First thoughts: Obama takes the wheel

Posted: Monday, March 30, 2009 9:22 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Obama takes the wheel: Before he turns his attention to international affairs and the global economy later this week, President Obama today addresses the subject that has dominated his first 70 days in office: domestic affairs. At 11:00 am ET this morning, he delivers a speech from the White House on the U.S. auto industry. This speech, in which he’ll announce additional aid for the industry, comes just after the White House ousted Rick Wagoner as CEO of GM. The reason: It was not happy with the restructing plans that GM and Chrysler submitted last month. In his remarks today, Obama will attach a number of strings to this new bailout money. GM and its new management team (led by GM veteran Fritz Henderson) get two more months to come up with a new restructuring plan, which Treasury officials believe needs to include the elimination of more GM brands. Chrysler, meanwhile, gets one more month to seal a deal that it’s already been working on with Fiat. If it succeeds, the new company will get $6 billion from the government; if it fails, the government is likely to walk away.

Video: The Obama administration said neither GM nor Chrysler submitted acceptable plans to receive more bailout money.

*** The Executioner-in-Chief? It turns out that Wagoner is the fourth CEO the Obama administration has replaced. The others have been the heads of AIG, Fannie, Freddie, and (some claim) Citi. But Wagoner’s dismissal -- which came as a surprise to industry insiders -- has left some liberal critics wondering why the Obama administration is demanding the head of GM’s CEO, but not Bank of America’s or Goldman’s, etc. After the president’s remarks on the auto industry this morning, he meets with Defense Secretary Gates (closed press), signs the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act into law (open press), and then heads over to Capitol Hill to meet with the House Democratic caucus (closed press).

*** Euro trip 2: With President Obama tomorrow embarking on a trip to Europe and beyond -- which will take him to England, France, Germany the Czech Republic, and Turkey -- forgive us if we’re experiencing a case of déjà vu. After all, more than eight months ago, during the summer of the general election, Obama took off on a similar and equally publicized trip. While the McCain campaign and GOP critics seized on a few of that trip’s controversies (Landstuhl, the Berlin speech), it was an overall success. Why? Because the Obama campaign was able to sell the trip -- and the greeting it would receive -- as 1) an example of the type of change Obama would bring and 2) as evidence that the one-term senator could be seen by a majority of American voters as up to the task of president. Now, with European countries resisting calls for their own kind of economic stimulus and with them unwilling to provide additional troops to Afghanistan, the task for Obama is now take his popularity in Europe and turn that into actual results. There are concrete ways to measure the president's global influence, and they are coming very early in his term.

Video: Obama received a warm welcome in Europe as presidential candidate, but the global economic crisis may have an effect on his reception this time.

*** Obama’s European itinerary: On Tuesday, the president travels to London for the G-20 conference. He’ll remain there Wednesday and Thursday, holding bilaterals with the leaders of Britain, China, and Russia. (By the way, is there a more important meeting he's having than with China's Hu?) On Friday and Saturday, he’ll be in France and Germany (where he will meet with Sarkozy and Merkel, give a speech, and attend a NATO conference). On Saturday and Sunday, he’ll be in the Czech Republic (where he will hold a summit with the European Union and give a major speech on proliferation). And on Monday, he’ll be in Turkey. Some additional questions: Will the worldwide positive reaction to him help his poll numbers here in the U.S.? Will he see a slight bump? Also, don't be surprised if Michelle Obama gets a Jackie O-like reception, and gets coverage equivalent of that.

Video: Obama prepares for his first trip overseas as president.

*** Geithner meets the press: The Treasury secretary, after a rough P.R. start to his tenure, did very well yesterday on the Sunday shows. He's clearly bought himself a lot of time -- he never had a "deer in the headlights.” But we do have one question for him and the administration. A standard line of spin from the entire economic team has been this: History has shown that government's mistake in previous economic downturns was not doing enough. Fair enough, but what's an example of government doing enough? Has there ever been an example? Right now, the administration's straw-man argument is Japan in the '90s and the Great Depression -- instances of when government didn't do enough. Could it be that there isn't an example to point to? Then again, Republicans don't exactly have their own examples to point to when government doing too little -- or cutting spending -- actually worked during an severe economic downturn...

