First thoughts: That's one big budget

Posted: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:22 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** That’s one big budget: This morning, President Obama delivers remarks on his FY 2010 budget, which comes to -- cue Dr. Evil, placing his pinky finger to his lips -- FOUR trillion dollars, up from $3.1 trillion this year. It projects a $1.75 trillion deficit, representing 12.3% of GDP, which is the highest level since World War II. The other headlines here: The budget sets aside $634 billion over the next 10 years to expand health care (paid for by Medicare savings, cuts for wealthy Medicare recipients, and the reduction of tax breaks on those earning more than $250,000); it proposes $750 billion for bank bailouts on top of the $700 billion it has already spent (but this amount shows up as $250 billion in the budget, because the administration believes it will eventually get at least $500 billion back for its investments); and it sets aside $75 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan through this fall. There are also budget cuts here, including farm subsidies for high-income farmers, the last remaining cotton subsidy, and a few education pet projects. This budget is very tough on those who earn more than $250,000 a year. Not only are they losing out on the Bush tax cuts in the next couple of years, but they also will see their tax bill go above that to pay for this new health care bill. Ironically, many people hurt by this are folks who live in the bluest of cities, including New York, DC, Boston, San Francisco, and Chicago.

Video: TODAY’s Matt Lauer talks to CNBC’s Dylan Ratigan and Rick Santelli about President Obama’s budget plan.

*** Is honesty the best policy? This, of course, is A LOT of money. But here’s the thing: The price tag is much higher because the White House removes several past budget gimmicks -- like omitting the cost of Iraq and Afghanistan, and assuming AMT taxes that later will later be eliminated. What’s more, the administration’s budget plans for a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina. In short, it believes this is honest budgeting and reflects a worst-case scenario. This is going to be run of those tricky spin days for the White House. They definitely deserve credit for the honest budgeting, but they’re also going to have to withstand GOP and tabloid hits for increasing the deficit, bailing out more banks, and growing the annual budget by nearly 30%. Most of this, however, is because of the Obama administration’s decision to be more honest about numbers than the Bush budget team was. So how many headlines in the next few days will be about tax hikes to pay for health care, and how many will be about "honest budgeting"? We think we know the answer. (Sorry, Team Obama.)

*** Hey buddy, slow down: Don't miss Bill Kristol's advice to congressional Republicans regarding the Obama agenda. Kristol did his best to slow down HillaryCare in '93-94, and he's offering similar advice -- slow it down. That's the game between the White House and congressional GOPers. They know that the longer it takes to debate health care, energy or any proposal, the more likely the White House will lose. The quicker they can get the bill written and passed, the better chance they have. It also explains why the White House wants to "flood the zone" with policy initiatives. Don't allow ONE bill to become THE debate topic. Divide the opposition by giving them 10 new policy proposals.

*** At a cattle call, you need … more cowbell: In his upcoming New York Times magazine cover story on Newt Gingrich, political writer Matt Bai divides Republicans searching for a way back to power into two groups: “retrenchers” (those who believe that the GOP strayed from their conservative principles and must become more conservative) and “broadeners” (those who are perhaps less dogmatic and believe that the GOP must expand beyond its base). Well, beginning today and lasting through Saturday, the retrenchers hold a conference in DC that essentially serves as the first cattle call for 2012. (Yes, we know that election is still 1,349 days away.) Speaking at the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference will be Mike Huckabee (today at 1:30 pm ET), Mitt Romney (Friday), Mark Sanford (Friday), and Tim Pawlenty (Saturday). Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin aren’t attending. After Jindal's poorly received performance on Tuesday night, and also with Palin's rocky ride since last fall, Politico's Ben Smith declares that Romney -- who was unable to win in Iowa and New Hampshire in 2008, despite spending so much time and money in both states -- the early 2012 front-runner for the GOP. Why? "[H]e has a crucial advantage over almost all the other Republican candidates who are mentioned: He's not in office, and doesn't have to spend the next two years (at least) raising taxes, cutting services, and/or borrowing huge sums. He's free to articulate a clear voice of opposition, and to position himself to play the role of the turnaround specialist if he can make the case that Obama hasn't delivered."

