President Obama - Homerun!

[jefferson_dem]

:applause: VIDEO HERE: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/JointSessi

[Booster]

1. Absofuckinglutely!!!!!!

[Pisces]

19. [phone]

[tblue]

139. He means it this time!

Not like those other times! WOO HOO!!!

[Pisces]

207. He always meant it, but we chose not to give him a Congress that would enact his legislation.

[russspeakeasy]

98. I guess I need to get my television checked.

It sounded to me that we are in for more medicare and social security cuts. Damn I hope I'm wrong, but I just didn't see it as a homerun....more like a single on a fielders error. I hope I'm wrong..I hope you are right. I guess we'll see..:fistbump:

[dash_bannon]

147. You are correct

President Obama wants to cut Medicare and SS to pay for job creation.

Screw mom, dad, granpda, grandma, and your future to create jobs today.

We are headed toward Banana Republic status ASAP if we're not their now.

source: hufingtonpost.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/08/obama-medicare-cuts-jobs-speech_n_954840.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=brandgeneral

[jamieque]

170. Yeah right...

That is total bs. Medicare and SS are not being cut only modified so that both programs don't run out of money in the long term. Why must you and so many other people on this forum keep thinking this way. The president isn't going to cut these programs. Please get that fact in your head instead of the media spounted bs that is polluting the airwaves. As for Huffingtonpost... ah... I really can't that site seriously anymore. It is more like Fox News Channel which is full of bs and nonsense rumors.

How about we help the president instead of constantly trying to destroy him and ourselves by being so utterly stupid. Good grief what will take for people on this forum to truly stop being so damn narrow minded...

Maybe if we just do away with all the different political groups different bs agendas and truly focus on fixing the problems in this nation then things will get better. However, it seems people must continuously be the me, myself and I kinda people. All I hear is the same old bs comments and usually they always translate out to mean something like this: "The president isn't doing what I want him to do so I won't support him and will do everything in my power to destroy him." Sorry, but enough is enough. The selfish nature of some of the people in this country is truly sickening and counterproductive. And no I won't appologize for making a very valid point. The stupid shooting ourselves in the back shit has to stop. We need true unity if we are to save this country.

I know the president is not perfect and he does make mistakes that we should correct him on. However, we are also flawed and not perfect ourselves. We have made many fucking stupid decisions over the years and now we are paying for those mistakes. Obama needs our help and support and if don't help and support him and he goes down then it will be our fault.

The fact remains I don't want to hear anyone fucking whining next November if we end up with a Republican president due to our lack of supporting Obama. I rather have a flawed, good hearted president then a corrupt, cold hearted one anyday.

[sabrina 1]

182. Well, you will hear people whining if Republicans take over this country

in 2012. I will be one of them. And I know who I will blame. It will NOT be the voters.

Touching the Social Safety Net in any way that reduces the already miserable pittance it provides to help the most vulnerable Americans is not only a stupid idea, it is a heartless, foolish, anti-Democratic and rightwing attack on the American people.

Why does the President insist on mentioning these programs as if they had ANYTHING to do with the horrific mess this country is in today?? WHY??

Did he talk about ending the Wars, one of the biggest contributers to the debt, and ongoing with no end in sight. Does Congress, either side, ever say 'we cannot afford another supplemental for these wasteful, inhumane wars?

Where are the investigations of the Criminals who collapsed this country and brought it to its knees? Where is the money they stole? Did he say one word about any of these things?

Did he mention the other huge contributor to the financial failure of this country, the Bush Tax Cuts that cost over 2 trillion dollars over the past ten years?

Was he outraged over those policies, deregulation and the Greed and Corruption that actually caused everything he is currently supposedly trying to 'fix'??

NO?? All I ever hear is 'We must adjust the Social Programs so we can save them etc. etc. etc.' and that is the message people are hearing and they DO NOT LIKE IT! And if Republicans DO win it will be because this administration has demonstrated no PASSION about letting the Republicans know that they better 'keep their hands OFF these programs and start getting ready to accept that Democrats are going after the real causes of our decline, financially and every other way.

THAT is why the people elected them. So please spare us your concerns for the president. It isn't about him, it's about the American people, who worked to pay into these programs he is talking about cutting. Already I know seniors who have noticed the 'cuts' in the form of the sneaky 'there was no inflation over the past two years so you greedy old geezers (Obama's friend and ally Alan Simpson) will not be getting any COLA. Do you KNOW what that meant to those people?

I will reserve my outrage on behalf of those who have already been robbed and are getting ready to suffer even more out of the little they have to survive on, if you don't mind.

[Laelth]

190. Well said, sabrina 1. n/t

-Laelth

[PatrynXX]

184. yeah this is how we got Scott Walker

I'd rather stay the same than have it get worse.

[XanaDUer]

2. That was good

even Boner stood up. Now it's time for crazy ass' rebuttal.

[otohara]

3. Mojo

keep it up Mr. President!

[Phx_Dem]

4. That was kick-ass!!!

:patriot:

[timtom]

5. That's my take, as well.

If he will follow through, he will establish himself as one of the greatest presidents.

(God, he gives good speech!)

[COLGATE4]

107. That;'s a pretty big "If"...

[Raven]

6. Boy! I thought so. "I plan to take this message to every corner of

this country." Best line of the night. Boner peed his pants on that one.

[Historic NY]

75. Look for that big Black Bus coming to your town Johnny boy....

I sure hope the POTUS rolls in on one of those days the orange man is out attending to business at the country club.

[elleng]

145. Yes, and he's heading to cantor's district first, today, Friday!!!

[hfojvt]

155. too bad "this message" is "cutting taxes for rich people creates jobs"

basically the Republican platform.

