Obama: 'One-term proposition' if no fix

I just watched that Matt Lauer interview of the president, and I was struck by how casually unprofessional Lauer was in speaking with the president. I didn't vote for Obama, but he is our president now, and that comes with some level of respect and decorum, which should, especially, be demonstrated by members of the press. Matt crossed the line. Big time.

So he's saying that he's laying the groundwork for a Lyndon Johnson-esque non-run in 2012? Yeah, I'm sure the markets will LOVE hearing that. Great leadership.

So what? "Prez B.O." has a high-paying job and an excellent pension, regardless. Why isn't he crowd-sourcing more ideas from the Americans most in need of economic recovery: people who've run out of unemployment compensation?

The level of candor here is remarkable, and refreshing. You wouldn't have seen this with W ("Gas Prices $4/gallon - I didn't say that!") or, most likely, Senator McCain. However, I agree - action need be followed by success! And that will be tougher!

An intelligent and observant assessment on the perils before him.

Perish the thought, but, I agree with McCian when he says the problem began in the housing market and that is where we need to address it. Good business sense would dictate that the banks would be better off if they negotiated with clients facing foreclosure than actually foreclosing. When the house goes on the block, they are recieving basically nothing for these homes. One of the problems with this is these loans have been sold over and over and in many cases the note holder is not even known.

My anxiety is soaring. The current crisis facing our country has created a crisis of identity for all people, including the politicians. ..........

http://thefiresidepost.com/2009/02/02/identity-confusion/

In 2001, when Bush took over the Clinton recession, the left wing media and the pundits immediately blamed Bush for it. So, it follows that this is the Obama Depression. Fair is fair.

Of course he can make that statement, whether he uses an economic stimulus or not, this economy will naturally turn around in the next 4 years. Ridiculous assesment on his part.

Outrage over wall street? Where is the outrage over politicians who take their money, then hand our tax dollars over to them? And the politicians who take money from Fannie and Freddie, from corporations, from unions. It's the politicians who are our enemy, and handing our children's money over to the politicially connected.

One term with Obama will be more than enough for America andf his CHANGE
and for sure his advisors stink, especially having two tax cheats in his Cabinet.

So much for an Ivy League education. So many on Wall Street, the US Treasury, our top positions of political power, and most of the leadership are products of supposedly to top universities in the country (mostly Ivy League universities). Not only did these "geniuses" lead us into this mess, they do not have a clear plan as to how to get us out of it. Just goes to show, all of that high tuition really did not give these people any greater ability that those who went to small colleges or state universities.

Madison,

Regarding your above statement, to whom are you referring? What left wing media and which pundits? The only thing I can recall is left wing pols saying that tax cuts were a bad idea during a recession. I can't name anyone of relevance who "blamed" Bush for the Clinton recession.

No, but I can blame bush for the deficit, the educational system (a.k.a. the failure of No Child Left Behind to be anything more than a catchy title), the trillions spent to attack a country which did not actually attack the U.S. or its' allies, the thousands of deaths of proud military folks to went to fight an unnecessary war, the amazing lack of bi-partisanship in D.C., the "with us or against us" mentality, Gitmo, Guantanamo, intervening in the Terry Schiavo case, attempting to appoint Harriet Meyers to the supreme court, sticking by Michael Brown after Katrina, and ignoring relevant and frightening intelligence in the summer of 2001 which stated that Al Queda was going to attack the U.S. in the immediate future.

So yes. Let's blame Clinton for having an affair and having a recession. But let's blame Bush for his seemingly endless mistakes which have led us to America's worst economic standing since the great depressions.

Fair is fair, right?

American's have gotten so used to political spin that they don't appreciate an honest assessment by a competent, intelligent, results driven man. He's been in office now only 12 days and I beleive has done more in his first 12 days in office than Bush did in his first 100. And I believe I recall that Bush inherited a surplus and a growing economy from Clinton and managed to turn it into a deficit and a shrinking economy by the time he left office. President Obama deserves some breathing room to address this horrific state of our nation and I for one want to give it to him.

I am so very happy that after 8 years of a president who couldn't even admit he had made a single mistake, we have one who is willing to step up to the plate and take responsibility for something.

Good luck president Obama in fixing the Bush depression. God speed my friend.

Jeff: The implication was not that he will not run, but that he would not be re-elected if the economy wasn't any better.

Frankly, I find his forthrightness refreshing and his calm demeanor gives me calm, as well. Unlike 'W' who "demanded" respect through his tough-talk, shoot first ask questions later mentality; Whereas President Obama "commands" respect.

President Obama realizes the task set before him and knows the challenges ahead. His calm demeanor is absolutely what we need right now.