*** CPAC straw poll: As it has in past years, CPAC will conduct a presidential-preference straw poll, and it will be unveiled at 4:30 pm on Saturday (right before Rush Limbaugh delivers the conference’s concluding remarks). But an important note of caution: The most recent CPAC straw poll winners were Romney (2008 and 2007) and George Allen (2006). Neither, of course, went on to win the GOP presidential nomination.

*** More CPAC: Other notable speakers at CPAC today include former UN Ambassador John Bolton (10:45 am); Samuel “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher (11:45 am); Sen. Bob Corker (2:30 pm); and Michele Bachmann, Rep. Roy Blunt, Rep. John Shadegg, and RNC chair Michael Steele (all at an evening event beginning at 7:30 pm). Also check out these forum topics at CPAC: "Al Franken and ACORN: How Liberals Are Destroying the American Election System" (today at 2:30 pm); "Bailing Out Big Business: Are We All Socialists Now?" (Friday); "Will Congress Take Your Guns" (Friday); "Will Obama’s Tax Policy Kill Entrepreneurship" (Friday); "Media in the Obama Era: Is Journalism Dead?" (Saturday); and "The True Cost of Global Warming Hysteria" (Saturday).

*** Michelle Obama watch: Beginning at 11:15 am ET today, the First Lady visits with workers at the Environmental Protection Agency to thank them for their public service.

Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 96 days
Countdown to VA Dem primary: 103 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 250 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 614 days

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Comments

Sudden thoughts and second thoughts

How rudderless is the GOP right now? Palin, Jindal, Boehner all haven’t seen the football since the kickoff. Do we just talk about the GOP right now out of courtesy and politeness? Otherwise, there isn’t much going on there.

How many times do you have to take a beating before you change your tune? It appears many smart GOP members are coning around in their manner and mindset, and will begin working with the President and Democrats. This is where Barack leads the way. He doesn’t hold a grudge, and his change candidacy really is catching on. Don’t get me wrong, there are still too many Dems who want nothing more than to stick it to the GOP. But the President is even keeping them at bay or silent.

Tiger is back on the golf course and the President gave a major speech. What else will make the earth spin normally this week? I have an idea, why don’t we just tell the economic world to shove it? Really, isn’t it time we psychologically beat this mess back? Shouldn’t that be a top priority too? Hey America, let’s stop whining about it. Let’s beat it!

Chuck, WA (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:28 AM)

What time is Obama making his speech to congress today? He does that everyday, right? Seems like he has his own TV show of late.

Chris, CA (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:31 AM)

"This morning, President Obama delivers remarks on his FY 2010 budget, which comes to -- cue Dr. Evil, placing his pinky finger to his lips -- FOUR trillion dollars, up from $3.1 trillion this year. "
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Does the 3.1 trillion dollar figure for this year include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Because if it doesn't, then that's not a fair comparison.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:31 AM)

"Honest budgeting"? More like honestly ripping off the taxpayer. The numbers on Obama's budget have gotten so large, that mere mortals can't even comprehend them anymore.

Mike Moore, Iowa City, Iowa (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:33 AM)

That CPAC agenda reads like Ann Coulter made up the entire thing

Joe - STL (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:35 AM)

Bill Kristol needs to go crawl under the rock where the Dick is hiding. It's people like him along with many others who help give repugs a bad name. I am so glad to see the trickle down jerky plan changing. And for these greedy CEO's, banks to start being regulated. Watched Tom Delay on Hardball yesterday. What an idiot. If repugs keep that mentality flowing, their will be no more repug party.

cindy, Las Vegas, Nv (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:35 AM)

" This budget is very tough on those who earn more than $250,000 a year. Not only are they losing out on the Bush tax cuts in the next couple of years, but they also will see their tax bill go above that to pay for this new health care bill. " - First Read
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This is not new - this is what President Obama campaigned on and the American people voted for.

