FDR on Steroids!!!! Obama warns of "limited" funds for the jobless.

[Karmadillo]

After all, it's not like the unemployed are Wall Street bankers or private contractors in Afghanistan. We need to let the market work its magic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/us/politics/04jobs.html

Obama Tackles Jobless Woes, but Warns of Limited Funds
JACKIE CALMES
Published: December 3, 2009

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Thursday hosted a forum with scores of business and labor leaders and economic advisers to both political parties to field “every demonstrably good idea” for creating jobs, but he cautioned that “our resources are limited.”

The president said he would announce some new ideas of his own next week, which are likely to include a home-retrofitting proposal modeled on the popular “cash for clunkers” program that has particularly captured Mr. Obama’s imagination, according to aides.

Called “cash for caulkers,” it would offer government incentives to make homes and small businesses energy efficient, enlisting home-improvement companies like Lowe’s and Sears to advertise the benefits much as car dealers did for the clunker trade-ins earlier this year.

Opening Thursday’s panel discussions, however, Mr. Obama said he was in a listening mode.

“I want to be clear: While I believe the government has a critical role in creating the conditions for economic growth, ultimately true economic recovery is only going to come from the private sector,” he told his audience, which included critics as well as executives from American Airlines, Nucor Corp., Google Inc., Walt Disney Co. and Fed-Ex.

more...

[FiveGoodMen]

1. I know where we can save $30,000,000 a year!

[chimpymustgo]

10. +1000000000000000.

[GreenPartyVoter]

70. ditto

[Fire1sKid]

87. Same here

[dotymed]

152. This will be a great "help"

for struggling people. They want to use the very same businesses who keep their workers on a "part-time" (even though many of them work full time hours) and pay minimum wage.( Which is the main reason our HC is so expensive.) To "weatherize" homes....are you fucking kidding me? No talk of becoming a manufacturing country again. A country of "service slaves." Why not put these jobs through the carpenters and other unions? Their ranks would swell, they would earn a living wage and INSURANCE. How do you pay for this? You cap CEO bonuses. We gave them (financial institutions) Trillion$ as a gift...My God, when will we all take to the streets????

[JDPriestly]

174. Service slavery -- That's a good way to put it, dotymed.

[midnight]

193. Good suggestion. Put these jobs through the union were pay and benefits

support a family.... And cap the ceo bonuses ASAP.

[dana_b]

34. surely you jest!

what fun would THAT be?! Ending the war??? you're so silly.

[bergie321]

62. $30,000,000,000

But who's counting?

[FiveGoodMen]

63. Clearly, I wasn't counting my zeroes!

[grahamhgreen]

182. And then, multiply by 12 (Bush's war was supposed to cost 80b and it's up to 1t)

[FiveGoodMen]

185. Yup. Contractors, weapons, bribes, theft...

[leeroysphitz]

202. Not the Obama administration...

[butterfly77]

150. Go tell it to the bluedogs/republicons..

aren't they the ones who are complaining about too much SPENDING!

[mike_c]

151. exactly!

eom

[shireen]

165. yeah, but that will create even more joblessness

for the rich CEOs and over-paid executives that run the military industrial complex.
:evilgrin:

[abelenkpe]

192. Indeed! nt

[zogtheobvious]

203. Ooooo I know what yer talking about!

Yer talkin about that thar DEVIL WEED!

Why do libruls want to destroy Amurrica?



:sarcasm:

[FiveGoodMen]

214. No, but now that you mention it...

;)

[zogtheobvious]

217. Hah! so I was....

So I was wrong, but I've, er, planted the seed, so to speak. ;)

[Romulox]

2. "...Lord knows they help themselves! But when the taxman come to the door...oooh it lookin' like a

rummage sale!"

k/r

[kenny blankenship]

3. Tough Love!

Maybe he can give Phil Gramm a job repeating his old Texas homespun wisdom about making the unemployed get out and push the wagon.

Meanwhile the wars burn on.

[Last Stand]

78. How about limited tax breaks for OutSourcing? Might work.

Nah. Let's not talk about that. It would fly in the face of the masked Republican approach to running a country.

[Fire1sKid]

86. Finally some one on here said it!!

But lets keep that quiet,you know it might make too much sense lol.

[sabrina 1]

188. You mean that hasn't happened yet?

Wasn't that one of the campaign promises that was made?

Hey, there's always the military for the jobless. They don't ever seem to have a problem with 'limited funds'.

I guess I better add this :sarcasm:

[sad sally]

82. if these wars can be pushed into Pakistan (which looks very likely)

there might be full employment for a bunch of unemployed able-bodied souls who can get their health care courtesy of the VA. I'm sure another speach is in the works - keep those teleprompters warmed up...

[nc4bo]

88. Not to be nitpicky or anything.

Although DUers do enjoy picking nits here and there.

Tossing that word teleprompter around like you have been doing, will eventually have you getting a side-eye from a few members. I, myself notice creepy freepers seem to get all smelly, sweaty and orgasmic whenever they say it.

Just a heads-up to you.

[bkozumplik]

186. what unemployment

check out all these fine jobs. No experience needed, great benefits:

http://www.military.com/Careers/Home/0,13373,,00.html

some travel involved.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Good one!

FDR: That Karmadillo is a riot!
ER: Karmadillo is a dear, who 'gets' it!

[Thickasabrick]

5. Find a way to loosen credit for small businesses - that's a huge

problem right now.

[nc4bo]

12. I thought that was what the huge bailouts were supposed to do?

Worked like a charm didn't it?

[Arctic Dave]

16. Exactly, I guess the meme that the top wage earners "create jobs" is a myth indeed.

[Fire1]

156. More like "bullshit." n/t

[Thickasabrick]

17. Really - it helped the robber barons get extra bonuses this year

I hope they choke on their Christmas cheer.