So much for change and I have a plan. Same old faces, no plan and crooks running the country. Thanks.

O"BAMA - you made a lot of
promises to the American people and they trusted you and voted you into office.
Already we see you have chosen a few of the worst
LOBBYISTS for your cabinet
and other jobs.
Already we see that your promise of not signing anything until it has been in
the public's sight for at least
five days....
IS THIS ANOTHER PROMISE LIKE THOSE??

Duh.

Why doesn,t anyone talk about the fact a minimum of 10 million Illegal,s have work, while 10 mil. citizen,s don,t. They don,t just cut lawn,s and pick tomatoe,s. Yes, there are alot of job,s some people wouldn,t do , not anywhere near 10 mil. Construction has alway,s been backbone of this country, As a carpenter for 25 yr.s the industry is pathetic, because of cheap labor ,and greed, and now with the economy in shamble,s contr.s are more likely than not to use ILLegal,s because ther are disposable in many way, s like no taxes, no unemployment no worker, scomp and when they don,t need the help the just say see ya, or i,ll call megre. And now what do you do with the one,s and ther family,s that can,t even get cheap work. God Help Us All Where Gonna NEED IT. sign, we are screwed and we did it to ourself,s

How about Obama outrage over his own cabinet appointees not paying their taxes?

If these Harvard guys can't get it right, I don't think an Idaho hockey mom will be a fix in 2012

Ref-
Duh.

Posted by: middleclass | February 2, 2009 11:10 AM

Does this mean DUD ?

What a waste of an interview. You expect this out of the Today show/Katie Curic.

Your mother in law lives with you- whats that like?

Enough of the personal questions, yes he is half black, yes his mother in law lives with them, yes his kids go to private schools and he tucks them in great- we get it.

Now ask about why he nominated Richardson and he had to back out. Ask about 2 cabinet appointees with tax issues. Ask why he is bringing Hillary and Emmanuel back? Ask why these recycled Clintons and appointees with ethics issues are any kind of "change" he promoted in his campaign.

Enough with the BS questions, and the infatuation with a first black president...on to the tough questions. Go ask starlets some questions if you are going to sit there in awe and toss easy softball questions.

Step up next time- what a waste of an opportunity.

The press still has a long way to go before it can claim the public's trust.

Poor reporting PERIOD!

Too much infatuation or disdain for politicians. Too much favortism, not enough intellectual discussion, just name calling, screaming "reporters, opinionators" seeking face time on tv.

Stop the storytelling, seek the truth.

"Journalism is publishing what someone doesn't want us to know, the rest is propaganda." - Horacio Verbitsky

If Obama can't show the economy with some kind of change for the better in 4 years, he doesn't deserve my vote or anyone else's. I don't think, however, that he'll necessarily CURE all its ills by then, and I'm not going to hold him to that. We took a long time to get here; a lot of individuals on both sides of the political spectrum and a lot of BODIES of people on both sides of the spectrum were involved in getting us here, and the problems are complex and deeply entrenched. We're going to be working through the solution for a long, long time. Still, I think things can IMPROVE much sooner than that.

Man, what a weak statement from a seriously weak "leader"!

All the democrats who voted for this guy? Thanks a LOT!

I knew this guy was an empty suit, a no nothing, know nothing, loser, but 13 days in, and he already knows his goose is cooked!

Well, don't blame me, I voted for Sarah Palin!

This is just another example of the media bias attitude on Obama. Sissy faced Lauer and his nonsense he calls real reporting. Obama has done nothing for the people in the US. Appointing tax evaders, terrorist lovers and giving them free passes, he didn't even read this stimulus bill wrote up by Pelosi. He just signed it! This is what 53% of the people voted for?No transparency, no accountability.

obama is failing. big time . this just after one week. serves us right for electing an empty suit for mainly symbolic reasons forgetting his utter lack of experience and weak leadership qualities.

He's finished, there is no way his huge "Stimulate the Democrats Bill" is going to do anything but dig the hole deeper. Of course, the bill does contain billions for the voter fraud bunch ACORN, so he may be depending on them to pull his chestnuts out of the fire for him in 2012. I don't think they are even going to be able to do it, because by 12 most people will have figured out that 0bama is nothing more than media hype, a hot air balloon, and the media won't be able to generate enough hot air to keep him afloat for 4 years.

Palin 2012

Don't sweat it, Mr. President. You've got the cover of the mainstream media. You're too big to fail.

It's amazing how for 8 years these bozos can defend the absolute disaster called Bush. They refuse to admit the disaster of Iraq...the disaster in Afghanistan due to taking our eye off for Iraq...torture....the economy...and after 14 days, right on cue, the ankle biters claim the world is ending. The great and pwerful Rush has spoken. All hail "the bloated one"...my messiah!

