Check In With Your Ideas About What Obama Can Do On The Economy Given What He Has To Work With.

[RBInMaine]

Obama and Dems have passed a stimulus that saved or created 2 to 3 million jobs which is popular among many govs including even some R govs willing to admit it. They have passed Wall St. reform and health reform, though far from perfect at least make a good start and the health bill also expands student loans at lower rates. They have expanded national service. They have added a stimulus extension to save hundreds of thousands more jobs. They have passed small business tax credits and middle class payroll tax cuts. They have invested heavily in green energy. They have saved the American auto industry which is now in the black and making better cars and tax credits to buy some of those cars. They did cash for clunkers. They are trying to get the small business loan bill passed. There have been programs to help people re-finance homes (though more needs to be done here). Sucky as TARP was, it is at least being paid back and did prevent a total collapse of the banking system. (Actually, Bush did TARP, but Obama voted for it as Senator.) There are reforms coming for Fanny and Freddy. Though it is not enough, we are now adding jobs instead of losing 700,000 a month, and interest rates are at record lows. (Remember, we lost 8 and a half million jobs. Obama said it would take YEARS to dig out. This was the greatest recession since the Great Depression. It won't be completely fixed overnight.)

And all this with a diverse Dem caucus (not like Obama has had 535 Bernie Sanderses to work with) and COMPLETE RePUKE obstruction. And remember, it is a MASSIVE and GLOBAL recession. Canada, the UK, other parts of Europe, parts of Asia, etc. are ALL suffering on the jobs front.

So now, what to do from here given what CAN be done given the political realities in the US Congress. Here are my thoughts:

1) Another huge stimulus can not pass, nor will a massive public jobs bill like the 1930's. Votes just aren't there. But smaller targeted stimulus in US manufacturing areas might pass.
2) Get the small business loans bill the hell passed. It will take a little more compromise, but that is one thing that should pass in September.
3) Try to pass the Make It In America bills now pending in the House.
4) Let the tax cuts for the rich run out, and use some of that for targeted manufacturing stimulus, especially in green energy and green products technologies. We need new industries of the future, and green technologies is the way to go. It should be the great national mission of our time.
5) Get to work on reforming our trade policies.

6) Get very LOUD with a powerful populist pro worker pro middle class message that bashes the RePUKES at every turn. It is Wall St. vs. Main St. Period.

So please offer your suggestions for what you think should be done, and what you think can actually PASS congress.

[Enrique]

1. "votes just aren't there"

bullshit. Harry Reid was holding out on Mitch McConnell on the first stimulus and Obama called Reid at home and told him to cut a deal.

[RBInMaine]

2. Wrong on many fronts. Look at the RePUKE obstruction record. The votes are NOT there. Some Dems

from the purple areas of the country will not support some things. What do you think can pass? What are your economic development ideas? I would like affirmative answers please.

[Enrique]

6. if it passes the house, it can pass the senate

if the president works for it.

I say "can", because there's always the chance of losing. What I reject is the idea that "the votes aren't there". Presidents try to get votes, that's what they do.

A robust public option passed the house. Every democrat that voted for that bill is up for re-election, and that vote for the public option is on their record. This means there was political support for a robust public option. If the president was behind it, he could have gotten it. He was not behind it.

[RBInMaine]

10. Senate is much different. Fewer members, different rules. It was designed like that. Tell me how.

What are your other ideas to further help the economy?

[Enrique]

20. a lot more stimulus

hundreds of billions more stimulus. Direct stimulus, not tax cuts.

[tridim]

26. Democrats tried that, and the Republicans said NO.

[Enrique]

31. look back on how those negotiations went

the White House fought AGAINST the larger stimulus. They didn't fight for it and lose, they fought AGAINST it.

[RBInMaine]

33. Not so at all. They wanted much more. They had to compromise. Ever serve in office?

[niceypoo]

70. Obama's idea of compromise is to include everything the republicans want, for nothing in return

It is a form of Stockholm syndrome.

In psychology, Stockholm syndrome is a term used to describe a paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages (Obama) express adulation and have positive feelings towards their captors (The GOP in congress) that appear irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims

[tridim]

35. The Democrats tried to get a larger stimulus. Period.

The Republicans said NO. Period.

