had a problem back then… Flunkies at FM&FM… SEC… The financial sector CEOs who didn’t have the guts to let the American public know that we were heading into to this meltdown… Until finally one of them decided that he couldn’t keep it a secret any more and then the rest of the Lemming CEOs followed. Now everyone is in shock?

Now it is time to fix things and we have partisan politics getting in the way.

Like Obama's plan best? What plan? He isn't even in D.C. working on one, earning his salary along with working on a plan. President by default? Oh, please, no!!!! Nobama!

Why should I have to pay for the failure of parents who have not taught their children life skills? Skills such as a balanced checkbook, paying your bills on or before the due date, how to make wise financial decisions, not borrowing more that you can pay back. America raises children of greed, want for the next new thing all bought on unsecured credit. We can blame political parties, financial institutions, government, etc... However, parents are the one to blame for not mentoring their children concerning making wise life/financial decisions.

Obama has no plan and people like his plan best. Unbelievable. How can no plan be the best plan? Obama has managed to do what he does best. He has kept himself out of the bailout plan by keeping in contact with Washington by phone while not saying whether or not he will support the plan. When asked, he said he would probably vote for it. This is a very important, but controversial, issue. He's doing just as he did when he was in the Illinois senate -- playing it safe. As usual, he is getting away with playing both sides. All he has done to help this process along is lecture us with his words. He tells everyone to remain calm, this needs to be fixed, and he blames McCain. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have placed Obama in a protective bubble so that he won't have to do anything to anger his supporters.

If he wins, he will continue to do this because he won't take the chance to get on the wrong side of any issue. After all, he will have to keep his record clean for when he runs for re-election. Obama loves Obama. Obama only worries about Obama.

Why did local,state and federal agencies want to take guns away from us Americans,just stop what your doing and take a look around.

Mr. Obama will be elected president and will be the most unprepared for the job in the history of the Country. God save us all.

For those of you who think Obama had a hand in the Wall Street disaster OPEN YOUR EYES and QUIT BEING SHEEP. This was caused by the financial markets being deregulated by the Bush Administration. Fat Cats getting Fatter and squeezing the Middle Class Again

If you don't understand why people rated Obama higher than McCain, it may be because you have not read the question correctly.

"Next, please say whether you approve or disapprove of the way each of the following has responded to the problems on Wall Street."

It does not ask about what wither candidate said in the debate. It does not ask about either candidate's economic plan. It did not ask how well the respondents understood the problem.

It just asked what people thought about the repsponses to the crisis.

Barack Obama responded by keeping abreast of the situation, but keeping out of the way. John McCain responded by inserting himself into the crisis.

Clearly, people thought Obama's response was thoughtful and prudent, while McCain's was thoughtless and reckless. In uncertain times, people want a leader who thinks before he acts.

That's why Obama is pulling ahead in the polls. People have grown tired of watching their leaders react without thinking.

*** TRUTH CHECKER ***

If John McCain had been ahead in this survey, The Swamp would not have posted this story.

If you read this section on a regular basis, you can see the extreme pro-Obama bias on a regular basis.

*** ***

Wake-up people! This problem was created by the Democrats and now, Pelosi & Frank want to try to correct it. Pelosi had the "nerve" to try to blame it on Bush! Does she thing that all the people are STUPID? She should be stopped and investigated as well as all the others(Dodd, Schumer,Frank, Reid). Obama has the "crook" from Fannie & Freddie as his political adviser! What is wrong with this picture? Obama is as crooked as the rest of the Illinois politicians. He has "no" plan. I see him as our Chavez.

Brian although I agree with your assessment of the younger generation... I believe that it all starts from society's deteriorating values and greed not just parents. Parents are having a difficult time of it these days. We have turned our citizens from country first to "I" first and only.

Brian how's this for a country first solution? All highschool graduates or dropouts HAVE to serve 2 years of country service. Options:
1. Armed forces
2. Guard
3. Coast Guard

Once done with service, we would help them with their education expenses.

McCain can't admit he was wrong about Iraq, and still gets testy at the though of re-deployment of troops to Afghanistan. Then he's tight with all the lobbyists (and Big Oil) and supported deregulation of a now greedy and corrupt Corporate America. If McCain supported Bush's failing policies NINETY PERCENT of the time that makes him only 10% Maverick. That's not change! Out with the old in with the new, elect Obama-Biden in 08!

America is so over-focused on the Executive Branch of our government. It would seem the Office of President is responsible for everything bad and nothing good. It takes all blame whether from Congress and the media. When do we realize the Executive Branch certainly makes mistakes and in many cases is the source of our problems, but… the real problem is Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate. We all know how bad and ineffective they are. How they politicize every infinitesimal detail. How they have paralyzed the country in every way over each parties ever widening and more virulent ideology. To me it seems we as a nation are now made up of two diabolically opposed and almost irreconcilable and incompatible mindsets. Is it time for another Tea Party? We can throw out a President because that office maxes out after 8-years, but these buzzards stay perched in Washington for the most part their lifetime. We need a simple scorecard that everyone can see what these people do or rather don’t do for us, because they lie to us and we are so gullible and uninformed we buy into what they spew about themselves. They are never held to account. Never take real blame. They always push blame elsewhere. When do we throw these do-nothing, law-educated wasters out? Oh, then they want to run for President. How is it possible for the Legislative Branch of our government to enact a bill that would limit their own time in office? Yes – we need a new president. But we desperately need a new Congress that is refreshed at least every 4-8 years. How can we ever expect “REAL CHANGE” in Washington when they never “REALLY CHANGE”?

This Gallup poll is so fake--In my book they are completely irrelevant. Just what difference has Obama made on the bailout or any other negotiations. He's also irrelevant.

America has failed the standard test of leadership with the failure of this bailout. With 1.2 trillion dollars now at stake.....America should rescind its position as a worl economic leader...like the USSR's socialist policies, they have proved that even free market principles do not work.

"Sooner or later the public will realize that this financial mess happens under the watch of the Democratic-controlled Congress"

Oh yes, because all of this started in 2006.

It’s called LEADERSHIP. Barack “ACORN” Obama continues his well established characteristic of voting “PRESENT”, while McCain, who had earlier warned the Congress of this eventuality, has been visibly out front trying to cooperate on the construction of a prudent “bail-out” measure. Notice that Obama consistently lags in his offering of any sustentative policy proposals; and, AFTER-THE-FACT rides to the rhetorical rescue. What a FARCE. It's of note that Obama's Congressional Black Caucus voted against the bailout proposal. Hillary Clinton frequently nailed Obama on his inability to demonstrate essential qualities of leadership; but, the MSM continued to cover for Obama. Greg Neubeck