Video: Geithner discusses the administration's plan to aid the ailing economy.

*** Turning to Afghanistan: In Obama’s remarks about Afghanistan in his Sunday interview on CBS, we noticed a lack of a singular focus on Osama bin Laden the individual (something that wasn't lacking by Dems during the '04 and '08 campaigns). But the president certainly upped the ante on his rhetoric against al Qaeda in general. By the way, it’s striking to us how well received Obama’s policy was on the right, while the anti-war left has been VERY silent. Moreover, NBC News sources indicate that when the president briefed senior congressional leaders, he was very mindful that the most skeptical person in the room was Speaker Pelosi. She's publicly on board and she's also kept the elected anti-war members of the Dem caucus from criticizing publicly -- an impressive feat.

Video: MSNBC panelists debate whether Obama's plan in Afghanistan will make America safer.

*** That NY-20 race: We’ll have a lot more tomorrow on Tuesday’s special congressional election in New York, but here are a few quick thoughts: The race will be one of those over-read Washington-political stories -- no matter who wins... Obama cut a TV ad... Michael Steele has staked his early reputation on it as well... A Dem loss and there will be lots of Republicans crowing about them on the comeback… A Dem win and there will be a lot of second-guessing among Republicans about their ability to win; if they can't win this one, how are they going to start being a competitive national party again?

*** Joe Biden as Shane Battier or Danny Green? After we discovered the influential role Vice President Biden played in the administration’s Afghanistan/Pakistan, the New York Times yesterday front-paged a look at Biden’s role in the administration. “Mr. Biden has settled into a role of what Mr. Obama compares to a basketball player ‘who does a bunch of things that don’t show up in the stat sheet,’ the president said in an interview Friday. ‘He gets that extra rebound, takes the charge, makes that extra pass.” Speaking of basketball, President Obama wasn’t the only one who seems to have fared poorly with his Final Four picks. Your NBC Political Unit wasn’t so hot, either. (Who would have thought Villanova and Michigan State would make it?)

Countdown to NY-20 special: 1 day
Countdown to Obama’s 100th day: 30 days
Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 64 days
Countdown to VA Dem primary: 71 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 218 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 582 days

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Comments

Obama Motors is going to get a new CEO.

We dont know who they are yet... but you can bet 2 things.

1.) They will be a Democrat and Supportor of Obama

2.) They probally didn't pay their taxes.

Pay-To-Play the Obama Way

Blago - pay attention to Obama - this is the way you shake down a CEO. And you can bet that Obie didn't say anything stupid on a recorded phone line.

The Last Living Democrat (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:34 AM)

You know, I hear a lot of talk in the media about how the government should be run the way a family is run. This usually includes a reference to a “kitchen table” and a “check book” and the choices that are required to balance the family budget. But why just stop at the kitchen table?

The truth is, families are forced to make choices every day, and usually there are differing opinions about how to proceed. Whether it is making a major purchase like a house or a car, deciding where the kids should go to school, or something as simple as what to watch on TV, every day, families all over America reach consensus and move forward with decisions.

How many families would survive if every time a decision had to be made, the parties involved proceeded by undercutting and belittling one another, or went to the neighbors to literally air a little “dirty laundry”?

How many families would survive if everytime they disagreed, they accused each other of being communists, or socialists, or criminals?

How do families make these decisions and continue to work together even when they don’t always agree? Because they put the needs of the family ahead of their own needs. Because they are willing to compromise, and most of all because they love one another.

Here’s hoping that WE THE PEOPLE can recapture that feeling of common purpose and common decency, and not make every disagreement into an opportunity to exploit one another. We had a debate for two years on the best way to move forward. We had an election and we counted the votes. We all don’t have to agree with the outcome, but if we TRULY love this country, we should be working to make the BEST of the cards that we have been dealt, instead of always trying to second guess every decision and cast every pot hole along the way as a chasm to wide to cross.

Time will tell whether the policies that the Obama Administration are initiating will work or not. But regardless of the policy outcomes, our nation will not truly recover until we remember that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

P.S. No I am not saying that everyone should shut up and agree with President Obama. I am saying that there is a difference between constructive debate and destructive attacks designed to undermine our government for political reasons.