Maybe if he'd sweeten the deal by proposing to put Reagan's picture on the dime, then his transmogrification into George W. Bush would be complete.

"The tax relief is for everyone who pays income taxes -- and it will help our economy immediately: 92 million Americans will keep, this year, an average of almost $1,000 more of their own money. A family of four with an income of $40,000 would see their federal income taxes fall from $1,178 to $45 per year. (Applause.) Our plan will improve the bottom line for more than 23 million small businesses." George W. Bush (announcing a 2nd round of tax cuts in ordrr to - wait for it - create jobs) Jan. 28, 2003

he also travelled around the country, urging people to lobby Congress for his proposal

"Next week, I will travel to New Mexico, Nebraska and Indiana to address the nation's hardworking, small business owners, families and investors. My message to them will be simple: the surest way to grow this economy and create jobs is to leave more money in the hands of the people who earn it.
I urge every citizen to participate in this important debate and to make your voice heard. Explain to your local representative or your senators what tax relief would mean to your family and your business, and please tell the members of Congress why our economy needs that relief now." George W. Bush May 10, 2003

[PatSeg]

159. "But, but not my state......right Mr. President?"

"Seriously, everything is fine in Ohio........."

[lady lib]

7. Excellent speech!!

[jimlup]

8. Disagree .... I think it was a badly needed double

But I'm certainly on board and will be cheering as much as possible. He's put the Reptilians in a corner and that was essential.

As the sitting President he has to keep them on the defensive.

[jefferson_dem]

9. "This was the Obama we've all been waiting for" - oft Obama-critic Ari Berman of The Nation

http://twitter.com/#!/AriBerman/status/111947989513289729

[Wait Wut]

10. You all suck.

I'm still at work and have to catch a rerun. :cry:

I still :loveya: all though. The comments here at DU have (unbelievably) given me something to truly look forward to tonite.

[jefferson_dem]

13. Obama the Fighter is back.

Click play when you can, and enjoy! Fired up!

[Wait Wut]

21. I'll be home in about 20 minutes!

Can't wait!!!

[jefferson_dem]

23. Awesome. Video here...

in case you're looking for a link -- http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/JointSessi

[bowens43]

69. ROFLMAO!!!!

Hey, you interested in buying some ocean front property in Kansas?

[dotymed]

73. Very convenient timing.

Election time.....,really...

It's like professional wresslin'.

[Lorien]

120. And just as genuine. nt

[wryter2000]

16. Awww

It'll be repeated. Sorry you had to miss it.

I didn't get it all myself and am looking forward to more when I get home.

[BeyondGeography]

11. Excellent, but my favorite moment was when Michelle gave the entire

Republican Party a dirty look.

[wryter2000]

17. Ooooh

I didn't have video. Can't wait to see that. :bounce:

[BeyondGeography]

20. There's a screen cap somewhere

It was subtle, but unmistakable, to me. I felt better about everything when she did that.

[Wait Wut]

18. I was hoping you'd say...

...the finger. :rofl:

[nolabear]

30. I loved that too. She looked ready to kick a little elephant booty.

I'm glad she's on our side.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

108. She did look really pissed off last night....she kind of scrunches

up her mouth.

[Peacetrain]

12. Yes it was..

:applause:

[Tennessee Gal]

14. Yes, indeed!!!!

[wryter2000]

15. K&R n/t

n/t

[Tx4obama]

22. BRAVO Mr. President. n/t

[jefferson_dem]

24. Jared Bernstein emails: "Slammed it out of the park!"

http://twitter.com/#!/ThePlumLineGS/statuses/111952894797942784

[politicasista]

25. Kick

He was super fired up and ready to go tonight. :kick: :patriot:

[steve2470]

26. k&r nt

[friedgreentomatoes]

27. I just hope...

...he continues in this vein... be the angry man till re-election.

[rury]

28. Actually a Grand Slam Homerun!

[hopeisaplace]

29. Yep, right out.of.the.park, - was fantastic. n/t

[nolabear]

31. I hope the plan is as brilliant as the speech.

One of my favorite speech tactics is the "Make a bold statement followed by aomething at the end of the same paragraph that they look like assholes if they don't applaud" one. I also love the populist approach. Talk to America and then let the GOP hang themselves disputing you.

I think he has them backed into a corner, and I hope (and am not disputing the idea) that he follows through with a good, solid plan with just enough compromise to make them have to step up or be finally seen as obstructionists by the public that supports them.

[Tarheel_Dem]

32. Indeed! And I'm ready for the roadshow!

:bounce:


:dem:

[Number23]

33. Thanks so much for the link

The local media has been very interested in what's going on back in the States so I think they would have shown a bit of the speech anyway, but it's good to get the whole thing.

[RBInMaine]

34. AWESOME ! Strong ! Tough ! Great Message ! On Offense ! He's BACK !

[Top Cat]

36. kick

[mistertrickster]

35. I agree. I've been hard on the man, but he outlined a good solid pragmatic plan.

He didn't blame Bush, much to the Cons' disappointment. He didn't throw down the gauntlet to the Repukes, which is what they wanted to get faux "outraged" about.

He laid out a clear path forward, which the Cons will now reject because that's entirely who they are.

The American people saw a true leader in action. Now, will they rally to his cause?

I hope so.

On edit--

Thanks for the link.

[thelordofhell]

37. Wait until tomorrow when the rw talking points get handed out

[Lifelong Protester]

38. It was the feisty tone I wanted to hear!

and I liked that he defended collective bargaining rights.

