Rahm Emanuel - "We're in good shape"

Whistling past the graveyard are we Rahm?

FR: Emanuel says: "Lisa Madigan is thinking about running for Obama's old Senate seat. "Lisa is thinking about running," adding that she's the "most popular figure in Illinois." "


Which is news to us here in Illinois. Lisa Madigan, the Attorney General in Illinois, is part of the political families that dominate the corrupt state of Illinois. Her father is the speaker of the Illinois House. Ms. Madigan in her time as AG has prosecuted exactly zero political corruption cases in Illinois, which is quite a feat seeing how many corrupt pols exist in the state. Plus how embarrassing would it be for her to prosecute her father?

Yup, no moderates left in the Republiklan party, just adulterers.

Obama said his tax plan would reduce taxes for 95 percent of working families. His proposed cap and trade carbon tax would be an extremely regressive energy tax on ALL Americans. Heating costs, food costs and gasoline prices would rise dramatically in spite of the BS from these leftist think tanks trying to sugar coat it otherwise.

The Obama Administrations new theme song will be the chorus from Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” – Li La Li, Li La Li, Li Li Li La Li Lie Lie Lie Lie Lie Lie Lie La La LIE!

Barack and Rahm wouldn’t know the truth if it bit them.

So in other words, the White House has caved on public financing.   They caved.  No other way to spin it.   And caved to whom you ask?  The party that the majority of Americans threw out last fall.    Great move Obama.  Maybe the GOP is right about him not having a backbone.

>> Yet in perhaps his most striking comments during the breakfast, Emanuel also observed this difference between now and then: fewer moderate Republicans, like the late Rhode Island Sen. John Chafee <<

Emanuel is whining about no "Chafee's" in the Republican party? Apparently he forgot about one Republican that did Chafee one better, Arlen Spector (D-PA). And then there are those two nitwit Senators from Maine that seem to be Democrats with "R's" by their name, apparently Rahm forgot about those two also.

I think the word 'disciplined' is a great one to use for President Obama.  Focused is another one.

I don't understand why Obama wants to get involved in the New York fight.  There is NO reason to support Gillibrand over another candidate.  There is no reason NOT to; but why inject?
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Peter - have I irritated you today?

HMI - MI (Sent Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:18 AM)

Given that we've only dispersed about $40 Billion, how are you 'crunching' your numbers?

Bush spent AND dispersed FAR more money - without ANY strings - and I've been on this site for over a year now - not ONE peep from you hypocrites.  What gives?  Admit it, you WANT President Obama to be the Messiah.  It would send an ever-loving' thrill right up your leg.  Otherwise, you'd give it a rest and 'wait and see' like you were willing to do with your buddy "W".

^^^^^^^^^^^

Torsten (Sent Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:00 AM)

What a refreshing, thoughtful post.  I mean that sincerely.

I beg to differ with you on Romney, however.  He didn’t really ‘establish’ himself as an independent conservative.  AND he certainly had a lot of “legacy” help from whence he came.  Also, I would argue (as Pat, Boston has) that while the current revisionism going on where he is concerned from the right SOUNDS appealing, he lacked an awful lot of substance as governor of MA.  Further, he is a consummate ‘politician’, as well.  Back tracking on his previous stance of abortion in order to run with the ‘Values’ pack, etc. (I, too, had well researched info – that I have since dumped; but the info is out there).

I do take exception with the premise that President Obama has designed his entire career toward seeking the presidency.  (And I thought I was cynical).  Dick Cheney served as many years ‘publicly’ as he did corporately and you don’t highlight his choices as being altogether prescient towards a run at political power.  And by virtue of your logic, are we to believe anyone attending an Ivy League school is making an early signal of intent for the Whitehouse?  I don’t buy that.  I am not denying that Obama is a skilled politician.  I don’t claim to know where his head or heart was at the point that he made vital career decisions; but his record is clearly one of service.  Why is that to be scoffed?

Further I think it is patently unfair to label Obama as more partisan than “W”.  The Repubs are acting like spoiled children.  I don’t believe that is an issue that can even rationally be debated.  We’ve seen this drill before in 1994.  The faux POUTRAGE over losing was enough to drive the Right to the edge of ‘reason’.  They will keep this up until the ‘natural’ pendulum of politics swings and they ‘win’ again.  The divisiveness in the country is the ‘butt’ child [we really can’t call it a ‘brain’ child, now can we?] of Rush Limbaugh and all the other’s with a megaphone and a grudge.

