Nice post to end a weird and very disturbing week in America.

November is coming.

It is amazing to look at what the Republican/Tea Party have done to this country and what they want to do again. Just in the last 20 months the Republican/Tea Party has:

Virtually blocked every Bill that has anything to do with creating Jobs, Tax Cuts for the real Small Businesses (not the Bechtel, Chicago Tribune, Fortune 100, Hedge Fund companies etc.), against providing much needed business capital for Small Businesses

They have opposed unemployment extensions and Food Stamps calling the unemployed and less fortunate Hobos, lazy, Freeloaders etc. As posted on ThinkProgress yesterday,

Food Stamps do help the economy. ThinkProgress 10.07.2010

“Money from the program — officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — percolates quickly through the economy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture calculates that for every $5 of food-stamp spending, there is $9.20 of total economic activity, as grocers and farmers pay their employees and suppliers, who in turn shop and pay their bills”.

“While other stimulus money has been slow to circulate, the food-stamp boost is almost immediate, with 80% of the benefits being redeemed within two weeks of receipt and 97% within a month, the USDA says”.

Blocked Health Benefits to the 9/11 First Responders

Blocked the Disclosure Bill to hide the facts of who is providing them with all this money (including Foreign Nationals now)

Blocked the American Jobs Bill so they can continue to farm good paying jobs overseas to the US Chamber of Commerce affiliates, paying them first.

Blocked the extension for the ARRA Bill the day the republicans left for their pre-election campaigns

Blocked the National Defense Bill, and opposed HCR and Financial Reform and threaten to filibuster the Infrastructure Bill when presented.

And the list goes on and on, way too many to list here today, there are 420 Bills in the Senate that 41 Republicans are holding hostage for their own Greed and Power. This is the real “Pledge to America” more of the same failed agenda from the previous administration.

And, this does not include the previous administration that gave us two unfunded wars, two unfunded Tax Cuts and an unfunded Prescription Drug plan. These have created record deficits, increased the economic divide to new records, and record National Debt. We are still paying for these today and our kids will be paying for them as well.

The Republicans want to repeal, privatize or cut back on Social Security, Medicare and Veterans Medical Benefits , they want to re-write the constitution, lower regulations for Wall Street and Big Business while 60% of the people want more regulations not less. They want to repeal current passed legislation or if that does not work, try to deny funding for them like they just did on the ARRA extension.

This week we have also seen reports that the US Chamber of Commerce is suspected of using Foreign Donations to fund Republican Campaigns. I guess they were not satisfied with just borrowing money from China now they want to give them voting rights in US Politics. Who are these people representing? Chinese Chamber of Commerce, UAR Chamber of Commerce, certainly not the United States. Over 8,000 attack ads as of September all against Democrats.

Quality, it does matter; well said, Ron, and US Navy.

Over 400 pieces of legislation passed by the House languish in the Senate because a single republican has anonymously placed a hold on it or the Senate GOP blockade votes NO for cloture to move it to the floor. Quality in Congress is something lacking these days. Otherwise reasonable and moderate Republicans like Snowe, Collins, Hatch, Corker, Graham to name a few who would normally be voting Yes, are scared that they will be the next Tea Party victim.

Food stamps and unemployment benefits are the two biggest bangs for the buck because people spend every dime of it. Tax cuts for the rich costs the taxpayers money because they simply save most of it.

Ron Indiana

When I look at the qualities of Sharron Angle, Rand Paul, Christine O’Donnell, and the many other Tea Party candidates, I have to wonder: Why would anyone vote for a Republican?

I agree those candidates posses the most irrational position in the universe. What's more, they will not grant interviews so the American public will at least have something to chew on.

I'm wondering if this "cone of silence" has anything to do with the "BIG LIE"?

That’d be many foreign investment firms that have been sending funds to the Chamber. The funds are deposited in the same 501(c)(6) account that the Chamber is using to run an unprecedented $75 million dollar attack campaign, mostly against Democrats. That is same as doing a hit job on Democratics. Could it be because those shrills in the GOP/TP party are mouthpieces for multinational corporations who ultimately have American jobs outsourced to their countries.

Or is it the GOP/TP shrills are really to dumb to know?

I think these extreme partisans should answer why outside multinational corporations are not exposed in the GOP/TB party as having sent funds to the American Chamber of Commerce. The funds are deposited in the same 501(c)(6) account that the Chamber is using to run an unprecedented $75 million dollar attack campaign, mostly against Democrats

To answer your question, Ron, people are voting Republican because the Democrats have failed.

The spent billions, and the economy has not improved. The only thing stimulated by all that spending has been the deficit, which is at unsustainable levels.

The Democrats fail to recognize the dangers facing this country from terrorists, who are not common thieves. They fail to recognize the threat from a nuclear Iran. They fail to understand that losing in Afghanistan would be a blow from which we may not ever recover- and that basing war policy on keeping your party intact is not just wrong, but beneath contempt.

Democrats have failed to enact tax policy that would provide surety to the marketplace.

Democrats have failed to listen to their constituents, preferring to bow before the ego of a president who has no concept of any reality other than what he believes exists. Our Founders foresaw just such situations, which is why mid-term elections exist. In this country, when you IMPOSE legislation without the consent of the governed, you pay the price at the polls.

Democrats have certainly failed to raise the tone, in D.C., or anywhere else. From a candidate calling his opponent Taliban, to an Ohio leader attempting to raise money on his use of a vulgarity to describe a group of voters, to Jerry Brown's use of a disgusting term to describe his opponent, gutter language has become the norm for a party clearly in desperate straits. It is, however, unacceptable.