A reasonable person would of course expect the turn around to take some time. This is all very complex and indeed the President has just taken the reins so I would be inclined to cut him some slack.

I am such a reasonable person. BUT, wait, reason and temperance were not the language from the OBAMA CAMPAIGN's HOPE! CHANGE! If they knew they couldn't promise unicorns, then why did they do it? No other campaign would've been idiotic enough to make irresponsible promises, but they promised the world would sooo love this new president, that peace will instantly reign as the US improves its world standing.. No, Obama, based on your own campaign promises, of course there's a silver bullet to fix the economy--you said so throughout your campaign, that you can fix anything. You mean you LIED? you OVERHYPED and cannot deliver your PROMISES?

That;s what happens when Obama irrationally made promises he can't keep--he ends up disappointing so many who now feel betrayed that he can't deliver on his own self-described MESSIANIC powers. What, can't he tap into that messiah power? I mean, the media basically promised he's the CHOSEN ONE who can part oceans. Obama described HIMSELF as the chosen one, how narcissistic. So no, Obama, I will not cut you any slack because I am holding you to your election promises. And based on your promised timeline and promises of hope, change and unicorns, you are already failing at the presidency.

What a clown. His stimulas bill is so run of th mill old politics. The only ones stimulated by this bill is the old cronies and their pork. I challenge any of these clowns incuding the president to make this a truly stimulas bill as it was intended. ( forgive my spelling)

OBAMA WHERE IS THE CHANGE

NEW BOSS SAME AS THE OLD BOSS

There is no line a reporter can cross with BO. He fipped his own middle finger up on his face when talking about Hillary months into last year and again when congratulating mccain.

It is very hard to respect the office when one unworthy of that respect resides in it.

I voted for Obama because I believed that he would change Washington and get rid of the corrupt remanents of the Bush administration, but like others, I am having buyer's remorse.

I cannot understand why he would call it a stimulus package when there are very few things that will get the economy going.

From what is in the "package" it will be worse for the U.S. economy since it will not stimulate the economy, but increase debt and devalue the dollar even more than Bush did.

Also, I do not know why he is nominating the people that he is nominating. This is not the Obama that I and others voted for.

I am suprised that after only 12 days Obama is willing to admit that he has no plan and no clue what he is doing. On the job training is not going so well, so much for Harvard huh. Didn't people try to point out before the election that this guy is not qualified?? Four years will be way to long to have Obama in office. Plus he'll probably show up for his next interview in gym shorts. I notice Obama does not believe in dressing for success. Maybe he will admit defeat,and just "keep the change". We'll all be better off.

I don't feel sorry for the heat the "ONE" is getting over the lack of stimulus to the people.
He is already crying that people are picking on him like the child he is. Neither Russia nor Iran have respect for O.
As they "ONE"- if you have the talk, you better have the walk! It looks like you don't have the walk !

The Mittster will come after him in '12.

He'll pull out all that McKinsey/Bain Capital BS and tell us what a great business exec. he is and how that it really what is needed to get us out of the Depression.

When the Treasury has been looted by Bush and Paulson, that's a very deep hole to dig the country out of.

Don't expect any shovels from the Repuglicans.

It was very refreshing to hear the leader of U.S. speak in complete sentences and while these interviews can only vaguely cover the complexities of issues atleast they are no longer dyslexic and confusing.

Why does Obama look soo informal? Matt Lauer is more professional-looking than the POTUS. He is being interviewed as the President, he should look the part. He looks so young anyway, and to see him dressed so casually makes him look like the trainee that he is!

FuzzBall, Your first mistake was putting all your faith in Ivy Leaguers. I'm not biased anymore against Hockey Moms after these past 12 days. It's not that we don't think it could take longer than 4yrs to fix but like someone else said.....Obama raised the expectations to levels of near Messiahship.

"...There are rules of the road that people are going to abide by." Which road is that, Mr. Obama -- the road that leads to 'forgetting' to pay taxes and obfuscating key identity details, or the road the rest of us travel where such things are illegal?

"I'm going to be held accountable." You got that right, sir. Not by the sycophantic RINO's in Congress; certainly not by the adoring press or others who worship you -- for now, anyway -- but by the people who didn't drink the kool-aid; the nearly half the electorate who voted for someone else.

"If I don't have this done in three years, there's going to be a one-term proposition." Promises, promises!

Is this a threat..the rushing on the passage of this bill by you, Mr President..and the 17 member Lobbiest you put into office, gays in the military, aboration on demand..green money for lies about Gllobal Warming..Tax payers money given out to Bank and corporations at will..Tax Evadors kepted in office and promoted to jobs they have no clue about or expertise in..are you kidding, we can't as a country take another 4 years of you Mr Obama.

