by Mark Silva
"Employment is often the last thing to come back after a recession,'' President Barack Obama notes today, in his weekly address, the day after the Labor Department reported 9.8 percent unemployment in September, the highest rate since 1983..
With more than 7 million jobs lost since the start of the recession, the president says today, the report is "a reminder that "progress comes in fits and starts.'' That's what he said on the steps of the Rose Garden yesterday, returning from a failed Olympic mission in Copenhagen to face the unrelenting challenges at home.
Obama maintains that one of the biggest brakes on recovery is the rising cost of health insurance for those who have it, and the absence of coverage for the many millions lacking it. Yet the Republicans maaintain that Obama's health-care overhaul is part of a bigger "job-killing'' Democratic agenda that includes "cap and trade'' energy legislation that has cleared the House and is ramping up in the Senate now.
The way all of this plays out, and what the economy looks like one year from now, is certain to play a major role in the outcome of the 2010 midtern elections.
With the Senate Finance Committee wrapping up its package for health-care reform this week, all eyes will turn to the floors of the Senate and House this month, where conflicting plans will clash -- and where critics will warn that the plans which Democrats are proposing will burden the very small businesses which Obama insists he wants to help.
"These small businesses are the mom and pop stores and restaurants, beauty shops and construction companies that support families and sustain communities,'' he says in his radio and Internet address. "They're the small startups with big ideas, hoping to be the next Google, or Apple, or HP. Altogether, they create roughly half of all new jobs.
"As we move forward in the coming weeks, I understand that members of Congress from both parties will want to engage in a vigorous debate and contribute their own ideas. And I welcome those contributions. I welcome any sincere attempts to improve legislation before it reaches my desk. But what I will not accept are attempts to stall, or drag our feet. I will not accept partisan efforts to block reform at any cost....
"I am confident that we will pass reform this year, and help ensure that our entrepreneurs, our businesses, and our economy can thrive in the years ahead,'' the president says at the start of what promises to be a tough month on Capitol Hill.,
"Now,'' says Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) in the GOP's weekly address today, "at a time when both parties should be squarely focused on getting Americans back to work, Democrats are actually redoubling their efforts to implement job-killing policies that will stretch family budgets even further and pile more debt on our children and grandchildren.
"Making its way through Congress is a 'cap-and-trade' national energy tax that would increase electricity bills, raise gasoline prices, and ship more American jobs overseas,'' she warns. "Of course,'' she adds, "a costly government takeover of healthcare remains the centerpiece of Democrats' domestic agenda.''
See the president's address above, the Republican address below, and read both below the fold, here in the Swamp:
Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address, Washington, DC, October 3, 2009
When I took office eight months ago, our nation was in the midst of an economic crisis unlike any we'd seen in generations. While I was confident that our economy would recover, we know that employment is often the last thing to come back after a recession. Our task is to do everything we possibly can to accelerate that process.
And we've certainly made progress on this front since the period last winter when we were losing an average of 700,000 jobs each month. But yesterday's report on September job losses was a sobering reminder that progress comes in fits and starts, and that we will need to grind out this recovery step by step.
That's why I'm working closely with my economic team to explore additional options to promote job creation. And I won't let up until those who seek jobs can find them; until businesses that seek capital and credit can thrive; and until all responsible homeowners can stay in their homes.
It won't be easy. It will require us to lay a new foundation for our economy - one that gives our workers the skills and education they need to compete; that invests in renewable energy and the jobs of the future; and that makes health care affordable for families and businesses - particularly small businesses, many of which have been overwhelmed by rising health care costs.
This is something I hear about from entrepreneurs I meet - people who've got a good idea, and the expertise and determination to build it into a thriving business. But many can't take that leap because they can't afford to lose the health insurance they have at their current job.
I hear about it from small business owners who want to grow their companies and hire more people, but they can't, because they can barely afford to insure the employees they have. One small business owner wrote to me that health care costs are - and I quote - "stifling my business growth." He said that the money he wanted to use for research and development, and to expand his operations, has instead been "thrown into the pocket of healthcare insurance carriers."
These small businesses are the mom and pop stores and restaurants, beauty shops and construction companies that support families and sustain communities. They're the small startups with big ideas, hoping to be the next Google, or Apple, or HP. Altogether, they create roughly half of all new jobs.
And right now, they are paying up to 18 percent more for the very same insurance plans as larger businesses because they have higher administrative costs and less bargaining power. Many have been forced to cut benefits or drop coverage. Some have shed jobs or shut their doors entirely. And recent studies show that if we fail to act now, employers will pay six percent more to insure their employees next year - and more than twice as much over the next decade.