Democrats are failing in their use of straw men, as well. While it may be true that the economy trumps the vilification of people like the Koch brothers, or ephemeral "foreign" donors, I believe that it is just as likely that the electorate has grown weary of Obama's constant use of them. He has raised the specter of such boogeymen as pediatricians removing healthy tonsils because it pays more, to doctors removing healthy limbs because it paid more.

Democrats attack businesses, and then wonder why they do not hire. They are now reduced to scolding, shaming, and ridiculing their donors for not donating,and their base for lack of support.

The only reason to vote Democrat is to continue the destructive policies of this administration. Not too many people are willing to hoist that banner. Democrats had a choice, to buck either their president, or their constituents. At every opportunity, they made the wrong choice. Now, they face the consequences.

If Glen Becks camp followers of Knuckle Draggers and Swamp People take over this Country we have no one to blame but ourselves. We must come together and get out to vote. The alternative is frightening.

Bev:

Excellent point! Republicans don't seem to care that money from other countries is being laundered through the Chamber of Commerce and doled out to various campaigns. If the money helps them win; they just don't seem to care.

I guess you forgot about the MILLIONS that BHO received from BP. So they could get their exemptions.

Or the campaign donations that were not disclosed from other Foreign sources. ha ha

Reality check...with less than three weeks to go:

"Just because the dynamics and circumstances behind this election are not the same as 1994 does not mean the outcome won't be the same. More than a few longtime observers who saw 1994 up close and personal are watching now. They will tell you that this one is every bit as bad for the Democrats, and quite possibly worse."

-Charlie Cook, today, nationaljournal.com-

I just wish the posters on this site would tell the entire story of an issue, instead of the talking points of one party or the other.

There may be individual Republicans that want to privatize Social Security, but anyone with half a brain in their head know that, that will never happen. The plateform of the Republican Party regarding Social Security is:

Allow younger people to make a VOLUNTARY decision to put a PORTION of their contribution in a private account. They will not be allowed to put the entire contribution into a private account. NO ONE is going TO FORCE anyone to do anything. It certainly isn't going to impact current receipients of Social Security

AC, what is you source to back you assertions about the MILLIONS your President received from BP? Back up what you say like the investagation has FACTS to back the story about the selling of America by the US Chamber of Commerce.

Janet:

Perhaps you forgot that Bush 43 spent 6 months of his Presidency trying to sell the notion of privitizing Social Security. Americans didn't buy it 8 years ago and the Baby-Boomers of today are saying, "Keep your hands off my social security. You are right, privitizing social security will never happen. But it is more than a talking point in conservative circles. We both know that.

And the republican candidate from Oregon Rachael interviewed last night said that vary thing Ron, as long as he wins he doesn't care who's funding him.

BTW: no joe all blow, do you not realize that you will have to live in the same country as the rest of us if the republicans win. Do you honestly think just be cause the republicans take control of our country you'll be better off then the Democrats? Do you honestly think that corporation running our country is going to be good for you? What will you say when the big corporation tell you their going to cut your wages in half or cut your benefits like vacation, hollidays, insurance or you have to work 6 days a week for a fixed wage? Will you still think it's a good thing that they run the country? You do know that once they get control of our country there is no turning back. So go ahead and keep cheer leading for the big corporations to take control if that's really what you think you want.

no joe, no bo, nj - After seeing the previous posts to yours listing in detail the GOP's constant effort to block actions dealing with many of the complaints you listed, it certainly seems you could just about replace every reference to"Democrats" with "Republicans."

Moreover, when you characterized the President, you really made a mistake. He was ELECTED on a platform to pursue the policies he has pursued - that's "listening to your constituents." The fact that a die-hard minority of regressives in the Tea Party movement, the militia movement and the libertarian wing of the GOP disagreed does not mean the President didn't listen to those who voted him into office. And your gratuitous insults about the man are clearly not borne out by his performance or personal behavior. Don't you wish you could have said the same about the incompetent George W. Bush and his band of boodling warmongers?

As for Obama's performance in respect to the threats of terrorism, so far the record is very good. You brought up the "boogeyman" - this is one of your own creation in hopes of creating more fear rather than reasoned and understanding response to how the President has performed.

And by the way, Jerry Brown was not the person who used the word "whore" for Meg Whitman. According to the news reports, someone closely associated with the campaign did say it - and it was in reference to her performing that way in trying to cut secret cynical deals with the police unions while she hypocritically made public statements to the opposite. I'd say the term was pretty accurate.

No points for you.

John A:

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Your rebuttal is far better than anything I could have said.

BTW: I have read your past posts and really like what you have to say. Keep writing those words of wisdom.

John - I was one of those people that voted for Obama and he certainly isn't doing what I voted for. Based on polling of independents, I think it's safe to say most independents that voted for him are also disappointed and we did not think this would be the platform he would pursue. Call us nieve or clueless or whatever, but there was definitely a disconnect at some point.

Indeed, Ron. It IS a mystery. Great post. And good morning. ;)

Anna Molly:

I'm not sure which Ron you are referring to, but good to see you on FT this Friday morning.

John A.;

Nice to see you here again. Touche', great post. I could not have expressed it better.

Just more elitist posts of how stupid Americans are and how brilliant the left in this country is. But these are many of the same people who were so brilliant to elect Obama two years ago. But maybe these people thought and were sold that Obama was going to be far more centerist than he has been. People thought he would try to reform Health Care and not try to nationalize the industry. He wouldn't try to take over the auto industry. He wouldn't push a stimulus bill which was a bail out of government union workers and special interests which did very little over the average American and small business. The question is not whether the American people have under estimated Obama, but whether Obama and the left have under estimated the American people. We will find out which is true on November 2nd.

