I never saw the liberals try to get along with President Bush. He gave them everything they asked for, Ted Kennedy wrote the education bill, yet, they did nothing but try to destroy hime and lose the war in Iraq. So now, the conservatives, are suppose to jump onboard the Titanic with obama and go down with the ship? I think not.

Too bad Democrats did not succeed in “destroying” Bush. The country would have been better off right now. That clown got most of what he wanted, except for privatizing social security. That would have been the absolute last drop in light of what happened to the stock market.

Obama is absolutely right to pursue bipartisanship. Far from being naive or idealistic, it is a smart political strategy that will pay long term dividends.

The value of bipartisan process is threefold:

1. It allows policymakers to draw on wisdom and experience from both sides. The “opposition” may not always volunteer its support, but smart leaders will see the value of having input early in the policy process.

2. It facilitates passage of major legislation. Bipartisanship is about more than getting to 218 votes in the House and 60 votes in the Senate, but it will certainly help make that happen.

3. It provides stability over the long term. Political power is fleeting, and Democrats should use their present advantage to forge enduring bipartisan coalitions on economic, national security and foreign policy challenges. Otherwise, the next handover of power will bring total reversal, perpetuating endless cycles of abortive, ineffective policy.

Why should the dynamic candidate promising “hope” and “change” become the cynical President playing politics as usual?

Republicans are trying to revise history, hoping to take advantage of American’s notoriously short memory. Republicans will stick to their taliking points, trying to absolve their reponsibility for most of the manure we find ourselves in, from the war to the shattered economy and much between.

The few trillion Obama may be allowed to borrow and spend to fix the Republican’s mess pales in comparison to the five and one half trillion Bush added to the national debt, and the one trillion per year Bush added to the national budget deficit.

Unfortunately, Bush and the Republicans held the reins during a crucial period for our country, when warning after warning was emerging about systemic failures in almost every part of the economy, but they stuck to their pig-headed philosophy that tax breaks and the free market will solve any potential problems.

This philosophy served well the pockets of them and their wealthy patrons and freinds, but left the rest of the country in a pile of manure.

DON’T LET REPUBLICANS GET AWAY WITH REVISIONIST HISTORY!

Hust look at post #1 by David if you want an example of what an attempt at revisionist history looks like:

According to David, the lost war in Iraq was not mismanagement by Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush and pals, but rather it was Dems fault… as is the fiasco of public education in the U.S. (certainly it was Dems, not Bush who started the ever so popular “Every Child Left Behind” program).

Again:

DON’T LET REPUBLICANS GET AWAY WITH REVISIONIST HISTORY!

Tom,

Most of the media is not calling Republican’s out on this revisionist crap!

Please hold them to account!

Just a quick note on Gov. Jindal’s response last night:

The next star of the reublican party he should not be! He speaks like we, the American People, are 5 years old. I am from the generation who watched Mr. Rogers, and the Govornor brought me back to the days when I was sitting on the couch after kindergarden listening to the man with the half-zipped cardigan. I liked watching Mr. Rogers growing up, but the Whitehouse is not in the Land of Makebelieve.

There are still some chinks floating.
Flush them down! Vote out the republicans
in the next round!

Fred Bates
Derry NH

There are still some chunks floating flush them down
Vote out the republicans in the next round!
Fred Bates

125 Warner Hill Road
Derry NH
03038
603-494-2943

Hi Tom,
I agree with an earlier caller who felt that the President is biting off more than he can really chew. I am glad he thinks big, and I appreciate his bold vision. It’s exactly what our nation needs. But he can’t do it alone, and too many members of Congress will fight him. They are clearly more interested in being politically obstructionist than in helping the nation get out of the mess it’s in.

I, too, thought Gov. Jindal sounded like Mr. Rogers — preparing to run for president in 2012. The fundemental difference between the Democrats and Republicans is that the Dems hope is the govt. and the Reps hope is the American people? Well, without govt. regulation, American people are who got us into this economic. Thanks, but I’ll take govt. oversight over individual greed.

Does no one understand that all these areas are interconnected: health care costs and energy costs drive down what businesses can do, how productive they can be. We must change ALL these areas, with better education to stop dropouts, as part of the huge jigsaw puzzle that makes up the economy.

And Jindal’s disingenuous attack that Obama wants to buy new cars for federal workers (like it’s just a nice thing to do) ignores the fact that if we can reduce fuel costs, stimulate interest in hybrids, and provide a market for hybrids, that government purchase can stimulate the car market in several ways.

Rep. Michael Burgess is being completely disingenuous trying to claim that Republicans didn’t want the stimulus bill to pass.