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:34 AM)

So let me see if I got this right? The govt. has now got the power to fire people at private companies if they think they are not doing a good job? Rick Wagoner was racking up billions in debt so Obama who is racking up trillions in debt decides to take over.The Obama administration pretty much doing anything it wants at this point. I would think even the liberals would start to get a little scared at some point.

RS (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:37 AM)

Right - Obama takes the wheel and drives us right over the cliff.

God Help Us - Obama Won't! (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:38 AM)

WASHINGTON - The success of President Barack Obama's new war strategy depends heavily on factors beyond his control: Afghan competence, Pakistani cooperation and a greater willingness by Europeans and other allies to adopt the American view that al-Qaida is at the core of the conflict.

KABUL - Afghanistan's president said Saturday that the new U.S. strategy for the worsening conflict in his country is "better than we were expecting" and provides the right solutions for the problems afflicting the region.

"This is better than we were expecting as a matter of fact. We back it," Karzai told a news conference Saturday, a day after Obama announced the details of the new U.S. strategy. "It is exactly what the Afghan people were hoping for and we were seeking."

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:38 AM)

Does The Teleprompter have its own passport?????

Question Mark (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:39 AM)

Look like we can kiss our domestic auto industry goodbye. Too bad they didn't get their act together soon enough to show they were worth saving. A real pity so many good jobs are going to be lost when we're already losing so many.

I'm not sure why the big flap by catholics because Obama is going to give a commencement speech at notre dame. I mean it's Obama who has to worry about the fallout of visiting a bunch of catholic pedophile perverts. The news now is that catholic pedophile predations are on the rise again proving the catholic church thinks it is too big to be excommunicated by the government. Obama should just say no to notre dame and excommunicate their tax exempt status since all they do is waste money protecting their foul pervert priests.

I'm glad that Obama is focusing on Afghanistan and Al Qaeda, something the bushwhacker failed to do and it now is costing us as that premature victory becomes another quagmire like VietNam.

In Obama We Trust!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:41 AM)

I have one big wish: That we ALL could acknowledge that Barack Obama won the election and is trying to move our country in a new direction and support him in his efforts.

We desperately need healthcare reform. We need government support right through here for folks that cannot help themselves. We need to put folks back to work.

For the past 8 years George Bush spent and borrowed like crazy. Got us into a terrible war. Created a mess on Wall Street—completely demoralized main street—the list goes on. And now we have the Republicans and conservatives creating confusion, anger, and rebellion, only because they DID NOT WIN!

And what I know and they know is that if they were in President Obama's place they would do the same things he is doing. That is the reason they can't come up with any concrete solutions because they know that President Obama is on the right track.

What really upsets me is that during these crucial times, all of the naysayers—McConnell, Boehner, Cantor, Gregg, Blakeman, Watkins, Scarborough, Buchannan, McCain, Bachmann, Palin and company are only thinking of themselves, their ideology, their jobs and not the American people. NOT US!!

Everyday they get their marching orders by e-mail and create the password of the day. Lately it has been: TAX AND SPEND—and creating debt for the future generations. And that is so LAME, because there was NONE OF THAT TALK THE LAST 8 YEARS! The fact that EVERYBODY says exactly the same things is telling and I am paying very close attention.

I want to say this LOUD and CLEAR: I will pay whatever taxes I have to pay to get us out of this mess. I DO NOT CONSIDER PAYING TAXES A PUNISHMENT. I CONSIDER PAYING TAXES A PATRIOTIC DUTY!!! I want to level the playing field. I want to see the American people stand tall and happy. It has been a dreadful last 8 years.

And for the first time I see glimmers of hope for all of us. I think President Obama is doing an outstanding job!

Andrea, New York City (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:43 AM)

So, first Obama demands that the head of GM resign, then he denies them the funds anyway becaude he doesn't like their plan. Hmmmm.

I suppose the 'bands' he wants them to discontinue include Hummer, because that is an evil vehicl-the greenies don't like it, nor do they like SUV's in general. Did the Big O do his homework, though? Michigan has state statute which forbids the big three from eliminating brands, legislation that was passed to prevent GM from eliminating Pontiac.

I have been of the opinion that the big three would be far better served by a planned bankruptcy, which would put everything on the table, including bond holders and the unions. Ford looked at the strings attachd to the 'free money' and decided that they could get along without it-Chrysler and GM should do the same.