Ron-1861300 - I'd be interested to know, then, just what did influence your vote for Obama? He really did make a point, consistently, during the campaign to pursue the platform he's worked on since getting into office. I will observe that the economic collapse he was handed to deal with came on very late during the general campaign, and some of its dimensions grew after the election - but Obama stepped up immediately, months before assuming office, and began working of his first initiatives. He made public his concerns and inclinations, and did adjust his direction after listening to members of Congress and the public.

But many people who voted for Obama were also considering their alternative choices. My sister, for example is a moderate-conservative Republican, who grew so disenchanted with the McCain-Palin team that she voted Democratic, knowing full well she was not too much a fan of the platform.

Ray W:

Thank you for posting today. It appears you are uncomfortable with "elitist posts" and "how brilliant the left in this country is".

For you, there are dim-witted, ignorant, callous candidates for your choosing. Look on the "Republican" side of your ballot.

John A. Enjoyed your post and agree with everything in it; great job.

No Joe and others never tire of insulting President Obama almost daily, it makes them feel the world is flat not round as the rest of us know.

@Ron - Indiana ~ I was referring to the Ron who posted the original comment. So many Rons, so little time. -- LoL

@Bag Boy ~ Thanks for the reality check. I always come to you for reality, and I'm never disappointed.

Ron - I don't consider you clueless at all. Impatient - yes - but who can blame you or anyone else for wanting things that make this a stronger, better place to thrive. I think it's unfair to expect immediate change, and yes, 24 months is immediate. Candidate Obama told us it would slow. He told us it would be painful. He was so right. But this is a big, wonderful country. I'm willing to wait for some of the most important changes I'll see in my lifetime. I hope you and others will continue to support this administration. The thought of turning backwards and handing things over to the (R) crowd saddens and scares me.

Jody:

Great thoughts; all woven together into an excellent post. The Sting and jobs: Well done.

It's obvious the Democrats still have on their training wheels for their feeble attempts to create a job. And it took a few trillion dollars for us to find out they don't have a clue about what they are doing.

Libs, are you tired of the lies about the economy coming from Obama, Biden, and Pelosi? All those wonderful jobs they'd produce if only we would allow them to spend more and more money. The Democrats have spent record amounts of money, money added to the debt,. and for what? 95,000 jobs lost and the the job market quickly heading South, that's what. And you Libs have the gall to whine that the Republicans might have gotten slightly in the way of even more wasteful spending by Obama and the Democrats! That takes a lot of guts on your part, a lot guts, and not many brains.

Well JoannaSmith1 - you must be absolutely furious with Christie,NJ this morning as he just killed about 6,000 jobs for his constituants. Talk about training wheels - the sad thing, the repugnants did not learn to ride with them, now they can't ride without them either. So, what say you about the 64,000 private sector jobs gained? I bet those folks are pretty happy about the stimulus this morning and every morning, especially come payday.

Jody - i agree - an excellent post on an issue that all of us should be concerned about. We seem to have an issue where there are forces that are working to keep jobs overseas and NOT create any here. I agree that we need to be vigilant and vote for those who want to help AMERICA and create jobs here.

The status quo is not working for America right now.

By the way - we seem to be infested with some strange, annoying BUZZING from JS1... anyone have any bug spray?

It's hard to escape the conclusion that the powerful, wealthy individuals who provide the financial backbone to the Conservative Movement are desperately selfish and out of shape. They can't see that they're destroying the things that made America great in order to grab more money and power for themselves. They wish to make themselves the ruling elite, but of what? The Conservative agenda has already damaged the middle class so very badly. Is it worth being king of a smoking ruin? Apparently our Conservative aristocracy thinks so.

First person of the day to completely lose it and get suspended! Let's hear it for pat!

and for those who ignored her post...shame on you...

Feisty? Where's the (selective)outrage you showed yesterday?

JoAnna Smith. We liberals are tired of people like you who insist the stimulus did not work when economists and the facts state otherwise. Are you tired of the lies you hear from republicans claiming no jobs were created while handing out stimulus checks and exclaiming how wonderful it is that so many jobs will be created in their districts and state? Prove no jobs were created, find the links and post them. You won't and you can't because the truth is, jobs were created and saved.

Save the double talk dangerfield... your silence yesterday only reinforced what a petty hypocrite you are... you fit right in with the osamaobama and the rest of the ilk!

BTW - did I miss where Pat was suspended or are you babbling your projections as usual?

Jody, Iowa

Most of the Spring jobs were from temporary Government Census takers.

The latest MSNBC headlines

Economy lost 95,000 jobs last month; private hiring disappoints.

Pietro:

Good morning. The spinners are out early this morning. Still same old talking points. They still will not acknowledge that this economy is a direct result of their failed and mismanaged agenda of the Bush reign. It took them 8 years to nearly bankrupt this country and President Obama is supposed to fix it in 20 months. Even if we had a different President AND a responsible Republican/Tea Party that wanted to help instead of blocking virtually everything that the President proposes we would still be fighting our way out. Just about every leading economist (both republican and democrat) agree that we are moving forward. Slowly, yes - Mostly because of the obstructionism from the Republican/Tea Party people that support Wall Street over Main Street, Big Business over Small Business, the Richest 2% over the 98% and now China, India, Egypt etc. over America.

They caused the majority of the problems we are and our children will be facing for years to come. The are in denial of their role and balme everybody else and then do absolutely nothing to help except throw stones.

They have given us two unfunded wars, one based on hypocrisy and lies and the other total mismanaged. Two unfunded Tax Cuts where over 50% of the benefits went the the richest 2% and an unfunded prescription bill. These programs created record deficits and National Debt that we are still paying for today. He!!, some of their past agenda is still in play today and it has not created any new jobs. So their old agenda is still failing today as we speak.