The bill never would have passed had it not been for 3 Republican votes in the Senate.

These three votes were very carefully chosen and thrown in by Republican leadership to ensure passage of the bill.

If you think the Republican leadership couldn’t rein in those three senators had they wanted, when they obviously had a lock on every single republican member of congress down to the last person, then you’re in LaLa land.

Republicans carefully chose those three “sacrificial lambs” so that passage of the bill would be ensured, but they gave absolutely ONLY the votes needed for passage so the bill would seem like a Dem measure exclusively, thus allowing Republicans to play politics with the issue.

FOLLOW THIS LOGIC:

Now that Dems are in power, if any policy goes right Dems will get positive credit, regardless of whether or not Republicans supported their efforts.

The chances are, however, that extricating America from the mess won’t be so easy.

Since Republicans don’t gain from a positive outcome, their best bet is on a negative outcome.

To this end, Republicans serve themselves well by bad-mouthing anything Democrats try to do, while at the same time being obstructionist and making every effort to sabotage carefully considered legislation.

If, and more likely when, things don’t seem to turn around so easily, Republicans can crow about how awful things are, and how Dems are so ineffective. They will go on and on about how THEY could have fixed everything, ignoring, of course, the fact that their leadership presided over getting us into every mess in the first place.

America doesn’t need such self-serving cowardice from Republicans! They should step up to the plate and participate in doing everything they can to help do what is right for America. For once, put political gamesmanship aside and show some integrity in public service!

Yes, I wholehartedly agree that everything is interconnected and that one relies on another. Just think about how many people in how many professions in how many states it takes to get fruit from Florida or California to Vermont and Alaska. It passes through so many hands…each being affected by the downturn.

I think Obama is right to pursue a more bipartisan government. While it is fine for candidates to take partisan stances while campaigning, the United States has suffered under partisan government in Washington.

George W. Bush assumed his presidency with Republican control firmly seated in both houses of Congress. For 6 full years, he governed without need to appeal to Democrats. Republican leadership actually locked Democratic representatives out of discussion on key issues. Pres. Obama has invited Republicans to discuss reasonably on the issues now facing the country. The response so far has been “lame” to say the least.

We have serious problems. We need action now. It is not time to say let’s have more tax cuts that help small business (meaning upper middle class and lower upper class citizens). We’ve tried that for nearly 30 years. So any bipartisan movement must start with the fact that we’re not going to try what hasn’t worked for 3 decades.

My comment on Gov. Jindal’s response: he mischaracterized the High Speed Rail spending as nothing more than a pork-barrel, pet project from Las Vegas to Disneyland, when in fact that route is NOT designated as a corridor:

http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/203

But there IS a corridor that would help Louisiana(!):

http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/649

Is the Gov. ignorant, or is he trying to find devious ways of thwarting economic recovery, like Gov. Douglas of VT, who is closing Interstate Rest Areas in the guise of cutting the budget, but in fact hurting our economy by putting state employees out of work, people who normally guide out-of-state visitors to local businesses?

The Republicans are in desparate need of some new ideas. I say this as one who first registered to vote as a Republican. Tax cuts will not work to stimulate the economy; they didn’t work last year. I cannot imagine our family would spend one penny more even if we paid no federal tax. We have a child whose college expects us to pay far more than we can, especially given the financial mess; any additional money we get goes to reducing our borrowing. I have to imagine many Americans are in the same boat, whether it is for college, credit cards, or home loans.

Ronald Reagan spoke of “getting government off the backs of the people”, but all the Republican policies did was get government off the backs of the very rich and powerful so that they could run roughshod over the rest of us, whether employee or borrower or small investor. There is no “trickle down”, we have just concentrated wealth and power among the most privileged. We are due for a major reset.

1.) I’m sick of these STUPID Republicans talking nothing but nonsense about what needs to be done. They sound like little whiners. “We didn’t get everything we wanted so we are taking our ball and going home.” WHINERS!! This situation needs intervention that is not of an ordinary nature. And yes, taxes on the big fat millionaires will have to go up! Under Bush they got a nice break, it’s time for them to pay something closer to their fair share.

2.) Obama is not talking about lots of free handouts. I heard him talking about hard work and hard choices and people rising to the problems facing the nation. I heard him talking about getting America back to being on top in scientific progress and industrial innovation and EVERYTHING Americans used to be famous for.

3.) The speech by Jindal was weak and frankly, sounded stupid as a follow up to Obama.