Doesn't matter a lick what the MSM told us about the WH. The MSM are liars.

[tridim]

3. Bullshit? The Republicans vote NO in lockstep on EVERYTHING

That's a fact no matter how it is spun. It's in the record.

[Enrique]

8. there's negotiations, deals are cut

we ended up with a certain level of stimulus. We could have negotiated differently and ended up with a higher level.

Now we're talking about extending some of the Bush tax cuts. We could have started talking about letting all of them expire. I wonder how much of those cuts we'll end up extending.

[RBInMaine]

17. Middle class should stay as is. Let those for the rich expire and use some for added stimulus.

[Enrique]

23. what's "rich"?

they're talking $250,000 now. What's it going to be when the deal is cut? $5 million?

[RBInMaine]

36. Gee, you are just a doom and gloomer aren't you.

[niceypoo]

71. Reality will do that to a person

When all there is to go by is past experience

[tridim]

21. The "we" you refer to is the MSM and the Republicans.

The Dems have made it clear that the tax cuts for the wealthy will expire.

[daleanime]

9. And when did any one....

hold their feet to the fire? Hell, they were encouraged to vote no; it dragged the entire process over to their side.:mad:

[RBInMaine]

22. Lincoln, Nelson, Lieberman, and Landrieu would NOT support P.O. End of story.

[daleanime]

41. Then Lincoln, Nelson, Lieberman, and Landrieu....

don't want our support. Follow THEIR money. Write your own story.

[Yavin4]

74. Lieberman Won Without ANY Support from Liberals

and if Nelson, Lincoln, and Landrieu lose, they will be replaced by Republicans. Then what will be your strategy?

[daleanime]

75. My Strategy? It's honesty.

Do you think the way Lincoln made it into this falls race shows any honesty? :shrug:

[Yavin4]

76. *Sigh* The WH Supported Lincoln Because They Needed Her Vote on HCR and Finance Reform

But let's pretend a different world. Let's pretend that the WH did what you wanted to do, tell Blanche to pound salt.

Then this would happen:

1) Blanche then decides to vote with the Republicans and block everything that Obama wants to do

2) Blanche would then be able to distance herself from Obama in Ark. where he is not popular and where he lost to McCain, so that would boost her electoral chances.

3) Seeing how Obama treated Blanche, other conservative Dems would then turn against him and side with the Republicans and forming their own governing coalition.

That would leave Obama with 2 choices:

1. Get nothing done at all

2. Pass extremely watered down legislation

[tridim]

24. They vote NO no matter what happens.

You should know that by now.

[daleanime]

37. Then that should be...

tattooed across their foreheads. They should be laughed at in public. Their children, and their children's children, should feel the shame of such behavior. But that isn't happening is it? Now why do you think that is?

[tridim]

43. Hey at least some of us are trying to warm up the tattoo gun..

Instead of just completely giving up and promoting that we not vote for Democrats.

[daleanime]

46. Who's giving up?

But I want Democrats, not warmed over Repug's.:bounce:

[tridim]

49. About half of DU.

It's the most pathetic thing I've ever seen here.

I'm sick of it, and will do everything in my power to put a stop to it.

[RBInMaine]

44. The root of it is getting corporatism the hell out of politics once and for all.

[daleanime]

47. That's a big...

hell yea!:bounce:

[grahamhgreen]

73. It's not about the votes now! It's about winning elections in the future!!

You won't win jack sh*t when you keep standing up for the ultra rich at the expense of the rest of us.

We need to make stands on issues, not pass crap reforms that suck.

[zipplewrath]

4. End the wars

That will allow him to spend that money here. It will create the room for more stimulus money (you don't have to call it that, call it a GI bill or something) here at home.

Expanded Smart Grid spending to include "smart" homes and office buildings.
Create a series of public "acadamies" where people can study for 4 years followed by a period of "public service". They can be adjucts to existing schools, but focus on schools that will use the funding to build/expand new facilites. Returning service men with no degress can have first crack at enrollment.
Renegotiate NAFTA to create more "fair trade".

[RBInMaine]

12. Agreed essentially. Some good ideas. Iraq is winding down. No more than another year in Afganistan.

[zipplewrath]

28. Ha, you're dreaming

"No more than another year in Afganistan."