This is not even including the cutting of regulations that have killed many employees in the name of Greed. Reduced regulations that lead to the collapse of Wall Street, Right Wing Supreme Court that took the voting rights of American people and just sold them to the highest bidder.

Great post, Jody. The Republican attack ads that I see blaming our economy on President Obama are relentless and I'm sad to say some people believe them. Reminder: President Obama didn't create the economic meltdown, the Republicans did, and he has had no help from the Republicans in turning things around.

Posted my opinion and voted to collapse them yesterday Feisty, That you took the time to wrongfully attack me here while you and the rest simply ignored someone you said you disagreed with but respected (REMEMBER?) being called a WHORE is all anyone ever needs to know about how the "community" polices itself. lol

You only see injustice when you are the victim...how progressive...lol

I guess I should leave the getting suspended stuff to an expert like you...how many times have you been suspended for your obnoxious posts? 2, 3? lol

Still in full MARTYR MODE I see...

Save it! You attack and when someone calls you out on it - it's followed up by arrogance & indignation!

Here's some cheese to accompany your WHINE!

And yes I was wrongfully suspended ONCE... as proven my the comment that followed Tyler's 'rookie' decision!

Anyone want to bet how long it is before dangerfield is compelled to answer back? Always has to have the last word - like some how it makes him right! LMAO!

JoAnnaSmith1,Herr Goebbel would have been very proud of you using the "Big Lie" as you do.

JoannaSmith1

To quote that noted Republican Representative Joe Wilson...

"you lie"

Feisty-

Always love your comments.

Can I please ask you a quick question?

How do people (or MSNBC) collapse peoples comments. What happened to freedom of speech and thought? Can anyone just collapse a comment because they disagree with it. How is it done?

Thanks

Thanks Tom!

Sadly that's the case - if (5) people flag your comment via the (!) next to the vote box it will collapse - THEN you can wait HOURS for Tyler to come around and make the decision whether or not to restore it!

What p!sses me off is it only takes 5 of these right wing lunatics who can't stand the idea of opposing ideas & free speech to collapse a post that can have over a hundred votes!

Real fair system if you ask me... and by the way I'm sure you've noticed the troll traffic has clogged First Read over the last few day... LOL

If you notice left leaning posts are collapsed overwhelmingly!

Now before this gets collapsed let me wish you a GREAT weekend!

The republicans don't have any thoughts of their own to post, so all they can do is collapse other posts.

Hope all liberals and conservatives have a good weekend.

Lets go over the Democrats comments on the economy over the last couple of years: "Recovery Summer" (Biden) , "500,000 new jobs a month" (Biden prediction in April/2010), "Turned the Corner" (Obama), "Going in the right direction" (Obama), "Unemployment will exceed 8.0% if the Stimulus Bill isn't passed" (Romer), "Millions of 'saved' jobs" (Obama), "Unemployment checks are the best way to stimulate the economy (Pelosi).

The Democrats have taken the car from the ditch, and drove it off the cliff.

Only the kool-aide drinkers believe the Democrats have even a tiny clue about what they talking about.

Joe in Albany

Well Joe, you have opened your self up to a question i put to No Jo 2 weeks ago,

lets pertend you Joe in Albany are the president Of the United States, and you have taken Office Jan-09.

What would you do Mr President Joe in Albany, to create Jobs and get this economy going in 20 months?

As I told No Jo, your are the president, i want to here YOUR exact plan for getting this country Moving?

But lets remember Mr President, you are entering office with Months of Job Loss, mortgage Crisis, Bank Crisis, 2 wars, growing defects that were not there when the previous president took office,

You can't mention Bush, Clinton, Or Obama, lets pretend they never existed but all the problems are there.

Now Joe this is a trick Question, so be careful with your answer.

Joannasmith1 you can answer this same question

Since those 95,000 jobs were government ones, that should make the republicans happy. Smaller government has a price.

Jeff, it's an easy answer: I am NOT the President.

It's not my responsibility to revitalize the economy and get jobs growing. That's what we elected Barry and the majority Dems in Congress to do. They have simply done a terrible job and they all should lose their jobs for their miserable failures.

Joe, I think that Jeff is asking you what your ideas are about the economy.

So Joe in Albany:

Private employment, a better gauge of labor market health, increased 64,000 after rising 93,000 in August.

I thought repugnants wanted the private market growth over government employment growth, so which is it? You can't have it both ways and you can't have your cake and eat it too. I'd say there are 64,000 happier people today due to the private job growth.

NO Joe,

The way you criticize the president anybody in this blog would think you have all the answers. i see you don't.

What you said is the same thing the republicans have been saying for 20 months.

you know Joe, at least No Jo had to guts to tell me that she would have done Nothing, because Nothing is better than anything.

At least she answered honestly, but your answer is in line with the republicans who don't have a clue any more than you do and your just average Joe. But the difference is that its the republicans leaderships job to offer idea.

So your answer tell me that you are just as mad at the republicans as the democrats, remember you just said its not YOUR Job, its the job we sent to lawmakers to Washington to do.

Joe I hope from Now on people see you for what you are and that is a complainer you whime and cry. but that all you do.

Jeff, it's an easy answer: I am NOT the President.

It's not my responsibility to revitalize the economy and get jobs growing. That's what we elected Barry and the majority Dems in Congress to do. They have simply done a terrible job and they all should lose their jobs for their miserable failures.

Is the view is good from the cheap seats?

Jeff, great post. Thank goodness Joe, No Joe and JoAnnaSmith are not President because they cannot even use their imagination to tell us what they would do if they found the economic mess left by Bush and the GOP--it seems the party of no ideas includes their voters.

