so let me get this straight....I took GW and rep. congress(6 yers), your favorite prez. 8 years to spend all Clinton's surplus he left Bush when leaving office....Bush and the Rep. congress passed a medicare drug bill for the elderly and did not provide anyway to pay for it....passed the laregest tax cut for the wealthiest Americans....left the economy in near Depression area crisis.....need I go on.....And let me get this right....Obama and the democratic congress is supposed to REPAIR ALL THE DAMAGE TO THE American Enonomy that was left over after 8years of Your Prez Bush and 6 years of repubican congress control and Obama is supposed to correct those years of INCOMPETENCE in 6 months in office and at the same time fight the now republican in congress whose only answer to the mess their party left the cfountry in is to say NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to everything Obama and the Democratic congress tried to do to fix your party's  mess....HA Ha!!!!!Give me a break......I am sure Obama would have apprecated Bush's surplus when he started in office and he wouldn't of used it to give more tax breaks to the RICH!!!!!!!!!!!!! But instead like FDR after another Republican President(Hoover), Obama inherited the great Depression!!!!!!But you know what when Bush and the Republicans were SLOWLY DESTROYING OUR ECONOMY where was your criticism then?

But be thankful for little things...think where we'd be now if MCCain who said he didn't know very much about economics or the economy would have been elected??????ItCOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE!!!!I'LL WAIT TO JUDGE OBAMA AFTER 8 YEARS LIKE BUSH...BUT UNLIKE YOU AND THE REPUBLICAN'S i BE THE 1ST TO SAY HE FAILED IF WE ARE WORSE OFF THAN WHEN BUSH LEFT OFFICE!!!!

Hmmmmmmmmmmm....NO!!!  Congress would not pass anything Bush wanted to do to improve the position of this country nor would they heed his warnings of Fannie Mae and Mac, banks, etc....because they wanted him to look bad so they could get a "no experience in anything at all" Democrat into office who would lead us all to destruction and invasion of terriorists.........are you learning the new language..Iranian, Iraqi, Korean.....huh???      !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

If were lucky he won't be in office for 8 years. He didn't have the experiance to do the job and still doesnt. Obana SUCKS and is making America a Socialist Country.

Totally agree with you Gordon! He should have gave at least 25% of that "stimulus" money back to the people instead of the banks. That would be enough for every homeowner to get caught up on their mortgage, bills , etc and created REAL stimulus in the country. But just like typical Government, He has no common sense at all. Could you imagine the impact on the economy if every tax paying household got a check for 100k? That is stimulus. Plain and simple! Look at what the banks are doing. They are helping no one. They have made it harder to get credit, lowered their limits, and raised our interest. How can that help anything except them putting money in their pocket? The people are always last when it comes to government. Period.

The stimulus money will be used in 2010 & 2012 to buy votes.

President Obama has the best interests of the American people at heart. He is working for us, unlike the opposition representing the interests of corporations and misguided greed.

Fortunately, many economists predict our country will be out of the recession by the second half of this year, or even by the end of Q3. It certainly will take time to fully recover, but there are some cautiously optimistic signs to indicate we are heading in the right direction. Godspeed, Mr. President.

Funny the same people who voted for McCain, who wouldn't know which way to turn are the ones to put Obama down.  He's doing a great job with the mess he inherited.

a.b,

You missed a few things. Things like Bush inherited aClinton economy that had experienced 3 straight quarters of downturn. Things like 8 straight years of job growth. Things like a robust economy even with 9/11 thrown in (Thanks Bill).

Also, I notice you didn't mention that the economy turned in Bush's last 2 years which had a democratically controlled congress. Minor ommission I'm sure.

Lastly, Obama was the one who said he knew exactly how to fix the economy during the campaign.

Obama is a fraud and the public is catching on.His poll numbers are now BELOW Bush's after the first 6 months!!! What will they be a year from now when the mid term elections happen.The super majority will be lost and then what is the almighty one gonna do.

Perspective, W. Goin, please enlighten us as to what it is the President is doing "in the best interest of the American people". He is flailing about in a frenzy of indecision and uncertainty. The appointments he has made are mostly Clinton retreads. His appointments seem to have a problem with the law. For crap sake his Treasury Sec. had past due income taxes....... He has run up more debt than any other full term president in JUST 6 MONTHS !!!! Unemployment, which he promised would not go above 8% is now at 9.5% and surely will be in double digits by fall. He promised that anyone making less than $250k per year would not pay a dime more in taxes, then promptly raised tobacco taxes by a dollar a pack. He is pushing a carbon cap and trade program (tax) which will increase household utilities by at least $30 per month. Some say $150 per month.

He has promised amnesty to @15 million illegals who will have immediate access to our social services, further stressing those programs. So, yeah, Perspective et al,.... just what has he done for us?????

TO: W.Goin and a.b.-642353

You two are right on the money!~ I'm So sick and tired of the neocon and republicon BULL%$#%. The same parties who were critizing Obama even before he was in office!

Obama is doing a GReat Job with the hand he was dealt! God Bless Pres Obama and God Bless America!

Mickey, have you noticed nobody has refuted what we said yet?? Just repeating crap from Soros or Huffington. Maybe they're ACORN employees........

Lisa, you couldn't be more wrong about poor Mr Bush trying to get something done to improve the country and prevent Freddie and Fannie from doing what they did.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/one-finger-salute/

September 10, 2008, 8:31 am

One-finger salute

Mike Oxley, we hardly knew ye. An amazing report from the FT:

The Ohio Republican who headed the House financial services committee until his retirement after mid-term elections last year, blames the mess [at Fannie and Freddie] on ideologues within the White House as well as Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve.