Rising health care costs are undermining our businesses, exploding our deficits, and costing our nation more jobs with each passing month.
So we know that reforming our health insurance system will be a critical step in rebuilding our economy so that our entrepreneurs can pursue the American Dream again, and our small businesses can grow and expand and create new jobs again.
That is precisely what the reform legislation before Congress right now will do. Under these proposals, small businesses will be able to purchase health insurance through an insurance exchange, a marketplace where they can compare the price, quality and services of a wide variety of plans, many of which will provide better coverage at lower costs than the plans they have now.
Small businesses won't be required to cover their employees, but many that do will receive a tax credit to help them pay for it. If a small business chooses not to provide coverage, its employees will receive tax credits to help them purchase health insurance on their own through the insurance exchange.
And no matter how you get your insurance, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny your coverage because of a pre-existing condition. They won't be able to drop your coverage if you get too sick, or lose your job, or change jobs. And we'll limit the amount your insurance company can force you to pay out of your own pocket.
By now, the urgency of these reforms is abundantly clear. And after long hours of thoughtful deliberation and tough negotiation, the Senate Finance Committee - the final congressional committee involved in shaping health care legislation - has finished the process of crafting their reform proposal.
As we move forward in the coming weeks, I understand that members of Congress from both parties will want to engage in a vigorous debate and contribute their own ideas. And I welcome those contributions. I welcome any sincere attempts to improve legislation before it reaches my desk. But what I will not accept are attempts to stall, or drag our feet. I will not accept partisan efforts to block reform at any cost.
Instead, I expect us to move forward with a spirit of civility, a seriousness of purpose, and a willingness to compromise that characterizes our democratic process at its very best. If we do that, I am confident that we will pass reform this year, and help ensure that our entrepreneurs, our businesses, and our economy can thrive in the years ahead.
Thanks
Remarks of Rep. Candice S. Miller
provided by the Republican National Committee
Hello, I'm Congresswoman Candice Miller and I am very proud to represent Michigan's Tenth Congressional District.
Yesterday, the federal government reported that hundreds of thousands of Americans were laid off during the month of September.
All told, our economy has lost roughly 3 million private-sector jobs since President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trillion-dollar 'stimulus' plan became law.
At the time, the people of Michigan were told this so-called 'stimulus' would create jobs in our state immediately, more than 100,000 of them. Well, now local economists say we are on track to lose 300,000 jobs just this year alone.
And while the American people were promised that the 'stimulus' would prevent unemployment from rising above 8 percent, it's now teetering on the verge of 10%. And in Michigan, our unemployment rate is the nation's highest at 15.2%.
It didn't have to be this way.
Republicans offered better ideas to help working families and small businesses across our country weather this storm.
In fact, according to a formula created by one of President Obama's senior economic advisers, our economic recovery plan would have created twice the jobs at half the cost.
Our plan is based on the belief that fast-acting tax relief is the most effective way to put our economy back on track. It focuses on helping small businesses create jobs, not spending more taxpayer dollars to expand government.
And now, at a time when both parties should be squarely focused on getting Americans back to work, Democrats are actually redoubling their efforts to implement job-killing policies that will stretch family budgets even further and pile more debt on our children and grandchildren.
Making its way through Congress is a 'cap-and-trade' national energy tax that would increase electricity bills, raise gasoline prices, and ship more American jobs overseas.
According to the Obama Administration's own estimates, this national energy tax would cost American households an extra $1,700 per year. There could not be a worse time to heap additional pain on families struggling to make ends meet.
Of course, a costly government takeover of healthcare remains the centerpiece of Democrats' domestic agenda.
And when I say 'costly,' I mean for you and for your families. Washington Democrats intend to fund their government-run health care plan with cuts to Medicare benefits for seniors and massive new taxes on small business owners.
Republicans have offered fiscally-responsible solutions that address these serious challenges head-on while protecting American jobs instead of putting them at risk.
You know, Washington Democrats' job-killing agenda makes me think they are living on a different planet from the families living in America's suffering heartland.
In Macomb County, Michigan, where I am from, you can feel the anxiety. Our seniors have had no choice but to put off long-planned retirements and continue working while our children - our very future - are moving away in search of a job, any job.
This isn't the change the American people were promised. Republicans hope that the President and Speaker Pelosi will put aside their job-killing agenda and help promote policies to get Americans working again. I'm Congresswoman Candice Miller. Thanks for listening.