Jeff / Jody;

How true. Those 95,000 jobs lost were mostly government jobs at the State and Local levels. They also included teachers, cops, firefighters etc and the Republican Senate last week before they booked town did not extended the ARRA Bill. Amazing that the Republicans think this a good thing when they opposed the very bills that President Obama proposed that was to help these States. Hypocrisy. Also there were 64,000 private sector jobs created in spite of the obstructionism from the right.

Just more of the same old rhetoric with no ideas on how to fixed the problem that they created anyway. Just blame somebody else.

Jody, Iowa

Jeff, great post. Thank goodness Joe, No Joe and JoAnnaSmith are not President because they cannot even use their imagination to tell us what they would do if they found the economic mess left by Bush and the GOP--it seems the party of no ideas includes their voters.

Bingo, that is my point, all this garbage we here from CU, Joe in Albany, No Jo, joannasmith1 is just complaining with out ideas, the same talking points the republicans give us every minute of everyday.

so Jody if it were up to Joe in aldany considering all the complaining, joe would have Not,

Bailed out the banks, our banking system would have completely collapsed, no lending, no ability to find lending any where including Europe, there banking system is tied is to ours. No chase, Citi bank, Bank of America wells Fargo. every mortgage loan out there, behind or not would have come due and 10 times the homes would have been lost.

Bailed out the car industry, ford would have been the only American auto maker left in the US. major defense contracts for parts that GM and Chrysler makes would have goan to ford. nearly 1 million people would have been out of work with no hope of going back to work any thing soon.

the stimulas would not have passed and we would have been stuck in the trend of loosing 600k jobs permonth. major highways would not have gotten the much needed work this past summer, including major bridge work.

with the auto industry and banks going under the unemployment rate would have gotten to 20% easy.

your right Jody thank god Joe ,No Jo, Joannasmith1, Steve in Florida and Cu Farley are not president, lets go one further, thanks god we did not elect a republicans in 08 god only know where we would be Now. as you see Joannasmith1 has stayed clear of this.

Jeff, I'msorry I haven't gotten back to you before now. I actually did not know that you asked a follow up question until last night, because I have been so busy this week.

I see that you believe that without government intervention, the economy would be worse than it is now. I disagree, for good reason.

In 1929, when the stock market crashed, it did not reach it's bottom until 1932. By that time, the economy had lost 14 billion dollars. FDR pumped money into the economy, which did very little to ease the problems, and in 1939, the market crashed again. The original, three year crash saw the loss of 89%of market value; the '39 crash lasted two years, and took 40% of the market's value. Again, it was not government programs that restored the economy, but World War II.

Now look at the crash of 1987. In five days, from October 14 to 19, the market lost 31% of it's value, costing the economy half a trillion dollars.(These are constant dollars, meaning that they are adjusted for inflation. Therefore, the comparison is 500billion to 14 billion.). That crash saw the demise of E.F. Hutton, because of check kiting, and also Kidder Peabody, because of dirty dealings with Ivan Boesky and their own traders manipulating the market. We also had Mike Milken, who sold debt as equity, through so-called junk bonds.

How was confidence restored to the market? Through the prosecutions of law violators. Bear Stearns executives, guilty of mislabeling mortgage packages as 'A' rated, when they were actually more risky, should have been prosecuted, as just one example. Instead, the government actually forced banks that did not need TARP funds to accept them, as a way of restoring confidence in the market. It was foolish.

So, as president, I would have prosecuted the law breakers. I would have advised GM and Chrysler to undergo structured bankruptcy, to get out from under onerous contracts that pay people not to work. I would have LOWERED the corporate tax rates, and sent the message that America is open for business. I certainly would not have extended unemployment benefits ad infinitum-particularly not when there are jobs American workers refuse.

Right now, there is a crisis of confidence in the government. Without that, the economy cannot grow. Obama is repeating the economic mistakes of the past, and the failure of those policies is apparent. If he had learned the lesson of 1987, the economy would be growing at a robust rate. Instead, it is staggering to a halt. So, no, Jeff, doing nothing would not have led to higher unemployment. It would have led to growth.

Jeff: Joannasmith1 you can answer this same question

Oh, so now you want answers. And here for 20 long months, you and others here have been telling us Obama and the Democrats had all the answers. Now you're finally admitting that Obama doesn't have a clue, and now you want answers from the other side. Well that is progress, and now you've joined the millions of others that know Obama is clueless.

My thoughts on this have been written for months now. Apparently you ignored them, too busy defending Obama I guess. Government spending must be cut, 10% across the board to start. The entitlements need to be reformed. The ratio of cuts to tax increases (yes, you read that correctly) need to be in the 3:1 range, $3 dollars in real spending cuts for every $1 of tax increases. And income taxes need to be paid by everyone - just so if they are raised, everyone has a stake in that economy. The relationship between government and business needs to be changed 180 degrees. With Obama, the government is an adversary towards business, we need to make government a partner with business. To do that, Obama needs to leave office, that's just not in his nature, and that happens in 2012.

I suppose that's not of enough details for you Lefties though. Too bad. Until you offer anything, it's light-years ahead of what you've offered.

No Jo

So, as president, I would have prosecuted the law breakers. I would have advised GM and Chrysler to undergo structured bankruptcy, to get out from under onerous contracts that pay people not to work. I would have LOWERED the corporate tax rates, and sent the message that America is open for business. I certainly would not have extended unemployment benefits ad infinitum-particularly not when there are jobs American workers refuse.

Ok No Jo I'm glad to see that you and the president agree upon Gm and chrysler, they sold off Saub, got rid of pontiac. the unions agree to salary and benifet cuts as well as early retirement, the reneigosiated contracts with parts companys and made the workers pay more for health ins.