The critics have forgotten that the House passed a GSE reform bill in 2005 that could well have prevented the current crisis, says Mr Oxley, now vice-chairman of Nasdaq.

He fumes about the criticism of his House colleagues. “All the handwringing and bedwetting is going on without remembering how the House stepped up on this,” he says. “What did we get from the White House? We got a one-finger salute.”

Pork, you seem to forget we are still operating on Mr. Bush's budget and will until Oct 1. Of the deficit this year, approximately $1trillion of it belongs to Mr. Bush. And have you also forgotten the TARP was done last Oct, before the election was even held?

And do you remember when all the economists were calling for stimulus spending by the government as the 'spender of last resort?' It's what pulled us out of the last depression, and it'll take it this time around too. The stimulus was meant to work over 2 years, not in five months.

You and your friend need to go back to Rush. He'll tell you what you want to hear.

Storm - Why do you go to a British publication to get news on the U.S.?? These sources are invariably liberal slanted. Your agenda is pathetically obvious.

Just read your last post... But what is he doing that is in our best interest, as Perspective claims?? Shooting blindfolded is not the best method....

Porkb,

Even though he already has insurance, President Obama is unselfishly working to pass health-care reforms for others.

He passed a compassionate tax cut for middle-class Americans during these challenging times.

He put forth respectful efforts to restore relations with our global allies/communities.

He is working to put reasonable oversight in place to help prevent another financial collapse.

Regarding energy legislation, our brave soldiers are overseas fighting for us. Accepting some responsibility for them at home to work towards more energy independence is the least sacrifice we can do to help minimize funding hostile regimes they are fighting for us--a shared responsibility IMHO.

President Obama is putting forth constructive efforts to fight the correct war in Afghanistan.

He is also promoting provisions to improve advanced education for the American people.

Etc., etc.

Storm, you also are conveniently forgetting that Mr. Bush was hamstrung his last two years by a Democrat led Congress..

Perspective, An apology tour is shameful, not a "respectful effort".

I do appreciate the sincere response from you and storm, though, it's nice to be able to disagree civilly....

I'm signing off now, we'll argue later............

George W also inherited quite a mess. It seems the only reason Clinton had success is because the economy grew and deficit was paid out of the dot.com bubble. Without dot.com - the US economy was headed to the same place it is now. It seems at the time we had capital but under Clinton, George W and now Obama we have quit making anything and now having everything made in China. It seems actually under Clinton we had actually crossed over the "tipping" point where our economy was headed towards shrinkage due to an over extending trade imbalance. The only reason we were able to carry a bubble was to balance trade with deficit borrowing from the countries that steal most of our jobs and also dot.com.

Ironically both bubbles, dot.com and real estate were born during President Clinton's term. In fact Clinton didnt just legalize all the bad things that caused the current financial crisis, he even made it illegal for banks to "not" make bad loans under the concept of suggesting banks were red lining economically depressed areas and avoiding neighborhoods where banks would be likely to see losses. Well hello, if the banks could have avoided these sure to loose loans, maybe they wouldnt have needed any bail outs.

Now we almost cannot start a new bubble which was a benefit clinton had. We had ooodles of capital to feed a bubble, now 25% of the capital in the USA was destroyed last September. Of course George W was asleep at the wheel and ignored all the bad things Clinton did to banking deregulation, but it was Clinton's vision that brought all the subprime loans into fruition.

The left name calls and insults folks when they've been busted and shown for what they are....socialists!. I fault W for acting like a liberal for most of his domestic agenda. Had he governed as a fiscal conservative we would still be in a funk (because the economy is always larger than any president) but at least we would be looking forward our $ being worth something. Invest in gold....we're doomed.

He has become an enemy of the constitution of the United States of America as is every radical liberal. If a politicain isn't protecting the constitution of the United States of America they are not doing their job and should be fired. Lets fire everyone of them who isn't protecting our constitution. Lets get "We the people back!" I am weary of Hilary and Obama and the pack of them that are tearing down this great nation and apologizing to the world for our country. Now We the people don't think we need to apologize. American is great, and will be greater still if we fire the liberals!!!

Porkb,

Thanks, but please note neither "sorry" nor "apology" were said overseas by President Obama. That is unfortunate propaganda. He did respectfully address mutual interests on both sides towards a shared responsibility going forward.

Way over his pay grade.

Obama said of the economy. "Give it to me"...now, it's "an inherited recession" and "we didn't know it was this bad (Biden)"...crap, theywere in the Senate (well, some of the time) they should have KNOWN! This Prez. is a train wreck looking for the perfect place to derail the whole country. If he is so smart, how come he and his ADM can't figure it out - you can't spend your way outta debt?!

Idiotic is all I can say and yes, he is in over his head even though he maintains that smug smile in public - you almost wonder if this isn't all on purpose to "remake America" - wait, didn't he even say that??

The President is not the main problem it is the Congress.

I hope everyone asks themselves, did I use my vote last election to change the congress or did I vote for the incumbent, self-serving politician, be it a Republican or Democrat , who has become entrenched in office. How is it that congress had a 12% approval rating yet 96% were reelected? The "my congressman is ok, it's all the others that are the problem" syndrome was, as always, in play. These politicians need to loose there job! They are responsible for the state of this country. The American people have gotten the Government that they deserve. Next election, vote against all incumbents, or look in the mirror to see the real problem.