[debbierlus]

6. Always limitless money to borrow for war and to bail out the rich

Helping the people, that is another thing entirely.

I have had it with this sell out.

[bkkyosemite]

7. Make those friggin banks give back our money and put them into jobs for us..and credit for us.

[AndyA]

8. Ah, now we're seeing the *REAL* Barack Obama!

No problem finding funding for war.

No problem saving the wealthy Wall Street folks who are largely responsible for this mess.

But when it comes to health care, or helping the jobless--things that actually HELP the average American--forget about it.

Thanks a lot, Obama. This is change? :shrug:

[dana_b]

37. it's up to the private sector

Government is for war and the rich.

[Lorien]

69. And so is the private sector.

government is supposed to be of, by, and for the PEOPLE, not the corporations. Time to take it back and make it work for us.

[rwheeler31]

112. The private sector is about money.

[BR_Parkway]

41. Maybe the change is that it's no longer bothering to hide it

[FiveGoodMen]

45. Yup. By now, I don't think there's any room left for doubt.

[undeterred]

60. I'm with you.

Its really disappointing, especially to those of us who are unemployed and uninsured.

[Techn0Girl]

75. Don't know about you but I intend to change my voting habits come 2010

[Fire1sKid]

90. You are way better than I am

I'm seriously considering no longer voting at all.This bullshit has gone too far.

[liberation]

176. Start voting for real progressives

and stop worrying about what the perennial "fear and loathing" brigade tells you regarding not voting for the Dem pushed by their stablishment.


Start supporting 3rd parties at a local level. Momentum needs to be built up, if enough sane conservatives and progressives vote for 3rd parties which represent their interests and ideologies, then the dynamic Dem/Repug duo can go pound sand. I dunno if it will ever happen, but I am done having to stop my gag reflexes having to support a candidate whose only value proposition is that he/she is not as batshit insane as the GOP ticket d'jour. At least I will vote with my conscience next time, we'll be equally screwed... but at least they won't be able to take that away from me.

[NoUsername]

97. One step ahead of you.

I changed for 2008 and don't regret it one bit. I just wish I had done it years ago.

[Name removed]

122. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

123. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pundaint]

125. We are clearly entering the Post Political Party Era. Once both parties have

sold out to interests diametrically opposed to those of the People, they no longer have anything to justify their presence on the ballot. We see the way legislation is made, it is not the bulk of the votes that have influence, it's the last few required for a majority where the power lies. Time to focus only on candidates. Neither party is our friend. If independent candidates have only 20% of the seats they'll have power disproportionate to their numbers. We will still have to be vigilant watching for false flag corporate shills even outside party structures.

[bkozumplik]

187. wikipedia says progressives are half the democratic party

So we need to figure out how to exert some control consistent with our membership.

[Bluebear]

216. you said it

[SlowDownFast]

196. I knew it as soon as I saw his cabinet picks. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Billions for banks and war profits, zero for any of us.

Unless we are a "businessman" who can profit on government bribes to sell to the public.

Actions speak louder in words. Message received.

[nc4bo]

11. I'm so sick of this crap.

Bank$, Wall$treet, the unholy Military Industrial Complex all get Happy Endings and the American public gets the used and dirty Kleenex.

:wtf:

[RedRocco]

23. nice imagery

thought better of posting the image

[FiveGoodMen]

47. Probably a good idea

:rofl:

[nc4bo]

49. But it sure would have been interesting! nt

[RedRocco]

71. it was by r crumb

I'll PM you the link if you want it

[nc4bo]

74. Sure LOL

I'm curious now :rofl:

[Bluebear]

80. indeed

[liberation]

177. LOL Indeed...

... in the old country, I think they call it: being the whore, having to provide the bed, and paying for the screw. And that is exactly what the American taxpayer is being taken for.

At least Obama uses sweet talk and lube. Bush was just too rough and gross...

[earth mom]

13. FDR is rolling over in his grave. More proof that Obama does NOT give a fuck about any of us!

But Obama LOVES LOVES LOVES our tax dollars that he has lavished on banksters and killing people.

There's ALWAYS plenty of money for the rich fucks and to kill people. :grr:

[Lorien]

67. Painful and true.

I'm not sure how we're going to change this, since no one is listening to any of us in the middle or working classes. ;(

[dgibby]

79. Like the polar bears, we are an endangered species. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. "Trickle down" economics lives! But, it'll work..someday..maybe..if conditions improve.

And, the bankers approve.

[Kansas Wyatt]

115. And didn't Obama say that Trickle Down Economics doesn't work in the campaign?

Didn't he say the Trickle Down run was over, it was a failure, and he was going to start looking out for the American People?

Well, the proof is in... Obama & Democrats, Inc. has just told the American People that they are NO different than Republicans, and that we are all on our own. The are squandering their opportunity that the American People handed them, and they are not worthy to claim they are from the Democratic Party that did so much for the American People in the last Century. They have only turned themselves into bought off Republican Lights, in their New Democratic Party.

I hope they enjoy scratching their heads in bewilderment after the 2010 & 2012 Elections, because they are doing their very best to make sure that 30% Republican wins.

[natrat]

126. maybe they dont care because they both represent the same interests,,creepy it is

[Fire1]

158. Damn sure did! So, trickle UP doesn't work, either. n/t

[Kansas Wyatt]

160. They never tried trickle up.

Just GIVEAWAYS to Corporate America, while the American People got 'hope' and 'change' speeches.

'Fired Up... Ready To Go!'

'Fired Up... Ready To Go!'

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Fire1]

162. Yeah, they did. The private sector and the banks were

supposed to lend and hire! Epic fail.