Comments
Election day to get rid of this guy cannot come too fast.
To all of a sudden say that jobs are DEPENDENT on THEIR healthcare bill passing is silly. What this says is he doesn't care about jobs.
Hundreds of thousands of people keep losing their jobs every month; jobs should be his focus.
Posted by: Alz | October 3, 2009 11:51 AM
Anybody with half a mind can see that Obama's plans are costing tax payers money, and jobs. Now Obama wants to change Medicare so senior citizens will have to pay more, and get less. Don't even talk about the insurance companies in general will lose thousands of employees. No tort reform. No cost cutting measures will drive everyone's taxes up eventually.
Posted by: clarence | October 3, 2009 11:58 AM
Wasn't the stimulus package the cure to all of our employment woes? Oops.
Posted by: Drez | October 3, 2009 12:03 PM
"Wasn't the stimulus package the cure to all of our employment woes? Oops."
Inaccurate. The bill was full of tax give away's, and welfare programs. If you forgot, let me remind you, the Republicans wanted tax cut in there then didn't bother to vote for the stimulus plan. So, they already made sure it was dead or dying on arrival. Afterall, they want Obama to fail right? Obama needs to do the right thing- do what you have to do to make it work, forget this negotiation bolony that waters down the stimulus; that waters down the healhcare bills, that waters down energy bills. It is already clear why none of these programs are working- lack of effort. Nobody in Congress wants to be serious. And, the people of America suffers because of it. Yet, these clowns get re-elected every elections. Amazing!
Posted by: HmongRodneyKing | October 3, 2009 12:44 PM
God, he is so full of it. First unemployment wouldn't raise above 8% if congress passed his stimulus bill and now it'll go down if they allow him and his cronies to take over the healthcare system. How stupid, exactly, does he think the voters are?
Posted by: Jeff | October 3, 2009 12:49 PM
Oh please! Talk about grasping at straws. The current health care " reform" proposal simply isn't going over. Instead of pursuing it, mangled and amended, how about going back to the drawing board and coming up with something more of the nature of true reform of the industry? The lobbiers and campaign contributers might not like the result, but how about doing something truly in the best interest of the people instead of pleasing the money people? The drug and health insurance industries, huge political contributers, both above, and I'm sure under, the table, need to be reigned in, not to mention the rampant fraud and theft in the health care industry. I'm really tired of the congress bending over for big money special interests to the detriment of the people of this country. I'm also tired of our socialist President's efforts to increase the enforced charity involved in getting working middle class America to pay for health care, food, education and housing for, not the few unfortunate who fall on temporary hard times, but those who rely on the public dole for everything from cradle to grave and generation to generation. Start a new WPA; God knows there's plenty of infrastructure work needed in this country, and not all the Government money has to go to crooked, kickback paying contractors.
Posted by: Mike | October 3, 2009 12:53 PM
This health care reform bill is about neither health care nor reform. And it certainly ain't about jobs. Those in the industry are more likely to leave the field than work for the feds and their guidelines.
Posted by: Kris | October 3, 2009 12:59 PM
Now Obama ties healthcare reform to jobs. So does this mean that if the unemployment rate gets better in the next few months, then there is no need for healthcare reform? Once again, it shows that Obama can't make the case to the American public and just grabs on to anything. Can we expect to hear him ties healthcare reform to the war on terror next?
Posted by: Sam | October 3, 2009 1:32 PM
it is too late to say "i told you so", but, the president is linking anything and everything to the issue of health because he knows that is where everybody will feel the pain, like it or not. it does not matter who you are, you will feel the pinch when he links everything of importance to that issue, healthcare. this is our first robotic president, so get used to it, but, then maybe this will be it if we can bear it, this will be it for this century, maybe? the blackmail, the crime, the corruption now involved with healthcare is unprecedented, so this will be a lesson for the century if nothing else.
Posted by: estella m davis | October 3, 2009 1:35 PM
It's 8 years of the Bush&Cheney fringe's economic disasters, from the Iraqi War and Occupation to the Weasels on Wall Street versus President Obama's 8 months in office, stemming the decline that the Bush&Cheney fringe left in their wake !! No contest !! President Obama is already turning the economic decline around !! Next !!?
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | October 3, 2009 2:48 PM
I appears to me that if the President were to say the sky was blue, someone would say he is wrong. All the unemployment numbers are projections by economists. I just don't understand why the Republicans are so gleeful about people being out of work. In my opinion, the last administration hid the real numbers.