[Sheepshank]

39. He was resolute and firm and very much in control. I loved it....but....

his eyes. Even with heavy makeup, I'm sure I could see circles and bags under his eyes. I can't help but think 2011 has been really tough.

[tea and oranges]

160. At Least

He didn't he didn't look totally hung over as did the Speaker.

[CADEMOCRAT7]

40. Bravo President Obama ! n/t

[Whisp]

41. It was great. and pox on the pugs that call him a caver and weakling.

stupid fucking whining asses

[vaberella]

62. Have you been on DU long...you'll notice it's not only Repubs calling him that. n/t

[orbitalman]

42. K & R

[Pirate Smile]

43. K & R

[Scurrilous]

44. K & R

:thumbsup:

[go west young man]

45. The speech was very good. He sounded progressive and aggressive again.

I hope he sticks to it this time. Maybe the time is right and America is ready to move past the racist Tea bagging and
ready to get into the future. Only dinosaurs would go against the grain he just laid out. Tomorrows another day though
so let's wait and see.

One funny note is how it was obvious Republicans were refusing to stand up when he finished each point but when it came
to funding for troops they all jumped up albeit a tad late as they seemed to be caught off guard. Ah Repubes always ready to
exploit the troops except a little slow this time. Funny.

[slay]

46. We obviously saw two different speeches

you saw the one you wanted, and i saw the real one where he talks a lot of shit, republicans will get what they want, and the rest of us will get screwed. you know, like ALL of Obama's presidency.

[WiffenPoof]

48. Sadly...I think you are correct n/t

[deacon_sephiroth]

51. looked like it to me

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see him fighting for something, or at least talking the talk. However, people on here are treating it like a done deal, like he's already won some fight. I watched it on Aljazeera and even the reporter mentioned how it's unlikely to pass, how the applause was respectful and not nearly as enthusiastic as the speech itself, and was followed by Republican toads giving little interviews coming out, where almost all of them said BASICALLY: "yeah, whatever."

It's great posturing for a re-election campaign and you can expect a LOT more of it, it does get the screen time, but I'll reserve my applause for when it actually accomplishes something.

[mdmc]

67. but you must admit, the talk was the talk

[Inuca]

76. I don't know what you saw, but

sounds like you HEARD what was already in your mind.

[COLGATE4]

109. +1

[SidDithers]

125. Sounds like you saw the speech you wanted too...nt

Sid

[tea and oranges]

162. Whole Lot of Pandering Goin On

The R's pander to the basest of their base, the D's pander to the R's.

The more the D's pander, the more the R's have to move to the right to avoid the D's.

In the meantime, the country falls into one of the pot-holes (our new bumper crop)in our once-maintained roads and
can't get out.

Lordess, I'm weary of all the crazy talk from politicians.

[ThomCat]

47. I can't believe we were all listening to the same speech.

I heard that he's going to cut medicare and social security.

He's going to cut the payroll tax that funds medicare and social security.

So, clearly, he's planning to pay for this jobs program on the backs of seniors and people with disabilities. We're all expendable now. Nice.

I heard that we need people to work on fixing our national infrastructure, but nobody is getting hired to do that.

Instead, tax breaks are being given to companies that hire people to do whatever it is those companies already do. How is that going to fix our national infrastructure?

Who is going to hire those companies to fix our national infrastructure and pay them to do it? Was that missing from his speech? I read through his speech 3 times looking for it, and this important piece seems to be missing.

How are they going to prevent huge corporations from cashing in on this too? If history is any judge, and it usually is, the government doesn't police these programs. If a company gets a tax break on the first half-million of payroll taxes, any corporation can apply for that, and the government will give it to them. Will Every one of GE's separate incorporated divisions be able to apply for this as if they were small companies, so that GE gets this tax break 150+ times?

And how do three (3!) Free Trade agreements mesh with the idea of building jobs. We already know from NAFRA and other free trade agreements that these will suck jobs OUT of the US, and create a downward pressure on wages and benefits.

We know that Free Trade Agreements destabilize the national and world economy, have caused us to have to bail out other nations in the past to prevent global meltdowns, and increase economic inequality by increasing the gap between rich and poor. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. So why is he proposing any free trade agreement at all, much less THREE of them when the economy is doing so poorly for worker, and we need to do so much to create jobs right now? Doesn't this seem incredibly counter productive?

Doesn't this all seem incredibly counterproductive to anyone else?

If Obama really intended to create jobs, don't you think he could have simply proposed a direct hiring plan by the government to build and repair that infrastructure he was talking about?

It really sounds to me like he's giving corporations everything they want, AGAIN, and he's trying to make workers think that this is all in our best interests as he does it. :(

[bbgrunt]

50. well said. More tax cuts to be paid for by more cuts is a stimulus?

Neither fiscal policy (tax cuts and/or gov't spending) or monetary policy (quantitative easing by the fed) are working because we have a JOBS problem. Increasing demand by decreasing taxes just gets people to spend more on imported goods and stimulates China et al.

Interesting recent interview with Paul Craig Roberts posted earlier on DU:


http://maxkeiser.com/2011/09/04/ote121-on-the-edge-with-paul-craig-roberts/

[xiamiam]

164. howard fineman reported it was the kick off to his campaign..i agree..nt

[Jack Rabbit]

169. It sounds a bit like a Republican solution

And frankly, I had quite enough of the tax-cuts-create-jobs canard when I voted for Obama in 2008.

I voted for a man who was going to lead us to universal healthcare. Now he talks about cutting Medicare.

[ClarkUSA]

53. More empty rhetoric with not a complete quote to back up any of your claims.

[ThomCat]

56. Unlike you, I can analyze a speech using my own thoughts

and my own words.