On a similar topic, the banking industry, and Americans in general, had better shield ourselves from Geithner, before he and the Obama administration truly destroy this economy. Here is a man who couldn't work turbo-tax, and he wants to take over the financial sector. If that doesn't frighten you, nothing will.

I hope Evan Bahy and the rest of the 'moderate' Democrats stop this fiasco before it gets off the ground. It's our only hope.

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:43 AM)

What_you_Selling (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:44 AM)

Obama takes the wheel

He didn't just take the wheel - he took the whole car.

Government Motors (GM) - you can get any car you want - but they will all be painted red.

I dont know who the CEO (chief executive officer) is but I do know who the LGA (lord god almighty) of GM is.

Yes, its the annointed one - Obama

In Obama we Trust

(if you dont he will send his chicago hit men to help you rethink your opinion)

Obama - I love you - Please dont fire me...

The Last Living Democrat (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:44 AM)

GM and its new management team (led by GM veteran Fritz Henderson) get two more months to come up with a new restructuring plan, which Treasury officials believe needs to include the elimination of more GM brands.
I have for years said that GM Needs to do the same things that toyota, honda and Nissian have done for years and that is offer only a line of 10 to 12 different cars. right now GM offers chevy, buick, Ponitac, catalic and saturn. too many different body types, too make different styles which results in too make parts, plants, ect. even ford only offers 5 different cars and as we see there problems are not what GM's are. GM needs to get rid of Ponitac, saturn,reduce the number of cars each division offers, chevy limit that to 4, buick 4, and cadalic 4, and try to sell the truck division to and consentrate of cars, or reduce there truck line, but as we know there is alot of money making trucks.
Just my thoughts

Jeff D Evanston IL. (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:45 AM)

It should come as no surprise that GM CEO Wagoner is gone. He seemed the most uncomfortable during the prior congressional hearings and the GM brand soup has been heavy with too many elephants for years. The Govt task force is looking carefully a the auto industries plans going forward. While this is NOT an ideal situation GM and Chrysler have dug themselves a rather deep hole.

The President will do well on his trip aboard. I expect some leadership and some listening, a good mix of both will help everyone get moving in the right direction.

I agree that Sec. Geightner looked in control yesterday. David Gregory tried to "get him" a few times but he cleverly said "let's step back a moment" and put the gotcha Q in proper perspective. Geightner is clearly not a public speaker, but he seems quite bright. We need results and we need a good explainer. Based on yesterday's talk shows, perhaps he can do some of both those tasks, freeing the President for other matters. Go Tim!

It is also encouraging that the GOPers are not attacking the President on Afghanistan. He has changed the dynamic and the rhetoric. Now we need some followup on the regional concept and help from all stakholders. Al Qeada must be dismantled before they get any stronger.

Looks like another busy week ahead. I wonder if Dubya is still asleep in Crawford? lol

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:45 AM)

What a refreshing change Joe Biden provides us as VP after that despicable Darth Cheney dictator act. Biden is proving to be a perfect compliment to Barack's leadership style.

What a pity that Gregory would put on McNasty on the same show as Tim Geithner. Gregory pals around with repugnant one traitors way too much and no longer plays hardball with them the way he did as WH reporter.

It's not surprising that Sinner Sarah is losing her popularity. I mean she had to bribe the voters of Alaska with a $700 million bribe, now she's crying about a billion dollar budget shortfall because she was too short sighted about taking care of Alaska. Now she wants to say no to some of the stimulus money and I am so laughing at how she's in trouble with repugnant ones in her state legislature. Once again she tries to lie about why she didn't make the meeting she was supposed to go to and hopefully the voters of Alska just say no to her next election they can.

Impeach Palin Now!
In Obama We Trust!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:47 AM)

For decades the Republican Party has portrayed government assistance to individuals has enabling scofflaws to live high on the hog. Remember the Cadillac-driving welfare mom using food stamps to buy pate?

The current generation of welfare recipients consists of America's captains of industry most of whom attended pretigious universities and who majored in hubris and greed. In the auto industry, these were the ones who thirty years ago laughed at cars like Honda and Datsun.