The representatives that applauded when the US did not get the chance to host the Olympics again are probably the first guys going on a "Fact Finding Tour" to South America in 2016. Governor Sanford can be their guide.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | October 3, 2009 3:13 PM
With more than 7 millions jobs lost and another 4 million that were promised by Nobama, I'd have to say thats a negative 11 millions jobs. So much for
stimulus. One last thing I hope all you union people that voted for this local
community organizer are still happy with your vote.
Posted by: Paul | October 3, 2009 3:26 PM
For common sense marketplace (what made America great in the first place) reforms, see the attached link:
http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare
Posted by: Terry | October 3, 2009 4:18 PM
Now jobs are dependant on the healthcare bill? Excuse me, where are all those shovel ready jobs and green jobs that he got all the money for?
Posted by: vla | October 3, 2009 4:34 PM
This Bush Recession is hurting all of us. The Republicans allowed the Bush Recession to take hold when they voted to give the wealthiest Americans huge tax breaks and when they decided to deficit spend a couple of eight year "wars". Never forget to thank a Bush, a Cheney or a Paulson during the ongoing decade for this Great Recession. No job? Thank a Bush, a Cheney and a Paulson. No house any more? Thank a Bush, a Cheney and a Paulson. No health insurance or no college tuition for your child anymore? You know who to thank. Pugs--you need to stop trying to hand off the Great Recession onto Obama. It has your fingerprints all over it.
*
Remember the Bush/Paulson TARP? Where is the money? Where is the 500 billion American dollars that Bernanke said disappeared to Europe? Remember credit card "reform"? All that brought was higher interest rates and worse credit for good individuals when banks cut credit cards to many customers who always paid on time. Government "reform" has been a loosing proposition lately. We have greedy and stupid legislators. Reform is just another word for getting robbed and screwed. No one has assured me yet that I will receive my same health coverage and not have to pay higher prices for health care. No one has promised that health insurance companies will not make higher profits once the gov't holds a gun to citizens' heads to force them to buy private health insurance coverage. Where will the new prisons be to house those who will not buy coverage? When Obama ran, I thought he ran for single payer. It was HRC who ran on putting a gun to everyones' head. This is BS.
*
Why did all the big banks fail at the same time in the same way? Big banks--too big to fail, and, as the political cartoon showed, too big to jail. No, I think they can all go to jail. The chances of it all happeneing at the same time in the same way was no coincidence. It was a planned takeover of the world and American Treasury. Americans got to pay more blood money into the world banks than any one else. Whoe asked American citizens if we wanted this?
Posted by: Vivian | October 3, 2009 5:08 PM
FITZ,
Instead of just spouting, why don't you get specific on the "Bush&Cheney fringe's economic disasters". Name the regulation or law that was enacted by the Bush administration that led to the recession.
ITS TIME FOR FITZ TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
Posted by: Terry | October 3, 2009 6:03 PM
Lochness,
No one is joyful that anyone is out of work. Your comment reminds me of everytime a casulaity count from Iraq, the libs would rejoice.
Your sky is blue example is a strawman.
The projections of eight % were done by BO's economists
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/04/video-romer-spins-the-unemployment-rise/
In your opinion, the last administration hid the real numbers - try some proof.
Vivian,
So those tax breaks for ALL income tax payers in 2003 were the cause of the recession that started in December, 2007?
Tell me what wars were the "eight" year wars? Afghanistan (the one the libs called the "good war") is now in its 8th year and Iraq has is now about 6.5 years old. The spending for those wars have nothing to do with the recession - caused by the housing bubble bursting.
No house any more, thank Bill Clinton -
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/30/business/fannie-mae-eases-credit-to-aid-mortgage-lending.html
The Bush/Paulson Tarp? Is that the one Senator/Canidate BO voted for?
We do have greedy and stupid legislators - see wwho has control of Congress.
You need to rexamine your facts.
Posted by: Terry | October 3, 2009 6:24 PM
To all of the Bush bashers:
I'm not a George Bush fan, but he and the Republicans aren't the only ones to blame for the economic mess and spending money on a war. You see, there is this little group called Congress that has to approve all of this stuff and, by the way, it has been controlled by Democrats for a little while now.
Oh, and please please please don't use the excuse that Bush lied to get his way. If the Dems can send teams of people to fact check Sarah Palin, they should have done the same with the information given to them by Bush before sending our soldiers to war.
Thanks.