Please stop editorializing based on the fact that you don't want to pay your taxes. You can't bemoan the deficit out of one side of your mouth, and then not want to pay your fair share out of the other.

This is a RETURN to the tax rate we had under President Clinton, so save the dramatics please.

Do you really think it is more important for some to get a tax break than for 47 million Americans (and rising) to have basic healthcare?

Sadly, your answer is probably yes.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:37 AM)

UN-freaking-believeable!! How much more can he spend?????? *MORE* money to the banks??? Are you kidding me???? Where is Obama getting all this money?? Spend, spend, spend.......

Impeach Obama (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:37 AM)

matt (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:37 AM)

What is it with this little twerp Obama constantly tearing down Bush? He does it every day. "I inherited the problems" this small tiny man tries to bellow (it's more of a squeak). Bush had a lot of complaints he could have thrown at Clinton, but Bush never said a word about them - for you liberals, that's something called 'Class'. Even Clinton didn't pile on Bush I after he got in office. To his credit, neither did Carter with Ford/Nixon. But this guy, this Obama, what a cheap shot artist and tiny little man he has become. The soon this classless man is gone, the better.

Lynn Wheatly (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:39 AM)

....Two-thirds of Americans support President Obama.

That's very telling. Good Leadership is not a given is it? It must be fought for, even died for at times.
There are sacrifices to be made...to be sure.... in order to be blessed with good leaders.

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As Rachel Maddow said, the world has President envy. We like that, (Rachel, and I)!

donna

Earth to Donna, Earth to Donna. World envy? Most would like to have a good safe place to sleep, food to eat and a pinch of the freedom we have in America.

You and Rachel need to slip out of the 80's "Valley Girl" mentality and get a grip on life and reality.

Like, Oh my gosh!

Kathy, Charlotte (Sent Wednesday, February 25, 2009 2:11)

+++++++++++

The needs of many in the world you identify are understood. But the impact of leadership on the condition of the constituents thereof is clear. I have no doubt the millions of oppressed, and starving in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe’s tyranny would prefer President Obama, or even W. for that matter.

My comment was intended to reference the rest of the free world such as Canada, etc.

Why the over-reaction? Why not send in a charitable donation, or say some prayers for the poor, and oppressed. Attacking Rachel, and I won't help those poor people.

Or is it that you're just another hater?

donna (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:40 AM)

GOP: PARTY OF NO?
So where are we on the "Loyal Oppositon" continuum? Oppositoin, tension, push, push-back, resistance is part of the game of politics. Mean-spirited rejection without listening to the opposition is one extreme. John Boehner and the House GOP voting No before listening to the President is one example. Likewise, consensus is the other extreme. Only the impeachment of Blago is the closest example I can think of. Bipartisanship is somewhere in the middle and it is here that President Obama lives and where things get done. The G O P is learning that opposition is not a favorable place to be. The Dema re learning that inclusion is smarter than "My way of the Highway". President Obama is teaching, Be respectful to the opposition. (A hard lesson to learn.)So...ever so slowly progress is being made as seen in the House with a few Representatives voting with the majority. In the Senate, the players may change, depending on the issue.

Where is the resistance to bipartisanship? The extreme right and the extreme left: The ideologues. President Obama is teaching us all. Country First...Pragmatic thinking trumps ideology. The President will win this battle.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:40 AM)

Why is every pundit who can get near a microphone breathless about the budget? Did you people think all of those things President Obama talked about on Tuesday night were free?

When Bush and the other morons on Capitol Hill were spending money like drunken sailors or accountants (no offense to sailors)where were you guys? What a bunch of hypocrits! MSM go back to sleep or wherever you were when Bush lulled us into two wars and a spending frenzy that has left us with crippling debt and an economy in the toilet.