I think where the miscalculation is occurring on the ‘right’ is that the general population is more invested than ever in the outcome.  We are ALL paying way more attention and we can see with our own eyes what is occurring.  We don’t need a pundit or talk show host to ‘sum up’ for us what is happening; we are first hand witnesses to it.  The Repubs continue to fail to factor that in to their formula of “NO”.  It is turning into political suicide.  That is not to say that their steady drumbeat of whining isn’t having ANY effect (See Pelosi’s numbers); but on the issues that are Front and Center (Healthcare Reform and the Economy), their dog simply is refusing to get up off the porch and hunt.
^^^^^^^
Ron, Indiana – I wish I weren’t insightful on this one.  As a child of a broken home and a philandering father – it always sucked to know he cared ‘more’ about the 2nd family then the first one (AND the 3rd and 4th families, too – some people never ‘grow up’ – five marriages at this point, most recent is 2 years fresh).  I pray every day I am not destined to repeat it.  I’ve been married eleven years with no sign of letting up and already that is longer than any one of my dad’s marriages.  Oh well, you can’t pick your family or your DNA, nor can you pick your bootstraps!

wthis too funny. Rahmy can't keep his solid Democratic majority stitched together, so he's blaming the Republicans for his woes.

Here's another difference between Clinton in '92 and Obama today. The Democrats are a lot more whiny today. A real lot more whiny.

From NBC's Mark Murray
Contrasting the differences between what happened in the early 1990s and what's happening now, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel -- who also worked in Bill Clinton's White House -- was optimistic about passing health-care reform this year. "We are in good shape," he told reporters in an off-camera breakfast meeting.

I too think that we are in good shape as well to get HCR passed "yes we can". It would be the the republicans advantage to get aboard with HCR, given the significant drop in their poll numbers, it would be to their advantage.

Other odds and ends
Some other interesting comments:

And thank you very much Mr. Emanuel for pointing out the differences. President Obama does have a disciplined mind. He hasn't allowed himself to be overly concerned with the republican rhetoric and goading by that band of misfits. He has remained steady focused on the events that are surrounding this Nation as he should be.

By doing so we have already defeated the fear BS that was so much of the Bush Administration's brand of politics and we will be able to advance our cause. No President Obama doesn't have a normal Presidency to contend with. We have extremely challenging issues to contend with. The economy and the false wealth that was Bush's legacy.

He also seemed open to Sen. Kent Conrad's (D) idea of a public co-op insurance plan. "Co-op is a fancy way of saying Blue Cross Blue Shield," Emanuel said.

The pimps of Americans...

--- Emanuel urged the reporters in attendance not to judge whether the legislation is bipartisan based on whether how many Republicans vote for it. ---

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Ehh, that's the entire nature of bipartianship. Is this all confusing to Rahm?

Just who again are the Democratic moderates in the Senate? You know, the ones that voted against the $800 billion dollar stimulus package. Or the ones that will vote against immigration amnesty. Or the ones that will vote against Obama healthcare plan. Or the ones that will vote against the energy/enfironment bill. Those moderate Democratic Senators, where are they?

AARP Magazine (Jul/Aug 2008) - Politicians are constantly telling us we have the best health care in the world, but that’s simply not the case. By every conceivable measure, the health of Americans lags behind the health of citizens in other developed countries. Our life expectancy is shorter than that of citizens in Canada, Japan, and all but one Western European country. We rank 43rd in the world in infant-mortality rates, behind Cuba, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom. We are no less disabled by disease than citizens of most developed nations, and our medical care is, with few exceptions, no better at helping us survive specific diseases. For instance, the mortality rate from prostate cancer in the United Kingdom is virtually the same as it is in the United States, despite the fact that the disease is treated far less aggressively in the U.K.

[A paragraph from the article – good read for those that want more info. on health care]

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/health_care_costs.html

Hey i'm suprised first read has not posted a story about the high courts decision reguarding the strip search of a 13 years girl.
of course clarence thomas was the only decending vote. this guy is a dog, he thinks its ok for a school to make a child to be striped down to her underware to see of she had iduprofin. early this week he said that the voters rights act should Be abolished, noW this!!!
what was daddy bush thinking about when he nominated him to the high court. only thing i will say is justice marchall gave us brown verses board of education, clarence thomas gave us sexural harrasment laws, and now it ok to strip search a 13 year old child.

WHAT A DOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To the forever changing names on this blog:
Wish I could get paid to post comments on Blogs. How much does Rush pay anyway?