[Kansas Wyatt]

166. Trickle up would be money/relief directly to the American People, NOT Corporate America.

The very same people are still getting the money, while the American People are on their own. That is not trickle up.

[Fire1]

170. That kind of "trickle" up would only be equivalent to bushs'

"stimulus checks" that weren't worth a damn. The stimulus funds given to the states for the governors' to allocate was supposed to be the START of 'trickle up.' The problem with that is, not all governors used the money for infrastructure jobs or building new schools. Trickle up, does NOT mean giving citizens money or checks in their hands.

edit to add: Trickle up, means corporations and the wealthy pay MORE taxes and the working class and median income folks pay LESS taxes, enabling them to take that extra money and feed it back into the economy.

[Kansas Wyatt]

181. My point was....

That by pouring billions into the Big Banks, while they keep it, still serves the upper class. Which does not translate into any trickle up policy for the American People... It's still the same Trickle (from rich to middle & lower classes) Down shell game, with different mechanisms.

I agree on your edit. But what we still have is Corporate America and the Wealthy with low tax rates, while the working class still has too high of tax rates. So, a lot of working class tax dollars are going directly to giveaways to the Big Banks / Corporate America, which benefits the Wealthy. Which is the same trickle down economic gimmick. They have not even come close to actually trying 'trickle up' economics.

All tax rates and fiscal policy prior to Ronald Reagan would be actually trying 'trickle up' economics, and until that is done, we will only be continuing with Trickle Down Economics.

[liberation]

178. Did he say that before or after he praised Reagan during the campaign?

I remember all the excuses people were coming up trying to explain that one...

[AngryOldDem]

173. What's the old canard about repeating something that obviously isn't working?

Trickle-down economics is a fraud of the highest degree.

[JoeyT]

15. Of course raising taxes, especially on the upper 10% is totally out of the question.

I seem to recall someone talking about how the people that make more than a quarter of a million a year would be called on to pay their fair share. For some reason I can't quite remember who that was. Must have been my imagination.

But hey, he kept his promise to keep us at war!

[liberation]

179. Of course, it wouldn't be bipartisan!

Why do you hate America?

[OHdem10]

18. Being surrounded by Moderate Republicans as advisors may

create a new HOOVER. I think we all know Hoover gave us
the Great Depression. We are not out of the woods yet.

[enlightenment]

22. Now, now. Hoover didn't 'give' us the Great Depression.

The seeds were planted before he came along. He just didn't do anything to stop things from spiraling out of control - kind of like somebody else . . .

[OHdem10]

53. He held onto those Republican "principles:, tightening money

supply and let the Invisible Hand do its thing bringing things
to a head sooner rather than later.

[liberation]

180. Hoover took a recession, and turned it into a full blown depression

... and god help us if Mr. Obama is using the same playbook. The minute he starts talking about tariffs, watch out because it will get bumpy.

[L0oniX]

19. “our resources are limited.” Geee I wonder why. Fucking wars.

[branders seine]

20. This trainwreck gets worse by the day

[bkozumplik]

189. the upside of that is that the cheerleader/Obamabot numbers dwindle

So it not just gushing adoration and insults.

So. At least we have THAT going for us.

[ipaint]

21. Bankers, insurance companies and defense corporations

all get a blank check from the taxpayer. Unbelievable.

[G_j]

24. car was too old for the clunker deal, don't own a house

are they really talking about helping the poor?

[RedRocco]

25. nobody I know had a vehicle good enough for c4c either.

[Art_from_Ark]

57. Are you saying that

if you actually had a REAL CLUNKER, that you couldn't gat CASH for it?

[Fire1sKid]

93. I know of one person who qualified

and she said she might as well have kept her car and she did.

[proudohioan]

35. I hear you!!!

My car doesn't qualify and I don't own a house. And I won't own a house real soon; credit score is too low! Go figure!

[G_j]

38. some of us don't even live on Main Street, never mind Wall Street nt

[sendero]

26. Now that we've given trillions to the banks..

.. funds are limited. Go figure.

[bkozumplik]

191. maybe we should close the money hole..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnX-D4kkPOQ

its old now, but always funny.

[dysfunctional press]

27. jobless warn of limited votes for obama in 2012 unless things change...

"it's the economy, stupid."

but that's okay...you go fight your war.

the people WANTED fdr- you chose to give them lbj.

nice.

[and-justice-for-all]

30. +1

[laughingliberal]

92. LBJ did escalate Viet Nam but, at least, he gave us Medicare and the Civil Rights bill

Here, we just get the war and a nice Christmas present for the private health insurance industry.

[Kansas Wyatt]

117. More like an mandatory over-priced inflated bill from the Insurance Industry.

Imagine what Medicare would be like today, if LBJ would have followed President Obama's way.

Granny would be facing Insurance Industry Death Panels by now.

[INdemo]

198. Gotta hand it to the health Insurance industry.

They were well organized and had some very convincing ads if one is gullible... Obama had no idea what he was up against or how well organized the industry would be for this fight..So we lose the battle for real healthcare reform. And this effort to win this battle began long before the votes were cast in Nov 08
The big difference with LBJ and Obama ..LBJ knew how to get legislation through Congress and he didnt kiss the Republicans hind-end to push it through.

[Fire1sKid]

95. +1

[saracat]

121. +!1000

[proudohioan]

28. I'm sorry I clicked on the link and read the entire article.

It was even more disheartening. More programs like Cash for Clunkers and 1st time homebuyer tax credit? Give me a break!!!!