It would be funny if it were not so serious. That some people in the MSM and some financial "experts" want Obama to have all the answers as of January 20, 2009.

For those of you with the answers, please contact someone at 1600 Pennsylvania for an audience with the Finance Team because we need to be out of this nightmare ASAP!

SDR, Pikesville, MD (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:40 AM)

Houston (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:40 AM)

Dear Republican Party: What’s A Matter Baby, Is It Hurting You?

The wealthy elite's strategy was starting to become obvious during the Ronald Reagan years. Screw everyone. Exploit them so the rich can become what? Well, richer. They gave nothing back to this country. They built nothing. No new schools. No new anything. Hire illegal immigrants. You know, cheap labor. No money for bridges, no money for roads, no money for anything. The Republican Party was more than happy to accommodate them. Never a peep out of them.
Well, now it has come back to bite everyone. And President Obama is dealing with it head on.
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Maybe someday we’ll see regular hard working Americans on tv who have been laid off, who have no healthcare, or who have had their wages cut, etc. Instead of the well-to-do inside the beltway GOP “pundits” who have nothing to worry about, so they go on and blame President Obama because they didn’t do their jobs all these years. Even though they ARE front and center in the media every single day. They have no credibility. And now they decide that perhaps, just perhaps, we have “issues” in this country? Too little too late. They have no credibility. Let them cry and moan. And lie.

The country despises them.

I’m so grateful for Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow and David Schuster’s tenacity, night after night. There really are those in the media who feel a responsibility to tell their viewers the truth about what’s been going on this country for years and years.
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Rush Limbaugh’s new marching orders to the GOP: “Don’t criticize Governor Jindal. If you do, I don’t want to hear from you again”. In other words, I won’t give you free advertising on my radio program if you’re not loyal to the party. Heil, anyone?
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I feel a deep hole in my heart whenever I go down to the Lower East Side in New York City. All those immigrants who came over here from the Old Country. They have all long ago died. But it's hard not to see what they gave this country. Their blood, their sweat and their tears are recognizable everywhere. It's very hard still not to feel their presence when you walk those streets in NYC.

The rich are trying to destroy it all. But it's not going to happen. The country doesn't belong to them. It belongs to all of us. Rich AND poor.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:41 AM)

Want to scare your kids? Just show them Obama's budget buster spending plans! Tell them "You're paying for this!".

Pay Now and Pay Later (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:41 AM)

We all thought Bush spent a lot. How wrong we were.

Ron White, Dallas (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:42 AM)

Here's a thought. Why doesn't some reporter, with help, compare the last few budgets using the same methodology as this one. I have read that it is an 8% increase over last years if we compare apples to apples (not 30%). However, in a time of unprecedented borrowing 8% is still a ridiculous increase. Can we get the facts?

Alan, NJ (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:42 AM)

Republican/Conservatives wonder why they have a bad brand now and they schedule Joe The Plumber and Michelle Bachmann as speakers. After the Jindal fiasco and the Senators and Congressmen competing for for Jackass of the Day Award ( think Shelby, Bunning , Hissy Fit Smelly Earmark Lindsey Graham ,etc. etc, , perhaps they should just meditate or at least takes vows of silence

GW, Vancouver, Canada (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:43 AM)

I have to disagree that there are any notable speakers at the CPAC cattle call for the Blundering Herd of Extinct Elephants. Nothing but liars and idiots at this meeting of the Lost Party. Whoever wins the straw poll will still be a loser.

What a shame Obama has to spend so much money to fix the economic disaster caused since Ronny Raygunz and his braindead Tinkle Down economics. Ought to jack up taxes on all repugnant ones so they are the ones who have to pay for their mistakes. I think it would be most fitting to name the national debt after Reagan, Bush and Bush and make it keep the name until it is paid back. I hope that Obama puts capital gains taxes back to normal income tax rates so the creepy CEO class starts paying their fair share of capital gains taxes again.