I don't need to post a generic quote from someone else and claim it means far more than it really does.

I don't need to constantly imply that simply liking a speech means that everything in the speech is 100% correct.

I'm capable of actually analyzing the speech, breaking it down, and discussing it.

Maybe someday you'll be able to do this too. Keep trying.

[ClarkUSA]

57. Your "thoughts" are not facts. You can't back up any of your claims thus you are not credible.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

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

[Babel_17]

72. Here you go

This approach is basically the one I’ve been advocating for months. In addition to the trillion dollars of spending cuts I’ve already signed into law, it’s a balanced plan that would reduce the deficit by making additional spending cuts, by making modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and by reforming our tax code in a way that asks the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share. (Applause.) What’s more, the spending cuts wouldn’t happen so abruptly that they’d be a drag on our economy, or prevent us from helping small businesses and middle-class families get back on their feet right away.

Now, I realize there are some in my party who don’t think we should make any changes at all to Medicare and Medicaid, and I understand their concerns. But here’s the truth: Millions of Americans rely on Medicare in their retirement. And millions more will do so in the future. They pay for this benefit during their working years. They earn it. But with an aging population and rising health care costs, we are spending too fast to sustain the program. And if we don’t gradually reform the system while protecting current beneficiaries, it won’t be there when future retirees need it. We have to reform Medicare to strengthen it. (Applause.)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/08/address-president-joint-session-congress

Bonus links, which I agree with: http://www.talkleft.com/story/2011/9/8/44246/64429

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2011/9/9/25330/66530

[stuart68]

84. Some backup

you can simply google these for backup, if you haven't already read about it:
- GE pays $0 corp taxes on $5B in profit from US operations
- GE is teaming with the Chinese gov't to go into direct competition with Boeing (aka US high paying jobs)
- GE is actively moving businesses to China (engines, medical technology, etc)

[stuart68]

86. I guess you are not actually listening to him, jus tthe applause

medicare cuts are coming in the HC bill

cutting payroll taxes cuts the money in to SS

He handed the cutting role off to the supercommittee, ie, rather than say "and we'll pay for it with cuts in military spending", he said "I told them to add another $500B to the cuts". When they come back with cuts in medicare/ss, he can then say, "well I didn't tell them to cut THAT", when in fact he knows that's where cuts will come from...

speeches do not makes jobs. If they did, we'd all be ok.

[trud]

55. ThomCat has it right

Cutting the Social Security tax is one of the stupidest ideas in a long time. Unless of course, your aim is to drive SS into the insolvency the Repugs are falsely claiming it already is in.

[ClarkUSA]

58. How can opinions without a shred of proof to back them up be "right"?

[jefferson_dem]

65. Truthiness run amuck.

Whatever. Dismiss the serial nay-sayers. They will never be satisfied.

[trud]

71. ClarkUSA, no shred of proof?

I guess you didn't listen to Obama's speech?

[ClarkUSA]

124. Quote Pres. Obama's speech where it backs up any of ThomCat's negative claims.

[julian09]

167. SS cuts are on the employee side, not employer for ONE YEAR

[ThomCat]

201. So?

Whether they are cutting payroll taxes paid by employees, or payroll taxes paid by companies, either way, Social Security and Medicare is going to end up with a huge hole in its funding.

They are going to be able to claim that Social Security and Medicare are facing a sudden crisis because of that "unexpected and unforeseen" funding crisis, and therefore they need to cut urgently make cuts to both programs, and privatize them in order to "save" them.

[jefferson_dem]

64. Facts -- "Obama's infrastructure spending plan gains support"

President Obama's proposal to spend as much as $140 billion on highways, transit, air traffic control and other infrastructure projects has strong backing from business and labor groups, governors and mayors, and even a qualified embrace from House Republican leaders.

The plan is substantially larger than the roughly $100 billion for infrastructure in Obama's first stimulus bill in 2009, which helped fund a fourth bore in the Caldecott Tunnel between Oakland and Orinda and reconstruction of the Doyle Drive access road to the Golden Gate Bridge, among nearly 60 projects statewide.

Administration officials said they learned some lessons from the first stimulus and hope to streamline the process to get projects under way faster. The new plans also would seed an infrastructure bank with $10 billion in federal money that the administration hopes could attract several times that in private capital.

"The bank is a very good idea," said Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove (Sacramento County). He said such a bank could borrow money at interest rates as low as 1 percent and then provide loan guarantees "to projects that have cash flow: bridges, light rail, communications such as fiber optic, sanitation, water systems; these all have cash flow and can be used to pay back a loan."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/08/MN4O1L1TLC.DTL#ixzz1XRpLFEID

[stuart68]

88. won't make a difference

construction workers going from 40 hrs/week to 80 hrs/wk will have little effect overall, other than smoother roads...

[COLGATE4]

110. Fact: John Mica, head of the Transportation and Infrastructure

Commitee of the House said last night on Rachel that he isn't ready to support Obama's idea. Better left to the States.

[jefferson_dem]

121. So you side with Mica in opposing the infrastructure funding in the President's bill?

:shrug:

My point was that the plan does include infrastructure funding, in fact more one-year spending than the original stimulus.

[Enthusiast]

85. I watched the President.

I hoped it would be new and different. But it wasn't.

[deutsey]

93. The man's hero is Ronald Reagan. What do you expect?

:evilfrown:

[OwnedByFerrets]

104. Pretty much what I heard too

[tblue]

144. Oh ThomCat...

We are celebrating the big speech. Don't you get it? He gave a speech! OBAMA GAVE A SPEECH! And he used strong words and a strong tone. The void has been filled! At last we heard exactlt what we wanted to hear, and that's all that matters right now. Just in time for election season, Obama gave a speech!!!!!!!!!