It will be interesting to see how the 'sink or swim', 'take responsibility for your actions' 'rugged individualsim' crowd will react to the Obama Administration cutting Chrysler and GM loose to make it on their own.

Bruce Oregon (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:49 AM)

SEE YA...Wouldn't want to be YA...

Rolling heads...be good..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS5fqWYKXyQ

BJ, CA (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:50 AM)

I'm sorry that the CEO of GM has lost his position, but the government cannot continue to bailout every enterprise. The President gave him amp time to get it together and it did not happen. If one does not perform well in his/her position or meet company's expectations normally that person will be fired. I do wish him well.

krys (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:50 AM)

"We’ll have a lot more tomorrow on Tuesday’s special congressional election in New York, but here are a few quick thoughts: The race will be one of those over-read Washington-political stories -- no matter who wins... Obama cut a TV ad... Michael Steele has staked his early reputation on it as well... A Dem loss and there will be lots of Republicans crowing about them on the comeback… A Dem win and there will be a lot of second-guessing among Republicans about their ability to win; if they can't win this one, how are they going to start being a competitive national party again?"

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

How many times do we have to go over this one?

NY-20 is a race the GOP is ***SUPPOSED*** to win...largely rural district, larger number of registered Republicans than Democrats, long history of Republican representation in Congress...

Tedisco's campaign is still talking about Murphy...it's eerily simillar to last year's Presidential Election when the GOP seemed to prefer talking about Obama than about McCain.

...and Tedisco wants to talk about his record. Well, we're still looking for that signature legislation that you've written.

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:53 AM)

Campaign Diaries has the latest on the NY-20 special election. A new poll, a new ad, the latest spending round-up and newspaper endorsements: http://campaigndiaries.com/2009/03/30/one-more-day/

Dan, NY (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:53 AM)

The people in Europe are out of control and Obama will see the future when he arrives in London for his "world business takeover" speeches.

Moonshadow (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:53 AM)

Obama has opened himself up to criticism of both too much government oversight of private industry by ousting Wagoner and a misstep in rebuffing more efforts to save GM and Chrysler. This is a very bold move.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:53 AM)

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=53290

Rick's exit speech

BJ, CA (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:54 AM)

I hope that Barack rocks the business world by getting more criminal CEO's to quit their nefarious ripoff of America. Four is a good start but all the banking CEO's need to get the pink slip treatment they have forced on so many honest workers.

That's so funny that Steele has bet his reputation on the NY-20 race. Since he has no reputation except as a habitual liar he has in essence bet nothing. Come on voters of NY-20 tell Steele where he can go take a hike!

Barack and Team White House should listen to Paul Krugman more carefully. He's a lot smarter than most regarding Economics and should be on Obama's economic team. If Obama listens to the repugnant ones and cuts government spending he dooms our recovery to last longer, just like FDR back in 1937 when he listened to the conservative trash and cut spending which cut back his New Deal recovery.

In Obama We Trust!
In Krugman We Trust!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:54 AM)

A Dem loss and there will be lots of Republicans crowing about them on the comeback… A Dem win and there will be a lot of second-guessing among Republicans about their ability to win; if they can't win this one, how are they going to start being a competitive national party again?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
They can start by stop opposing every thing the President does; that includes First Lady Michelle. Why are they ( hateful Republicans) asking for Congressional over site on the First Lady. Leave the First Lady alone. The President is doing a fine job. He produce magic in a short.

Krugman is a huge Liberal looking for attention. One day is for Obama the next day he isn't. The fact that he is only puts more checks and balances; unlike the dim-witted party of No who what to repeat the same failures of less governmen.

Perhaps those paranoid Repubklicans should realize--the government should not be feared. The role of government is to protect and serve its citizenry. What makes some people corrupt does not mean it will corrupt others. We must not mistrust government, rather embrace its role in society.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:55 AM)

Just for the record, President Obama is not forcing the CEO of GM to resign.

If Mr. Wagoner had a plan to keep his company solvent without government assistance, he has been free to implement it for the past 30 years. When you accept government money it comes with government input. That's called "life".

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:56 AM)

TODAY’S NEWS REPORT:
——————————————————————————–
USA to Allow NKorea Test Launch…

Rocket ‘could reach Hawaii’…

Gates: U.S. Not Prepared to Respond to North Korea Missile Launch.

