Obama agenda: Deficit reduction, education, energy

"Preparing for political life after a bruising election, President Barack Obama will put greater emphasis on fiscal discipline, a nod to a nation sick of spending and to a Congress poised to become more Republican, conservative and determined to stop him," the AP's Feller reports. "He is already giving clues about how he will govern in the last two years of his term. Obama will try to make gains on deficit reduction, education and energy. He will enforce his health care and financial overhauls and try to protect them from repeal should Republicans win control of Capitol Hill. He will use executive authority when blocked by Congress, and steel for scrutiny and investigations if the GOP is in charge. While trying to save money, Obama will have to decide whether to bend to Republican and growing Democratic pressure to extend Bush-era tax cuts, even for the wealthy, that expire at year's end."

10 comments below

Steve-505729

3 Trillion dollars later and nothing to show for it. Yea we believe you Obama

3 votes

#1 - Tue Oct 26, 2010 9:12 AM EDT

Madison From NY

Hard working citizens need to STOP the Marxist big government Obama agenda dead in its tracks

#1.1 - Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:22 AM EDT

discgolferrp

We, in Michigan appreciate the avoidance of the loss of millions of jobs in the auto sector. Much of the tarp has been payed back.

It is the responsibility of the president to fund current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The reasons must be innumerated here because even Joe Scarboro has decided it is time to cut and run. As ill-advised as those wars were, to cut war funding leaves our troops facing and emboldened enemy while having less resources. A draw-down of forces costs more than maintaining those forces over the short term. Obama's response in Afghanistan, giving the military the surge and reviewing the result in one year, was the good choice of all poor choices available. If the military can help Afghanistan, the signs should be evident in that year. If this is a quagmire, that will also be evident. The losses and sacrifice of our military should not be walked away from without giving them a chance for success. But the war cannot be allowed to proceede with the current aims and strategy if there is to be no end. Lots of money there that may be wasted but I see no GOP offered strategy that continues pressure on Osama Bin Laden and ends the war. Obama must be credited with the Iraq war draw-down. It was only after he visited the country that Bush signaled the end of combat operations. (quibblers be advised that there is a DOD definition of "Combat Operations")

The health plan doesn't increase the deficit, in spite the self-serving predictions of the GOP to the contrary. Saving will be realized while profit of insurance companies will be held to 15%. Those that give huge bonuses to executives will have to compete with those who do not. The crying from BMW drivers will be audible, but they are only crying over the loss of one of their 8 vacation homes.

#1.2 - Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:25 AM EDT

ROY WILSON-336103

"Preparing for political life after a bruising election, President Barack Obama will put greater emphasis on fiscal discipline"

And we're supposed to believe that a wild spender will magically become a fiscal conservative??????????????

Thanks, I needed a good laugh today.

#1.3 - Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:55 AM EDT

Wm.-375815

I must be missing something on the tax extension debate. If the Dems and Obama cave now to an extension, even temporary, this puts them in a double bind: one, there is clearly no assurance that a new Congress in 2012 will have more Dems or be more likely to restore the old rates; and two, it will concede half the argument toward deficit reduction - raising taxes will be off the table. And given the decade of arguments that the tax cuts disproportionately benefited the upper income earners - was this mere smoke and mirrors, sound and fury? Do the Dems really represent the middle class? Are the Dems admitting that they cannot stand for principle or take on the monied class?

#2 - Tue Oct 26, 2010 9:34 AM EDT

discgolferrp

Obama had appointed the debt commission (while the GOP opposed that approach) for which he received no credit. If he can get education and energy out of the "do nothing" Congress, I will be impressed.

It is not the end of the world of Obama loses the fight over the give away to the rich. Even he has to lose some. The congress is viewed as far below him and they should do something to get our country in order and stop fighting over the politics of political appointees. The only criteria for rejection of an appointee should be corruption or treason.

#3 - Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:04 AM EDT

Amy B. Portland, ME

"Obama will have to decide whether to bend to Republican and growing Democratic pressure to extend Bush-era tax cuts, even for the wealthy, that expire at year's end."

Don't do it! It would be bad for the country. Bush's tax cuts are what put us into this federal deficit (that, and two wars and a prescription drug plan.) That's the bottom line.

1 vote

#4 - Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:07 AM EDT

Madison From NY

"Obama agenda: Deficit reduction, education, energy"

________________________________________________________________

Translation: increase taxes, grow government, government control

1 vote

#5 - Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:20 AM EDT

K Mac in Okla

The President and the Democratic Party have a chance to prove to the base and the country that they will stand for what they believe in. We have been told, and it appears to be true, that the Bush tax cuts will increase the deficit and will not be good for the middle class nor the poor. The republicans and the dems that support them have not said to this day how they plan to pay for them if extended.

It is time for the President to prove that he will stand on principles and what he believes in regardless of what others think. I hold great respect for those that stand for their beliefs.

I truly believe that the tax cuts will not benefit the middle class nor the poor. My reason for my belief is if they are so great, why do we not see any benefit from them now. They are in place right now and there are no jobs and the rich are not hiring! This is very strange to me and am unable to understand. No one has been able to convince me that the tax cuts will benefit anyone but the rich.

Waiting with an open mind for someone, anyone, to explain it.

#6 - Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:23 AM EDT

discgolferrp

Sometimes the rats win.

#6.1 - Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:26 AM EDT

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