Now I know beyond a doubt that 0bama is lying. The stimulus will certainly worsen things, and 0bama will certainly forget his "promise" in 2012!

We need politicians with common sense, these elite ones have screwed up everything!

I don't know how forcing us to pay for condoms, abortions for foreigners, or bee insurance, or sod for their Mall, money to the arts, or give to ACORN etc. is going to make jobs!

I guess we are seeing what a community organizer actually does!

NO more tax cheats in DC!

Hey Todd, who do you think urged on the banks to make the risky loans that are causing the crisis today? Clinton. In his attempt to show that he cared, he basically bullied the banks into lowering their credit standards. Then he bragged how he was a hero and helped undeserving loan applicants get loans.
As for your needless war in Iraq. Well, I 've just witnessed a democratic election here in Iraq. I'm sure democracy doesn't matter to you, but to all of the people walking around with a purple finger, it matters.
Wasn't it Clinton who signed an Executive Order forbidding the CIA and the FBI from talking with each other in matters of national security? I believe these same terrorists tried to blow up the same World Trade Center when Clinton became president. Should I blame him? How about the embassy attacks? USS Cole? Maybe the Oklahoma bombing.

Get it through your heads, fanatical muslims attacks us for our liberties and freedoms, not because of who is sitting in the White House.

John Kyle, R-AZ, said on Fox News Sunday that the $800 billion bailout will cost $1.3 trillion with the interest payments. Where will the other $500 billion come from? We will have to borrow that for the same reason we have to borrow the $800 billion now! Politicians will not admit that interest payments are imaginary figures. No one creates them like the principle to a loan. Abe Lincoln printed "greenbacks" that weren't backed by gold or silver. Our Federal Reserve Notes aren't backed by gold or silver either, so why do the taxpayers have to borrow them just to pay interest?

All of a sudden I am for the unworkable and misnamed stimulus plan.

I'm glad PrezBO recognizes he will be a one term President, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Carter. Both are intelligent men, but neither has a clue as to how to revive the economy.

Certainly, you cannot throw bad money after good and expect a different result!

Please wake up and return to the ideas and principles that made this country great!

This country will NEVER recover until we return to the Constitutional guidelines that made this country great. The Constitution specifically states that the Federal government has "limited" enumerated powers (Article I, Section 8) with remaining powers delegated to the States (10th Amendment). To stimulate the economy fairly and responsibily, have the IRS reduce the Federal income tax rate for 2008 by 50% and increase state income rates by 50%. Let each state stand or fall based on their own competence without influence of other states' incompetence or corruption. NO TAX INCREASE, NO OUTSIDE CONTROL. It would also allow for more grassroot control on accountibility and responsibility. Each state has a better grasp on what will work in their own state based on local economic, social, and cultural needs. If Minnesota wants a skateboard facility, California wants a ban on gay marriages, or New Mexico wants their economy to revolve around illegal aliens...so be it. Don't dictate to US how we should spend our own money.
Finally, until both major parties admit that each has on their own "blinders" and have their own agendas geared to their own special interests there will always be deception.
Republican's WMD (Iraq War)=Democrats nanny-state. The American people need to wake up to the "false flags" offered by BOTH parties

The banks are in the mess they are in, because of fractional reserve banking. It is ponzi scheme. Banks only have to keep 10% of cash on hand of the amount that they loan out. Fall below that 10% and you are insolvent (hint-WAMU, BEAR STEARNS, etc). If you or I did that, we would be put in jail for fraud. Saving money is bad for the economy? What? You don't spend your way out of bankruptcy. The Fed was created to stop this from happening, and are responsible for the mess we are in. End the Fed. The SEC couldn't stop Enron, and couldn't stop Madoff, so what good are they. More regulation is not the answer. Holding people accountable for fraud is. When the people realize the emporer has no clothes, and that the $ is not backed by anything but a printing press, the dollar will crash. Hold on folks we're in for a long ride. The new boss looks a lot like the old boss.

RON PAUL IS MY PRESIDENT!!!

Let's hope the hope-a-dope is out in four years. Keep the 'change'.

I thought his remarks were especially smart for our 1st Kenyan president.
Good job 'O'

Of course it will fail--it's Soviet style "economics". The socialist dems are more concerned that it doesn't go to evil "white males" than they are about spurring commerce. Besides, they hate capitalism--how the heck do you suppose they will fix something they loathe? It NEEDS TO FAIL FOR AMERICANS TO WIN and get business people back in power. These socialist leeches will drive us right into the dirt--some need to experience this before they'll understand the principles involved. 0bamarx MUST FAIL!

Obama Sucks!!!!!
those are all lies!
he'lll do nothing! ;)