Tax the Rich and Give to the Poor and Middle Classes!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:43 AM)

I saw Maria Bartiromo on Morning Joe this moring freaking out because she feels the Obama Administration is not moving fast enough to save her stock portfolio.

While I share her concerns for our financial markets, I also find it HILARIOUS how all these media people are suddenly becoming nervous nellies.

WE THE PEOPLE have been suffering through stagnant wages, rising fuel costs and rising health care costs for years while you folks were filling our heads with LIES and bad financial advice for a living.

So to sum it all up:

Stock market falls? National emergency - we can't move fast enough!

Millions of people without jobs, homes, and healthcare? What's the hurry? The market will correct itself.

I say STUFF IT.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:43 AM)

Crazy Michelle Bachman and George "Mikaka" Allen? And THEN they end with Lush Rimjob, the Oxy-moron? I'm surprised they don't have Allen Keyes! And why don't they have a session on "Obama is the Antichrist" and "Obama's Plan For World Domination"? The place will be like a psychiatric hospital dayroom! Do they get meds with dinner?

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:43 AM)

You have to look at this as a compromise budget from Obama. Steep cuts combined with new taxes and a pathway to universal health care.

Conservatives must understand that they LOST the election. This is the best they can expect for awhile.

matt

Last I looked, the American people would be paying for all this stuff. So it looks like the American people are the big losers, and not so much the Republicans.

And where exactly are the steep cuts again?

Mike G., Iowa (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:44 AM)

Keith Olbermann reported last night that Bobby Jindal apparently lied in his response to Obama's speech. Jindal claimed he was in New Orleans valiantly fighting "bureaucrats" who didn't want rescuers using boats unless they had proof of insurance. But Olbermann said that Jindal was actually in Baton Rouge at the time. Why isn't Chuck Todd or somebody at MSNBC investigating this to see if it's true?

Houston (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:44 AM)

So he complains that he inherited a nearly $500 billion deficit from Bush...yet he's going to up it to nearly $2 TRILLION DOLLARS!!!! That's like me taking over a company that lost $2 million last year and leading them to lose $8 million the following year...my response is to blame the guy who lost $2 million? Wow...keep the printing presses rolling out that money.

Dookie (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:44 AM)

67% of the country approves of their grand-kids paying for all this crap.

HT Towns, Utah (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:45 AM)

With regard to doing business. Honesty is always the best policy. Transparency is better than hiding. Put those budget numbers out there so we can all see what is going on is the right thing to do.. It is time to trust the American people. Sorry, Chuck, you are wrong on this issue.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:46 AM)

I'd love to have an 8% raise like the government is giving itself. How many of you out there are getting that kind of raise? Unless you work for the government, I doubt you'll get any raises for a long, long time.

Be Happy You Have A Job (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:46 AM)

To Lynn Wheatly: I agree! Not only is Obama classless, he's a big fat liar. Broken promises, one after the other. And an administration full of crooks - - some change that is!!

Impeach Obama (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:46 AM)

A forum topics at CPAC: "Al Franken and ACORN: How Liberals Are Destroying the American Election System" (today at 2:30 pm);
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What a joke! Where is Royal A**hole Limbaugh's sense of the US history for the last 8 years.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:47 AM)

Dear Lynn Wheatly,

Been seeing your name around alot. I've read a few of your posts. Seems like a lot of whining and no solutions.

Thanks for sharing though.

P.S. Former President George W. Bush is getting the level of respect he has earned. He is "personally responsible" for the decisions that he made. He has moved into a mansion and we are being moved into our local parks and homeless shelters. So you can stuff it too.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:47 AM)

In addition look for new taxes on carbon and gas. The carbon tax is one of the greatest cons. Tax energy producers, allow them to pass on the cost, refund the increase to the consumer less 15B plus administrative costs. I would expect a roughly 20% - 30% increase in energy costs. The 15B would pick winners in the renewable energy field like corn based ethanol...which actually ADDS more CO2 than gas to the atmosphere!!! If this is a science based administration why are there still corn ethanol subsidies? Why do we not but bio-fuels from South America?

