@openid.aol.com/runnswim:

also known as tax cuts for the wealthy

The Bush tax cuts actually shifted the tax burden further toward the rich.

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I like ditto’s comments (#17).

Debt sucks. It’s been the biggest sucking sound in the economy since the George W Bush’s $1 trillion “stimulus” package (paid for with borrowed money), also known as tax cuts for the wealthy. And then George W Bush followed this up with a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street, which will also cost well over a $trillion, considering interest. So you’ve got a GOP President who ran up $2 trillion in additional debt, simply for “stimulus” and Wall Street bail outs, when the first $trillion “stimulus” played a major role in creating the financial crisis which led to the need for bailouts, and you are focusing 100% of your critical invective on a $trillion plan, which I agree is a very ill-advised boondoggle, but which will at least pay for things like infrastructure and health care and education.

I am sick, sick, sick of debt, debt, debt, and more debt.

But, with apologies to Billy Joel, Obama didn’t start the fire.

- Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach, CA

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I’m in Joliet (45 minutes SW of downtown Chicago), though my youngest brother used to live in Lake in the Hills. Small world!

Obama does come across like a pastor, which doesn’t surprise me. He has obviously patterned himself in the style of Wright and Flaherty, and it just reinforces the image of him of “Prophet” (as seen through his disciples’ rose-colored glasses.) I ain’t buying it, but I can see the appeal to those who have allowed themselves to be brainwashed and are perfectly willing to be told what opinions they should hold.

Unfortunately, though Obama has toned down his rhetoric a bit since the election, he’s still mostly hot air. Sure he can write and read speeches, but even then his oratory is empty (but pointed.) Bi-partisan means that republicans agree on democrats’ proposals, but not vice-versa. His call to sacrfice applies only to others. Save energy by running heaters less, except in the White House. No lobbyists in my administration (unless it’s convenient). Audacity, hope, change, responsibility, … all just words for pretty speeches meant to dupe the lemmings. And it worked.

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@ruaqtpi2:

You could be close to me. I live 45 minutes NW of O’Hare or maybe by my daughter in Lake in the Hills. Welcome fellow Illinoisan, bout time you spoke up.

I’ve always believed the game has been played for him. That he should actually give credit to Jeremiah Wright for the soaring oratory skills he adopted and used until the gda comment became public, and credit to whoever writes the nonsense. Prior to the tapes, Obama was preaching to the masses, reminded me of the old fire and brimstone preachers we used to listen to when I was younger. I noticed he abruptly stopped using that style immediately after the tapes. But, by that time he had the dazed followers and the press. Remember the race speech was better than Gettysburg?

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I may be a recent contributor, but I’ve been lurking for quite awhile (and I have followed many of the threads discussing/debating Obama’s characteristics.) I am neither Republican nor Democrat; rather, I identify with civil libertarians. FWIW, I’m a caucasian 48 year-old male living in the suburbs of Chicago. I know Obama’s politics well.

When I say he (Obama) is an astute politician, I mean it with all the disgust and distaste possible. He may be in over his head when it comes to the economy (and foreign policy, and infrastructure, and criminal justice, and …), but he knows how to play the game. That’s where he is astute (substitute “functionally aware” if you don’t like “astute”.)

It nonetheless amazes me how accepting The Bi-racial Messiah’s supporters have been up until now, though even the MSM seems to be enjoying the ease with which scandals keep flowing from his party and administration.

Maybe we heard him wrong. Perhaps he said it was time to usher in a new era of (ir)responsibility?

JV

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@ditto:

“China may not be able to finance the debt required to pay for it. (or any other future US debt”

Maybe they found investments to pursue in countries that don’t make a habit of insulting them.

http://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights-market-outlook/2009-01-27.html

Astute politician? Comments like this always cause a chuckle. Maybe in a few months when his aura, coming not from the world the rest of us live in, dissapates due to the real Obama, his voters will take it upon themselves to take a good look at what they bought. Maybe.

The “community organizer” left his area of responsibility in shambles. Other than voting present in the IL State Senate his accomplishments on record belong to his senate peers. The only thing he worked at was paying back the special interest groups that backed him, and his accomplishments in the US Senate? nothing that he should brag about.

If one might think it’s crowded “under that famous bus” try focusing on what the “wizard” has behind the curtain, quite a crowd. Peruse through that monstrosity of a stimulus package and you will begin to understand who he’s paying back for the OO and yes, he knew what was in it and was content to let it slop through.

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The President and Democrats have another very big problem with this “stimulus” bill. Recent reports are that China may not be able to finance the debt required to pay for it. (or any other future US debt.)

I think that it was politically insane for both the Democrats, Republicans, and capitalist big-wigs to put the US in this outrageous deficit situation where our country owes China. the Global trade imbalance is bankrupting our nation, and eventually this kind of leadership in Washington will end with our dollar being nearly worthless. Have these educated morons learned nothing from the history of other nations on the affects on societies when a nation continues to “solve” their money problems by simply printing more? The more they print, the more worthless our money becomes. This often ends in inflation or even hyper inflation. If wages do not keep pace, it is effectively a loss in revenue.

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“The president’s claims of bipartisanship were mostly a sham, as he skillfully maneuvered Republicans into a no-win position: Either support a Democratic program, or oppose it—and seem passive and uncaring.”

“Bipartisanship – scam”

No doubt about it.

“Skillfully maneuvered”

Skillfully my ass. It was done so amateurishly that the Republicans weren’t fooled for a minute.

“..Republicans into a no-win position.”

How is this “no-win position” when the taxpayers also recognized that this bill was anything but “bipartisan,” is clearly a sham, and that the bill itself is a boondoggle ‘gift’ of pork and pet Democratic socialism projects flimsily wrapped in ineffective “stimulus” paper.

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You’re new here, ruaqtpi2. Otherwise you’d know that Larry and many of us have discussed Obama’s vanity (aka his “astute” political savvy in the past)… and actually find ourselves having to bank on his personal focus on his legacy. This is why Larry starts out with “I keep telling you guys….”

Personally, I always find it offensive that we elect a lying politician with all the wrong ideas, and then hope his vanity for greatness brings him around to doing the right thing. But that’s all we got at the moment.

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Larry does have a point, which has so far gone without comment. Obama is, above all else, an astute politician. He realizes that the base that elected him may not always be thrilled with his performance, and therefore sees the value in getting the more liberal GOP members to back him up. He is a shrewd pol, and is doing his best to gain acceptance from all corners of the geopolitical globe. If it works, he expects to go down in history as a president ‘par exellence’. If it fails, he’s in for four very long years. Public adulations will not save him if he makes too many enemies on both sides of the aisle.

JV

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