The Democrats are really struggling on their signature issues. Might get a legislative hat trick out of Congress this year. No to health care. No to immigration reform. No to a energy reform.

The Democrats - The party of "No"!

Easy to gloat when you are in Roselle outside the clutches of Mayor Daley and Todd Stroger
Big Al in Chicago, Vote early and vote often
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Yo genious half of Roselle is in Cook county! I happen to be lucky enough to live on the Dupage side… Dupage county was once a Republicant strong hold for many many years… not so much anymore… it’s turned a lovely shade of bluish purple!

You do have my sympathies regarding Stroger… nepotism at it’s finest!

Why does Obama need ANY Republican support? All he needs is 51 Democrats to vote for it and the last time I checked they have 58 seats plus 1 if Minnesota ever seats Franken.

Make the GOP fillibuster and try to explain why we shouldn't have Universal Health Care.

Of course, they will say we have the best health care in the world. We do have the best health care in the world. It's the Health Coverage that we want. The best Health care in the world does you no good if you can't afford it.

Lets take the best Health Care in the world and let everyone in the USA be applicable to obtain it.

The next thing they'll tell you is that do you want the government making choices for you instead of your doctor. Hmmmmm!  Lets see, I would like someone to choose to cover me instead of no one. Truth is that the government will not be involved in the day to day operations. They will only manage the fund. People still get social security right? The government manages that. Oh wait, social security was great until the great communicator (Ronald Reagan) started tapping into the fund to pay for Star Wars.
Also, it's kinda funny how the GOP would like to come between a woman and a doctor when she would like the right to have an abortion.

It's good to hear from Rahm that health care reform looks more promising than in 1993.  Because the repugnant ones killed health care reform back then we now are being bankrupted by the crooked AMA who practices the Hypocritic Oath of Profits before Patients.  We need to get health care reform with the public option passed before the AMA ends up controlling our whole economy and we become a country of doctors and patients.

Has anyone noticed that with all the whining about the government getting in between doctors and patients has yet to report one single instance of this happening.  Considering that all the repugnant one politicians on Capitol Hill are covered by their awesome taxpayer paid government health care plan we have yet to hear one instance of any of them having the government get in between them and their doctor.  Time to debunk this obvious Great Right Lie by seeing the newscasters like Ed Schultz ask the repugnant ones if they ever had the government get in between them and their doctors.

Support the Public Option for Health Care Reform!

Immigration
He said that it's "not impossible" to get immigration reform passed this year. But: "I think the most significant thing is to get it started now," so you can move on it later.

This is what I like about this administration, no false hopes, just the facts. I wished that someone had asked him about DADT and DOMA, what the White House's stance on those issues were.

“Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old,” he said. “I am going to teach them Chicago values and morals, but if they make a mistake and turn honest, I don’t want them punished with ObamaCare."
Bahahahhahaha

Hey Tim Stocken - Great Ode this morning in another article!

He said Obama's recent Cairo speech will go down as one of modern history's most significant speeches on foreign policy. "America is no longer the issue in that [Muslim] world."

A spinmeister at work, what a crock.  Sorry Rahm, saying it doesn't make it so.  Gimme some of that kool-aid you're drinking.

Obama said his tax plan would reduce taxes for 95 percent of working families. His proposed cap and trade carbon tax would be an extremely regressive energy tax on ALL Americans. Heating costs, food costs and gasoline prices would rise dramatically in spite of the BS from these leftist think tanks trying to sugar coat it otherwise.

Barack and Rahm wouldn’t know the truth if it bit them.
St. Eleutherius of Nicomedia (Sent Thursday, June 25, 2009 1:30 PM)

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While costs have an effect on overall profit margin, price controls (unless price fixing involved) is determined by the market.  If fuel prices go up too much, people find ways around it (smaller vehicles, jobs closer to home  etc.etc.)

Also in a time of radical contraction, we generally wouldn't see much of an increase, if anything a less slow decrease.  If people aren't buying, then prices are going to drop.