[ThomCat]

202. Yes, you're right.

And according to a bunch of people here, I guess that's all that matters. He gave a rousing speech! The World is Saved!

We can all stop worrying about silly issues, and how actual stuff is going to get done, and how problems are going to get resolved.

We can stop worrying about whether the actual policies he is pursuing, like those free trade agreements, and using the republican model of primarily having tax cuts as incentives for everything, will cause more harm than good.

He made a speech! I should have realized that this was all that he really needed to do. How silly of me. :P

[stockholmer]

49. does the unemployment extension include the 7 million+ 99'ers and beyond who have lost or soon will

lose their Tier 5unemployment payments?

The 99'ers Union doesn't seem to know:

http://american99ersunion.com/2011/09/09/the-americans-job-act/

[stockholmer]

63. it does NOT,so 7+ million people tier 5 or more wont get extension nor reinstatement of UE payments

so another 1.5 million plus 99'ers will loose all UE benefits over the next 12 months.

8.5 million non-employed, non UE payment receiving citizens does not bode well at all in a myriad of dimensions, including civil unrest.

[JohnnyRingo]

52. k&r

I actually hope that the battle escalates as I expect it to. The fuckin' repubs started this fight in their quest to oust Clinton, and they've elevated it to the level that American politix have become a sideshow.

Tit for tat, and eye for an eye, the republicans have it coming to them. I hope Obama is the administrator.

[ClarkUSA]

54. Amen! He's getting widespread praise for a kick-ass speech and a good plan.

[slay]

60. Since when has Obama not given good speeches? Wake up people - it's his ACTIONS many of us have

problems with - or lack there of. Obama is a great speech giver - unfortunately they later turn out to be quite often full of lies and *surprise* republican style tax cuts! Of which up to 2/3rds of this so called "job bill" is tax cuts/breaks too! some people will never learn.

[bowens43]

70. talk is all he has, he's an empty suit nt.

[Name removed]

79. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ecstatic]

203. Uggh why are you even here? nt

[COLGATE4]

111. Amen!??? Have we turned into the Republican Party now?

[jefferson_dem]

132. A few here have...

In terms of their modeling the Republicans perpetual opposition to and shameful smears of this Democratic president.

[JDPriestly]

61. In my view, worst speech ever.

With a few embellishments, the only good ones being his timid argument for higher taxes for the rich and his token (but superficial) verbal bow to unions, Obama recited the Chamber of Commerce's plan point for point.

Check out the post by Dragonfli earlier in which he gave a link to the main points in the Chamber of Commerce plan. It will look very, very familiar.

Sorry to be a spoilsport, but shame on Obama for proposing payroll tax cuts. The payroll tax, in case anyone missed the reference, is also know as the FICA tax -- or the Social Security tax.

The payroll holiday is a stealth Republican strategy to bankrupt Social Security.

And which regulations will Obama cut -- the ones that protect our environment, the ones that protect worker safety, or the ones that Elizabeth Warren suggested (just examples of regulations businesses don't like but that we need).

And what's with privatizing our public roads. Tolls. Who can afford them?

I'm all for jobs -- but no trade agreement has increased jobs so far. Tariffs or at least a high, high, high VAT in lieu of some other taxes would be far more beneficial for our economy and would create far more jobs than the proposed trade agreements.

It's just way past my bedtime. But if you have an above average IQ and listen to the speech critically, you will soon discovery a lot, and I mean a lot of Republican ideas and just token references to Democratic ones. Sorry to be so condescending. Sorry to be such an intellectual snob. But Good Heavens. How can so many people be fooled so easily?

Granted, Obama's voice and delivery were as mesmerizing, hypnotic and reassuring as ever, but his message was downright disturbing -- distressingly Republican.

Obama -- stealth Republican.

I wish we had a reasonable, progressive alternative to Obama, or that we could somehow change him. That's the change we need, change in Obama.

Sometimes I think that Obama really does not understand what he is saying, doesn't really comprehend what the effects will be of his proposals.

[Myrina]

103. Agreed. Its a plan the GOP can support, because they wrote it.

And enough already with the whining about "let's work together" and "end the bi partisanship". He sounds like the beat up kid on the playground trying to get respect by begging people to play on his kickball team. Ain't gonna happen.
He's turning into the kid that everyone rolls their eyes at & tunes out because all he does is whine about "fair play".

[Name removed]

138. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

106. Deleted message

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[xiamiam]

165. jd, i really appreciate your posts..nt

[eilen]

66. Cuts in Medicare and Medicaid to pay for a jobs bill

4 more years rah fucking rah.

[bowens43]

68. I can't believe you guys are still falling for his bullshit.

The guy makes bush look competent.

[Inuca]

78. ....

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

Is it clear enough what I think of your comment? I started by putting it into words, but these would have beed extremely rude words.

[jefferson_dem]

80. "The guy makes bush look competent."

Nuff said! Seems some have moved from "he's just like Booosh" to "he's worse than Booosh". :eyes:

Shark-jumper extraordinaire.

[GOTV]

83. But he gave a great speech. What more could anyone want?

[deutsey]

94. Sure makes fer some gooood TV, don't it?

:evilfrown:

[Lorien]

119. Just goes to prove that you can indeed fool some of the people

all of the time. I used to think that only Bush followers were this gullible. I'm sad to see that it's a condition that exists one the "left" also.