Two Words..... Jimmy Carter

Divide conquer and win from within. Yeah he a Commie he would wash his own mother down the drain. That's ChiTown Thug politics. POTUS bowing to a Saudi King, kissing his hand. How shameful, he is the laughing stock of the Middle East. He will be remembered as the worst President the U S ever had. Already is and it took only 7 month to achieve this dishonor. My president the "schmuck" He should resign.

research:: are you saying the republicans are scared by what there reading?because this is on Msnbc a Liberal news agency and as far as congress is concerned it`s a democrat congress they hold 60 votes. Are you independent ?i`m somewhat confused over how you stand.It`s better to get your point across without swearing and calling people names

THREE WORDS: Obama Biden noclue!!

Reading these bloggers' comments is disheartening. Do you all actually believe that a president runs this country? REALLY? You really believe a president - one man - is running the show? Listening to the old standard two-party bickering is hilarious! Totally entertaining, like watching a crazed, idiotic, slapstic drama. Standard millitary procedure - KNOW YOUR ENEMY. Well, they got you boobs right where they want ya - bickering and fighting over diversions to keep you away from real issues. I'm looking forward to the next 20-30 years, because, people, the real enemy is right in front of your nose. Will they see it? Will they come around? Will they continue to stuff their faces and wallow in their own poo? Tune in for the next reality TV episode of Big Dumb Consumers Argue Over Politics. It is sure to delight with its ever-predictable ending.

Moron

Idiot.

I seem to have missed the choice of "Totally Ruining the Country, 180 Degrees off Course". Thats how I would have voted if given the choice. Come on MSNBC, give us real choices, not this shades of gray crap you can spin into more pro Obama rhetoric.

I don't think people thought he would go so far so quickly. Voting on and signing bills before they are read is scary. This is what happens when one party has control of the Senate and House and then wins the Presidency.

Going back to a Congress and President that never got anything done sounds like what we need. I want Bush back if only for the gridlock in Washington.

I don't know about you, but everyone i know is going to vote him out of office asap! Second term? I think NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

President Obama is definitely on the President Carter trajectory.

u can thank the republicans for the mess the u.s. is n....

william davis - How do you figure? At what point are you going to hold Obama accountable for all of OUR money HE is spending? When they print so much money they run out of ink AGAIN and a loaf of bread is $20?

No sir, you cant blame republicans ..they didnt approve of the stimulus plan...and they certainly dont want this health plan...the stupid democrats in Congress that stopped Bush from doing anything...and the morons, Pelosi & Reid & Kerry & Murtha & Kennedy & Frank & Dodd, who Obama listens to..are crucifying the American people. They want to tax, tax, tax the working guy & spend all the money on people who haved refused to work all their lives..

No one has to listen to FOX news or CNN...you just have to really see what is going on...The majority democratic Congress want blood from stones...and America is getting sick of it..

nicole-ohio....only 25% has been spent.

only 5% has been spent!

Sorry Terri....your very very wrong...

Who do you think is going to pay for all this stimulus money that was borrowed? Who do you think is going to subsidize Cap & Trade? TRILLIONS of $$$.. Small businesses earn 250 grand a year...and who do you think small businesses employ? Who do you think is going to pay for the government health plan?
Do you think its just smokers who are paying or will pay higher taxes? haha...its the guy out working everyday for his employer..and to subsidize these idiotic policies..it will be our children & our grandchildren...
Now will everyone say they inherited all THIS from Bush too?

Wake up...Mr Awesome has blinded your thinking...

So far, the stimulus package apportioned has been the package devised and pushed through by the previous administration. Any calls for further funding -- the likes of which neocons scream "Socialism!" -- have yet to be implemented.

Bridget, try to get a grip maybe go do a little googling. The $250k refers to adjusted gross income. That means after all the deductions. As for the 'trillions' Obama has spent...I assume you mean in deficit... where is that exactly? We're still operating under Bush's budget and will until Oct 1.

Yes, he was in office when the stimulus passed, without Republican support, although Repubs sure climbed on the bandwagon to the pass the $800billion bailout bill for the financials! God forbid we should do something to help the middle class, work on our failing infrastructure, and help states who are bankrupt. But passing out billions with no strings attached to those banks now, that's a good thing, right? (sarcasm intended)

GWBUSH started the whole stimulus thing...how quickly we forget, not to mention drove us into two wars, spent trillions to line his cronies pockets and decimated our economy. Dem's, at least are a step up from Rep's.

For real change vote Socialist

Words like neo-cons and republicons are names that come from left liberal slanted websites..they dont describe the average independent thinker who doesnt follow their trash...or disagrees with their simple minded agendas...

You dont have to be a neo-con to realize someone is going to have to pay for all the TRILLIONS of $$$ this administration is spending..and its not the cigarette smoker who will just pay.....geez..what thinking?

Our children & grandchildren will be paying for this tremendous blunder..not to mention every hard working American...for many many many years to come...

When Senators & Congressmen & Obama all go on this health care plan, and when welfare recipients have got to start paying out of their checks for their free health care..then it might start making sense...

Meantime, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to see how our hard working tax $$ will be spent...blaming Bush is old stuff now...
Now Congress is talking in trillions...Mr Change...oh brother..

Obama has created more debt in his first 6 months than every other president combined. How is this good economic policy?

