BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 01:49 PM

"...And then thereÕs Glenn Beck. HeÕs on a crusade to convince the lemmings of Foxland that President Obama is governing under the principles of Black Liberation Theology, a Ògrave perversionÓ of Christianity in which Òminorities are saved in the sense that white people constantly confess and repent of being racist and meet the economic demands of minorities via the redistribution of wealth as a consequence of, in some form or another, reparations.Ó What? Oh, Glenn.

I have to say, I donÕt know how these Fox viewers do it. Listening to a Beck argument is like living in an M.C. Escher drawing Ñ fantastical illusions that defy logic and strain the brain.

Blacks, stunned by this new topsy-turvy world of racial politics, continue to rally around Obama. In opinion polls, they consistently rate ObamaÕs performance and policies highly, I suspect as much out of solidarity as conviction.

Whether the president likes it or not, heÕs the nexus of this debate. I, for one, think that he should stand up and redirect it from the negative to the noble. There will be some grumbling to be sure, but there already is.

ItÕs your choice, Mr. President. I say stand up Ñ for America, for common humanity, for civil discourse. To paraphrase the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., they canÕt ride your back unless itÕs bent."

Charles Blow in the NYT

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 11:19 PM

NYT Editorial excerpted:

"Americans are right to worry about the deficit. They must also demand that their elected representatives do more than rail about the problem and begin a serious debate about the policy choices ahead. Here are some of the key issues that must be considered:

HOW DID WE GET HERE? When President Bill Clinton left office in 2001, the government had run surpluses for three straight years. By the time President George W. Bush left the White House, the government had run deficits for seven straight years, and the Congressional Budget Office projected a 2009 deficit of over $1 trillion.

Much of the deterioration resulted from huge Bush-era tax cuts, which left the nation chronically short of revenue, especially when it had to pay for two wars. And because the budget was already in bad shape when the financial crisis hit in late 2008, the necessary spending to rescue the system only deepened an already deep deficit. Unchastened, Republicans Ñ joined by a few Democrats Ñ are now determined to dig the hole even deeper by calling for all of the Bush tax cuts to be extended beyond their scheduled expiration at the end of this year.

WHAT ABOUT THE STIMULUS? The deficit has risen further under President Obama, to about $1.4 trillion this year, as the White House has tried to contain the recession it inherited.

The $862 billion economic stimulus, enacted by the Obama administration and Congress in 2009 along with subsequent aid, like extended jobless benefits, prevented a bad situation from becoming much worse, by supporting consumer demand at a time when private sector demand had collapsed. More help is needed. So far, stimulus accounts for an estimated 15 percent of the deficit in 2009, 28 percent in 2010 and 14 percent in 2011."

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 07:37 AM

Well, Amos... The Repub strategy this year is to make the election about racism... Yeah, I know, seein' as they have so many voters who suffer from the stuff it doesn't make sense but the strategy has Karl "Dirty Tricks" Rove written asll over it...

Huh???

Yeah, Rove would always take his opponentsd strength and attack it... Remember Senator McClellan??? Viet Nam vet, badly wounded and lost his legs and one arm for his country... The "Dirt Tricks" Repubs took that reality and turned it around on him and portrayed him as soft on defense???

So the Repubs are going to try the same play on the Dems this year...

Gonna, Boberdz???)

No, in all actuality their campaign is in full swing...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 10:13 AM

A typical comment and the reason Obama is upside down in the fair and balanced polls":

"When Obama was elected I had hoped he would step up to the plate an assume some responsibility, instead he acts like an immature 5 year old with his whining and sniveling and blaming others! Mr. President..You have majorities in both houses, if you can't get your
bills passed take a closer look at who's not supporting you!!!"


Boo Hoo Hoo my Democratic majority won't pass my bills so I am going to blame "the" Republicans.

Do they think they have the right to stand up for their principles just like the Democrats?

Yeah. Some Democrats can vote no and that is their right but a Republican does not have the same rights as a Democrat.

Don't they know there are two separate standards for judging Democrats and Republicans?

Democrats can vote any way they want but Republicans have to vote the way the Democrats want them to vote or they get the blame for the Democrats that voted no.

Life is easy when you can blame others for your own inabilities. Sniff. Victimhood is better than leadership any day.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 11:09 AM

It's the 60 vote threshold for gettin' anything thru the Senate that is preventing majority rule here and not specifically the Dems because, unlike the discipline the Repubs show with their locksteppedness, the Dems are a little more independent minded...