The defense secretary told “FOX News Sunday” that the United States can do nothing to stop North Korea from thumbing its nose at the international community by test-firing a long-range missile.
======================================================

WAS THIS OBAMA’S “TEST” ??? (as predicted by Biden).
.

Is North Korea Obama's "Predicted" Test? (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:58 AM)

Why isnt first read reporting on Bidens daughter being filmed doing blow?
The VP's family iis off limits now, seems you didnt have any issuee with invadeing a 17 yr olds privet life when it was cannadate Palins daughter?
What_you_Selling (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:44 AM)

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

First of all, slow down and you might not make as many typos.

Now, has anyone actually seen the video to verify what's on it and if it is, in fact, Biden's daughter?

The New York Post...yes, Rupert Murdoch's New York Post...refused to buy the video. If Rupert Murdoch/FOX News/NewsCorp aren't touching this video, what does that tell you?

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:58 AM)

I have one big wish: That we ALL could acknowledge that Barack Obama won the election and is trying to move our country in a new direction and support him in his efforts.
Andrea, New York City (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:43 AM)
======================================================
I wouldn't worry. The VAST MAJORITY support the President. These folls you here trumpeting their so called "values" are some of the biggest hypocrits out there. The voters see right through it. Obama IS president. If the ideologs can't handle it, that's there problem.

Brian, Girard, OH (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:59 AM)

Nashville_fan - That was very well said.
You've illuminated the old cliche about "working like a family" by pointing out the consequences of behaving like a politician.

Bob Smith, Henderson, Texas (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:00 AM)

W.
Ms. Palin.

Thanks!

P.S. Obama is now a dictator. Plain and simple. He is destroying America. People who count are outraged.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:00 AM)

Last living Democrat-NOT. Obama has only been POTUS for just 2 months. You sound like a republican. The Bush administration did MORE DAMAGE to our security ie., 1) Invaded a nominally secular country that POSED no danger to us ; 2) Pissed off our European and others allies with our lies, arrogance and hubris; 3) took our eyes off the ball in Afghanistan; 4) Bush ignored Pakistan only giving millions of our money for years to military dictator who bacically stoled it; 5) abided/stood by the NEOCON ideology/delusions of this US vs THEM mentally that they were going to revamped the middle east; 6) Violated every international treaties the U.S. SIGNED/ABIDED BY FOR YEARS/DECADES; 7) We had become hypocrits i.e., We do not torture; 8) The Bush administration were willing to sell our ports security to Dubai ETC.................SO SPARE ME SO CALLED LAST LIVING DEMOCRATE.Give FACTS not right wing talking points/bumper stickers!

Juan, Ft lauderdale,FL (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:02 AM)

This may be a little off-topic, but I'd like to hear some of our resident Second-Amendment advocates chip in with a few words of wisdom about the latest mass shooting in North Carolina, where the victims were elderly nursing home residents and a male nurse who attempted to intervene.

Or will you just continue to feed us a conservative soundbite about how the Constitution requires a "compelling" state interest before the government can take away the fundamental right of nutcases to own assault weapons?

On second thought, never mind. If the lives of random shooting victims don't present a sufficiently compelling interest for you, then nothing ever will. I hope you can live with that.

Anna Molly (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:02 AM)

Finally a president who acts like a capitlaist...unlike the wall street apologists who just left in Janaury...now they can start firing the ones on wall street that caused this mess...the heads of BOA, citi GE must go...they failed even more miserably than GM...ta ta sociaslists

Fire'em all (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:08 AM)

No opposition to President Obama's 'Plan for Afganistan'? That's because it's exactly what he promised during the Election Campaign '08. No surprises there.

As for Osama Bin Laden not being front and center in his speech? Not surprising either. The Bush Administration created more Osama Bin Ladens than we care to count. The War in Iraq was the biggest booster for recruitment to the extremist cause.

What you didn't mention is the that we didn't hear the usual "Islamist Extremist Terrorists" as clearly reiterated time & time again by Dubya, Senator Joe Lieberman & Senator John McCain (who could hardly string the adjectives & noun together without twisting his tongue).

The 'Plan for Afghanistan' was articulated by President Obama as promised & the rhetoric is toned down! REFRESHING!

dianne (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:13 AM)

Eager to see the impact of his "global influence".