I am not attacking Mr. Obama, I am not a Republican Neo-con, or whatever nasty names some like calling people who disagree with them. I voted for him, and am deeply disappointed so far, but am hopeful things will turn around. But I am amazed at how so many people can see good in what this administration and congress have done so far, and aggressively plan to do in the near future. Poor planning, over zealous agenda, and in the middle of a bad economic downturn. Just doesn't seem like good decision making going on.

So if anyone would like to provide a point of view on how this is good, please share. I'm not insinuating anything if you agree with or approve of Obama, I just don't understand your point of view, and would like to hear it. Serious answers only please, for the few that feel the need, spew your anger towards others, I'm only interested in adult conversations.

So Teri, you're either a liar or you're so uneducated and ill-informed that you don't have a clue what you're talking about. You just made my point.

Obama continued to claim no tax hikes for anybody earning less than $250K, right?

So read his budget. Specifically, read the black and white pure factual print about tax increases. It starts at $200k - not $250k. Sure, that doesn't seem like much of a difference, but it's indicative of the liar that this guy is - and it's illustrative of how the pseudo-intellectuals who call conservative rednecks are either hypocrites or simply full of hot gas. Think about it. Obama has broken virtually every promise he's made. He's a slick talking false prophet hung up on his own ego. He's not the "smartest guy in the room"! He's just got the biggest ego, and the largest fan base.

I know it's too much to ask for people to actually read and learn a little about what they're talking about, but hey - why not try?

Come on guys don`t be to hard on Teri.I would love to be a fly on the wall when she gets her electric bill after the cap and trade bill.I can hear her now''WHAT!!WHAT IS THIS!!DO THEY THINK I`M RICH!! LMAOOO

Who is pulling his strings? Someone from the old Soviet block nodoubt!!!

biggoober

That's what I would like to know as well. You can bet George Soros is one of them but I'm wondering who else is bending his ear.....be interesting to find out and it would probably make sense once we did know. At least we would have a better sense of where they are taking the country so maybe we could stop it, although it seems very obvious where we are headed.

g.w. bush is right up there w/carter......

so bush was einstein? give me a break....was able to get in harvard's mba program with a c average from yale and i wonder how he qualified for yale in the 1st place ...oh yea....i forgotr daddy bush!!!and the repubs have the nerve ot talk about sonya soytomayor not being qualified...she graduated 2nd in her class at princeton......if you repubs weren't so pathetic it might be laughable..... at least obama tries....and it sounds like you need to look at the zillions of lies that bush admisnstation told while in office that we found out while he was in office and the new ones that have come out recently and more to come out in future as congress invetigates the lies.......it wound like the pot calling the kettle black! you and the repubs have the market cornered on the lying front! remember bushes lie to the american people about why we were going to war with iraq? and there's one thing i'm proud of that you and most of the republs can't say...even though i knew bush got in on his daddies coattails and he was an idiot....i never wished he would fail becasue i knew that would be wisheing the country would fail!!!!!!!!!

Your statement hits the nail right on the head. The difference between a conservative and a liberal. Conservatives demand results and accountability. Liberals have "good" intentions. Your argument is weak and pathetic.

Right like the Contract with America the conservatives thought was the holly grail....GIVE ME A BREAK>>>they all lie.

Republicans are the party of "no". Their admitted agenda is for Obama to fail. That is ALL they care about. They could not care less what that might mean for the rest of us!! They picked the pockets of working people for eight years to enrich their fat cat friends and now will not be satisfied until the entire middle class is broken, sick and unemployed.

Wrong Joe! BUSH II was The Worst President. YEP! THE VILLAGE IDIOT IS NO LONGER MISSING. YOU CAN FIND HIM IN HIS NEW HOME IN TEXAS.

History will record how GW created the Worse Recession since the Great Depression!!

And here's some history for ya! Every recession in American history was created by a Republican President !!

What are you lefties smoking? Do you have any idea what you are talking about. Yes, I agree the economy was not perfect over the last year, but look at the causes. It was CARTER who started the mortgage problem. No, it may not have materialized until later on, but he was the one who brought up the original "affordable housing" plan for every poor person to own a house. Freddie and Fannie, conveniently overlooked in the quest for Barney's boyfriend to make millions. Forgot about that one. I guarantee if 9/11 would have happened on Hussein's watch, he would have waved the white flag, surrendered and sold us out to the enemy. You left wing nut jobs need to wake up. Wait until the government chooses to not treat your granny for a minor illness and she dies from it. That is what they are proposing in the Socialist Healthcare plan. READ IT! It's there. It was Tom Daschle who came up with that one. Last time I checked, he was a DEMOCRAT! You all just talk out of the side of your mouth, just like YOUR president. You can have him.

Legacies are common in the Ivy league...ask the Kennedys

to me if conservatives truly demand accountability and results we wouldnt be in the mess we are in today..we would know how much the former president was actually spending, (an estimate was 1 billion a month for the iraq war alone for all those years) where our tax dollars went, how a surplus handed to him turned into trillion dollar deficits, wouldn't be in the financial mess we are in now and might be looking at president john mccain instead of senator mccain..as the economy is supposedly the reasons conservatives feel he didnt win...because of the conservative lack of accountability and no demanding of results from the previous administration we are here with a president that inherited this mess and has assembled a qualified team to try to keep us from going into a deep depression...as the previous administration denied there was a recession until they were about to leave office...and yet instead of trying to come up with constructive ideas on what to do to turn this around have absolutely nothing to say unless it is a criticism...if conservatives would take the energy they use to try to intimidate people with opposing views and show even an attempt to offer any logical plan, not empty blue folders , i might believe that they believe in results and accountabilty...the facts show otherwise..and so busy being critical that they just dont see that is is turning into a real negative for them as they are now being perceived, that they are being perceived as a party of no and are willing to take america down just because they do not like this president..the elections were a warning..this keeps up and there will be another the 2010 elections...not from democrats but from within their own party...young republicans rising up against this

Teri, get control of yourself, the valium is in the medicine cabinet. Take 2 and try again in the morning. Are you feeling sleepy yet, repeat after me Bush good , Obama bad, Bush good, Obama bad....Republican good smart nice, Democrat bad dumb ugly....