[SidDithers]

126. Dumb fucking post...nt

Sid

[TwilightGardener]

149. That has to be the most dumb-assed thing I've ever read on DU.

That is an achievement. This is for you: :thumbsup: :toast:

[Number23]

191. Just when I thought your use of the played out, right wing "he's an empty suit"

phrase was the dumbest thing I'd seen today.

[jerseyjack]

74. So What Happens Next?

The speech called for even more lowering of taxes along with another stimulus type of cash infusion. All along this thread is the statement, "I hope he follows through." I promise you, if legislation is even passed, it will consist of even larger tax deductions and credits. These will be combined with a smaller jobs bill.

Don't be snookered. There is no reason to expect anything more from Obama.

[rasputin1952]

77. Just before the speech, when Biden and Boehenr were talking...

it looked like Joe was telling Boehner, "Better sit tight, you're about to get the ass kicking you deserve."

Watching Boehner through the speech, it was apparent to me, he was squirming and getting pretty irate, a couple of times, I thought he might just blow up...:D

The GOP is cornered and all they've done is be obstructionists then blaming the Administration. PO needs to pound home that Congress needs to act. No president can't create millions of jobs, but Congress can be a catalyst for job production.

[stuart68]

92. apparently, the conversation was actually about golf...

[OwnedByFerrets]

105. Golf at the good ole boys club....the one we are exept from

[COLGATE4]

112. File under "Wishful Thinking".

[PatSeg]

158. My favorite moment was

when the Dems were applauding and Boehner looked over at Biden with a pathetic look on his face, almost fearful. Biden looked straight ahead.

[stuart68]

81. Passion = A, Execution = D-

having Jeffy Immelt sitting there as he actively evades paying US corp tax and accelerates the US job-drain was embarassing. Passionate delivery is NOT the same as leadership. He should have forced Immelt to resign months ago and should never have had him in the box.

[Name removed]

82. Deleted message

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[boxman15]

87. And get President Perry instead?

Why?

[Enthusiast]

96. The president is

proposing that we enact new free trade deals. The president is proposing we cut the funding for social security.

Of course Perry is not on my side. And the President is clearly not on my side. Why would Democrats reward the President for acting like a Republican?

[Sheepshank]

123. These types of answers are so fucking empty and devoid of anything constructive.

So you said you won't vote for Obama and you said why....OK

List an alternative, a real tanglible alternative, not just empty rhetoric, for us ALL to look at and consider as well.

[jefferson_dem]

133. These types of answers are not supposed to be constructive.

They are meant to promote base-level, destructive cynicism. That's all.

[Enthusiast]

177. These types of answers

are a desperate attempt to preserve the traditional values of a Democratic Party that is rife with right wing infiltrators that want nothing more than to destroy the Party.

[jefferson_dem]

187. Infiltrators..from within?!1!

:scared:


Are you now or have you ever been a DU poster who expressed support for the policies promoted by the Democratic president and the Democratic Congress?

[Enthusiast]

197. Of course you make a joke of it.

Because you are one!

[Enthusiast]

174. The answers aren't empty.

Globalization and free trade are directly responsible for the erosion of American manufacturing (union workers). Anyone that argues otherwise isn't being honest. These agreements were enacted without a care for the American workers.

A Democratic President that PUSHES free trade deals is no better than a filthy Republican. And I mean that with all my heart. Obama promised that he would renegotiate NAFTA -just another betrayal.

Not only that but the President proposes we cut the funding mechanism for social security. This is a betrayal of the trust the American people have placed in the Democratic Party since FDR.

I wish Democrats, all Democrats, were screaming for a primary challenge. Unfortunately most Democrats don't recognize the threat that Obama represents.

[Sheepshank]

205. more complaining and still no solutions...fucking empty rhetoric.

And I for one am a bit sick of Reading them here time after time. Constructive criticism, my ass. You continue to produce nothing but 'the whine'. Nothing that adds to the Democratic cause. Nothing. You were asked an easy question.

You said you would not vote for Obama....what clever little person is the alternative you having hiding up your sleeve; otherwise by default you would be giving your vote to a Rep. huh? huh? who...easy question.

If you are NOT here to support the Democratic cause, why are you here? huh? huh?

[Enthusiast]

206. Obama's cause is not the Democratic cause.

This is the point you miss entirely.

You say I whine. It is you with the whine. Constant whining because I won't agree with your position.

[Sheepshank]

208. Because your whine is transparent and still you fail to offer a solution

You are still whining. I'm not asking you to agree with my position. I actually don't care if your position is the same as mine or not, so your clever little poster has nothing to do with my stand. What I do care about is your intent to do NOTHING but whine. WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR? Who have you got that you can trot out and show us all an alternative to consider? Your moniker is "enthusiast". Where and for whom are you enthusiastic?

If you cannot produce one little thing to promote the Dem cause your whines are useless here, and all I can say is that your slip is showing, and on this string you have done nothing more that act like a stuck record with the same meme.

[Name removed]

209. Deleted message

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[Sheepshank]

214. just as a thought...continue to avoid the reality

that you've been found out.

[Enthusiast]

215. Found out?

Found out that I won't vote for an incumbent I campaigned for?

I won't reward anyone that works against my best interests.

[jefferson_dem]

89. Cantor appreciates your support.

[Name removed]

99. Deleted message

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[unionworks]

171. A picture...

...that is worth a thousand words!!! LOL

[SidDithers]

129. In 2012, one of only 2 people will win the election...

either Obama, or the Republican nominee. To ignore that reality is to be willfully stupid.

Vote for whomever you want, nobody here really gives a shit.

Sid

[stockholmer]

186. yes, one of those 2 will win, and 99.9% of the USA will lose

The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to the doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can "throw the rascals out" at any election without leading to any profound or extreme shifts in policy.