Counter Fitt, wow that is the best you got. Typical republican post name: no facts, no information, just cute phrases. Cute phrases and 15 second sound bites is all the republican knows. They do not think for themselves, Rush thinks for them. Anyone disagree with Rush, then they are drummed out of the republican party. At least we can have an open honest discussion of issues in the democratic party. In the republican party open discussion is watching or listening to their radio/TV stations and getting marching orders from the likes of Hannity, Rush, O'Reiley, Joe Scarbourough, and so on. Republicans are basically repeaters. They just repeat what they are told. Notice how the republican posters come on these boards after listening to their leaders, they repeat the same lies they were told. That is why it is so obvious to see these losers come on this board not to discuss issues, they are on this board to spread the hate they just received from their leaders. Remember the republican motto that Reagan made famous and used constantly: "If you are not with me, you are against me". I bet all the republicans say he is right that is our motto. Guess what you are not the only people to use this motto, It was first used and coined by Hitler to jsustify cracking down on any german that did not follow his orders. You wonder why I keep saying the republican party reminds me of the old NAZI party. Everybody better follow the leader and any thoughts otherwise is unpatriotic and you hate your country. Does this not remind you how republicans attacked the patriotism of people protesting the Iraq War? Liberals and democrats have been demonized by these hypocrits for using their first amendmant right. But when you call out these cowards, funny NONE of the right wing talkers ever served this country, but that does not stop them from calling real patriots : phony soldiers because they disagreed with the Iraq policy. The republican party has to demonize its opponets since they have no idea's and have shown they are terrible at running a country.

Which is news to us here in Illinois. Lisa Madigan, the Attorney General in Illinois, is part of the political families that dominate the corrupt state of Illinois. Her father is the speaker of the Illinois House. Ms. Madigan in her time as AG has prosecuted exactly zero political corruption cases in Illinois, which is quite a feat seeing how many corrupt pols exist in the state. Plus how embarrassing would it be for her to prosecute her father?
Doug Jennings, Chicago Illinois (Sent Thursday, June 25, 2009 1:28 PM)
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Not that I care much about Lisa Madigan, but please explain how the hell she could prosecute her father when, as far as I know, he's never been accused of anything? Are you that much of an insider? Is there something about Mike Madigan that you're aware of that everyone else is not?

Anita, Birmingham:
What State do you live in...Texas isn't it? The same state that want to suceed and you are condeming other States that Democrats hold seats in? Let me guess...you are probably one of those people that don't pay enough taxes already and therefore doesn't want to pay anymore now.

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Texas will put their balance sheet against any state ran by liberal governments. We're seeing an influx of people migrating from New York, California, and Michigan and other liberal states, because our state does just fine without raising taxes. It's ridiculous that you would say that another person is "one of those people that doesn't pay enough taxes." You know most people in the middle class as I am are worried more about having saving enough money to send our children to college and maybe save enough to retire. What good am I if I make enough money to fill the government coffers but I don't have enough left over to provide for a good college education for my children.

If you all are allowing the pimps (Blue Cross Blue Shield) to continue to be apart of the reconstruction of Health Care, then I surely hope that the co-op is given an overhaul as well. These are the blood suckers, I don't want to leave out United Health Care. Perhaps they will have enough competion to drop their coverage plans.

We only need a small number of insurance companies that should be allowed to compete.

We will get a health care bill passed, albeit just a bit at a time, but it will happen. Just like gay and lesbian rights, a cleaner earth, and all the other things we have waited a generation for. We are fighting an uphill battle, against some of our own, who like the status quo, and their bank accounts, to be filled with the cash of the health care insurers and major polluters. But we will prevail, we will. Yes we can will soon be yes, we did. Don't listen to the naysayers, they want us to fail, want America to fail, and will do and say anything to bring this country to its knees, just so they can say 'told ya so.'

The right-tees have lost their bearings but we wish them luck fixing the wheels on their bus, and look forward to welcoming them back to fight another day. (it's so BORING being up against such a pathetic group of nut cases!) As a result, the right has become delusional (hence why they watch FOX as they can't stomach the truth) and hysterically tempered (why they love O'Really and Spamity, and oh yea, that Glenn character--is he really an actor playing a tv host?)And frankly, I don't CARE whose bedroom any pol is visiting, but sure wish they wouldn't crusade on that big shiny family values pedestal, then boo hoo when we find out they slipped off--like WAYYYY off. And try not leaving your post without activating back up--that's another good reason to be kicked out of a job in the real world.

Obama supporters: be proud. Those who hate Obama and those of us who stay with him, thick or thin, those who spend hours dissing us all over the internet, lets us know one sure thing: we are winning. Stay strong, stay firm, and feel good about being on the right side of history!

Given that we've only dispersed about $40 Billion (of stimulus funds), how are you 'crunching' your numbers?

Off of recovery.org. It says over a $100 billion has been distributed, and that's just to the states and doesn't include federal projects.

So, where are the jobs?