Alan, NJ (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:47 AM)

"Will Obama’s Tax Policy Kill Entrepreneurship"
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The real question is whether Obama will be able to revive entrepreneurship after the crony capitalism of the Bush years nearly killed it.
Houston (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:40 AM)

Really? Details. If you have none, then your just blathering.

Pro Business Democrat (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:48 AM)

ABOUT TIME !!!!

From HuffPost:

'...Obama Expected To Kill Hedge Fund Tax Break

If there is one tax loophole that looks dead in the water, it's the law that lets hedge fund and private equity managers pay a 15-percent capital-gains rate on the multimillion-dollar fees they collect -- substantially less than the top income tax rates paid by their secretaries, chauffeurs, and the pilots of their private jets.

On the surface, the stars are aligned. There is a newly elected Democrat in the White House who is desperate to raise revenues. Killing this tax break would raise $31 billion over five years. In addition, there are Democratic House and Senate majorities - representing the party of working people - and what could more unfair than letting billionaires pay taxes at a fraction of the rate of the guy with the lunch pail ?

But reformers seeking to raise the taxes of the super-rich should not assume this is a slam dunk. The Democratic majority in the Senate has looked at this provision before -- most recently two years ago. Many Senate Democrats saw the legislation as biting the hand that fed them and breathed a sigh of relief when, on December 6, 2007, Republicans mustered enough votes to filibuster the proposal to death.

Not only have hedge and private-equity fund managers earned massive amounts - in 2007, according to Institutional Investor's Alpha Magazine, John Paulson made $3.7 billion while George Soros and James Simons came in at just under $3 billion (to make the top 25 required $360 million) - even as their compensation does not require them to put their own money at risk.

The most common arrangement provides that fund managers get a) a fee of 2 percent of the value of the fund, whether it goes up or down - a fee on which they pay ordinary income tax rates of up to 35 percent; and b) 20 percent of the annual profits, on which they pay only a 15-percent capital-gains tax rate.

Combined, the top 50 hedge and private equity fund managers last year earned $29 billion (hedge and private equity funds can make money by 'going short' or 'going long'.)...'

THIS should help balance the budget a little bit
WHY should Hedge funds get a special tax break ??

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:48 AM)

I'm glad that Barack is being more honest with the budget by including all that wasteful spending of the Iraq war in the budget the way it should heave been for the past 5 or 6 years. Dishonest George tried to hide the massive budget deficit by hiding large amounts of wasteful war spending from it.

I am so looking forward to Obama's health plan to fix our broken private medical industry ripoff. For the vast majority of citizens our health care system is one of the worst in the world. We need to stop subsidizing cosmetic surgery and start making doctors practice real medicine that helps real people instead of getting rich off of boob jobs, tummy tucks and botox injections.

I enjoy how David Shuster has turned around that boring 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue show after David Gregory turned it inot such a bore. Shuster has really gotten his Liberal Voice going now and he's such a joy to watch. I love the way he razzes the repugnant ones clueless enough to lie on his show.

David Shuster Rocks!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:49 AM)

Ron Indiana - Honesty is always the best policy.

Okay, sure. Obama, Pelosi, and Reid are honestly stealing the country blind to fund all the Democratic boondoggles they possibly can.

I guess that's being honest.

Honesty Is The Best Policy (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:50 AM)

Thomas T., Boston (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:52 AM)

Nashville_fan:
Stock market falls? National emergency - we can't move fast enough!

Millions of people without jobs, homes, and healthcare? What's the hurry? The market will correct itself.

Do you understand the connection between "Stock Market Falls" and "Millions of people without jobs"?