[dotymed]

163. No kidding,

what about the people who had their homes re-po'ed because of medical bills (I had insurance too)? No "help" for them to buy another home. lol..No credit either. So much lately, I think of John Lennon's "Imagine."Obama says we have to rely on "private industry" for (minimum wage) jobs. We can Give Trillions to Financial Institutes, trillion$ to WAR, but the government can not create living wage jobs for its citizens? 1 party...the Elite..

[and-justice-for-all]

29. Amazing, he can find funds for the warmongering...

but can not seem to find funding for the jobless. I know Obama is smart, but why can he not seem to put two and two together? who in the hell is telling him to continue the middle east occupation??

I am NOT joining the military, fuck that!

[bluestateguy]

31. The old cobble together a few out of context quotes to create some outrage again

No president has done more in history to extend and re-extend unemployment benefits in history than Obama.

And these FDR comparisons are getting old real fast, as they have a real eighth grade pop-history tone to them.

[proudohioan]

40. Extending unemployment benefits is all well and good

and he should be applauded for doing what the Bush administration tore apart, but extending unemployment benefits isn't exactly creating jobs.....there aren't enough workers in the unemployment offices to keep up with the demand! Here's an idea: hire more people to man the unemployment offices! Being on unemployment is a sure-fire way to get turned down for car and mortgage loans, therefore exempting ones ability to utilize programs such as Cash for Clunkers! Ironic, ain't it?

[nc4bo]

44. and if we could have had Medicare for all.....

Look at all the real jobs that could come from THAT trickle down effect.

[pscot]

190. Umm. That would be the Congress

led by speaker Pelosi, that's extending benefits. The President has nothing to do with it.

[anonymous171]

201. FDR was the greatest president America ever had.

He is the standard against which all other presidents are measured.

[G_j]

32. any jobs caulking foreclosed houses?

:shrug:

[mitchum]

33. Chains You Can Believe In

[SlowDownFast]

197. +1000. n/t

[Bluebear]

36. Funds don't seem limited for war or Wall Street bailouts. Do they?

[in_cog_ni_to]

39. Hilarious. DU is a riot.

Where's all that Obama love that was flowing before the election? People didn't really believe he was on the side of the working men/women, did they?

This is rich. I'll have to start visiting DU more often now.

[Bluebear]

42. I'll clue you in: Expect some posters to agree with Obama & that unemployment is a handout

and that if you don't work you're lazy. And other apologist mumbo-jumbo.

[Thickasabrick]

46. Wow.....that almost sounds like someone's channelling Reagan nt

[Bluebear]

48. When you have been mocked at DU for a peace sign avatar, anything can happen

[AndrewP]

146. Ain't that the truth

[saracat]

120. Hey, I just had one say there wasn't anything wrong with cuts to SS and Medicare and

another said that the Pres was correct about limiting funds and the jobless shouldn't expect a "Blank check" and the Private sector should create the jobs!The Mumbo Jumbo Reigns!

[QC]

55. Some people were so caught up in those pretty speechsermons he preached

that nothing on earth would convince them that he wasn't a progressive dream, not his appointment of the likes of Goolsbee to his economic team, not his duplicity on NAFTA, not the blatant catering to haters in the McClurkin Fiasco, nothing.

So here we are.

[TornadoTN]

135. I'll man up - I bought into him hook, line, and sinker

And I feel like a damn fool now in retrospect.

I won't be making the same mistake again, I can guarantee you that.

[AllyCat]

139. Tornado, we didn't have a lot of other viable options. We all wanted to see him succeed

and he was so much better than McCain. I think.

[TornadoTN]

141. Oh there's no doubt he was better than McCain

I don't regret that aspect of it.

But I regret letting myself get suckered into believing that things would be different and that the ideals that we support would have a "fierce advocate" in the White House.

As for 2012, maybe things will change between now and then. But the first year hasn't exactly left me excited at the prospect of the future.

Above all, I'm tired of voting for the lesser of two evils who end up being two sides of the same coat.

[AndrewP]

147. I fell for the same thing, and feel the same way.

Like that old John Stewart line

Vote for Diet Coke or Diet Coke with Lemon

[Fire1]

159. Yes, I agree. But my tolerance level is dissipating. n/t

[AllyCat]

168. My tolerance is gone. I'm just pointing out that he was not the great

"liberal" candidate most of us wanted and all of us deserved. We just hoped that maybe he would be. He's not. His actions prove even more to me that democracy has been dead in the US for a very, very long time.

[EnviroBat]

140. I'm starting to feel the same way.

Pretty God Damn hopeless...

I look at my little ready-made family night after night, in our little bitty home that we made a "home". I pay my mortgage and bills, and I wonder what if. I can pay it this month, but if something happens to my income, what then. I hate living like this. all of my joys are being overshadowed by the clouds of fear and uncertainty. I think we all were looking for something, anything that would give us a little hope. I wanted to believe that finally someone believed in the middle-class of this nation. I feel like a fucking chump.

[TornadoTN]

142. I'm right there with you.

I look at my four-year old and fear the future for him. I'm trying my best to make sure he's got a safe and secure future and a little bit of safety net to fall back on if things get worse, but I really don't feel like I'm doing enough. I worry that he will be caught up in these unending wars in some capacity and I really fear that the opportunities that my parents and grandparents, even myself, had will be non-existent.

I really thought that things would be different than they are today. That the time of corporate domination and suppression of the middle class and poor would be put in check.

So much for "Hope".

[EnviroBat]

143. We need to get together in this country.

A revolution, and uprising, a massive boycott. It's going to take something huge. It's going to take sacrifice. Sacrifice from each and every one of us who have clearly had enough.

[TornadoTN]

144. Yep. But the masses are placated

They are placated and distracted by reality TV and jingoistic patriotism. Those of us who would turn out would be branded "whackjobs" by the elite and the public would be assured we are just a fringe group. We don't have a whole media arm to label us "BRAVE PATRIOTS" like the real whackjobs called the Teabaggers.