Orrin Hatch - all around good guy. Thinks of the country before anything else. He nailed Anita Hill and put Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court.

Put him on Scarborough and it should be a good time.

Scarborough is the anti-Olbermann and the only decent show on the failing MSNBC.

Hold on ... the economy may get worse ...

[CNBC] Warren Buffett doesn't see the "green shoots" Ben Bernanke and other bullish investors have spoken of in recent months. In fact, the billionaire investor believes that the economic picture will grow darker before things improve.

Northeast Rinos, keep up the good work, there buddy!!  Last one outta the big tent, turn off the lights!

Not that I care much about Lisa Madigan, but please explain how the hell she could prosecute her father when, as far as I know, he's never been accused of anything? Are you that much of an insider? Is there something about Mike Madigan that you're aware of that everyone else is not?
Sharon, IL


Well, that's just it, Lisa Madigan won't prosecute her father, or any of the other corrupt politicans in Illinois. They're all tied together in their corruptness.  We're going through a scandel in Illinois now where Mike Madigan, the speaker of the Illinois house, was one of the politicians with clout that got students with poor grades into programs at it's most prestigious public university, the University of Illinois. All behind the scenes, all leaning on school admistrators in pay to play schemes. Is Lisa prosecuting, or even speaking out against, any politician, including her father, for that using their clout? Not a word from Lisa. Not one.

The list is endless for the crimes committed by Illinois public officials. Don't embarrass yourself by asking for more examples before you go and google the list of all those crimes.

Sub Sailor - Hold on ... the economy may get worse ...


That can't be right. Obama and his economic team keep telling us it's getting better. Why would they lie to us?

Clara in KC is getting real long-winded and Anita in Birmingham (Pam) still thinks she's a reporter.

Gee, I love this blog.

DG, Houston, TX

My child has completed college and has been working in his profession for 14 years. Hell I am still paying taxes up ny ass. Do you hear me conmplaining?

By the way, I am way up there in the "MIDDLE CLASS" and I'll bet you don't pay what an "empty nester", single feamle pays at my friggin age...do you? There are no friggin tax breakes for us, do you hear us complaining? I think NOT.

Not identifying E-Verify as the perfect tool to extract illegal immigrants from the workplace, doesn't wash with the American worker anymore?  The once great US Chamber of Commerce, compliant with the ACLU, and other anti-sovereignty factions, have pushed our soft politicians to null E-Verify. Sen. Harry Reid(D-NV), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have lost a great deal of public loyalty, because between them, they manufactured excuses to undermine any new law that enforced our weak immigration laws?  Chief of Homeland Security is Napolitano who joined the other pathetic Senators, to stealthily direct ICE not to implement large immigration raids anymore.  This has also been noticed by the public audience in the months since inheriting the office from Chertoff.  By no means are these the legislators who are stating they are supporting E-Verify, or any other immigration law, but in actual fact voting against it.

Their attitude shows up distinctly when they keep voting E-Verify being delayed  for Federal contractors who of all people should be using it. It displays their complete apathetic when politicians allow 300.000 illegal workers, making use of Stimulus money in the construction industry. The 1986 Immigration Act has never been  enforced, it has always been fully jeopardized and now the politicians want to replace it, by enacting another AMNESTY. Amendments to the 1986 Simpson/Mazzoli bill is all that's required to add strength, to our border security and internal enforcement.

Even any new health care for the American people is compromised by the illegal alien pestilence, because a great portion of the uninsured in our nation are these people heading in large numbers to emergency hospitals.  In the decades since Europe saw the ingress of illegal immigrants into their countries, they have seen medical care sink in the quality of service, including rationing. Here in America health care has also been disparaged by  added forced mandated  laws, that illegal people must be attended to, for even the common cold--which becomes yet another financial impediment to the legal population.  It's just sheer madness on the part of the open border globalists, to keep feeding the country with millions of cheap labor. The burden for these services has never been financially appropriated from the businesses that employ foreign labor, but--ALWAYS--from the US taxpayer.

We have been brain-washed by the media and government that there are only 11 million illegal people who have violated our laws, whoever this is far from the truth.  We can not afford for another AMNESTY to succeed, and must fight back tooth and nail?  It's enactment would terrify the most conservative of financial analysts, of even larger obligation on every taxpayer. Of all the immigration tools at our disposal, we must not let our government exempt E-Verify from our ordinance. It should mandated in every human resources office that--ALL ERRORS-- can be reconciled, after being hired at the Social Security agencies.