- Carrol Quigley, Tragedy and Hope (1966)

------------------------------------------------

In a 2 horse race, if there is but one owner of both, only that owner has a chance to hold the trophy.

------------------------------------------------

"Only in America!"

- Don King

[BklnDem75]

148. Noted

Thanks for making it even easier to dismiss anything you say in the future.

[JoePhilly]

90. The ODS crowd is struggling to find its voice this AM.

[stuart68]

91. "three proud words - made in America" ? Not at GM !

interesting that GM "...also plans to source nearly $1 billion worth of auto parts from India over two years". Translation, $1B worth of manufacturing output for US operations will come out of India now. At least you would think we could get the companies we bailed out to make stuff here.

http://indiaincorporated.com/news-archive/item/70-new-india-made-car-engine-fuels-gm-strategy.html

[SidDithers]

131. For cars made and sold in India...nt

Sid

[stuart68]

135. uh, no.

if it were, it would have said GM India...

My point is GM WILL sell cars in India, but no jobs, profits, etc will flow back to the US, just as it is with GE.

[SidDithers]

141. Really? Which non-Indian cars are getting the Smartech engine?

And when will the Beat be available in North American showrooms?

Sid

[stuart68]

166. You need to read the press release

They are describing doing multiple things:
1. Triple output of vehicles in India
AND
2. "GM also plans to source nearly $1 billion worth of auto parts from India over two years."

if the $1B worth of parts were FOR Indian vehicles, they would source them FOR India. When GM sources parts FROM India, that means Indian made parts going into GM vehicles globally, and most certainly/likely in the US.

Not sure how you conclude the Smarttech engine or Beat are coming to the US. GM sources most parts outside the US. As they stated, they also plan to get $1B worth from India over the next two years. It can't be much clearer than that.

[great white snark]

95. K&R

:applause:

[4_TN_TITANS]

97. Completely disagree...

I heard "tax cuts" so much in the first 20 minutes I just shut it off. Another "I welcome their hatred" FDR opportunity missed.

Once again, too little too late. Does Obama even know who Reich and Krugman are?

[ProSense]

100. Here is more analyses

Krugman: "Obama jobs plan...significantly bolder and better than I expected"

Economists: Obama’s plan would work (if it passes)

Also, the Fact Sheet: The American Jobs Act.

[shellgame26]

150. You won't hear any of the usual

Krugman praising today. Not a peep. Lol!

[GOTV]

195. What? I'll praise him. Nothing beyond the usual Krugman brilliance displayed here....

... He simply said the plan is bolder than he expected. That's a pretty low bar and Obama managed to step over it.

Yet you think it's a blow to Obama detractors.

[GOTV]

196. Fact sheet doesn't mention how we're going to renege on our promses re: Medicaid/Medicare

[Name removed]

101. Deleted message

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[COLGATE4]

113. But we should all be shouting "Amen"!!! He gave a great speech.

[COLGATE4]

114. Barnum was right (redux).

[Lorien]

118. But he makes them feel good about themselves with his pretty speeches filled

with empty platitudes. It's all about "Winning" right? Even if by "winning' we lose everything worth having.

[jefferson_dem]

122. Complain if you want ...

But you lose credibility when you argue that last night's speech was full of "empty platitudes".

Here are details of what he's proposing. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/08/fact-sheet-american-jobs-act

[yellerpup]

102. K&R!

:kick:

[adhd_what_huh]

115. feckless craven Obama haters can pound sand.....just sayin'

[Lorien]

117. Faux "Democrats" can chew on their tax cuts and kiss Social Security goodbye. nt

[JTFrog]

130. Chew away.

The real Democrats have Obama's back.

:shrug:

[jefferson_dem]

134. It's beyond silly.

Some would have us think that "real Democrats" are the ones who saddle up with the teabagging Republicans every time, in opposing policies promoted by a Democratic President and Democratic Congress members. :crazy: talk to the extreme.

[JTFrog]

136. Bernie Sanders will be under the bus today.

He was on Ed's show expressing his support of Obama's plan.

:shrug:

[bbgrunt]

181. yep.

(':thumbsup:')

[Lorien]

116. 55% tax cuts!! It's great to be a rich fucker!!!!

Please. :eyes:

[SidDithers]

127. K&R...nt

Sid

[JTFrog]

128. K&R

Screw the naysayers who want nothing more than to see this man fail.

:thumbsup:

[joeybee12]

137. Utter bullshit...and still people here are fooled...no wonder Dems are

in such bad shape.

[BlueJac]

140. Talk is cheap.......

I guess people have very short memories. Public option anyone???


the fucking tv again gives everyone hope! TV- 1 Americans- 0

[JuniperLea]

142. He pushed the angry about as far as he dared!

It was good to see. It is also good to see Boner growing a brain.

[PotatoChip]

143. Now THIS is the man I voted for!!!

Welcome back Mr. President, you've been missed. Now please stand firm in these words you have spoken.

Everyone knows you have tried in good faith to reason w/people who have proven themselves to be unreasonable. And in doing so have shown that your every intention was to put the greater good of America before partisan politics. But it hasn't worked despite your best efforts. Every American citizen w/an ounce of common sense knows who is at fault here and will not hold it against you for abandoning that strategy. You patiently and tirelessly tried.

Now it's time to go ahead with the plan you laid out last night w/or without bi-partisan support. Now is the time to hold your ground. 'They' have had more than enough chances to do the right thing and have chosen not to do so. If you stand your ground on this, we will be once again be a proud united army of support for you in not only this battle, but also in 2012.

Thank you jefferson_dem for the link. I missed the speech last night so it was nice to find a quick link here on DU. Watched it twice.