Bush good , Obama bad, Bush good, Obama bad....Republican good smart nice, Democrat bad dumb ugly....

Not ALL Dems. r bad....ONLY Obama !!!!!!!!! He's a racist socialist that cowers under pressure & still won't admit that his elitist Professor Gates friend was acting ignorant & that was tha Sgt. arrested him. The police report along w/ the wetness's state is @smokinggun.com. This is the same lady who called cops in the 1st place.

A Pres. of the free world who is NOT racist,would've never been THAT stupid on t.v. What an idiot!!!! This is only a preview & ppl r putting their trust in him 4 health care?!!! WTF!!!! From his racial comments on t.v. & his lack of an apology to cops,even though he forgets that he's 1/2 WHITE, Rev. Wright is sitting back in his easy chair like the devil he is & laughing his ass off!

Potential? He's already proved it to be TRUE. He's worse that Carter and Bush.

Yes, he did!

Obama isn't weaker than Carter. Carter was at least honorable. He had ethics and tried.

Obama is an egotist without even a fraction of the honor and ethics of Carter. He's interested in building a legacy - not helping a country.

Honorable????????????????????? Remember the massive interest rates??????????????Not honorable -----just gullible.

Carter was a goon is a goon and is the second worst president. No. 1 on the List acomplished in 7 months time the envolope please, "Obama"

even obama doesn't have that big of shovel....study economics....jobs are a lagging indicator of economic improvement....the country was shedding 600k-700k jobs a month 6 months ago when Obama took office and had been shedding that many for Bushes last year in office(all 2008)....Please tell me one thing Bush did or tried to do, except to say the economy was fine! It was until Sept.- Oct 2008 the Bush even admitted their might be a problem....and didn't Bushes secretary of treasure go to Congress and say if the congress didn't resue the banks the great depression 2 sould begin the next day?????but how You and your repub. brothers and sisters forget.....and try to rewrite history!!!

And i'll be waiting to here what Bush did to help the economy during his last year in off?But i won't hold my breath!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ab

The economy was fine untilthe Democrats took over Congress...Look it up you make your self out to be some kind of expert,so no one should have to provide you with the info..

How was Bush able to do anything, the Democrats held the country up for ransom,to gain power...It's back fired..The silent majority is pissed...The Democrats are going down....

WOW.....the Democrats destroyed the economy in 2 years...WOW....that's pretty powerful.

If that's the case the Democrats will remain the majority for a long while.

You have been blinded by the aura of Obama...Look it up wizard..The economy was fine until 2006...Try to dispute it,with some facts instead of rhetoric..

People don't want to admit they ever voted for Bush! I'd proudly say All Day Long I voted for Obama and would again in an instant.

And.... the Democrats did not have enough votes from 2006-08 to have a real impact. The Repubs Filibustered in record numbers!! Not kidding.. they really broke a record for filibusters! Bush was riding on an economic Bubble. The same kind of Bubbles Pres Obama is trying avoid. Obama is trying to build a strong economy not based on Bubbles. Bubbles eventually Burst.... and this one Really Bursted!!

NO politician controls the economy nearly to the degree everyone is saying. There will be ups and downs. I am much more concerned with the attack on personal liberty. THAT is where Barry Obama is truly scary!

The economy was NOT fine under Bush. The economy was NOT fine under Clinton. The economy will NOT be fine under Obama. The consumer spending that drove the economy since the 80's was NOT sustainable by any historical standard I can think of. YOU CAN"T BORROW YOUR WAY INTO PROSPERITY, on a personal or government level. When the borrow and spend merry-go-round ended, the party was over. The economy of the Clinton and Bush years was a mirage induced by cheap credit, and the bill had to come due sometime. And what did our generation due in its infinite wisdom and great courage? We chose to pass the buck to our kids and grandkids so we didn't have to take the entire hit ourselves. WW2 vets are called the "Greatest generation" What will history record of us?

You're about the only one making any sense out of all the idiotic comments I've read here. I suppose most are too young to know or even care much about recent history, ie. wthin the pat 20-30 years. If people want to put the blame anywhere, just go look in the mirror. Remember - this is a government 'of the people, by the people' We're the people and we've let this happen, then foolishly expect one man or party to fix it all for us. One man or party didn't create this mess and one man or party can't fix this mess. How many of you bloggers actually go to the polls and vote? Not just nationally, but locally. If we were to take all of the energy expended by calling names and laying blame, and put it toward making a difference in our communities and our country like our ancesters did, we'd all be a lot better off. As it is, our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, will be paying the bill for our selfish 'me first' attitudes. We're the generation of wanting it all, right now; the generation of saying 'charge it' and now the bill is due. We have no one to blame but ourselves, and any responsible thinker ought to agree with that.