Sam, NYC (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:13 AM)

.................SO SPARE ME SO CALLED LAST LIVING DEMOCRATE.Give FACTS not right wing talking points/bumper stickers!
Juan, Ft lauderdale,FL (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:02 AM)

- Democrat that believes in Democracy
And yes - I voted for Obama and am very sorry for it.

He has lied to me - when he said Change I didn't think he was talking about the authority to take over any and all private companies. Thats NOT DEMOCRACY

You are defending it - that can only mean that you are a marxist or worse - but not a real democrat.

Democracy is not bigger government with unlimited power.

Please, stop defending Obama by saying how much like Bush he is. You are only making my point.

They both SUCK and Lied to US!!!!!

The Last Living Democrat (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:19 AM)

So, first Obama demands that the head of GM resign, then he denies them the funds anyway becaude he doesn't like their plan. Hmmmm.
no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:43 AM)
no joe - I think it was the other way around -- they did not provide an adequate plan to get them out of trouble, and THEN Waggoner resigned under pressure. They still have to submit a plan to get themselves out of their mess.

AuntiQ (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:23 AM)

The big mistake that Wagoner made was going after Fed money. GM should have gone bankrupt and re-positioned themselves. As it is the Government has flushed billions down the drain and GM will still go Bankrupt. In the fifties we let how many car manufacturers go down? packard, studebaker, American moters; we all came out better for it. The Government running a car company scares the hell out of me. And for those that consider paying taxes is patriotic (Andrea)look no further that the mess CA, NY, NJ and other states are in. Your about to see the same problems in spades. We cannot earn enough to cover the debt...

Al, SLC, T (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:25 AM)

Jon Soltz, Co-Founder of VoteVets.org, served as a Captain in Operation Iraqi FreedomPresident Obama Got Afghanistan/Pakistan Right:

"For those of us who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, it was extremely important that the new president get the situation in Afghanistan right. Not just for America's security, but for those troops still in Afghanistan, and those heading to Afghanistan to put their lives on the line in the war. With today's announcement, President Obama has shown that he "gets it." That's why we at VoteVets.org are supporting the plan with a petition, which you can sign on to, right here.

President Obama: "There is an uncompromising core of the Taliban. They must be met with force, and they must be defeated. But there are also those who have taken up arms because of coercion, or simply for a price. These Afghans must have the option to choose a different course. That is why we will work with local leaders, the Afghan government, and international partners to have a reconciliation process in every province. As their ranks dwindle, an enemy that has nothing to offer the Afghan people but terror and repression must be further isolated. And we will continue to support the basic human rights of all Afghans - including women and girls."

I couldn't have put it better myself."
_______________________
Let's all hope that together they can be successful in putting an end to Osama Bin Laden's operations so that a 9/11 never ever happens again, either here or in any other country.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:26 AM)

Tedesco can't talk about his record, because as member of the minority in the NYS Assembly, he couldn't do much there. So, what can we expect from him in the minority in Congress? Again, not much. Wake up NY-20! Elect the Dem who is more likely to deliver for you than Tedesco. And, as is usual in NYS politics, Tedesco is trying to paint his Dem opponent as weak on crime, by pointing to his opposition to the death penalty. This failure to point to his own record is just more of the same. Of course, its how Pataki defeated Mario Cuomo.

pat huntington ny (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:31 AM)

As someone else posted, President Obama also needs to demand a wholescale revamping of the financial industry which would include replacing the majority of executives down several tiers (To at least the assistant vice president level). Considering that GM and Chrysler received about $25 Billion while the financial sector has already received $350 billion that they cannot account for (with another $350 B) promised, this hard line with the auto industry seems too much like an effort to break the auto workers union while the white collar criminals of Wall Street still get multimillion dollar bonuses.

Ron, MA (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:32 AM)

How soon we forget. Last fall there were calls for GM CEO Wagoner to resign because he had failed badly with GM's operation. It was reported in news articles that Wagoner had taken GM down an unsustainable path. It should be no surprise that he is gone.

Read on here that what should happen is an organized GM bankruptcy. That's what Pres Obama is doing. When the Government takes over companies or provides massive amounts of dollars to stabilize, we the people have a right to say who is running the company.

