Democrats versus Republicans

[SailKing1]

All I gathered is that he likes to hear himself talk. His half hour address is now passed an hour and he is still rambleing.

[PBzeer]

I'm not sure how boilerplate gets a label of honesty or being straightforward, but he certainly comes across as sincere. But then being vague worked in the election, no reason to think the same sucke....... err people, won't buy it now.

When your only rationale is "we have to do something", and "we have to do it now" one has to wonder why he bothers with any economic advisors. Rather than use a sniper rifle, as his chief economic advisor said, "timely, targeted, tomorrow", we get the sawed off shotgun approach and are told not to worrry about the collateral damage.

[wind_magic]

I would add one comment to what I said above ...

The most amazing thing to me about this evening's speech by Obama wasn't anything Obama said but rather CNN's coverage of what he said. I have been sitting here for half an hour watching this panel talk about the Obama speech and all they have talked about the entire time is what it means for Republicans, Democrats, who wins, who loses, different political angles, what it means for elections in four years, and on and on .. the amazing thing is that I haven't heard a SINGLE WORD about whether the stimulus package is a good idea or not. None of their guests are economists, there hasn't been a word spoken about the merits of the plan, they haven't once even mentioned the words "interest rates", WTF ? I mean I'm waiting for them to start talking about his choice of ties or what color his shoes are, you'd think they might actually be interested in discussing the subject matter of the damn speech, the whole reason the man was even on television. It's like the only thing CNN is worried about is what Democratic and Republican strategists think about what Obama said, etc, and they don't even care one iota what the economic impact of the stimulus plan might be, I mean it seems like the President might as well have been out there talking about the Westminster dog show and it wouldn't matter.

[wind_magic]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

I'm not sure how boilerplate gets a label of honesty or being straightforward, but he certainly comes across as sincere.

Isn't sincerity the same thing as honesty ? How could someone seem sincere and not seem honest.

[PBzeer]

Why should they discuss it? Obama wants it, so they're for it.

If the "8 years of failed Bush economic policy" is, as we are told, the reason for the current economic "crisis", why is the solution to double down on it?

[PBzeer]

Originally Posted by wind_magic

Isn't sincerity the same thing as honesty ? How could someone seem sincere and not seem honest.

It's why I gave up watching the Sunday talk shows a long time ago. It seems rather perverse to me to watch somebody lie, know the host knows they are lying, and watch them do it with all the sincerity under the sun.

[PBzeer]

I have a feeling that when we look back on this time, particularly if Obama ends up a one-term wonder, what will be mentioned is the lost opportunity that was wasted on a liberal wish list. Had Bambi stood up against the Congressional Dem leadership and told them to give him an economic solution rather than a political one, I have no doubt it would have passed easily and swiftly. And regardless of whether it worked or not, he would have been seen as the person of leadership and transendance he thinks he is.

[sailaway21]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

I have a feeling that when we look back on this time, particularly if Obama ends up a one-term wonder, what will be mentioned is the lost opportunity that was wasted on a liberal wish list. Had Bambi stood up against the Congressional Dem leadership and told them to give him an economic solution rather than a political one, I have no doubt it would have passed easily and swiftly. And regardless of whether it worked or not, he would have been seen as the person of leadership and transendance he thinks he is.

I think you're very much correct in that assessment, John.

[sailaway21]

Did it strike anyone at all a bit incongruous that the President continued to call for bipartisanship after attracting only three Republicans in the entire Congress to his stimulus plan? Excuse me, I said his stimulus plan when I should have said the Democrat stimulus plan.

What exactly does he think will attract Republicans to working with him and on what issues? Certainly he cannot mean the school house construction he kept mentioning. Does he think that the Republicans still support the constitutional disaster that was No Child Left Behind and now want to get the Republicans further involved in what is a state issue, the building of schools?

That he even mentioned an abbreviated laundry list of things he wanted to get done was hubris of the highest order. Umm, Mr. President? You guys just spent all the money yesterday. In fact, you guys spent all of tomorrow's money too. A lot of tomorrow's monies.

I also noticed how he so gingerly skirted the issue of how all this tomfoolery is going to be paid for. While not rescinding the Bush tax cuts, which he could quite easily do, he gently said that we'd deal with it when the economy got back on it's feet. I almost heard the 'T' word come out of him right there. He's still thinking about taxes, even though he knows he cannot raise them.

I also managed to choke down the glowing reports on Iraqi progress while simultaneously saying what a waste of money the whole thing amounted to. Yup, the single greatest move towards long-term peace and real stability in the Middle East in the history of US-ME relations and it's a waste of money. Boy, the Iraqi's just have to be thrilled. Where was the acknowledgment of the fact that we now have a good ally with a democratically-elected government in the most unstable region in the world?

I didn't catch all the journalist's questions but I was impressed by the ones I did hear for the most part. The bloom is off the rose for the media. They've got to make a living and they've way to do it other than upon the backs of the Dem's and the President. The questions are going to get tougher here on out.

[sck5]

you guys are still living on another planet (where the congressional repubs seem to also live) You want Obama to suggest republican solutions - that isnt going to happen. As he said quite clearly, there really isnt much to discuss with people who dont believe in government intervention to help the economy. And in the current situation it is SPENDING that is needed. If you dont understand that (It is taught in Economics 101 around the world) then you will be voting against the bill and will lose. Your way was tried for 8 years and simply shouting louder for a continuation of more of the same is what lost you two elections running.

But keep it up! Maybe the third time is the charm!