I don't know where you get that fantasy. Even Biden admitted that in another years as few as 2000 troops might leave. We'll be in Afghanistan for years. David Cameron came over here to tell Obama he expected BRITISH troops out by 2015. McCrystal got into trouble for suggesting that it could be another DECADE. Ain't nothing gonna be done there by next year.

[RBInMaine]

32. Just stating my opinion. If no improvement there, seriously re-work and draw down bigtime.We'll see

[zipplewrath]

51. Your opinion is in opposition of the facts

Obama will tell you we won't be out in a year. Biden already has.

You have a right to your own opinion, but not your own facts.

[nightrain]

34. yep. watch "Rethink Afghanistan", the contractors are planning

on being there for quite a while.

$1 Million per soldier per year. That could have bought some actual health CARE for our country, but Obama continues the invasion and occupation, and asked and got more funds for that obscene and horrifying debacle. Is he too afraid to oppose the military and the defense contractors, needing their campaign contributions?

[RBInMaine]

39. Obama inherited the mess diverted by Bush to Iraq. He has a timeline. Let's see first.

[zipplewrath]

50. He's keeping it a secret

If he has a timeline, he's the only one that knows it. One thing is for sure, it's measured in years.

[tridim]

54. The fact that you don't know about the deadline speaks volumes.

[zipplewrath]

62. The only "deadline" is the start

Not the end. He has not committed to an end date. Cameron came to town to tell him 2015 at the latest for the British.

[tridim]

64. Just to clear this up, you want a hard date from the President that represents..

the exact final day of the war, a full year before the draw-down deadline?

Really? Has that ever happened in the entire history of the World?

No wonder you're so doom and gloom all the time, you demand the impossible.

[nightrain]

55. He could have pulled the troops and contractors out in Jan 08, but he didn't.

He's continuing a horrific sinkhole for money, lives, and body parts that will never be "won". Why wait? We know how the other empires' adventures ended there. Have you seen "Rethink Afghanistan"?

[JoePhilly]

67. You mean Jan 09, right???

As a candidate, he said what he would do ... and that is what he is doing.

Do you think the GOP would move FASTER???

Was Hillary going to move FASTER????

Obama is drawing down Iraq exactly as he said he would. And his actions in Afghanistan are exactly what he said he'd do. Increase focus, change mission, assess results, and then determine best path out.

Pick ANY GOP member and tell us which of them would be moving FASTER.

[nightrain]

68. yeah, Jan 09. The carnage continues, Dems loves them some occupation and killin...

those weapons manufacturers loves them some war too. Gotta keep them in business...

[nightrain]

5. oh the desperation just keeps on coming... if you have to bolster the crap

with pleas like this... then I guess it's an admission that it's pretty bad...

Had Obama focused on THE PEOPLE and not the corporations, we would have experienced the impact of effective legislation and policy-making. As it is now, he's on the wrong side and having a really hard time being truthful and getting back helping PEOPLE!

He really wrong-footed this Presidency, starting with Geithner, Summers, Rahm, poor choices for the Inauguration, excluding important participants from health CARE planning, giving Baucus too much power, and now the catfood commission!

Enough already!

[tridim]

7. Ooga Booga

:patriot:

[nightrain]

13. not so ooga booga if a person is consciously aware of the huge disparities

occurring. As in, the profound attention to corporations not the PEOPLE's welfare.

You do experience the distress, correct?

[tridim]

19. I'm smack dab in the middle of the distress.

But I don't blame people who had nothing to do with it.

[RBInMaine]

27. Canvassed with a guy yesterday for DEMS who lost his job and may lose his home. He knows Dems didn't

cause it and are trying to do something about it.

[tridim]

29. I swear it wasn't me, but I'm right there.

Foreclosure started last week.

[nightrain]

45. when will the economic distress that this country is experiencing be

partly Obama's responsibility? after the second year? third? fourth? Granted, he walked into a mess. But his policies are not having the impact that is needed. We need jobs.

[tridim]

48. Obama and the Democrats are trying to fix the problems that led to the distress.

Are you paying any attention at all?

[nightrain]

58. yes. I am. are you considering them to be successful? I don't.

The depression is deepening, not improving.

Time to throw out Obama's advisors and get a better, less-corporate-protecting crop. But I doubt he will.