4.) If the Republicans want to go digging for possible people to prosecute for parts of this mess, then let’s keep going and grab Bush and Cheney for laws they ‘ignored’ while they were in office.

I’m with the callers who are sick of hearing them say things will sort themselves out. I’m sick of hearing them talk about how much money the Democrats have approved for spending. They didn’t seem to care when the big deficits were caused by Bush’s war and Halliburton’s charging 300$ for pillows. Shut up and get on board to help the WHOLE country recover and stop the every man for himself rubbish. That kind of greed and unconcern is part of what caused this mess.

The show this morning highlighted just how obstructionist the Republican party is to really addressing the needs of the American people. The protests associated with any of the huge changes are based on the old ways of doing things in government. The old way of doing government predates Bush, Clinton, Bush Sr, and Reagan.

We need new ideas that are not based on the old standards because those standards no longer apply. Change is a frightening thing but resisting that change just prolongs the pain.

REPUBLICAN STATE OF NATURE

Gov. Jindal acknowledges the role of Republican misbehavior over the past eight years and that’s the end of it?

He wants to walk away from it?

A tiger does not change its stripes!

Hold on people with the concern about the Republicans. They are out of power. The Democrats and liberals now rule the government. They can pass just about anything they want without opposition. They have the majority in both houses and have plans to take complete control. You will never know it, because they do things in close sessions. The stimulus bill was done that way. Today they are passing another 400 billion. The universal healthcare will be around 500 billion or better. They want to pass this by years end. The republicans are powerless and have no influence now. Obama is using the term bipartisan only as a obituary for the dead republicans. It is time for the Democrats to rule, they won, its their country. Get ready! Save your 2008 Tax booklet this year and make sure the tax is the same in the 2009. Obama promised your middle class tax will not change one dime. I hope he keeps his promise. I will need all the money I can get to pay for all this spending.

David,
Hopefully Republicans in Congress will read your comment,
believe what they’re reading and actually realize they ARE out of power,
and finally let the Dems fix all of their screw ups.

Why the Republican responses bother me: When this crisis started there was a Republican President who gave away a HUGE sum of money that had no oversight built into it, and was squandered. Totally wasted, used by the banks and Wall Street to further feather their personal nests of wealth. How dare they cry “foul” now?

To : ErikW65 Thanks for the great links to the high speed rail maps. http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/203 & 649.

Get ready America, we are headed for a one party rule in this country. I have a good and long memory. The blame game is great, it helps uninformed people make dumb choices. If you think for one moment that the Repubs- are the only ones to blame for this problem, you are either brainwashed by all this fansy talk and promises are you have your head in the sand. We do not listen to facts only fiction. Both parties have blame in this disaster. But also look in the mirror at yourselves America, your lust and greed for toys and riches was what fueled this mess. The law of supply and demand. I want, so someone will supply, I can’t pay for it, someone will supply, I don’t need it, someone will tell me I do, and when I crash, the govt. will bail me out. The reason why? I vote and they want to stay in power. Get ready America, a one party rule sounds alot like some other countries in this world. There is the ruling class and there are the slaves. Sounds stupid? we are now enslaved for many, many years of paying off this mounting debt and much more is to come. But! we can always yell, its the Reublicans fault! One problem, they are dead and we have a one party rule.

Distinction between Republican and Democrats —-

>>> Democrats have more compassion!

>>> They know how to throw a party and have fun!

>>> They have “facial expression”!

and Republicans are for lazy people, just sit there and take “government” pay check every month, and do nothing, regulate nothing. Why do we need to pay those lazy people in Washington for doing nothing! Why are they so afraid of “bigger” government and favor minimal regulations, probably because those things will cut their blood suckers money sources.

David – we had one party rule from 2002 to 2006. Remember? From 2000 to 2006 it was almost one party rule. That’s what people remember. I don’t blame them. No brainwashing is necessary.

Hey, nobody else noticed the Biggest, Most Blatant LIE Obama got away with during the speech????

We do not torture – - ??????

Well if we are not torturing people why in barking heck is “Extreme Rendition” alive and well???

Disgusting Slimespewing expletive deleteds…. CHECKIT!

LOS ANGELES TIMES

HEADLINE: Obama preserves renditions as counter-terrorism tool

STORY: The role of the CIA’s controversial prisoner-transfer program may expand, intelligence experts say.
WRITER:By Greg Miller
February 1, 2009
Reporting from Washington — The CIA’s secret prisons are being shuttered. Harsh interrogation techniques are off-limits. And Guantanamo Bay will eventually go back to being a wind-swept naval base on the southeastern corner of Cuba.