No boohoo... Just the facts and, oh, how I can't wait until the Repubs find themselves in that kinda majority 'cause, believe you me, the Dems will not forget this complete obstructionist Republican political ploy... What goes around comes around...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 12:26 PM

Sawz:

You can snark all you want, pal, but you are totally ignoring the issue of obstructionism. There are bills being thwarted by Republicans that they supported as good policy under the Bush brand. This is not standing up for ideals or principles, except the principle of wanting power above all else. It is institutionalized insanity, and your Republican bed-mates are generating it. Come clean, dude.



A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 03:10 PM

The Repubs no longer care what is good for the country, Amos... It's all about what is good for them... They miss the power and they miss the front teet...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 05:06 PM

"Dems are a little more independent minded"

And that is the reason Obama's bills are not gettimg passed.

They have the majority and the majority rules.

How can you blame it on the minority? That is ass backwards, illogical thinking.

The Dems cannot get together and pass it so they whine about the Republicans.

Boo Hoo Hoo, mean old Lock step Republicans. They won't make up for our inability to agree on things.

Snif. We are victims. Snivel Snivel Whine It's all somebody else's fault.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 08:30 PM

That's some purdy funny stuff, Saws... Here, pee in the cup...

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 08:40 PM

How's your fair and balanced coming today Amos?

President Obama Job Approval

RCP Average 7/13 - 7/31   Approve 45.0 Disapprove 49.7

OOOOOps, Obama has slipped even further underwater.

You and Bobert need to bail faster.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 08:49 PM

Ain't no bailin' on my end, Saws, 'cause I am on the correct side of humanity and what is the right things that governemnt should be doing to help its people... So, no bailin' here nor will ther ever be any...

Typin'??? Folkin' A... You wearin' these fingers out with all yer BS today... I don't know what got into ya', son, but I think you need to pee in this cup...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 07:38 PM

The Senate confirmed Elena Kagan to a seat on the Supreme
Court on Thursday, giving President Obama his second
appointment to the high court in a year, and a political
victory as the Senate neared the end of its business for the
summer.

Ms. Kagan, a former dean of the Harvard Law School and a
legal adviser in both the Clinton and Obama administrations,
was approved by a vote of 63 to 37 after hearings and floor
debate that showcased competing views of Democrats and
Republicans about the court, but exposed no significant
stumbling blocks to her confirmation.

She becomes the fourth woman ever named to the court, and
will join two other woman currently serving, including
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Obama administration
nominee, who was confirmed almost exactly one year ago.

---

ANother milestone on the path to recovery.



A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 07:49 PM

33% womenz now, Amos... Hey, that's a start... Me and the Wes Ginny Slide Rule was talkin' last night and the WGSR said that it had figured that once womenz make up 51% of the government that two things is gonna happen... First, we won't be havin' no more wars and second...

... them womenz is gonna kick our butts... Make us do cookin', laundry and other womenz work...

I mean, it'd be nice not to have these endless wars but, sheet fire son, if we gotta start doin' all that womenz work I might reconsider on the war thing...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: mousethief
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 08:48 PM

Interestingly, the court is now made up entirely of Catholics and Jews. No Protestants, no atheists, no Wiccans. Still not entirely representative. But we've come a long way, baby, on gender inclusion and to a lesser extent ethnicity.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 11:24 PM

Bobez:

I yam already cooking--easy duty. But I'm not rebuilding hotels or ploughing a back forty just now, so it's an easy trade.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 07:30 AM

Well, I'm down to ploughin' the back forty, myself as the hotel project is in financial limbo... So I recokn I could be drafted to do far more womenz work than I've done in the past... Next thing ya' knmow I'd be askin' the P-Vine if I could borrow some of her clothes 'er watchin' Food TV... Not sure I'm ready fir that...

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 12:01 PM

Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer, On Friday August 6, 2010, 11:20 am

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Companies showed a lack of confidence about hiring for a third straight month in July, making it likely the economy will grow more slowly the rest of the year. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.5 percent.

Private employers added a net total of only 71,000 jobs in July, far below the 200,000 or more jobs needed each month to reduce the unemployment rate.

The modest gains were even weaker when considering a loss of government jobs at the local, state and federal levels in July that weren't temporary census positions. Factoring those in, the net gains were only 12,000 jobs, according to the Labor Department's July report Friday.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 12:08 PM

Consumer spending is down then that translates into fewer new jobs... Plus we allready know that the wealthy are hoarding a pile of cash which further messes with any potential recovery...

Sounds like the feds are going to have to do some heavy lifting with more stimulis or we'll be looking at a very long, painfull recovery, if not another recession... 2% growth ain't gonna cut it...