[RBInMaine]

52. He and Dems are trying. This is global. What more should they do? Your ideas?

[nightrain]

57. trying. and not succeeding. Time to stop falling in the hole in the road

and walk around it (try a better approach)....

[nightrain]

61. Hey RB take a look at this depiction of unemployment over the past 3 years....

http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/latoyaegwuekwe/multimediafinal.html


(from another DU thread today)


Comments??

[nightrain]

78. crickets...

[RBInMaine]

14. Please, take your negative trolling shit somewhere else. THAT is what is getting old.

[nightrain]

16. no troll here, a solid Dem for many years. If you don't listen to

the constructive criticism you are bound to keep repeating it. So, hold off on the ad hominem attacks and listen rather than react.

[RBInMaine]

18. I have constructively criticized plenty. At some point you also have to look at positives. Do you?

[nightrain]

25. I see a few positives, and huge disparities that are of greater concern.

[RBInMaine]

30. Seems you are drowning in a lot of self-inflicted negativity. I feel

very sorry for you. Couldn't imagine what it must be like to suffer with such a thought process.

[nightrain]

38. oh, the tired and true ad hominem attack. Have you no better

arguments than to attack?

[RBInMaine]

40. Have you no better responses than negativity, negativity, negativity....?

[RBInMaine]

42. I asked for ideas on what more to do for the economy. How about answering that instead of bitching?

[nightrain]

53. Look RB, the ideas abound-- on DU, on blogs, on progressive talk

radio, and many other places.

The people Obama has surrounded himself with are not inclined... they defend and protect corporations. Until that shit stops, it won't change, and you can plead all you want for ideas.... I doubt that it will make one whit of a difference.

The folks that are reaping the benefits so far from this Administration are the rich and to be richer.

[jaxx]

11. Get the last of the stimulus money out there and working.

Your ideas are good.

K&R

[RBInMaine]

15. Thanks. Do you have any other ideas?

[jaxx]

59. The sooner the new energy grid is started, the better.

Lots of jobs in that too, long term. We're way past due on this.

[philly_bob]

56. 1) Legalize & tax marijuana 2) Trade with Cuba 3) End wars (nt)

[denimgirly]

60. Be Tough on Banks -- No free passes and giveaways

Obama seems like he wants to be progressive but fears the consequences of losses. Which probably explains why he will listen to the right or corporate america in hopes of finding a middle ground and ultimately a win.

I just wish he stood for progressive ideas even if he failed at them because progressive ideas really are the best medicine for this downturn.

[Ikonoklast]

63. he only has to do one thing, and that is get rid of the Wall Street and Fed lickspittles

he has advising him, and replace them with, I don't know, a can of beans would be an improvement.

Lean on the investment houses until they cry 'uncle'. They will destroy the economy of this nation in order to live like kings, and care not one bit of the economic disasters they leave in their wake.

Use the bully pulpit and tell banks that if they don't start lending money to those that are good risks, and in need, at a reasonable rate, the Fed will close the window in their face, and lend to those banks willing to play ball.

Reign in Defense spending before it's too late...we can no longer afford to outspend the entire planet on defense. Let the military contractor pigs squeal that their trough is empty.

[chowder66]

65. Reverse outsourcing jobs, end offshore tax shelters

[moksha]

66. If you claim from the start the votes aren't there for a massive jobs bill

you have forfeited. Unnecessarily, at that. Get the votes. This is what matters. We have to put America to work with federally-funded jobs programs. FDR put millions to work within months. We could do it now. The problem is that is takes leadership, boldness and decisive action. Not rolling over before we start with a pathetic "we don't have the votes."

Get the fucking votes. A real leader could and would. Protectors of the status quo will not.

Oh yeah, and end these wars that are breaking our nation.

[niceypoo]

69. Stop compromising with the GOP

For which he gets nothing in return except a weakened bill

[grahamhgreen]

72. Withdraw from all so called "free trade" agreements, end the wars, tax the ultra-rich, SOLVED

Basically - follow the FDR model - it's a no-brainer.

I don't know what 3 is.

4) we need to return to Eisenhower's tax rates on the uber-lords.

Everything else looks good!

[harun]

77. Rebuild economy of Iraq, Rebuild economy of Afghanistan, Rebuild economy of U.S., pick one.