Do you remember Stock Market = 14,000 Unemployment = 4.7%? Could they be related?

Stock Market = 0 Unemployment = 95% and the 5% employed will be government working being paid by borrowing from China.

Alan, NJ (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:52 AM)

So where oh where is Blamey Whinehouse Palin and Boring Bobby Jindal at? Hiding from their fellow conservatives when they're trying to find a leader? I guess they're getting the message they aren't going anywhere on the national scene so they'd better hide out. Telling that Joe the Bummer isn't out there working his plumber job instead of attending the cattle call of the Blundering Herd. Goes to show how low the republic party has sunk when some deadbeat taxpayer like him gets to speak at their Lie Fest.

Just Say No to the Repugnant Ones!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:53 AM)

Lynn Wheatly (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:39 AM) "twerp"

President Obama did "inherit" the mess from Bush. Either that is a fact or he retroactively created the mess because I saw him get sworn in as President on Janaury 20, 2009.

As for Bush not criticizing President Clinton when he became president, there was very little to criticize. Imagine what his in-basket looked like compared to Obama's! If GWB had "inherited" Obama's in-basket he would still be running like Forrest Gump because most of us know he is intellectually challenged and were it not for the Supreme Court he would never have been president.

Feel good about calling Obama a " little twerp" with no class, but his brain is not little and he exudes class, charm and charisma. At least that what foreign leaders are saying about him.
My recollection is that world leaders think of W as a "cowboy."

SDR, Pikesville, MD (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:54 AM)

>>>*** More CPAC: Other notable speakers at CPAC today include former UN Ambassador John Bolton (10:45 am); Samuel “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher (11:45 am); Sen. Bob Corker (2:30 pm); and Michele Bachmann, Rep. Roy Blunt, Rep. John Shadegg, and RNC chair Michael Steele (all at an evening event beginning at 7:30 pm). Also check out these forum topics at CPAC: "Al Franken and ACORN: How Liberals Are Destroying the American Election System" (today at 2:30 pm); "Bailing Out Big Business: Are We All Socialists Now?" (Friday); "Will Congress Take Your Guns" (Friday); "Will Obama’s Tax Policy Kill Entrepreneurship" (Friday); "Media in the Obama Era: Is Journalism Dead?" (Saturday); and "The True Cost of Global Warming Hysteria" (Saturday).
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This sounds like a program that was written up by a paranoid schitzophrenic (sp?) conspiracy theorist. It amazes me that these people feel so threatened.

BTW. Has anyone seen the HBO Documentary "Right America, Feeling Wronged." The folks in that doc would fit right in here, since this is the base that the Growing Obsolecence Party seems to be catering to.

"Oh God!"
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:55 AM)

"Ironically, many people hurt by this are folks who live in the bluest of cities, including New York, DC, Boston, San Francisco, and Chicago."

Ironic? Umm, no. There is a concentration of wealth in major metropolitan areas. These folks do not all vote Democratic, despite the "blueness" of their state. Is this news to you guys? Seriously, you might hurt yourselves stretching to make that point. Sheesh.
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And Lynn Wheatly: Perhaps if certain GOP mouthpieces didn't keep trying to push the "Obama recession" meme, then our President wouldn't be forced to remind everyone that this disaster was already well underway under Bush's watch.

Or were you not paying attention this past September?

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:57 AM)

The media became so used to former President George W. Bush going on vacation all the time, that now they accuse President Obama of doing "too much".

He's not doing too much folks, he's doing HIS JOB.

Imagine that.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:59 AM)

I'm sure Palomino will show up sooner or later but I'd like to hear Palomino's opinion on the Obama's budget. It should be interesting.

Polythene Pam (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:59 AM)

The soon this classless man is gone, the better.
Lynn Wheatly (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:39 AM)

Lynn, President Obama has shown nothing but class to all of his opponents and naysayers and have treated them with dignity and honor. Many of them cannot say the same. He has tried to engage the Repubs on policy issues, but they have turned aside his efforts in favor of "Party First" politics.