And we'd be the bad guys.

[AllyCat]

169. All we had was hope. We had to try. Don't beat yourself up. It was the right thing to do

But in the end, they had a great slogan going for us. What we need to do now is fight and fight hard. We need to fight these bastards in Washington and the ones here who say we are neocons for wanting more for everyone (yeah, I've had someone on DU anyone working for peace to be nothing more than neocons). Be angry, be mad, and keep fighting. You are doing the right thing!

[12string]

149. Hook,line,and sinker

You are not alone.In the beginning I was quite cynical and made a post to that effect.Later,when he was chosen as the democratic candidate,I began to change my tune,and for the first time in my life(I'm 54)I got excited about a candidate and recanted my earlier position.Yes,I feel like a damn fool also.The most unfortunate thing about this head on collision with reality is that I can take no comfort in knowing my first instincts were correct because it just brings back the despair that took me from raygun on.Fuck!

[liberation]

183. I am right there with you

except that I am a couple decades younger.

Oh, well... Mr. Obama managed to turn me into a cynic and I no where near my mid life crisis years yet. Good job!

[SlowDownFast]

199. I'm with you. Lotta buyer's remorse in here.

I only come here every once in a while anymore.

I voted for him reluctantly, but hopefully - and then I knew where Obama stood right away as I watched him start to pick his cabinet.

Looks like some serious buyer's remorse in here.

[noamnety]

43. I love how he's the decider when it comes to shipping dollars overseas

but when it comes to jobs, we're supposed to host little meetings in our living rooms and solve those problems ourselves.

Of course the real solution is obvious, but we're not supposed to notice.

[Skittles]

50. you can see where his priorities are

:thumbsdown:

[leftstreet]

51. I can't keep up with the chess moves

Have we lost yet?

[Liberation Angel]

52. I Guess Obama thinks the only jobs we can afford are to produce death in Afghanistan

and the manufacture of casualties.

War and genocide are the ultimate "affordable" jobs programs for the otherwise unemployable in this economy.

No jobs programs HERE but sign up to kill and be killed and get money for homes, business and college!!!

[TornadoTN]

136. He needs to hang a sign in front of the White House urging people to sing up for his new program

His new jobs program - JOIN OUR BRAVE FIGHT IN AFGHANISTAN AND GET PAID! NEW EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL! NO ONE TURNED AWAY!*

*No guarantee you'll get back and you're on your own if, and when, you get home.

[jgraz]

54. See what happens when you take too many steroids?

:banghead:

[bridgit]

56. So long as there's a Wall Street that thinks 'unlimited funds' are for themselves & investors...

There will always be "limited" funds for the jobless

[Lorien]

66. And Wall Street will ultimately be the beneficiary of "private sector" plans

which is why PUBLIC works worked to begin with; Wall St. had botched it up already. FDR wouldn't give them a second chance.

[katsy]

58. The good-paying jobs have left for younger, bigger markets that are

unregulated and without meaningful labor laws.

Some of our $ has left bailing out the private financial fucking sector.

More of our $ has funded wars and enriched war mongers.

Now there's no $ for us? No surprise there.

And Obama expects the private sector to create jobs for us? At what? Minimum wage? Chinese wages? Back to child labor?

At what price should we peddle ourselves?

Just open up the gas ovens Prez Obama so at least some of us can die with dignity instead of homeless and sick.

The thieves robbed this country blind.

[Neecy]

59. Now, now. Careful we don't sound "bitter".

[Mithreal]

61. Good news for a change.

[FLAprogressive]

64. where are the "Obama's done more in his first term than FDR" imbeciles now?

[Bluebear]

77. At some private powwow retooling their arguments, probably

[Hannah Bell]

94. post 31.

[Lorien]

65. Yeah, the private sector has done a bang up job so far, hasn't it?

Whatever happened to inventing and PRODUCING new green technologies (instead of buying them from China)? Whatever happened to high speed rail? Though I think the home improvement idea is a good one and that "cash for clunkers" should be extended, I'd like to see us undertake grand projects as a NATION, not as a bunch of private companies with greedy CEOs and investors. America does best when it's making and building things, not just purchasing.

[nc4bo]

73. There's a pattern emerging with the creation of green jobs..

Remember this?

BEFORE: China to supply turbines and funding for $1.5bn Texas wind farm: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

and now, AFTER:
US And Chinese manufacturers agree to build turbine plant in US after public opposition.:

http://www.heatingoil.com/blog/dispute-stimulus-funded-... /

Investment firm U.S. Renewable Energy Group and Chinese turbine maker A-Power Energy Generation Systems announced this week that they had agreed to build “a new production and assembly plant in the Unites States that will supply highly advanced wind energy turbines to renewable energy projects throughout North and South America,” the New York Times reported on Wednesday. The announcement follows the public opposition of Sen. Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) to the use of federal stimulus dollars to help the companies build a $1.5 billion wind farm in West Texas, because its 240 turbines would be built in China by A-Power.

From original NYT article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/business/energy-environment/18wind.html

Two companies that encountered political anger for their plans to use Chinese-built turbines on a wind farm in West Texas have announced plans to build a new turbine factory — in the United States.

Chinese Solar Panel Firm to Open Plant in Arizona (November 17, 2009)

The U.S. Renewable Energy Group, an investment firm, and A-Power Energy Generation Systems, a Chinese turbine maker, said in a statement on Tuesday that they had signed an agreement to build “a new production and assembly plant in the United States that will supply highly advanced wind energy turbines to renewable energy projects throughout North and South America.”

And BEFORE: Chinese solar panel manufacturer to build plant in Az.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/business/energy-envir...