Right, Saws???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 12:19 PM

Oh Bummer. People's fallin off the bandwagon faster'n tha WGSR can add'em up.


Amos's fair and balanced says Obama is down again:

RCP Average 7/13 - 8/5 - approve 45.0% - dissaprove 50.0%

I realize that being that President has got to be the toughest job there is but people have over hyped Obama and he has made too many promises that he can't keep.

He asked for the job. He said he could do the job and he got the job.

He had the vast majority behind him but now that has eroded away.

I don't see any room for whining about anything.

The main problem is where are the jobs?

Jobs is job#1 but he has higher priorities.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 12:29 PM

Of course he can't keep his promises... The Senate Repubs won't let him and they know how difficult it is for the Dems to get all of their 60 members to walk lockstep...

And guess what??? Even if every leading economist in the universe told the Repus in the Senate that more stimulis is needed to prevent another recession the Repubs wouldn't go along with it???

(But, Boberdz... The Repubs want to fight the deficit...)

They do??? Geeze, din't seem to bother them when they were runnin' the show... What gives???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 01:03 PM

"how difficult it is for the Dems to get all of their 60 members to walk lockstep"

Why is that? Why are "the Republicans" responsible for that and not "the Democrats"?

Double standard at work. Democarts are not to be held responsible for their own actions. Their responsiility is to place the blame for their own actions on others.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 01:21 PM

Amos: "Looks like he's also moving closer to unwinding Bush's Folly in Iraq, as a bonus; nothing like saving American lives to piss off the hard-core righties. So I guess he's making it happen despite the worst the RNCers have been able to heave at him."

Is this another of your history lessons? It reminds me of the old country expression "you are full o' shit as a Christmas turkey"

Try a little reality for a change Amos. Obama has done nothing but follow Bush's plan, the plan that he originally opposed and that he said would not work.

1/10/07 " I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse. I think it takes pressure off the Iraqis to arrive at the sort of political accommodation that every observer believes is the ultimate solution to the problems we face there. So I am going to actively oppose the president's proposal. … I think he is wrong, and I think the American people believe he's wrong."

1/14/07 "We cannot impose a military solution on what has effectively become a civil war. And until we acknowledge that reality -- we can send 15,000 more troops, 20,000 more troops, 30,000 more troops, I don't know any expert on the region or any military officer that I've spoken to privately that believes that that is going to make a substantial difference on the situation on the ground."

10/22/06 "Given the deteriorating situation, it is clear at this point that we cannot, through putting in more troops or maintaining the presence that we have, expect that somehow the situation is going to improve, and we have to do something significant to break the pattern that we've been in right now." (NBC's "Meet The Press,"

1/28/08 "And finally, tonight we heard President Bush say that the surge in Iraq is working, when we know that's just not true. Yes, our valiant soldiers have helped reduce the violence. Five soldiers gave their lives today in this cause, and we mourn their loss and pray for their families.

But let there be no doubt – the Iraqi government has failed to seize the moment to reach the compromises necessary for an enduring peace. That was what we were told the surge was all about. So the only way we're finally going to pressure the Iraqis to reconcile and take responsibility for their future is to immediately begin the responsible withdrawal of our combat brigades so that we can bring all of our combat troops home.

But another reason we need to begin this withdrawal immediately"

Listen to the broken promises made in this post election speech yourself.

Amos: Before you go off on one of your rhetorical attacks, just explain in common factual terms how Obama has done anything other than abandon his own plan of immediate withdrawal from Iraq, infact broken his promise of immediate withdrawal from Iraq, in favor of the existing Bush plan.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 02:15 PM

I doubt the notion that he is following a Bush plan, Sawz, and if the withdrawal was delayed by the situation on the ground, I am not surprised. Where is the Bush plan of which you speak?

But the larger issue here is that the insane policies of the Bush administration sent far more men to their death than 9/11 ever took from us. You kinda miss the big picture, if you see what I mean.

The question of whether the surge worked as promoted or whether it was the awakening within the ranks of the Iraqi people that made the difference remains open to debate. You may notice, also, that some Iraqis really don't want us to leave.

It was a serious policy error to invade Iraq and cost us millions of dollars, thousands of lives and an untold price in broken minds.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 03:14 PM

Ha-da-ba-dum...ba-dum...ba-da-dum....
Ha-da-ba-dum...ba-da-dum...daaaaa...

(humming a little tune to myself)

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 04:17 PM

Ah, a rapier-like wit accompanied by an asbestos-like sense of relevance...