Posted by: drez | October 3, 2009 6:29 PM
And while the American people were promised that the 'stimulus' would prevent unemployment from rising above 8 percent, it's now teetering on the verge of 10%. ~ M.S.
---------------------------
democrats, I have a Victory Report for u, just so that u will know and can proceed with the appropriate celebrations. U are clearly winning the war against energy development in America. Hydrocarbon based energy is in beat-down, retreat mode and the Green stuff is no more down the road than it was a year ago. If anything, a true recognition of the limitations of wind and solar are starting to be more openly recognized and acknowledged. No wind, No electricity, a fairly simple state of Not being.
Hydrocarbon projects and opportunities are being deep sixed, and if they do find a way back, then those consumer warning labels will be in Chinese or Russian. The Chinese and Russians hold onto their communist leanings, but they are not so stupid as to couple that with radical environmentalism. It’s been the start of a great run for the Environmental Leftists of the democrat party, but it ain’t going to do much to prop up those unemployment numbers. Poor choice of words, Unemployment Numbers are up, more so than any official staff person is going to acknowledge.
Victories need to be acknowledged and celebrated. The No Energy For America democrats need to pop a cork and pour down the bubbly. I think that this is the objective and u are succeeding remarkably well. I don’t like the stuff, but do savor the airy elixir. Your friend…
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | October 3, 2009 6:40 PM
It's taken 9 months of Presidency but now the American media is starting to criticize Obama, finally!!! This man is not the answer to the American people he is the downfall. Talk about trickle down failure it started with the Olympic bid and will trickle down for the next 39 months until the next election. Couldn't come soon enough for the economy.
Posted by: annjilly | October 3, 2009 6:53 PM
Little song for the Repubs, Baucus, and the insurance industry.
(Thanks to Willie)
Crazy
Crazy for feeling so ill
Im crazy
Crazy for takin that pill
I knew
You'd cover me as long as you wanted
And then someday
You's cancel me for somebody new
Worry
How will I pay that $grand?
Wondrin
What in the world will I do
Crazy
For thinking that my premiums could hold you
Im crazy for payin
Crazy for playin
And Im crazy
For trustin you
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | October 3, 2009 7:49 PM
Republican = Judas Priest!
As we speak the Chinese and the Saudis are spending billions to aline themselves as the suppliers of so called 'green' power.
Meanwhile, the obstructionists in congress, guess who, continue to resist meaningful action.
Posted by: TheReamer | October 3, 2009 8:06 PM
What the Hey! The title of this article should be " GOP is the enemy". The health care costs and the financial district took this country down. If something isn't done with health care this country can still go down the tubes. The Republicans health care plan is simply an empty sheet of paper, they have no plan, they want no plan and they don't have any intention of being part of any plan! We need health care reform, preferably single payer. The racketeers in the health care industry must go. Remember the republicans never do anything for this country they only do things to this country! whiteagle38
Posted by: Raymond Juneau | October 3, 2009 8:41 PM
JOBS? Obama cares about Jobs? Not jobs here. Not with chief of staff Rahm NAFTA Emanuel. What was your first clue? There is no stimulus, just one GIANT PORK BARREL. Nobody is going hire or expand a business under Mr Redistribution. He will consficate any profits that you might happen to make and then tell everyone how evil you are. His proposals are all job KILLERS, Cap and Tax, National Healthcare with MANDATORY participation or heavy fines. GM has to make what Obama decides we want. That will insure that GM will never be profitable again. California has strict regulations, like Obama proposes and the cost the state Millions of jobs and 6 Billion $$$$ a year for state that is bankrupt. Sounds like a great idea to destroy the national economy with. Oh, and increase the taxes on those who hire and provide jobs so that they won't have any money to pay workers with. It's a trainwreck; no, it's a terrorist plot.
Posted by: Gary | October 3, 2009 10:10 PM
Terry--Tax cuts for the wealthiest is the main cause for our economic problems. Thank Bush and Cheney fir the deficit war spending and absolutely no care for domestic spending in their eight years. Even the Bush BS NCLB was forced onto state payrolls. Clinton left Bush and our nation with a surplus when he left office. It's been 8 and 7 years of war.--what ever it is ITS WAY TOO LONG. Clinton is not responsible for the job losses--that then translated into house losses. Bush is responsible. Thank Bush and his outsourcing, BS anti-American trade agreements and his general slow down of the American economy and the American dollar. Thank Bush, Cheney and Paulson for their Great Recession.