President Obama has adamantly promised illegal aliens who knew the consequences of violating our border, a path to citizenship. Sorry! But the costs of this travesty cannot be even imagined. This is absolutely "Taxation  without Representation" for like many laws that quietly fall upon the American taxpayer it is ethically wrong. Just addressing the OVERPOPULATION concept should be enough for--THE PEOPLE--to  bombard your Senators and Congressman. Facts, statistics at NUMBERSUSA.

Texas will put their balance sheet against any state ran by liberal governments. We're seeing an influx of people migrating from New York, California, and Michigan and other liberal states, because our state does just fine without raising taxes. It's ridiculous that you would say that another person is "one of those people that doesn't pay enough taxes." You know most people in the middle class as I am are worried more about having saving enough money to send our children to college and maybe save enough to retire. What good am I if I make enough money to fill the government coffers but I don't have enough left over to provide for a good college education for my children.

DG, Houston, TX (Sent Thursday, June 25, 2009 1:55 PM)
====================

Cost of college increased under Bush, Privatized student loans, and money for grants cut almost in half.  

who is most likely to help student: Someone who went to college on his daddy's dollar. or someone who got his education through government assistants.  

but you are right sir, Texas is one of 6 states that don't have a problem yet.  But if you look at the budget state profit fell 10.5% from 2008.  Also projected profit is far worst for 2010.  But Texas captial is big that really it will be a drop in the bucket.

Hold on ... the economy may get worse ...

[CNBC] Warren Buffett doesn't see the "green shoots" Ben Bernanke and other bullish investors have spoken of in recent months. In fact, the billionaire investor believes that the economic picture will grow darker before things improve.
Sub Sailor

This isn't news, we've only been debating this everyday Sub Sailor.

Orrin Hatch - all around good guy. Thinks of the country before anything else. He nailed Anita Hill and put Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court.

Put him on Scarborough and it should be a good time.

Scarborough is the anti-Olbermann and the only decent show on the failing MSNBC.
Monkberry Moon (

One thing for sure...we know what your morales are. Did you happen to catch the ruling on the 13 year old today?

Looks like Rahm needs to update his rose colored glasses because he would only be fooling himself again.

Rahm Emmanuel is right about there not being many moderates left in the republican party.  They've voted them out and replaced them with extreme right ones.  His comments today made sense and I agree.  Here's a thought--the republicans including Morning Joe can't stand Rahm, why is that?  Maybe because he's smart, tough, and can out manuever them on a dime.  Some republicans just can't stand smart people.

Previous post, Detroit.  I can understand your frustration that the republican party you trusted and supported let you down and blew the economy to pieces.  Truth be told, that's probably the cause of a lot of the right wing anger, the GOP screwed things up badly and they know it--plus they hate to lose. That's probably why you keep trying to flip the economic recession on to Pres Obama and the democrats who were only in charge since 2007.  Again, you cannot fix in 5 months what took 8 years to break.  If during his first term as president, things aren't improving, then we'll all blame Pres Obama for not making the right decisions.  This is NOT your ordinary recession, this is a supersized one where all elements of the economy collapsed not just one portion.  That's what happened during the Great Depression, everything collapsed.  We've been losing jobs since late 2007, the economic recession began in Dec 2007 and last fall, we fell off a cliff.  Bush's answer to the recession, cut a check for everyone and go shopping.  That money he spent did NOTHING except add over a trillion dollars to the debt with absolutely nothing to show for it--no jobs, no repaired roads, no schools upgraded, no bridges fixed.  What if Bush had done an economic stimulus with emphasis on infrastructure and jobs?  As for gas, you can't blame Pres Obama for that, try blaming the greedy oil companies who bribed Bush and Cheney into tax credits that only benefited big oil.  Eliminating those tax credits might make a good sized dent toward health care reform. This economic mess and our national debt belong to every republican president starting with Reagan and voodoo economics; cut taxes but keep spending and build government (yes, Reagan actually increased the size of government).  The majority of Americans voted for Pres Obama, he deserves a reasonable amount of time to clean up after the republicans (just like Clinton had to do and it took him nearly 8 years but he did even though the GOP did everything they could to destroy him, including impeacment hearings).  

You can say what you want about Rahm, but he is one driven, get it done, type of person.  I am impressed with his answers and his knowledge.  

HMI - MI

Actually it's $52.98 Billion as June 19, 2009

As for the jobs: They are on the way. Several projects in central Ohio have now got the funds approved and have just started hiring. It is on the local news nightly.

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