NOT A REPUBLICAN -- again you have shown me your vast intelligence. Not needing new planes is like saying we shouldn't make new cars because the old ones are good enough. I guess you drive a 73' Pacer! Hello, planes wear out, just like cars. That is why we make new ones!

Teri, I'm sixty years old and still working, independent voter and proud to say that I didn't vote for the no experience community organizer.

Teri, get control of yourself, the valium is in the medicine cabinet. Take 2 and try again in the morning. Are you feeling sleepy yet, repeat after me Bush good , Obama bad, Bush good, Obama bad....Republican good smart nice, Democrat bad dumb ugly....

g.w. put us in this mess..... lets c, war in iraq looking for wmds' good job dumba**! g.w. another wasted sperm

I don't think he intentionally wants to destroy the Country. He did appoint one hell of a National Security Advisor (Former Commandant of the Marine Corps) and has listened on a few occasions. I think he's just proving he's a tax and spend liberal at heart. Unforyunately we need to elect a guy like this every so often and it will take a leader (like Regan did w/Carter)to get things back on track.

You are stupid. Did you go to school?

so your sure or you wish? after 6 months in office Obama won't get the economy back on track? How long did it take FDR to get the economy back on track after the REpublican Hoover started the 1st Great Depression? 6 months? I don't think so.....but i do remember one of the ways he reversed the great depression was to spend a lot and many then said the same things about FDR that you are saying about Obama now...And if Obama disn't inherit the great depression 2....it the closest thing our country has ever seen to great depression 1.....Give Obama a chance....he might just insurance all americans for heath care and pay for it....lower our dependence on foreign oil.....save our planet for future generations through climate control.....What did Bush Do? I remember he passed the largest tax policy that primarily benefitted the Riches individuals. and he and the republican congress that was in control passed the medicare drug bill for seniors, but the forgot to figure out how to pay for it....and when the dems. wanted to control the prices of drugs by bargaining the repubs said no because its ok to screw the tax payers, just don't screw big drug companies who were giving millions the repubs to get reelected.......I'll bet all the money in China that the US will be 100 times better after Obama leaves office...Can you say that about when Bush left or for Bush would it be the US was 100 times worse after he left office?

a.b.-642353,

Obama bought this baby...He owns it..Put up or shut up... You are right about one thing..The country will be better when Obama leaves..The sooner the better...

The other part of your post is correct also..The country got much worst when the Democrats took over in 2006..So yes it was bad when Bush left....

sit back....and watch the Magic!!!!! Obama will be around the White House for 8 more years and the country will be better after he leaves....Finally a predisent with a brain... after 8 years of bush i almost for got what it was like to have a president with one....

watch the Magic

Yup watch the country disappear... You really should pick a better hero..Maybe some sports figure like Vick...

AB, the Great Depression was ended by the onset of WW2. Whether or not FDR's initiatives would have had the desired effect will never be conclusively proven.

As far as allowing time is concerned, doing absolutely NOTHING would also have worked if we were willing to be patient enough.

Oh, that's right, I'm an American. It's my God-given right to not only expect the impossible, but to demand it RIGHT NOW!!!!!!! Just hand over your thinking, rights and RESPONSIBILITIES to the Gov't. After all, they are only there to help.

By the way, you CAN"T expect rights if you are not willing to accept responsibility. If you want the Gov't to do things you should be doing yourself, you are not being responsible, hence you have no rights. Get it?

a.b., you may have earned the award for the stupidest post of the day. FDR didn't get the economy back on track, you idiot! Did you not realize that the entire country was almost in revolt over the failure of his policies prior to the onset of WWII? That polls - AND his own cabinet - believed and stated publicly that his policies were stifling the economic recovery? I'm actually an FDR fan in many ways, but not even I am dumb enough to give him a single iota of credit for fixing the economy. He killed it. WWII fixed it.

Did ANYONE actually attend school and study history? Wow!

Watch the Magic my A$$. Guess what, David Copperfield didn't really make the Statue of Liberty disapear! Magic is an illusion!!! Just like Obama's campaign promises that you believed. I can't believe so many of you have yet to figure out that he is not the Messiah. God save us because Obama certainly won't.

just lucky, i guess

She's going to let him cook his own goose, then make a break for it. Crazy as a fox but not as good looking.

so you like that the US spends more for health care than every other country on the planet...but when you look at patient outcomes the US ranks in the middle ehen compared to all other industrial conties on the panet......

Your Smart.....your for paying more...but getting less....

I've got some swamp land i'll sell you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

airsmit...Do the Country a favor then LEAVE!

a.b.-642353 I've read enough of your ignorant posts - learn you facts or be like the rest of the idiots who still believe the election propaganda. Political decisions (especially the President) aren't really felt until AFTER the current president leaves office. Case in point - Clinton's "everyone deserves to own their own house" policy that he pushed so hard. It is the root cause of our economic situation. Bush inherited that as well as a non-existent foreign policy. Now we have a bend over and hold on to our ankles foreign policy - great. Even FDR didn't believe in free handouts and he started this "expansion of government." Your posts show your ignorance.

Not a republican - don't worry about it or - do the country a favor and join the military, serve overseas and then comeback with your "not a republican" attitude! Either way - you can kiss my &*^% for defending your right to have an opinion.

Well put airsmit.

Hey Airsmit - thanks for serving our country... I'm with you... AB is a little uneducated troll - There are more of us than him.

a.b., you continue to make ridiculously stupid comments. You've now demonstrated that you not only know nothing of history, you're also monumentally ill-informed about health care. Let's clear up a little of your mistakes (or deceptions), shall we?

