Watching the roundtables on ABC and especially NBC this am they were pretty

[mucifer]

supportive of President Obama. I was pleasantly surprised.

[TomClash]

1. They like high ratings too

They wish they had the President's approval ratings.

Plus, what can they really criticise? Is the Disney Channel (excuse me, ABC) really going to rebuke him for failing to nationalise the banks and not providing enough stimulus?

They all tried to nail him for the cabinet picks and the American people shrugged.

[lunatica]

3. finger, whither wind blows, opportunism, bending over nt

[johnaries]

2. I was dissappointed that Sam Donaldson repeated the false meme

that WW2 brought us out of Great Depression not FDR.

[mucifer]

4. Both shows seemed to have 3 pro Obama people on and 1 against Obama.

It's usually the opposite.

[lunatica]

6. There's some truth to that

When FDR started the GI Bill for returning soldiers from WW II it created the middle class. It gave GIs a chance to go to college which had never happened before and it gave them a break by enabling them to buy their first homes and it gave them a future income through the implementation of Social Security benefits. So in a way it was a fundamental cause of the end of the Depression. But WW II per se wasn't the cause of the end of the Depression. It was just the opportunity to create ways that ended it.

[floridablue]

9. Was it FDR or HST that started the GI Bill.??

[lunatica]

10. The history of the GI Bill of (1944)

Here's an excerpt regarding FDR's role and the link to the long US history of benefits for the military:


The GI Bill of Rights (1944)

On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 ," better known as the "GI Bill of Rights." At first the subject of intense debate and parliamentary maneuvering, the famed legislation for veterans of World War II has since been recognized as one of the most important acts of Congress. During the past five decades, the law has made possible the investment of billions of dollars in education and training for millions of veterans, and the nation has in return earned many times its investment in increased taxes and a dramatically changed society.

An Uncertain Beginning - Though the GI Bill became law in a fast-paced six months, many in Congress and educators at colleges and universities had serious misgivings. Some felt it was too expensive and would encourage sloth among veterans. Others feared veterans would lower standards in education. But dire economic predictions for the post-war years created a great pressure to pass offsetting legislation. Many saw a postwar America faced with the loss of millions of jobs, creating unprecedented unemployment. Many business and government leaders anticipated a widespread economic depression after the war. As early as 1942, plans were being made to handle the anticipated postwar problems. The National Resources Planning Board, a White House agency, had studied postwar manpower needs and in June 1943 recommended a series of programs for education and training....

http://www.medalofhonor.com/GIBill.htm

[safeinOhio]

12. What FDR really did, during the war

was raise the top income tax rate from 80% to 93%. I've never heard a Neo-con bring that up, why?

[Kahuna]

5. Yeah. Even Cokie...

:scared:

[L0oniX]

7. I quit watching those long time ago ...couldn't stand Russert and the others.

[lunatica]

8. I'm with you on that. Years ago I thought Russert was more into his legacy

than into the truth. He just kept letting too many lies pass unchallenged, while going to great lengths to look like he was a real watchdog. A lot of bark, but without much bite.

[Fleshdancer]

11. I enjoyed the round tables this morning

They were unusually thought provoking.

I've come to the conclusion that I agree with Obama reaching out to republicans socially. While the two parties have philosophical differences, this doesn't mean the culture in DC should remain as toxic as it has been for the past 12 years. Hopefully a healthy level of respect on a personal level will lead to healthy debates on the issues for a change.

What disgusted me during the Bush years was that the republicans in congress threw all their beliefs on fiscal responsibility out the window and the Democrats didn't do a good enough job opposing them. The debates rarely occurred and everyone on both sides got off track. Yes, it is hypocritical for the republicans to pretend they suddenly care about deficit spending now, but ultimately we benefit from a two party system acting like a two party system. When things are inserted into the stimulus bill that have absolutely nothing to do with stimulating the economy, then republicans are correct for calling Democrats on it. When massive tax cuts have proven not to jump start the economy, then Democrats are correct for calling republicans on it.