Suntech Power, China’s largest solar panel manufacturer, plans to open its first American plant near Phoenix, the company announced on Monday. It would be the first time a Chinese solar company has built a manufacturing plant in the United States, experts said.

The plant will begin production in the third quarter of 2010 and will build panels from solar cells shipped from China. Those cells, in turn, contain substantial amounts of a substance called polysilicon manufactured at a factory in Texas.

Are the Chinese the only manufacturers capable of creating green jobs in the US?

AFTER: ? So what I want to know is where are the American owned and operated companies?

Guess we should just feel fortunate, right?

[burning rain]

68. Lot of Dems seem to be making a bad bet.

Namely that as long as they do something for ordinary Americans--no matter how little--they'll clean up at the next election because ordinary Americans will know that Republicans would not consider their interests at all. But there comes a point where gratitude for what Democrats do for most Americans is outweighed by disgust at cramming money in banksters' pockets, giving pharma a sweetheart deal in healthcare reform, and similar catering to corporate interests. At that point where the gratitude and disgust lines intersect, the Republicans' old stop-the-spending-and-cut-taxes argument comes in. As shitty an argument as it is, it could secure gains for the GOP in 2010 if not enough stimulus goes to ordinary goddamn Americans. Democrats, get on the ball.

[bvar22]

72. Cheap Talk and Chump Change.

K&R


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[Blackhatjack]

96. I Miss Paul Wellstone. n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

153. Paul Wellstone...my favorite politician

He was a G-dsend. I still miss him. May his memory be a blessing.

[KakistocracyHater]

76. kill the war

*

[Subdivisions]

81. Yeaahhh...he's got nuthin'. At first I thought this was The Onion. n/t

[scentopine]

113. Obama Stimulus Plan Sends Duct Tape Futures Soaring

Manufacturing companies in China's notoriously polluted and impoverished chemical districts hope to reap rewards as Americans, inspired by Obama's stimulus plan, rush to Lowes and Sears for duct tape, caulk, weather stripping and plastic window sheeting at discount prices.

Reached for comment, both Sears and Lowe's indicated the stimulus plan will create several new, part-time minimum wage job opportunities to help meet the expected demand.

To implement the plan, Obama has enlisted the help of Tom Ridge, former board member of Home Depot and key architect of the previous administrations Duct Tape and Plastic Sheeting anti-terrorism initiative.

Moderates and centrists from both parties cheered the plan as good news for America and praised Obama's willingness to take bold and aggressive steps to deal with the deteriorating state of the American middle class.

[laughingliberal]

119. That was brilliant! nt

[proudohioan]

132. Part time minimum wage jobs........ Don't know whether to laugh or cry!

:cry: :dilemma: :7

[CoffeeCat]

83. We write blank checks for war......

....but we pinch pennies when it comes to helping this country out of a horrendous
recession.

Thats just frickin great.

[whistler162]

84. So I gather from everyones comments you wanted

the President to tell you that there was a limitless supply of funds for the jobless?

In other words you prefer a President and administration who lies to you.

[Fire1sKid]

98. No actually

I would prefer a president who would not bend over for wall street and corporate america then tell the American people to go fuck themselves.

[whistler162]

204. Obviously you don't!

[TornadoTN]

137. This one does enough lying to keep pace with the previous one

LIMITLESS FUNDS for WAR and BAIL OUTS.

But suddenly we don't have much cash to help the jobless or to create new jobs.

[whistler162]

205. Might I suggest you see a audiologist!

[katandmoon]

85. Enjoy your one-term presidency, Mr. Obama.

[Fire1sKid]

89. Ok I get it now

Wall Street=unlimited funding

Corporate America=unlimited funding

The American people A.K.A The slaves of both industries=FUCK'EM


Im too pissed for a lot of words at the moment but all I can say is this is not the change I voted for.
:grr:

[katandmoon]

100. I believe the expression is "Privatized Profit - Socialized Risk."

[Jakes Progress]

91. The private sector? The freaking private sector!

He can say this: “I want to be clear: While I believe the government has a critical role in creating the conditions for economic growth, ultimately true economic recovery is only going to come from the private sector,”

Well, since the wars we are having are mostly to benefit big oil and the MI complex, why don't we use the same language and say that "ultimately the money for the war is only going to come from the private sector."

Why is it that wars and bailouts that reward the rich and powerful must come from taxes, but job stimulus and health care must come from the private sector?

Feeling more screwed every day.

[natrat]

128. KBR charged the government 32 billion dollars-funy if not so sad

[bobbolink]

99. Isn't it interesting how there is always money for killing in a war, for bonuses for CEOs,

but when it comes to suffering people... we are a poor country.

Meet the new boss.

Same as the old boss.

[katandmoon]

101. Yup...he's reaching back into the closet and taking Reagan's empty suits out of mothballs.

[laughingliberal]

103. My flashbacks to Reagan started today with Bernanke's attack on SS and continue now with this nt

[bobbolink]

104. Will any of you actually fight for those of us who will be killed by this?

[laughingliberal]

106. Well, I'm one of the ones who will be killed by this. I believe I've made my displeasure known to

the extent I am able to make it known. I doubt anyone is listening to me.

[bobbolink]

215. I know exactly what you mean. That is why I have given up, and why I will no longer

do any political work whatsoever.

I, along with thousands of others, am ignored.

So, fuck it.

[bobbolink]

105. Very good way to put it! That would make a great political cartoon!

[scentopine]

102. Obama doubling down on corporate welfare -Sears?

Sears lost more market share and 8+ billion in value while CEO increased pay by 50%.

American Airlines, Nucor Corp., Google Inc., Walt Disney Co. and Fed-Ex? The greediest scumsuckers on earth.