Now No Jo i will say this, i don't believe that government is the answer, but it can HELP. Madan Speaker is way over the top with 99 weeks of unemployment ins. she at times is not in reality, for her every thing is help, help, help. and that can't be. my point was that considering what we were in, i don't think anybody really had the answers.

as far as prosecuted the law breakers, these same lawbreakers you say you would prosecute, the republicans would never let that happen. there are in bed with these guys, the oil companies and wall street that will never happen.

no joe, no bo, nj Your description of just what Roosevelt did in the New Deal comes from common conservative mythology. I just finished re-reading perhaps the most outstanding detailed history of that period, Leuchtenburg's Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1932-1940, which surprised me with many details about the efforts of FDR to avoid defecit spending, cut business taxes and reduce the overall size of government. It was only after many of those efforts FAILED that he turned to many different approaches. I haven't the volume handy now, but over the weekend, I'm coming back to deal with your post point by point - both successes and failures.

In fact, between 1935-36, FDR's programs had stopped the hemorraghing of jobs and put millions back to work. Industrial output had risen dramatically. Many other important achievements had been recorded.

Restoring full employment, indeed, did not finally occur until 1943, and that largely due to both a mobilized war economy (state-controlled, for the most part) as well as the removal of millions of men to military service. But that's partly the point here: We have seen several severe recessions and a depression where despite slow recovery of economic growth, the jobs didn't also come back. The most recent was the "jobless recovery" of the early G.W. Bush Administration.

Evidence now is abundant that cutting taxes and slashing spending is the OPPOSITE of what is needed at this time. And it was certainly not going to work at the outset of this global economic crisis. I'll be back in a day or so and detail how that was certainly the wrong strategy during the Great Depression, too.

John A.-400474

Thank you John

I heard all about the new deal growing up in my grandparents home. they survived the depression. In 1934 my grandfather found work through a new deal program. it was not much but it kept food on the table, something Hoover had no interest in. helping people that needed immediate help. before the war started in 1939 he found work at a ford plant that made tank parts on the southside of chicago. He also worked at navy Pier in a machine shop that repaired planes. these were new deal plans as well as the deal he had with england to supply equipment for their war effert.

In fact, between 1935-36, FDR's programs had stopped the hemorraghing of jobs and put millions back to work. Industrial output had risen dramatically. Many other important achievements had been recorded.

President Obama stimulas stopped the hemorraghing of jobs, job losses slowed. if there was one achievement with the stimulas, that was it. people needed immediate help.

John they keep saying cut spending, well given the tax cuts passed by Bush giving more tax cuts and cutting sending cause the unemployment rate to go up, given the jobs report today.

Also John the Doc about the bust Bowl, the republicans leadership let farmers starve and loose property in the name of free Enterprise. roosevelt came in to office and gave them techional help to save their land, the government bought there live stock and gave them money not to plant to help drive up prices to make it profitable again to farm again , lets remember corn and wheat prices were at rock bottom, because of this government help we became the largest exported of corn and wheat in the world. but it took the bust bowl to reach DC before roosevelt could get the votes to help.

Government can help.

I guess we can count the Nasty Redhead out on this one-see post number 3 above where Nasty is also calling Meg Whitman a "whore".

LOL!!!

Joe in Albany: I am so looking forward to all the FR lefty liberal ladies condemning Jerry Brown for calling his opponent a "w****"

Joe - It won't happen. In their twisted minds what Brown's campaign thinks/says about Whitman is a-okay with them. They'll justify it, just like they justify everything else for the liberal agenda. Buying votes to pass health care? Not a problem for the libs. Economy is off the rails and heading for the cliff? Libs tell us that's "Bush's fault". A Liberal Democrat calls his Republican opponent and "w****", not a problem for the Libs, they're used to treating women that way. Look how they treat Fiorina, O'Donnell, Gov. Brewer in AZ, and of course Palin. To the Libs, what the Brown campaign said about Whitman is mild in comparison.

Not a word yet, Joe and Joanna?

Here-Let's see if I can jumpstart the discussion: Last night, I had a dream that Michelle Obama came over and cleaned my house. When she was done, I had her make me some pancakes.

Do you people think it's bad that I cracked a maid joke? Well, some people think it's bad you all are cracking prostitute jokes about Whitman.

I'll say it--tacky on the part of Jerry Brown. There have been a lot worse things said. Every candidate needs to remember that in this day and age--technology captures every off-hand comment made in private and there are those who take advantage of it. That said, this is a nonstory. There are probably equally distasteful comments made by Whitman in private that have yet to surface.

CU, Joanna & Joe - well if the shoe fits Meg should wear it, I'd call her one to her face if I ever met her. A corporate whore is a whore just the same, and Meg is certainly a corporate whore.

Joe in Albany

Whore is a "bad word" depending on the context its used. I'm assuming in this cause Jerry Brown meant...

Democrats are not sellouts and that no one gets a piece of elephant @$$.

If that's the case, it's not as bad as hypocritical complaints about illegals like Meg Whitman Lou Dobbs hiring illegals. Jerry Brown, if you put the word "whore" in proper perspective, was not talking out of both sides of mouth.

Why are you so reluctant to post the up side of what Reuters says about the job numbers?

Just in case you missed it this is what Reuters reported...

"This number makes QE2 more likely. The number just confirms that we have a slow growth economy and there's a lot of work to be done. But the silver lining is that the private sector was on the positive side, though it wasn't strong enough," said Jay Suskind, senior vice president at Duncan-Williams in Jersey City, New Jersey."

Keep groping for your unreasonable slants; dangerfield.

Joe in Albany. You got your facts wrong again. Jerry Brown didn't call Meg Whitman a whore. He mentioned her several times on the tape as Ms. Whitman.

So no, I won't be trashing Jerry Brown for calling Meg Whitman a whore.