The US generally has the HIGHEST survival and recovery rates of any country for almost all serious health conditions. That is a fact. Not the trash you're spewing.

What people are debating is whether the overall HEALTH is better in America - and it is not. We have higher rates of diabetes, coronary disease, and many other illnesses.

Here's the problem, braniac. First of all, the disease rate is statistically more related to LIFESTYLE and CULTURE than of HEALTH CARE. In other words, eat less bad food, and less quantity, exercise more, and the disease rate drops. That has NOTHING to do with the health care plan. It's also why many other countries who for example don't rely on cars as much, walk and bike more, are healthier.

BUT - When people actually GET those illnesses, take a guess at which country boasts the best treatment and the best survival rates? Yup. Good old USA. Period.

Oh, and exactly how much of this "Health Care Plan" actually deals with lifestyle changes and influences to reduce obesity,etc?

That's right - None.

ab:how did you acquire the swampland to begin with?omg I can`t stop laughing,well have a wonderful day, and Thankyou airsmit ,and the rest of you who still support capitalism, I`m off to work

PLease, get an education! OBAMA MY MAN

Of anyone, it sounds like YOU need the education.

Open da books!! And open your eyes!!!

TO: a.b.642353; AMEN to that!

Teri, get control of yourself, the valium is in the medicine cabinet. Take 2 and try again in the morning. Are you feeling sleepy yet, repeat after me Bush good , Obama bad, Bush good, Obama bad....Republican good smart nice, Democrat bad dumb ugly....

Good beer! Sam Adams, a great educated and wise American, just a little weak on history, but enough drink and maybe he was president.

Samuel Adams (27 September 1722 - 2 October 1803) was an American revolutionary and organizer of the Boston Tea Party. He was governor of Massachusetts from 1793 to 1797.

Pssst. - Samuel Adams was not a president, but a patriot. Good beer, too !!

That's a nice quote but I thought I'd let you know that Samuel Adams was NOT a former president, he was a statesman (and a brewer).

Sounds like you've had too many Sam Adams.

Did you mean John Q Adams? Sam was a patriot and a brewer. He's buried in Boston Mass. I think they would all be turning in their graves if they saw what a mess we have made of our country! It hurts my heart to think of what they went through for us to have squandered our liberties and freedom as we have... and seeing the scoundrels we have elected to "represent" us. (if that is even really happening anymore!)

OBAMA my MAN!

Spoken like a true sheeple, William. You're a fool to believe in this man. You'll see.

Have you received your welfare checks yet? Can't we at least get a thank you?

Cap & Trade Obama, William...and then take him back to your house...take him any place but the White House..
Him and all his liberal cronies in Congress who are bleeding this country...

...Mr Change needs to change his address...Where was he born again?

davis,

Better change your depends..I am sure you wet our self every time you see or hear the name Obama..Opps sorry ,now you will have to change it again..

personally...I love the change!!!!!!!!!!!!and hope to see a lot more in the next 7 and one half years....Go Obama.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am doubly proud!!!!!!!!!!!!And look forward to more change....

Didn't Mc Cain say himself he didn't know much about the economy or economic issues..?????

Oh yea he would have hired the ex-texas senator who said there was nothing wrong with the ecomony....Americans are just a Busnch ofg Winers!!!Hear that all you americans you are just a bunch of winers.....quite your crying! And we'll solve the economic crises by giving another tax cut to the riches americans...that sounds like a plan.....Any repubs remember Phil Graham and his famous quote.....???????

Go Obama !

I'd Vote for Obama Tomorrow ! This would be a three ring circus if McCain who said he knows Nothing about economcs and Palin the embarrasment to many women and ... oh she can see Russia, were elected. Isn't funny how it was mostly men who liked Palin. Many of us women were embarrassed by Palin's performance.

What exactly does Barry Obama know? If he was such a good community organizer should Chicago be a really nice city by now?

ab - post 15.5...... not a chance given the way he's already screwed things up.

Teri, get control of yourself, the valium is in the medicine cabinet. Take 2 and try again in the morning. Are you feeling sleepy yet, repeat after me Bush good , Obama bad, Bush good, Obama bad....Republican good smart nice, Democrat bad dumb ugly....

Congress is at fault more than Bush. Funny how you fail to recocgnize that point. Obama is getting a lot of the blame (maybe than he should) but he did promise the world.

Media bias against Obama? Are you crazy? The media have treated him like he's a god..and have all through his campaign...

Its just getting very hard for them now to keep covering this man's poor judgments...poor advisors..and the all time worst Congress in US history...THOSE are the morons who are ruining it for everyone..but Obama insists on letting them rule him..

Are you a completely bonkers friggin idiot? Media bias AGAINST Obama? You are stark raving mad! I can't believe the hypocrisy of your statement. Just keep on blaming everything on Bush. That'll sure make jobs come back, the economy get better, the skyrocketing deficit go down, foreign investors....

Oh, heck. Why bother. Anybody making such a ridiculous statement isn't worth the time.