Posted by: Vivian | October 3, 2009 10:19 PM
Vivian,
Do you want to show some CREDIBLE economic analysis to back that dribble?
Clinton left a surplus in his last year of office based upon two things - capital gains taxes based upon internet stock bubble gains and the GOP Congress controlling spending.
Did you read the arrtcle? Back in 1999, "But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's." Predicted back in 1999 - its called the law of unintended consequences.
Slow down of the American economy - 73 months of economic growth?
Get a clue Vivian, before you swallow the kool-aid from those flatliner websites
Posted by: Terry | October 3, 2009 11:10 PM
Top Ten Reason Why Chicago and Obama lost the Olympics:
10. Dead people can't vote at IOC meetings.
9. Obama distracted by 25 min meeting with Gen. McChrystal.
8. Who cares if Obama couldn't talk the IOC into Chicago? He'll be able to talk Iran out of nukes.
7. No need for ACORN, Denmark already has enough Hookers
6. Obviously no president would have been able to accomplish it.
5. We've been quite clear and said all along that we didn't want the Olympics.
4. This isn't about the number of Olympics "lost," it's about the number of Olympics "saved" or "created."
3. Clearly, they have met the "Real" Barry.
2. Because the IOC is racist. ..
And the number one reason Chicago didn't get to host the 2016 Summer Olympic games is...
1. It's George W. Bush's fault!
Posted by: Gary | October 4, 2009 4:38 AM
See the CNN news story: 47% will pay no federal income tax!
http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/30/pf/taxes/who_pays_taxes/index.htm?cnn=yes
I am outraged! I had no idea the problem was this bad. These people are nothing but filthy beggars!!! And, now it’s time to start paying for their health-care. Give me a break. I’d rather be mugged, there’s more dignity in it.
We need a new political party in this country, the two we’ve got are nothing but robbing everyone. The republicans are steeling from the middle class and giving to the rich and the democrats are buying votes with our money by allowing this bunch of freeloaders to get a free ride.
Posted by: Gregg | October 4, 2009 9:53 AM
Terry--No kool-aid needed. All anyone had to do is to have lived through the past 8 1/2 years. All the worst things happened on the Bush/Cheney watch--9/11 of course--the start of two really badly lied about, really poorly managed and really expensive BS "wars"--the largest oil company profits in the history of mankind--many BS "free" trade agreements--the total crazy hemorrhaging of American jobs--the beginning of the mass loss of homes for American citizens due to the loss of jobs--the biggest heist in the history of the world with the Bush/Paulson revelation that our world would end (2 1/2 months before Obama is scheduled to take office mind you) if we did not pass that major rip-off and major con-job TARP--the mass pay-off of American taxpayer TARP money to unknown sources and banks in other nations--the Bush extreme slow down of the American economy--and the total lack of Bush Oval Office interest in American domestic policy. Yes, Terry, Bush and Cheney wanted ALL guns for BS reasons and NO butter for America and average Americans. Terry, nice try at Pug worshipping--but no pity, no way and absolutely no cigar. The Obama administration was handed the worst deck of cards by the Cheney/Bush administration--contrived or otherwise. It seems the Cheney/Bush military and gov't imbeds continue to deal more of their sh*t. Feel free to get more of your own BS facts to comfort Americans and disprove the above for the American public. Seems you're suffering from toxic amounts of the Cheney/Bush/Pug Absolut BS.
Posted by: Vivian | October 4, 2009 9:59 AM
It's 8 years of the Bush&Cheney fringe's economic disasters, from the Iraqi War and Occupation to the Weasels on Wall Street versus President Obama's 8 months in office, stemming the decline that the Bush&Cheney fringe left in their wake !! No contest !! President Obama is already turning the economic decline around !! Next !!?
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | October 4, 2009 11:18 AM
The Bush bashers can't give it up. Let's see. Unemployment under Bush dipped to 4.5 percent in spite of the 9-11 disaster. Unemployment under Obama is at 15 million or 17 percent (not the 9.8% that doesn't count those who gave up their job search) and growing. That 17 percent is higher than the 15 percent unemployment in the Depression in 1940. The 15 million is the highest in the nation's history, including the Depression. Yet, Obama hasn't a clue as to what to do, such as lowering taxes to create more jobs.
He won't be satisfied until everyone is working for the government like the Soviet Union. And what a success that was!
Posted by: Dorian | October 4, 2009 11:57 AM
Vivian,
Let's get your "logic" straight, 9-11 occurred under President Bush's fault and is his fault, but the current high unemployment under BO is not BO's fault?