Personally, I am wondering what Ms Whitman's camp calls Jerry Brown behind close doors. I'm pretty sure it's not Mr. Brown.

CU Farley

Seriously, I dream about the Obamas' too! In fact, I dreamt about Michelle Obama just the other night. I hugged her and told her how much I liked her and, in my dream, she was kind and radiant. Really, seriously.

That's the way it is with these public figures, they take on larger than life characterics. Of course it's our projections, but there is a "hook" there. For instance, Michelle is a wife and mother, so it makes sense you cast her in the role of a caretaker in your dream. Of course, Whitman isn't a "whore," but she is a candidate who appears to be trying to buy elected office, as opposed to a candidate who seeks to win office by presenting logical arguments.

We're certainly seeing the classlessness of the Lefties today. "Tacky"? That's how one Lefty described Brown's campaign description of Whitman? "Would call her [Whitman] a w**** to her face", says another.

Just think if a Republican had called one of the Democratic women the same name.Think that Republican would have been beat into submission and told to withdraw from any race they were running? You betch'a they would!!

And even I got called the same in one of the posts. Nice. Real classy.

This is what the American Left-wing has become. It gets pretty ugly when you pull the curtain back to expose these cretins.

Personally, I am wondering what Ms Whitman's camp calls Jerry Brown behind close doors. I'm pretty sure it's not Mr. Brown.

More proof of the double sided phony POUTRAGE from the right winger...

I'm still LMAO watching them try to defend Meg & Housekeeper Gate!

You know all this time I was under the impression that selfish redhead AKA Joanna Smith was paid by the word...

It has NOW become crystal clear she's actually paid by the number of responses she gets...

Why else would she continually throw out the most asinine comments for us to defend!

Sorry selfish - you'll now longer be cashing in from my responses!

STTS

JoAnnaSmith1

I've learned to just not read your posts, because you provoke people to get down on a very nasty level. It's your "gift" I guess.

PS I still think you are really Karl Rove. 'Fess up!

US Navy, you have done an excellent job keeping us informed on this topic. It is time to take our country back--back from the monied interests both foreign and domestic whose sole purpose is to achieve more power and greater wealth.

President Obama was correct yesterday when he said this is a threat to our democracy; he was correct when he criticized the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision as a disatrous one. I do not care which party a person chooses to represent their views but every American should be asking if a powerful and wealthy few and the rest of us returned to serfdom is what they envision as the future.

Thanks for sharing, that's good information. It has reached a point where the rest of us are just a labor force for the wealthy elites, indistinguishable from the labor forces in China and Indonesia. Well, except for one thing--we make too much money. So Conservatives will continue their war on the middle class, destroying us one job, one living, one family at a time until we really are a nation of haves and have nots. Already the gap between the wealthy and everyone else is as large as it was before the Great Depression, a level that ultimately kills the economic vitality of the nation.

The new Robber Barons are here.

Navy

Great post telling it like it is. I do hope all Americans will reject the America Chamber of Commerce with their vote against the duplicitous, greedy, Republicans or should I say the Chambers of China, Russia, Egypt, Indian, Indonesia, Bahrain etceteras?

The GOP/TB asks the silly question --Where are the Jobs?--The GOP/TB knows since they are the ones sending the jobs away. The GOP/TP shrills are lying and deceiving Americans just to line their pockets and coffers to target President Obama and other Democrats. They have not employed any adds in the reverse order. Isn't that strange? Every American should be outraged at the GOP/TP for selling America and American jobs and vote against the GOP/TP before it's too late.

"Similarly, the man caurrently in charge of the Chamber's political activities, Bill Miller, has a history with Law and Rove.

When ones see Karl Rove's name that should be a cue.

Morning GF!

Is D.C. underestimating Obama?

All I can say is YOU Betcha... and it's NOT just DC!

Saw my first Kirk commercial this morning PAID for by the Chamber of Commerce... couldn't help but wonder if it was the Saudis or the Chinese that funded it!

People who don't see this as a threat to OUR very Democracy once again prove you can't fix STUPID!

I just can't fathom the logic of the Conservative wing of the Supreme Court on this one. Money is NOT speech, money is votes. More accurately money is a bribe, and Conservatives have legalized bribery on an unprecedented scale.

Good morning GF

Did you get my e-mail from last night?

Saw my first Kirk commercial this morning PAID for by the Chamber of Commerce... couldn't help but wonder if it was the Saudis or the Chinese that funded it!

People who don't see this as a threat to OUR very Democracy once again prove you can't fix STUPID!

Well, if they are reading and posting @ FR now that we and other media are exposing the hypocrisies and greedy intent of the Chamber of Commerce, I think we can fix stupid.

LoL the Trib endorses Kirk and the Times endorses Ginnouliaus, the real candidate who doesn't accept money from lobbyists and special interests.

Feisty, I'll repeat today what I said in 2008. Every time the media thinks President Obama is down and out, he stands up and smacks them down. They did it with Hilary they did it with McCain they did it with HCR. President Obama likes to play rope a dope with the media, make them think he's out then make a big come back, and they keep falling for it over and over again. President Obama is one smart dude.

Haven't checked my e-mail yet Bev - but will and get back to ya! ;0)

Mo - You're right about that on SO many levels! Thanks for the reminder!

Nice work out of Columbus. He actually never set foot on the North American continent and the closest he ever got to "America" was the island we now call Puerto Rico.

Of course, he also got there about 500 years late. The Vikings had settlements in Newfoundland dating back to around 900 A.D.

True. More and more evidence is showing that the Indians may not have even been here "first." But if they were, it was just because they had....reservations! Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

Credit where due, CU...8.2 was funny.

