Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Eric, Salinas, CA — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:33:40 GMT

Obama's economic stimulus plan is far more intelligent than idiot boy bushwhacker's tax refund for people to go out shopping. Idiot boy's plan didn't work and we watched him waste hundreds of billions with his clueless attempts to fix the massive financial meltdown he created. Now the repugnant ones need to stop their whining and get behind Obama's intelligent economic recovery plan.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

TJ Moss, Cincinnati Ohio — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:42:37 GMT

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Diane from Illinois — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:50:57 GMT

They said on the news this morning that Obama is inheriting not only a depression, but also the equivalent of a Peral Harbor, also. This is what George Bush is handing his successor. Thank God it's Obama and NOT McCain/Palin. I don't know WHY anybody would want to follow George Bush, but I'm very thankful that it's Barack. Jan. 20th can't come soon enough.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Chicago Chuck — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:55:51 GMT

Obama still hasn't figured it out. And he won't, because he's a liberal. The government doesn't create jobs. Individuals that own businesses big and small create jobs. Lower taxes, less regulations make these businesses more profitable, and allow them to hire more people. And the businesses grow based on the needs of their customers. The government just funnels money to politically connected hacks. They take their share of the money and trickle what's left down to the next guy. Nothing is produced, and the money is wasted. Except, someones going to have to pay it back, right? Obama has an answer for that too. The rich! The rich will pay!! Don't think this is true? Check out the state where Obama comes from. That's exactly how it's done. And now Illinois is broke, no money, and nothing to show for it.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Joe Sepeda,Early,Texas — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:56:59 GMT

Whenever there are huge amounts of money ready to be put to good use be sure it is protected from the most dangerous kind of crook.....Greedy old bastards with ink pens. Hope there are watchdogs with balls and teeth this time around.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Ron Indiana — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:00:37 GMT

What pains me is that the Republicans were willing to spend billions on Iraq with nothing to show for it and now with a Democrat in office want to be financial conservative and not bail out the auto industry, or help the middle class get back on their feet. Their ideology shifts, depending who is in power. If the Republicans ever, yes ever, want to return to power, the must abandon Reagan trickle down economics and begin to focus on improving the middle class standard of living. It is about regulating greed on Wall street and the banking industry. It's about putting out some venture capital so green projects can grow. Since I doubt that they will abandon St. Reagan, they will miss the opportunity of creating a stronger America.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Mishka Mehrens Anaconda MT — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:06:41 GMT

800 billion dollar bail out and me as a tax payer for
42 years & counting will get a measley $500 and that will go to the taxes I am currently paying for having to withdraw my 401k early because of a lay off (Penalty). I cannot see the justification and I voted,campaigned and contributed to Obama. The buck stops hear. I cannot afford to keep my house and $500 will not save it.
HELP ME WITH A BAIL OUT

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Paul M., Altlanta Georgia — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:09:15 GMT

Diane from Illinois - They said on the news this morning that Obama is inheriting not only a depression, but also the equivalent of a Peral Harbor, also.

Then, stop reading Huffington and the DailyKos. The country is barely in a recession. Not sure what the "Peral Harbor" reference is? Did the Japanese attack again?

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Mike — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:14:32 GMT

Thank God Obama is going to be the president! He will get us out of this mess, and from here on out, things will improve.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Oh Yeah — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:23:17 GMT

Thank God Obama is going to be the president! He will get us out of this mess, and from here on out, things will improve.

Mike

~~~~~~~~~~

So which do you like better? The grape kool-aide or cherry kool-aide?

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Next In Line — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:27:33 GMT

Mishka Mehrens Anaconda MT - HELP ME WITH A BAIL OUT

Of course. First though, a couple of questions. Are you major bank ceo? Do you run an automaker? Are you the head of a union? Are you politically connected to the point where you make major contributions to a political party? Do you own an oil company?

If you answer no to all these questions, then no, you are not eligible for a bail out.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Sally Barber, Indiana — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:31:24 GMT

Does the goverment have all the answers no. My question is at what point will people quit feeling sorry for themselves and become involved in finding the much needed solutuions to help not only ourselves but our neighbors. A famouse quote comes to mind, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way!"

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Diane from Illinois — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:32:33 GMT

Not sure what the "Peral Harbor" reference is? Did the Japanese attack again?
Paul M., Altlanta Georgia
******************************************************
I see I struck a Republican nerve this morning. No, the Japanese didn't attack again; but we are wasting billions of dollars in Iraq. Then there's the other war in Afghanistan that was never completed. Sorry, but the Republicans have really screwed up this country for many years to come. It's going to take a Democrat to fix it.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Palomino — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:35:07 GMT

The Japanese own half of America. In a way, they are attacking as we blog.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

JB, Houston, TX — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:53:13 GMT

The "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan"? That's what they are calling it? Why not call it "Load Are Kids Up With Debt They'll Never Recover From Plan".

Good thing, or maybe's a bad thing, that America's credit card has no spending limit.
TJ Moss, Cincinnati Ohio

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Ah, TJ have you been living in a cave? Bushs economic plan was the "Load Are Kids Up With Debt They'll Never Recover From Plan". Obama's recovery plan is to save THEIR children from bearing the same burden. This country will remember Bush for a long long long time - and not in a good light.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Scooter L., Franklin IN — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:56:16 GMT

It's going to take a Democrat to fix it.

Diane from Illinois

If the way the Democrats handled the Burris "issue" is any indication, you're going to be very disappointed.

Agenda: Selling the stimulus

Chris - IL — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:27:58 GMT

Mishka Mehrens Anaconda MT - Help you with a bailout?

It is tough that you got laid off. Your situation is not unique and the idea behind a stimulus package is to reverse the trend and create new jobs. The Obama stimulus package attacks our economic problems from a number of different angles.

First, there is the $500 tax cut. The idea is to get people to spend that $500, which in theory causes people to buy products, moving inventory from businesses, and giving them a reason to build more and keep people employed.

Next, it invests in our nations infrastructure. This solves several problems. First, much of our infrastructure has been neglected and is in need of work. The only way it is going to get fixed is with government money - federal, state, and local. The stimulus boosts the level of federal support and makes in the improvements more immediate. Second, those projects create jobs. That means less unemployeed people and more money being pumped back into our economy.

Finally, his plan is adding tax benefits to certain businesses. Again, that should spur purchases of goods and services, which will boost employment.

You don't say what your line of work was, but it is likely a healthier economy, caused by the stimulus package should make it easier for you to find a new job.

You also talk about having to pay taxes on your 401k. You don't have to pay any penalty on a 401k when you get laid off if you roll it into a qualifying plan. If you need the money to survive, that is another story, but think long and hard before you touch that money. You'll pay for it now in the form of a penalty and you'll pay for it in the future in the form of no retirement nest egg. And if your money was in the stock market, you will be pulling it out when the market is low and taking a loss on it.