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 06:17 PM

It's a wonder I haven't been nominated to run for president of the USA by now, isn't it? ;-) Chongo has, of course, but that's another matter.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 07:44 PM

Hang in there, LH... Yer time will come...

Yo, Amos... Check out yer post aboove on the dollars amount spent on Iraq... Not that "millions" isn't also correct but...

As for the surge, I doubt if one person in ten, other than Amos and myself, could tell you what it was about other than "more boots on the ground"... "More boots on the ground" is the moronish answer that really has nothin to do with the components of the surge...

Yo, T... No government in Iraq... Sunnis and Shittes squabbling... The US ending it's combat operations today... Hmmmmm??? What could be next???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 06:47 PM

Recent Tweet:

BarackObama

As a presidential candidate, I pledged to bring the Iraq war to a responsible end. That's exactly what we're doingÑas promised, on schedule.
9:21 AM Aug 2nd via HootSuite

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 12:08 PM

Amos: I asked you first:

"explain in common factual terms how Obama has done anything other than abandon his own plan of immediate withdrawal from Iraq"

If you know anything about the subject matter you brought up, you should certainly know what he has done differently.

You are the Mudcat historian aren't you?

"I will promise you this, If we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am President, it is the first thing I will do."

"Let me be clear: There is no military solution in Iraq and there never was.
The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq's leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops. Not in six months or one year _ now,"

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 01:23 PM

Well, Sawz, you can beat that li'l tin drum until the cows come home. If GWB had spent a little more time learning about things he might have avoided some of the insanity with which he forced BHO to deal. You call it a broken promise as though all he had to do was click his heels in the Oval Office and make a wish.

The fact is, he had a helluva lot of bullshit from your admirable Repub dingbats AND he had a LOT more access to on the ground intell once he won the election. So it seems he was smart enough to use new information and deal with the situation accordingly. Whyncha find something real to complain about?

A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: akenaton
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 01:58 PM

Come on my friend, sounds pretty real to me .....answer the man's questions.

Shucks, Mr Obama doesn't even support your holy grail of "GM" does that make him as bad as me?

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 02:55 PM

What he did is acquire more information and recast his prediction based on the information he then had, Ake. This is one aspect of what is called sane thinking. As I said, if GWB had used a modicum of it it would have saved thousands of lives.

Casting it in terms of broken promises is just partisan bullshit, and yes, it is unreal.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: beardedbruce
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 03:12 PM

Amos,

"he had a LOT more access to on the ground intell once he won the election. So it seems he was smart enough to use new information and deal with the situation accordingly. "

You mean that once he knew what Bush knew, he made the SAME decisions that Bush did, and acted the same way as Bush did when YOU jumped around demanding Bush's impeachment???


Too bad YOU don't have that level of honesty, that you claim Obama has.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 03:20 PM

No, dingbat, I do not. Not only have you scurrilously put words in my mouth and then mocked me for them, which is both crude and ill-tempered of you, but you suffer from the same illogic as your comrade in obfuscation, Sawz, in this regard.

There is a WORLD of difference. Bush failed to analyze false information and instead acted on it to placate his mad-minded drooling base, with very destructive results.

Obama spoke from a reasonable assessment of available information and changed when he had new information. If Bush had done that you would have heard him saying "I was wrong, and I'm responsible for the erroneous vasis on which I ordered troops into Iraq." Not a damn peep of that sort. Funny, huh?

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 04:39 PM

Yeah, the situation as of November 2008 and the siutation as of November 2002 are not similar in many respects... Obama made his corrections based on current information... Bush mad his decisons based on cowboy politics...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 02:01 PM

"Whatever Gibbs said, liberals still like Obama
With the controversy still simmering over Robert Gibbs' slam on the "professional left," the Dem firm Public Policy Polling offers a reality check on what liberals think of Obama. They overwhelmingly approve:

On the national poll we'll release this week 85% of liberals approve of the job Obama is doing to 12% disapproving. 88% support his health care plan looking back with only 7% opposed.

Not only are those numbers good, but they're steady. Obama's favor with liberals hasn't been on the decline. In May his approval with liberals was 87/10. In February it was 81/15. In November it was 87/4. Even as his ratings have declined overall he's stayed in that sort of mid-80s range with liberal voters.

The volume of the voices of liberals who don't like Obama is much greater than the volume of their numbers, which probably means Robert Gibbs shouldn't let the select few get him so irritated.