[Name removed]

146. Deleted message

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[JuniperLea]

151. This is the thread that just keeps on giving!

Obama played this just right, IMHO, and finding so many of us on the same page again is fucking brilliant! That is a sign of a marvelous thread!

This thread also lines 'em up nicely... you know who you're dealing with better in this kind of thread than just about any other.

I expect my iggie infusion will yield still more concrete... killer!

[Guilded Lilly]

152. A great forehand to the corner...now stay at the net and let nothing get by you!

[Name removed]

153. Deleted message

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[paulk]

154. more like a lead off single in the bottom of the ninth

with the home team down by four runs.

Or maybe just a walk, since all of the proposals were Republican or bipartisan ideas.

The runs won't cross the plate unless Congress passes the thing, and even then the best that could happen is to tie things up, since the proposal is too small to do much more than that.

[McCamy Taylor]

156. If he says "create jobs" and "save Social Security and Medicare" until next fall, he wins.

Important thing is to stay on message. GOP will try to distract. They will say things like "That's just campaign rhetoric" and "We need action not talk"---all while blocking any action in Congress.

[Name removed]

157. Deleted message

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[tcaudilllg]

161. He won re-election last night.

Whether we like it or not, he's in.

[Number23]

192. That's quite possibly true. And as you can see in this thread

that is ROYALLY pissing off many of the more unhinged and dishonest.

Good. :)

[Herlong]

200. Unhinged in DU?

Loved It. Oh yeah.

[davidwparker]

163. Yes, it was a good speech. He has a gift, there. But, the

problem is one of caving. It he can continue being, as Bill Maher said, the Black Ninja President, it will have a good outcome. If not, my fear is that he will cave on the parts which could create jobs in this country, do more cuts, and have no progress by Nov 2012.

But, yes. Another excellent speech.

[PatSeg]

168. Did anyone notice Jean Schmidt last night?

She latched onto the president when he came in and then again when he was leaving, almost like a super-fan. Meanwhile, Cantor was behind the president when he entered the chambers and looked absolutely miserable.

Its always fun to watch people's reactions and body language during such events. The first time I saw Michele Bachmann was at a Bush State of the Union address - think someone had to pry her off of Bush. She just wouldn't let go of him.

[unionworks]

172. GOBAMA!!!

About time as far as I'm concerned too.

[NOIBN]

173. Not Even an IOU

Both Bush and Regan at least put an IOU in the pot when they diverted money from the SS fund to give tax cuts to the rich.
This looks like a poison pill to deplete SS over time and leave us totally to the discretion of our legislator's since of fairness (not) or morals (not).

[Jim_Shorts]

175. Homerun ......Too bad he's playing wiffle ball

[jefferson_dem]

176. Hey there! Welcome (back) to DU!

:hi:

[harmonicon]

178. He plays baseball now?

I thought he was more of a basketball guy.

[Lucian]

179. It was a strikeout.

It's a failure of a bill. Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Free trade. Tax reductions. Again. And lower payroll taxes, which means less to Social Security.

Great fucking bill.

:eyes:

[BklnDem75]

180. It's a bill?

Can you post a link?

[AlbertCat]

183. President Obama - Homerun!

Yeah.... if you're a Repug billionaire. :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[watajob]

185. Does ANYBODY...

... actually believe anything this ... person says anymore? These speeches were quite rousing/inspiring in 2007. Now, not so much. Talk is cheap. I'm from Missouri: show me. Pick your platitude. Until I see REAL spine/fight, even if it results in less than desirable legislative results, will I be moved.

[RowdyRacer]

188. When Bush was in office, I could not stand to hear him speak...

I have reached the same point with Obama. He is all talk. Those of you who think this speech was a positive sign of a renewed fight, feel free to admit that you were wrong in a few months. If I am wrong, I will admit it.

[Shining Jack]

189. "Does ANYBODY actually believe anything this ... person says anymore?"

I'm afraid so.

[Number23]

193. 194 total recs (so far), 65 total unrecs (so far)

Either the socks haven't gotten here yet or perhaps the undeniable reality that the president's speech that has been dubbed a "home run" and "one of his best ever" by just about every thinking person who cares about this country is a reality that even DU cannot escape from.

Hmmmm... not counting on it. I'm sure that the first option is the real answer.

[Shining Jack]

194. You seem full of...

Certainty.

[Number23]

204. Being informed tends to manifest itself that way.

[Shining Jack]

210. Being badly informed tends to manifest itself that way too.

Certainty:

"It is widely held that certainty about the real world is a failed historical enterprise (that is, beyond deductive truths, tautology, etc.).<1> This is in large part due to the power of David Hume's Problem of induction. Physicist Carlo Rovelli adds that certainty, in real life, is useless or often damaging (the idea is that "total security from error" is impossible in practice, and a complete "lack of doubt" is undesirable)."

Example: Creationists have the certainty that their views are the correct ones and dismiss any criticism, doubts or skepticism, sometimes aggressively.

[Number23]

211. Noting that Obama's speech has been widely hailed and praised is the truth

If that upsets you, I genuinely could not care less.

Noting that DU has also been overrun with socks is also the truth. Again, if that upsets you...

[Shining Jack]

212. You seem upset. eom

[GOTV]

198. Anyone praising the man's speech may as well praise his tie. Both have equal relevance ...

... to what gets done. You think it's a home run? Here's the big difference - a home run counts for something.

[FrenchieCat]

199. When the President speaks to the nation,

as it has always been done,
it's one of those things that does matter....
even if you'd rather not admit it.

I believe you are simply being trifflin'......

[Shining Jack]

213. +1