So the "good war" of Afghanistan is now a "BS war"? You flatliners were singing a different tune a year ago. What's changed?
The TARP plan of Bush/Bernanke - approved by BO.
Any dime your parents ever paid for your education, they should demand a refund. As a matter fo fact, you could probably sue your teachers for malpractice.
FITZ,
More bloviating with no facts from you.
Did you not like the 73 months of economic growth with low unemployment, low interest rates, and low infaltion? Or would you have preferred an economy that was more Carteresque?
Let's see when the economy gets out the recession if BO can generate an economy that has 73 months of consecutive growth and unempolyment under 5%.
ITS TIME FOR FITZ TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
Posted by: Terry | October 4, 2009 1:36 PM
Vivian, you are a typical loon, aren't you?
You claim folks lost their homes because of no jobs. The unemployment rate when the housing market went into the take was UNDER 5 percent. Jobs started to get lost AFTER the housing bubble burst. Most of those folks who lost their homes lost them because they couldn't afford them in the first place.
Under Bush, the unemployment rate was as low as 4.3 and the stock market hit 14,000 just two years ago.
Two BS wars, huh? I always knew the Left was never on board with invading Afghanistan. I wonder, Loony Lefties, why are you folks so in love with Al Qaeda and the Taliban? Do you like women being abused and stoned to death simply for walking out of the house?
That is the reality/ The Left has grown close to murderous, anti-people regimes: Taliban, Al Qaeda, North Korea, China, Hamas, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia under Putin, etc. Why does the Left hate people and freedom so much?
Posted by: John D | October 4, 2009 4:29 PM
I guess they, the Bush&Cheney fringe, don't instill, in that less than developed cranium of yours, that war-time economies always generate phony numbers. Ask the good people of America how they have enjoyed that prosperity and I guarantee, most will insist that you are lying. I will not go that far, I'll stay with the old stand-by. You have been duped and misinformed. I know that doesn't bother you, it is standard operating procedures for the dupes and the misinformed at the Republican-Libertarian stink-tank !! Keep them coming, that last one I answered, in my sleep !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | October 4, 2009 5:36 PM
"Obama maintains that one of the biggest brakes on recovery is the rising cost of health insurance for those who have it, and the absence of coverage for the many millions lacking it."
Man, why does he continue to hand us a sales pitch?
Healthcare cost have been going up for years.
Did it effect our economy during the time when unemployment at 4.4% and economic growth ave 2.8% in previuse years? No not a whole lot.
Please Mr. Obama, stop trying to sell that the American people are dumb. You're in trouble enough with your domestic policy on the American people.
Posted by: MAJMark | October 4, 2009 8:07 PM
FITZ,
Duped and misinformed - here are the FACTS, something you just want to IGNORE - 73 month economic growth cycle.
http://wwwdev.nber.org/cycles/cyclesmain.html
Monthly unemployment data
http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS14000000
Historical Prime Interest Rates
http://www.wsjprimerate.us/wall_street_journal_prime_rate_history.htm
Inflation rate chart.
http://www.inflationdata.com/Inflation/images/charts/Annual_Inflation/annual_inflation_chart.htm
FITZ NEEDS TO PUT DOWN THE KOOL-AID AND START DEALING IN FACTS.
Posted by: Terry | October 4, 2009 8:22 PM
John D--so you're saying that the right wants to police the world, control the world, do nationbuilding in other nations while always saving the rest of the world at the detriment of Americans and America--and the left wants to domestically take care of our (their) own Americans and America and allow the rest of the world to have a say in judging other nations. I totally agree. John D--speaking of murderous, anti-people regimes--your words not mine--Bush and the right have had it in for their own people and their own country for a long time. They have allowed average American citizens to fail and die due to no jobs, BS lies to financially and physically depleating "wars", no homes, no health insurance, no domestic policy for us in order to build up multinational corps and other nations where, in one instance, Bush gave free health care to citizens of Iraq, but not to Americans who are forced to bankroll everything. John D-why do you fight against your own socio-economic interests? Sounds like a lot of self-loathing.
Posted by: Vivian | October 4, 2009 9:58 PM
Vivian,
Remember, President Bush had to invade Afghanistan and Iraq because Clinton just punted numerous opportunities to get bin Laden.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/10/obama_vs_gop_its_the_economy.html#comments
After reading your last post, there are definite malpractice lawsuit possibilities against your former teachers.