But even while dismantling these programs, President Obama left intact an equally controversial counter-terrorism tool.
(..SNIP..)
Under executive orders issued by Obama recently, the CIA still has authority to carry out what are known as renditions, secret abductions and transfers of prisoners to countries that cooperate with the United States.

READ IT – AND STOP PUTTING UP WITH THIS BULLSNORT –>

[ CUT&PASTE PLEASE!! ---> ]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-rendition1-2009feb01,0,4661244.story?page=1

Let’s repeat that, for the benefit of you starry eyed Obamaniacs:

–> Under executive orders issued by Obama recently <–

LIES LIES LIES LIAR LIAR LIES LIES – - can i say it any clearer???? What does it take to wake you Changelings the heck UP ?????? DEMAND REAL CHANGE!

Bobby Jindal is another Republican political tool, to promote him to show Republican are “diversified”.

I think Republicans’ tool box are running empty, imagine if Jindal is the best tool they can use, what about the rest?? Sara Palin?? Jindal twist and turn the most obvious facts to fool the fools.

That’s why Obama calls for higher education, so more Americans will maximize their brain capacity, like having more critical and individual thinking and detect lies when they are so obvious!

Here are some new ideas from Obama:
state’s secret privilege,
extraordinary rendition,
violating his own executive order on lobbyists,
politicizing the census,
Washington elites are tax-exempt,
tax ‘n spend big government, etc.
Wait till his second month!

How dare Rep. Burgess bring up the names Kerry and Kennedy as examples of rich people who don’t pay taxes.
Shameful. The superrich are not in government, they are in corporations.
The Republicans are fond of saying how America has one of the highest corporate tax rates, but anyone who checks knows how corporations offload their taxable profits in offshore banks…And those that DO pay a little tax, pass that expense on to their shareholders.
Rep Burgess’ complaint seems to be: “they didn’t allow us input” vis a vi the Stimulus Package…. Well I for one wouldn’t want the party who presided over the criminal de-regulations that led to this crisis attempt to aid in our recovery. By and large the Republicans are way out of touch.
Jere Stormer

democratic vs republican as scene so far
dem-
people lose there jobs due to our economy, try and help get them another back on there feet
repub-
people lose there jobs due to our economy, tough luck,

on taxes
dem- governement does provides services, so it cost money, the more u make the more u gotta pay,

repub- only a small amount of taxes,no services should be provide except defense and police, and the private sector can provide u with what u need (at a hefty cost of course)
taxes cuts for the upper middle class and upper class, (taxes cuts don’t help when u have no job)

on economy

dem- if we invest in our infrastructure,schools, alt sources of energy, new technology it will in turn benefit the whole of society and the country

repub- sell off everything the government controls to elite private investors(kind of like russia in the 90’s) and there do what is best, if there over-charge for needed services tough luck, and these people will than benefit greatly from this while the rest suffer.

regulations

dem-are needed to protect the consumer, citizens,country, health both financial,physical and mental, butoften time whats good for the free market is not good for the common American but if.

repub- none to very little are needed, if someone made money than there were a good businessman/women (doesn’t matter how or what there did to do it) so stay off there back, banks, corporations, and big companies are on the same level as us. so if u got flipped over than its your fault. If there can push debt on u and it becomes to much or commit in predatory lending thans it your fault and your grouped in with whatever the spin of the day is.

just some differences between the two

Here are some old ideas from Republicans:
state’s secret privilege,
extraordinary rendition,
violating the public trust with lobbyists,
politicizing the census,
Washington elites are tax-exempt,
tax ‘n spend big government, etc.
Wait till we boot ‘em all out!

David,

Thanks for the idea!

If we can get rid of the Republican party, maybe a decent third party can finally ascend to second party status.

The Green Party?
The Unity Party of America?
The Moderate Party?

I’m sure there’d be plenty of parties once we dump Republicans!

@Goodrich

There you go, a sensible being talking here!

Republicans keep talking about reform and transform themselves after they realize they are not as popular as they thought, and they are back to square 1 again, even worse! I am pretty tired of listening to a bunch of Republican “talking heads” who talk about nothing. Their behavior including all the TV and Talk Show hosts, they all strike me as obnoxious, arrogant and bitter people. And who in the world would wish your president to fail, except this Rush Limbaugh?? As much as I disagreed with Bush administration, it has never crossed my mind to wish him fail, or any Democrats making that kind of wish. Now you can pretty much see what path Republicans are heading down.

It’s now official, tax ‘n spend he is.
$1 trillion tax increase
$1 trillion spending plan
At least the math is easy.