There were some great comments posted and I agree that both parties must work together to get our country running again. My biggest complaint with many of GOP leaders has been their unwillingness to say anything positive; they just behave as if they won the election and the democrats should concede when the opposite happened. Democratic ideology isn't always the answer but neither is the republican ideology the perfect answer; it's a compromise of the good parts of both: free market but reasonably regulated, reasonable taxes for all but not skewed to benefit those who have the most, etc. It is disturbing that GOP members constantly call democrats socialists, communists, unpatriotic, a threat to the nation; Michelle Bachman's comments about armed revolution were disgusting and frightening at the same time. The GOP lost the election and someday, they will win again; that's the way our system works; our revolutions come in the form of elections. Listening to the negative republican rhetoric lately, I realized that, just as they did after Clinton won, the GOP are just plain poor sports and behave as young children when they loose a game of Monopoly.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:33 AM)

Anna Molly: Guns don't kill people. PEOPLE kill people.

Clinging to my Guns (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:33 AM)

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 9:43 AM)
___________________________________________________

You're showing your ignorance again. Don't you think that GM and Chysler would have skipped taking the loans (not free money as you say) if there was anyway possible?

If you had read anything at all in the past six months, you would know that Ford didn't take the money because they had already essentially mortgaged everything they had before the financial crisis hit. That gave them cash to keep their business running. GM and Chrysler didn't have the timing that Ford did and thus couldn't raise the cash. That meant bankruptcy or federal loans. They chose the loans and perhaps they are regretting that now!

Next, let's examine your comment about President Obama probably telling GM they had to eliminate Hummer (because "greenies think it is evil"). Actually, if you had read anything on GM at all in the past six months, you would know that Hummer and Saturn are at the top of the list of brands they ALREADY plan to eliminate.

You should read some newspapers and magazines instead of watching Fox news all the time!

Chris - IL (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 10:36 AM)

Finally we are getting a President who is holding these companies that want tax payer bailouts accountable. I'm glad the guy resigned; obviously he ran the company into the ground and couldn't up with a "fix it" plan that the White House asked for. My only question...why not the CEO's on wall street? How many of those resigned? Not one and they took millions as a "reward" for running their companies into the ground. doesn't seem right.

And Bad Chihuahua ,
P.S. Obama is now a dictator. Plain and simple. He is destroying America.

We can always count on you to spit out the Republican talking points because you don't have a brain and can't think for yourself. News Flash: Nobody's buying it. The sooner you figure that out, the better off you'll be.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 11:16 AM)

I fear the collapse of the finacial system is coming. Unfortunately the pain will be severe in the big cities where everyone depends on government for the basics of life; water, protection, garbage removal, etc. The more fortunate will be those living in rural parts of the US where they have the land and knowledge to plant, barter and survive. RIP Democracy...

Al, SLC, T (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 11:35 AM)

Obama has used his ink pen to do more damage to this country than Bin Laden has. We have not seen anything yet.Even if he feels that it's OK to ignore the Constitution and interfere in private business, he's not the one that caused the auto industry to take a dive. They have been so bridled with EPA rules and mileage demands over the past twenty-five years, it's a wonder that they are still in business.
Obama wants to hire everyone. Then if we dont do things his way, we dont get our needs met. I mean things like health care and jobs and freedoms. Why do we allow him and his gang to run roughshod over us? I believe that he has violated the Constitution on several occasions but the people who are in a position to do something about it say nothing. Im still waiting for him to stand up to Rush Limbaugh.

Bill Wages Fresno Calif. (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 11:35 AM)

"The defense secretary told “FOX News Sunday” that the United States can do nothing to stop North Korea from thumbing its nose at the international community by test-firing a long-range missile." Too bad the Bush Administration neocons forced N Korea out of the CONTAINED and COOPERATIVE position Clinton gave them and allowed them to go wild by breaking the fuel-for-reactors deal, labeling them part of the "Axis of Evil", and refusing to engage in diplomacy. Like every other corner of the world, Bushie neocons have made the Pacific Rim a more dangerous place.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 11:37 AM)

"People who count are outraged." And the majority of Americans, people who support the President we elected, don't count because we're pleased with his work. Message received.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Monday, March 30, 2009 11:40 AM)

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