President Obama has not once torn up former Pres. Bush, but has merely spoken what is fact. Bush did leave a mess for him to clean up, and clean it up, he will. Obviously, the electorate agreed in November that it was time for a change in Washington and President Obama has brought back honor, civility and common sense to the Presidency. That's a mighty big man in my book.

J. Ellis, Virginia (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:59 AM)

As long as the republican party continues to listen to these wing=nuts like Kristol and Head Rush,they will never pull out of there tailspin,crash and burn,we will never learn.When will the press step up to the plate?Now that everyday we see the republicans sending out there talking heads to tell us how Obama has it all wrong and they have it all right.And the people that are sent to get the story just nod and smile ,Why do you chose to except there lies and NO one calls them,NO one.But shut them out of a meeting that the guest of the president don't want to be hounded and the press screams like a child,"thats not fair,we want it our way,or we may stop listening to what is being said"Being bold will get you farther then being whiney.So the repubs are having there cattle call,it's someplace even a guy like Joe Srarbro,will feel right at home.a bunch of white guys farting and pulling each others fingers and howling like 9th graders,Nice.May even be some towel snapping, and some kick me stickers stuck on there backs.And once again FR you make statements about something that has not happen yet,how do you guys do it?

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 10:01 AM)

I am really sick of all the Republicans complaining about the new "expensive" budget. Where were they when Buch gave the rich a tax break which cost this country over 2 trillion dollars???? Where were they when Bush decided to go to war which is costing us over 12 billion per month??? Why is it when Democrats want to spend money on making life better for the American people - the Republicans call that Big Government and over spending??? And to answer the blogger who thinks Obama is a "small" man because he keeps talking about how Bush got us into this mess - Obama wouldn't have to keep reminding you people, if you didn't keep blaming him for spending so much money.
One other thing - I am tired of people talking about Obama "raising taxes" because he is going to let the tax cut that Bush gave the top 1% of this country run out in 2010. This is not a tax increase. Think of it this way. If you owned a clothing store and put pants that sell for $50.00 on sale for $35.00 - and then when the sale was over they "went back to" $50.00, you didn't increase the price of the pants - you just put them "back to what they originally sold for". Same thing with this tax break - the taxes are going back to what they were when Clinton was in office - back to what they originally were before Bush put them "on sale". By the way - I don't remember any of those top 1% compaining that they shouldn't get the tax cut if the rest of the country wasn't getting a tax cut - do you?

Jean, Asheville, NC (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 10:01 AM)

Ann Coulter could easily handle Obama in a debate. She'd never let him get a word in and he'd soon lose that fake cool personna.

Flaming Star (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 10:02 AM)

"Ambassador John Bolton (10:45 am); Samuel “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher (11:45 am); Sen. Bob Corker (2:30 pm); and Michele Bachmann, Rep. Roy Blunt, Rep. John Shadegg, and RNC chair Michael Steele (all at an evening event beginning at 7:30 pm)."
------------------------------------------------------
Wow, that's an awfully big bag of WRONG!

Oh, wait...

"Rush Limbaugh delivers the conference’s concluding remarks"

Ah, now it all makes sense. Carry on.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 10:02 AM)

For those who think that this budget is very large, you ought to question why the former dunce in chief and his administration did not put the real costs of the wars into the budget? It is a gimmick to hide the total cost of the overall operating budget of the federal government. President Obama stated that they will include the costs so we the Amercian people can see the true budget of the country. This is not about partisanship or anything it is the real deal. The former dunce in chief and his band of cohorts did not want the costs of the wars in the budget at all. They kept that seperate as to make the budget appear smaller than it actually was. Don't believe me, check it out for yourselves and google the budgets of the former dunce in chief and see if you can find in the actual budget the actual costs of the wars!!!!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, February 26, 2009 10:03 AM)

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