These are mostly stewards of American commerce who have sucked the middle class dry and now wondering why things are so slow.

got to be fucking kidding me - right? Sears and Lowes? WTF? *this can't be happening*

The right wing should run with this and democratic leadership deserves to be beaten over head with such a STUPID plan to get the country working and competitive - democrat leadership is getting lamer by the hour.

The Obama Bailout Plan

1 - There are plenty of jobs in Iraq and we've just announced our new jobs program in Afghanistan

2 - Buy lots of duct tape and plastic sheeting for your windows and doors. Keeps out the terrorists and the cold weather.

3 - Several trillion dollars for Wall Street so they can enjoy their retention bonuses while they demand EVERY OTHER COMPANY IN AMERICA OUTSOURCE TO LOW WAGE AREAS IN ASIA (I don't give a flying fuck about the all caps, go cry to the centrists or realists. You are getting raped but at the caps fairies maintain the dignity of lower case - this kills me)

4 - Mandated health insurance to monopolies with no cost controls.

Sears and Lowe's? Jesus - our very models of American enterprise.

Now let's hear from all the "centrists" and "realists" and "moderates"

Get angry people. Get very very angry. Don't listen to the psycho-babble bullshit from new age lobotomies telling you to wait and think positive as Wall Street gangs bangs you, nor don't listen to the too early to judge nonsense. If you are feeling angry it is completely justified and a healthy response to the bullshit being shoveled in Washington. Obama is the new republican. Oh man its going to backfire.

He can't stop corporate fraud, crime and corruption and has no ideas about putting people back to work and investment here in USA but he's gonna open a can of whoop ass overseas.

Fucking A amazing. I can't believe "loyal" democrats are tolerating this shit. We are a party of zombies.

AND THEY ARE DE-REGULATING BANKING AS WE SPEAK!!!! Arrrrgggggh history is repeating itself again and again!!!

[YOY]

107. but but but according to the Republicans he's the liberalest socialist liberal in socialist Liberia!

You do realize that for some idiots this will be the new definition as "liberal" (Basically the same thing as conservative but done by a member of Democratic party)...

Leaving them well open to push further to the right and call it sane.

[Not Sure]

108. So, come 2010, should I vote for

the party that doesn't give a shit about working people, doesn't give a shit about trampling and erasing my rights, coddles the bankers, insurers and warmongers, and ignores the security of this nation in the interest of providing muscle for leeching multinational corporations,

or the party that doesn't give a shit about working people, doesn't give a shit about trampling and erasing my rights, coddles the bankers, insurers and warmongers, and ignores the security of this nation in the interest of providing muscle for leeching multinational corporations?

I want my money back. I could use it right now.

I only hope I can make it long enough to see these fuckers jump from buildings like they did in my grandparents' day. It would be worth a couple years of beans and cornbread to see some real justice.

[defendandprotect]

109. No money for human needs -- but endless $$$ for wars and capitalists . . . !!!

2012 . . . ???????????????

Send me Plan B . . . . PLEASE . . .


Is there any hope left re Obama???

[Name removed]

110. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rwheeler31]

111. Think

[AllyCat]

145. Welcome El Che. I agree with you, but he never promised us a Rose Garden

He was my second to last choice in the primaries. When he was nominated, I thought, well, he's better than McCain. In some respects, that is true, but he is a corporate man. I had no idea how corporate though.

[Algorem]

114. I'm starting to think that Obama's just a dick.

[natrat]

130. yea sometimes it's best to boil it down to the simplest form

[scentopine]

116. Duct Tape - It Just Fixes Shit

2003 Terror Crisis - Tom Ridge/George Bush holding a roll of duct tape.

2009 Economic Crisis - Obama/Bernanke/Geithner holding a roll of duct tape.

Damn, it just fixes shit.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

118. There are always resources like borrowing from the Chinese

no shortage for war though.

[TheWatcher]

124. Unlimited Funds For War And Wall Street Though

[Karmadillo]

218. Well, he has his priorities, I guess.

nt

[fasttense]

127. Whatever happened to Obama's gift for gab and speechifying?

Remember the days he yelled ENOUGH! Where are the changes we can believe in? What happened to the Obama who told it straight as in his inaugural address?

Saying: "I want to be clear: While I believe the government has a critical role in creating the conditions for economic growth, ultimately true economic recovery is only going to come from the private sector."

What kind of rallying cry is that? Is the base going to cheer suddenly for "our critical role" and "ultimately recovery is private." What kind of hope is that? Where are the inspiring words?

Something is amiss with Obama.

[harmonicon]

129. yeah, fuck what facts culled from actual history tell us...

the solution is always "the private sector", even when it's not.

[Cass]

131. So the "aggressive legislative agenda" is what is holding back jobs according to one on the panel.

Mr. Obama told the chief executives that he wanted to know: “What’s holding back business investment and how we can increase confidence and spur hiring? And if there are things that we’re doing here in Washington that are inhibiting you, then we want to know about it.”

He got a blunt answer from Fred P. Lampropoulos, founder and chief of Merit Medical Systems Inc., a medical device manufacturer in the Salt Lake City area. Mr. Lampropoulos said some in his discussion group agreed that businesses were uncertain about investment because “there’s such an aggressive legislative agenda that businesspeople don’t really know what they ought to do.” That uncertainty, he added, “is really what’s holding back the jobs.”

The president acknowledged, “This is a legitimate concern,” one that he and his advisers had discussed before he took office.

But Mr. Obama said he had decided that “if we keep on putting off tough decisions about health care, about energy, about education, we’ll never get to the point where there’s a lot of appetite for that.”