Blame Bush all you want and he is guilty of going after weapons of Mass distruction and they didnt find them?? is it possible Iran might have them stored like the planes they flew there and wouldnt return?? What about Bill Clinton He could have had Bin Ladin and didnt take him out so the world trade buildings came down and we responded with we,ll stick a boot up your a** it,s the American way then Bush had katrina flown in to New Orleans , and i remember Jimmy Carter also there were odd even days to get gas because there was such a great shortage / when the salt mines in New Orleans were plum full and oil was being stored on barges and they were running out of places to store it?? and oh yes Jonny Carson said on his show one nite that there was a toilet paper shortage ssso just like the pied piper everyone rushed to the stores to get their share of the toilet paper and that is going to be all the dollar is going to be worth something we can wipe our hine ends with at the rate the democrats are going crazy with their tax and spend and programs to help those who because of the nest will stay there and let momma come feed them instead of flying down and looking for their own food / i am not aginst helping those who really need it just those who could help themselves but wont just have 4 then 5 then 6 kids because each kid get,s them an extra 300.00 dollary and go get their wic checks and i have seen it with my own eyes get more and better groceries than i could afford an i was working full time and it was my Tax Dollars paying for it

Shelly The man has nothing going for him besides the fact that Acorn bought him enough votes so he could get elected. Got a lot of them from the cemeteries in a number of states.

Great concept! You mean actually REWARD the producers? Look who's in power. That can't happen!

Amen to that!!!!

To: azteach; That's a Bunch of Bull. I've worked for everything I have, and so has my family for generations, and my friends and their family. And we pay our share of taxes! One thing I have learned and that is; when you those who are less fortunate who help society as a whole. That means it also helps the economy and raises the quality of life for all. The Poison you're spewing is a Big Fat Myth (Lie) that the Repubs and Neocons like to tell to get you Bozos angry and on their side!

The people I know or the stories I've heard are middle class people who have lost their jobs due to the economic downturn. They're hard working people with A+ credit who are trying to survive on unemployment and savings while they look for another job. And one of them took out a high interest loan to pay off debt thinking he would refinance in a few years. Well, now it's time to refi and the banks aren't lending like they use to! Many Responsible people took out home loans and equity loans thinking they would refi later to avoid a higher adjustable rate. So you can Stop with all the BS and poison.

Words like neo-cons and republicons are names that come from left liberal slanted websites..they dont describe the average independent thinker who doesnt follow their trash...or disagrees with their simple minded agendas...

You dont have to be a neo-con to realize someone is going to have to pay for all the TRILLIONS of $$$ this administration is spending..and its not the cigarette smoker who will just pay.....geez..what thinking?

Our children & grandchildren will be paying for this tremendous blunder..not to mention every hard working American...for many many many years to come...

When Senators & Congressmen & Obama all go on this health care plan, and when welfare recipients have got to start paying out of their checks for their free health care..then it might start making sense...

Meantime, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to see how our hard working tax $$ will be spent...blaming Bush is old stuff now...
Now Congress is talking in trillions...Mr Change...oh brother

Bridget and the rest of you FoxFan idiots: if you knew anything about economics, if you knew anything about socialism, if you knew anything other than the nonsense you are taught at FoxNews Elementary School (food for thought for people with arrested development and who never grew intellectually beyond second grade), you would not keep up the barrage of brainless commentary that you spew out.

No wonder people keep talking about the dumbing down of America----Bridget and mickeyj and Gordon and all you other people who keep putting down Obama just do not understand either history or current events. You are fools and should be totally bleached so we can clean up the gene pool.

I would suggest that if you people are so concerned about taxes and all, just stop paying. Stop filing your tax returns. Re-do your W-2 forms so that you take 6 exemptions. If you believe you are taxed too much, if you really believe the government is wrong, then at least have both the courage of your convictions and the courage of your perceptions. But your problem is that none of you have the guts to do anything but listen to St. Lush of the Humbug and complain. A pox on all your houses.

One last thought: as opposed to a stimulus package to rescue AIG, the banks, GM, and other businesses that were about to go under, what would you suggest? Let them all fail? We should never interfere with business problems? Government should adopt a laissez-faire (that means "hands off" or "let it be") approach to business? And when the big financial institutions failed, and you suddenly discovered you have nothing left, you would be screaming for the government to do something----and you know it. You people are not only the most ignorant and undereducated people I have ever seen posting comments, you are also the biggest hypocrites. Nuts to you!!!!

GO MichaelB ! Well Done!! I couldn't have said it better myself!

I have to laugh a bit at the liberal side of these rather, well, lame comments.

You argue feelings and "doing good" with no care for the actual reality of things.

If you wish to actually be informed and able to make intelligent arguments for your position, learn some basic macro economics.

This will illuminate the dark recesses of your pretty much inactive mind and allow you to perhaps persuade someone of your viewpoint rather than spewing things that have been said a million times before.

And even more, I guffaw loudly at these so called conservatives who could not define the term if was spelled out in 20 foot high neon letters.

I offer you the same advice, look to the economics, it drives the politics, and it drives the politicians.

This partisan yapping is childish and will accomplish nothing.

I not only fear for the economic survival of America, I fear that the average American is so stupid that we will never again do the right thing.

It is my cross to bear, and I do my best.

Michaelb -

From what I just read in your post it sure sounds like you are the idiot. It's really hard to take you seriously when you start your post with things like "foxfan idiots" & "foxnews elementary school".

And while I'm at it, I do pay my freaking taxes and unlike you liberals that "re-do your W-2's so you take 6 exemptions" I don't cheat on mine. I do however have a problem paying for all of your liberal programs, unemployed, tax cheating butts that raise my taxes. This reckless spending has to stop and stop now. So quit with your brainless commentary or at least take it over to Huffington with all your leftist buddies.