Posted by: Terry | October 4, 2009 10:55 PM
Remember, President Bush had to invade Afghanistan and Iraq because Clinton just punted numerous opportunities to get bin Laden.
Posted by: Terry | October 4, 2009 10:55 PM
Terry, remind me again how Iraq had anything to do with Bin Laden? And since 9 out of the 11 terrorists from 911 were Saudi, why didnt we attack them?
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | October 5, 2009 7:58 AM
Correct link for my 10:55 p.m. post
http://newsbusters.org/node/7871
Posted by: Terry | October 5, 2009 7:58 AM
Scottie,
Country of origin has nothing to do with where the terrorists trained. If Saudi Arabia is such a threat, why hasn't BO invaded them?
Also, if you rememebr Clinton bombing Iraq in 1999 over WMDs. During the next 4.5 years, there was no eveidence of the WMDs disappearing. Rememebr all these quotes from your heroes
http://www.davidstuff.com/political/wmdquotes.htm
Posted by: Terry | October 5, 2009 10:12 AM
Terry,
LACK. OF REGULATION. OF. CREDT. DEFAULT. SWAPS. In terms rubes such as yourself might understand. For 6 out of 8 years Republicans held the Senate, the House of Reps and the White House. Because of credit default swaps banks did not have to make loans with "skin in the game". They would give loans to dubious borowers, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE FORCED TO, unless you are suggesting a Republican Congress and Republican White House took away the free market capitalist principles of allowing business to make decisions to best suit their bottom line and investors bottom lines. Anyway, banks and lending institutions would take these loans and sell them off so the banks would be off the hook if the loans went into default. This was a policy which was largely unregulated and most likely encouraged by the CORRUPT and GREEDY REPUBLICAN SCUMBAG PARTY. The party of money, not people.
Posted by: simply the truth | October 5, 2009 11:24 AM
If you're going to criticize Obama, try finding a good reason . . . like keeping us stuck in Afghanistan. But health care? If you don't like his plan, try coming up with another instead of sticking your heads in the sand and pretending that our present health care plans are great and calling everyone a Communist who don't agree with you.
Posted by: Lee | October 5, 2009 1:06 PM
Simpleton,
The GOP held the Hosue and Senate for about 4 1/2 years not six. They never had anything close to a filabuster majority in teh Senate.
Who was buying those credit default swaps? Someone was putting skin in the game? Why was it possible to make those loans in the first place? Go back to my Oct 3 post here at 6:24 p.m. and read the NYTimes article from Sept 30, 1999 - they saw the unintended consequences from these loans and teh intervention of Fannie and Freddie. In addition, President Bush tried to rein in Freddie and Fannie
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/11/business/new-agency-proposed-to-oversee-freddie-mac-and-fannie-mae.html
while Brothel Barney was saying, let's roll the dice.
The corruption here was in Fannie and Freddie, which paid out great returns, includeing 8 figure bonuses, to democratic insiders - including Rahm Emmanual.
Posted by: Terry | October 5, 2009 1:34 PM
Terry,
Yes the ALL POWERFUL Barney Frank, a congressman, who spent a large portion of the Bush Administration years in the minority party is responsible for the economic meltdown. The ALL POWERFUL Barney Frank. LOL. You sir are a parrot, and an idiot.
Posted by: simply the truth | October 5, 2009 5:52 PM
Simpleton,
Do you know what a filabuster proof majority is?
Anyway, see who the real obstructionists were. See who was receiving all the Fannie and Freddie lobbying money - Dodd, Kerry, Clinton and Obama.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091102841.html
Posted by: Terry | October 5, 2009 8:00 PM
Terry--why not say what you mean in your own words. Cite refs if you want, but give us your own bottom line instead of offering questionable or so many possibly unsecure links. Your posts don't seem like an individual's comments. They're more like talking points from a mercenary. Not many people here post links--especially so many skewed ones--as you do.
Posted by: Vivian | October 5, 2009 9:55 PM
Vivian,
If I had just put down my analysis, you loons would just say that's my opinion. So, I put down some examples supporting my points.
Just where were these questionable links from: GOP website in oreder to reference their plan, Hotair which had a link to MSNBC, NYTimes - TWICE, websites for economic stats since I don't have them memorized, Newsbusters which had a reference to CBS, davidstuff - which just had quotes from famous democrats, and finally the Washington Post.
Which of those sources are questionable?
Fact is, I laid out an anlaysis, with supporting facts, that just kicked the crap out of you opinion based on nothing
Posted by: Terry | October 6, 2009 9:38 PM