Legislative agenda?? Please. There was no surge in job growth when republicans controlled the legislative agenda...in fact we saw millions of jobs outsourced.

It just blows my mind there is little to no mention of the damage done to our economy by outsourcing even at a meeting like this.

And I just want to add that this cash for caulkers program is pretty lame as a jobs growth stimulator.

[QC]

133. Looks like he is every bit as fierce an advocate for the unemployed as for LGBTs,

which is to say, not at all.

[natrat]

134. almost like they are reading from someone else's script

[AllyCat]

138. Hey, our resources are UNlimited for war. Surely the MIC has a job for you

[gtar100]

148. Only when it comes to helping the people who actually pay the taxes

do we hear about "limited fund" and worry about deficit spending. But if it's big business and military spending, they toss about the word "billions" with ease. We have once again fallen into a state of "taxation without representation" due to all the corruption and special interest influence on the government.

Bottom line - we the working class people of this nation pay the taxes that these people frivolously spend with impunity. First and foremost it should come back to benefit us. Not out of some selfish interest but because it is the only *real* path to prosperity and security. But instead, we get debt and taxes.

We are truly in a fascist state now. Just a kinder, gentler form of fascism.

[Javaman]

154. Like I said before...

we, the middle, lower and poor classes, my not be thrown under the bus, just yet, be we are certainly being nudged toward the curb.

[Fire1]

161. He's making it VERY hard to rationalize his motives. n/t

[sandyj999]

155. If He Wants to Send Lowes to insulate my home, which I can't afford to do

In the words of the nameless emperor.....................BRING IT ON!

[fascisthunter]

157. A Defining Moment for Obama

never again... you fucked up sir, beyond repair.

So have you right leaning morons in the Democratic Party.

[tonysam]

164. He's University of Chicago through and through. n/t

[Fire1sKid]

167. Exactly!!!!

[Fire1]

194. I know it's looking pretty dismal right now, but I still refuse to

put him in that category. He just doesn't fit the profile.

[glitch]

171. Obama is listening to corrupt idiots desperately trying to cover their asses

for the crimes they committed on our economy over the past 30 years.

They are like desperate bookkeepers who are now stealing from their neighbors to pay back the money they embezzled before the payroll is due. Tacky little criminals, on steroids.

The only question that remains in my mind is: does he actually think he is making the right decisions on the economy or

Either way it's bad.

[anonymous171]

200. He knows what he is doing. He is not being forced to do anything. nt

[AngryOldDem]

172. With every passing day it becomes more apparent that a lot of people were played.

There is no problem funding a pointless war, and no problem throwing money at Wall Street like it's candy from a parade float. But when it comes to most of us poor sods...well, sink or swim, baby.

I'm not particularly surprised at how things are turning out, but I am disappointed at said surprise. I was hoping for much better.

[laughingliberal]

207. And the converted screech, "Oh, you wanted a PONY."

They can bite me. I wanted a good, old, stand up for the working class, Democratic president.

[billymayshere]

175. Wash rinse repeat

I'm finished with him now. He will not have my support. He is just a velvet gloved George W. Bush with the continuation of his policies and personell whether it be the Fed,Treasury, or Justice Department. I wish Doctor Dean would announce that he plans to challenge Obama in the democratic primary. I am so disappointed in you President Obama! You're Change bait and switch in unforgivable. If I wanted to vote for a Republican I would have.

[Blue Owl]

184. Cash for conners

Remember we need to give the neocon war profiteers all our money so that they can advise the sitting administration how to waste even more of it.

[Bluebear]

195. welcome to DU, owl!

[county worker]

206. Tax breaks for those who hire people. The government pays part of the salary also.

Companies get new needed employees. The country gets more in taxes through increased withholding, give the taxes back to the employer. These are taxes that the government would not get anyway and it would save tax money paid for unemployment benefits.

The employee gets income, the economy picks up, then the program can be fazed out.

[BrklynLiberal]

208. ....

;(

[alarimer]

209. FDR is rolling over in his grave to see what Democrats have become

Cowardly, chicken-shit, do nothings who only reward their millionaire banker buddies.

No money for jobs but plenty for Wall Street. Of course Obama and his administration are a wholly owned subsidiary of Wall Street, so color me unsurprised at this.

[inna]

210. I read something very striking today, and it's starting to make sense:

Obama’s health care counterrevolution

Obama’s health care counterrevolution is of a piece with his entire domestic agenda. It parallels the multi-trillion-dollar bailout of the banks, the imposition of mass layoffs and wage and benefits cuts in the auto industry, and a stepped-up attack on public education and on teachers.

The economic crisis has been seized upon by the American financial aristocracy, with the Obama administration as its central instrument, to carry through a class-war agenda, long in preparation, that is directed against the vast majority of the American people. All that remains of the social reforms from the 1930s and 1960s, and the gains won by previous generations of workers in bitter struggle, is to be wiped out.


The immense growth of social inequality and the domination of society and the political system by a financial aristocracy are incompatible with institutions and programs that retain any vestige of a democratic and egalitarian impulse. Public education and health care must be reorganized more openly and directly along class lines.


This is the basic program of all factions of the ruling elite—liberal and conservative, Democratic and Republican.

[Karmadillo]

212. Excellent post. Thanks for the link.

nt

[Kermitt Gribble]

211. "cash for caulkers”?? Sounds like a parody

of cash for clunkers you'd see on the Tonight Show. That would be funny. This coming from the president is just sad.

I'm going to start my own program - "cash for a primary opponent in 2012" or, better yet, "cash for a third party candidate".

[rantormusing]

213. Proud third party voter of 2008

My soul feels a lot better going forward, not sure if that would have been the case if my choice had won, but better than voting got Thing 1 and THing 2.


Sod this mess