The Republican/Tea Party has Virtually blocked every Bill that has anything to do with creating Jobs, Tax Cuts for the real Small Businesses (not the Bechtel, Chicago Tribune, Fortune 100, Hedge Fund companies etc.), against providing much needed business capital for Small Businesses

They have opposed unemployment extensions and Food Stamps calling the unemployed and less fortunate Hobos, lazy, Freeloaders etc. As posted on ThinkProgress yesterday,

Blocked Health Benefits to the 9/11 First Responders

Blocked the Disclosure Bill to hide the facts of who is providing them with all this money (including Foreign Nationals now)

Blocked the American Jobs Bill so they can continue to farm good paying jobs overseas to the US Chamber of Commerce affiliates, paying them first.

Blocked the extension for the ARRA Bill the day the republicans left for their pre-election campaigns

Blocked the National Defense Bill, and opposed HCR and Financial Reform and threaten to filibuster the Infrastructure Bill when presented.

And the list goes on and on, way too many to list here today, there are 420 Bills in the Senate that 41 Republicans are holding hostage for their own Greed and Power. This is the real “Pledge to America” more of the same failed agenda from the previous administration.

And, this does not include the previous administration that gave us two unfunded wars, two unfunded Tax Cuts and an unfunded Prescription Drug plan. These have created record deficits, increased the economic divide to new records, and record National Debt. We are still paying for these today and our kids will be paying for them as well.

The Republicans want to repeal, privatize or cut back on Social Security, Medicare and Veterans Medical Benefits , they want to re-write the constitution, lower regulations for Wall Street and Big Business while 60% of the people want more regulations not less. They want to repeal current passed legislation or if that does not work, try to deny funding for them like they just did on the ARRA extension.

And this is what your Republican/Tea Party have done to America.

TheOldGrayWolf

The Congress should have been developing and passing legislation that would give companies a reason to create new private sector jobs,

When Bush was prez, Congress DID give them all the goodies Republicans say are supposed to be reason for creating new private sector jobs: lax regulations and big tax cuts for the wealthy. But it turned out that enough corporations saw them as reasons to loot and plunder instead, causing the economy to collapse to the brink of a second Great Depression. So if the Republicans get back in power, do you think second times the charm?

Since the private sector has been adding jobs for months, including last month, it seems that President Obama is in fact giving the private sector reason to create jobs rather than opportunities for continued looting.

Why be optomistic about America's future and possibly influence the country to spend again when you can be just like most republicans on this board and in our congress who can just spew negativity for their own political gain and force their own idiots to buy gold from the likes of Glenn Beck who have charged them 10X the going rate. Such damn fools they all are. And yes, I believe are best days are ahead of us, unlike the Foreign Chamber Of Commerce view and the views of some of are own citizens who continue to negate any optimism at all. Apologize, did I call them citizens?

Sorry John but you'll have to go back over to Fox to get their lies so you can decide. They say what you want to hear not what's factual.

as if UNIONS aren't??? Geeze Pete..................

"as if unions aren't???" Aren't what? Forreign?

I'm just curious...

How many jobs should have been created with the money the Chamber of Commerce is dumping into campaigns?

They could be paying employees who would, in turn, become customers for their goods and services.

I guess they're just more interested in finding the best democracy money can buy.

"Vote Republican Or We Won't Give You Any Jobs!"

...not a very inspiring campaign slogan.

he's worse than what we first thought!

I am!!! DOWN with the DEMS!! Vote ALL DEMS OUT!!! Get this Leftie Elitist Liberal the hell under control. Get the Pelosies and Reids OUT!! Give America back to her people.

And your ideas to save this great nation are WHAT????

USNAVY Ret - annirich HAS no new ideas. She doesn't know (and doesn't want to know) that the Tea Party is funded by rich industrialists and ex-Republicans. She thinks that the Tea Party was formed by 'regular people' who wanted a voice in Washington.

No she has no new ideas. She has no ideas at all. it's all about shaking her fist at the clouds yelling 'get off my lawn!'. Instead of contributing to America and trying to HELP get us ALL out of this mess we are in, she is shaking her fist yelling 'Down with the Dems'.

Classy.

I do challenge her to prove me wrong.

STIMULUS, HEALTH CARE, CAP & TRADE, VAT, UNEMPLOYMENT....need I say more??? Vote Dems and support the Progressives ie Communisits!!!

I will ask you again. Your ideas to save this great nation are what???

How would you reduce the deficit, what woould you cut

How would you create jobs in this country

How would you improve Education

I watched the exchange too Houston!

Rachel was phenomenal with the way she handled that NUT JOB!

What a condescending arrogant a@@ (kinda reminds me of someone else who lurks around here and I think you know who I'm talking about)? lol

Apparently "Junior Grizzly" as a problem with people who attended Yale. I think it's important, then, to put together a list of notable Republicans who went to Yale:

Prescott Bush, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, John Ashcroft, William H. Taft, Samuel Alito, George Pataki, Gerald Ford...

...not to mention fellow Tea Party favorite and GOP nominee for Senator from Alaska Joe Miller!!!

And you solutions for

Reducing the deficit are what? What programs would you cut?

How would you create more US Jobs?

How about Education, how would you get us back to #1

Who are Afro Americans?

I'm not part of any elite, any union, or any of the minority groups you resent, but as far as I'm concerned, the recovery is working out pretty well. As I've said several times all of the value of my investments that was lost in the Bush Recession has been recovered -- and then some -- in the Obama Recovery.

I am still puzzled as to why all the Tea Partiers, most of whom have not lost their jobs, don't seem to have any investments at all. If they did, they wouldn't be screaming so loud. Or maybe they're just in too much of a frenzy of hate over having a "Kenyan anti-colonialist" in the White House t have noticed that they're better off now than they were two years ago.