This bears out what other polls have found. It suggests that Gibbs was right when he said that rank and file liberals still like Obama, and some will point to this as proof that Obama's liberal critics don't speak for the left and just get attention because they have big megaphones.

But there may be another conclusion to be drawn here. If criticism of the White House from the left isn't meaningfully depressing Obama's support among liberals, than what's the harm? Seems to me that the liberal rank and file are capable of listening to left-leaning opinionmakers taking issue with various aspects of the Obama presidency without concluding that they should stop supporting the president entirely.

In other words, liberal voters appear capable of keeping two ideas in their heads at the same time. First, Obama does not always live up to their expectations, whether or not he should bear the blame for this unfortunate reality. And second, this isn't grounds to abandon him ...".

(WaPo Blog)

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 09:30 PM

Hey, I'm a liberal... Okay, more on the commie-lib side (lol) and I like Obama... Im think he's doing all he can... Hey, these are some very messed up circumstances...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 01:39 AM

"85% of liberals approve of the job Obama is doing to 12% disapproving"

Huh???? How the heck does one determine, when doing such a poll, who is really a "liberal"? What are the criteria? Where does it begin and end? Is it just based on what the person says they are (which might or might not be true) or do all liberals in the USA have a large blue "L" printed on their foreheads and wear blue ties and drink Perrier? ;-) What the heck IS an American liberal, really???? How do we determine that? Who decides? And does he or she resemble a liberal in most other places? Maybe not! And if so, how much?

Polls are such nonsense. Most of them, I think, are quite carefully planned ahead of time, worded in just the right way to elicit the kind of response the pollster hopes to get.

Both the Right and the Left are guilty of using polls in that fashion.

It reminds me of that ridiculous old ad "9 out of 10 doctors prefer Camels (cigarettes)"   Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: akenaton
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 05:02 AM

Commie-"lib"?

Shurely shome mishtake...(ed)

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 09:17 AM

Okay, ake... Howz about socialist-lib??? Any better???

And yeah, LH... Polls are so rediculous... Let me word the questions and I could get you a 50% approval for Hitler in Isreal... I mean, the entire polling industry is just what you said: BS...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: beardedbruce
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 06:45 PM

"By JEFF BATER And DARRELL A. HUGHES

The U.S. government spent itself deeper into the red last month, paying nearly $20 billion in interest on debt and an additional $9.8 billion to help unemployed Americans.

Federal spending eclipsed revenue for the 22nd straight time, the Treasury Department said Wednesday. The $165.04 billion deficit, while a bit smaller than the $169.5 billion shortfall expected by economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires, was the second highest for the month on record. The highest was $180.68 billion in July 2009.

The government usually runs a deficit during July, which is the 10th month of the fiscal year. So far in fiscal 2010, the government spent $1.169 trillion more than it made. That figure is about $98 billion lower than during the comparable period a year earlier.

For all of fiscal 2009, the U.S. ran a record $1.42 trillion deficit. Fiscal 2010 might run a little higher—the Obama administration sees $1.47 trillion.

Wednesday's monthly Treasury statement said U.S. government revenues in July totaled $155.55 billion, compared with $151.48 billion in July 2009.

Spending was higher, totaling $320.59 billion. July 2009 spending amounted to $332.16 billion.

Year-to-date revenues were $1.75 trillion, compared with $1.74 trillion in the first 10 months of fiscal 2009. Spending so far in this fiscal year is $2.92 trillion, versus $3.01 trillion in the prior period.

Spending for benefits for the unemployed year to date totaled $121.4 billion; for July, the tab was $9.8 billion, the Treasury statement said.

Years of deficit spending by Washington have led to a mounting national debt. Interest payments so far in fiscal 2010 amount to $185.25 billion; by contrast, corporate taxes collected by the government during the same 10 months were $139.71 billion. Interest payments in July alone were $19.9 billion.
"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704901104575423601722830706.html

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 07:58 PM

Yeah, there ain't no doubt or avoidin' that the US has gotten itself into on hell of a finacial mess...

Worse than that, we have such polorization that we don't have a Congress willing to make the hard choices... The Repubs say "No tax increases"... The Dems say "No cuts in entitlements"... And with both sides just posturing for the nexy election there won't be any courage shown by this Congress on either side of the isle...

Most intellegent people understand that it's going to take a combionation of more revenue and less spending... I mean, this ain't rocket surgery here...

But Congress is content on just kickin' the can down the road... Must be nice... The average American doesn't have that luxary... The average American is having to cut spending and tryin' to make more money... Purdy simple, ain't it???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Aug 10 - 08:34 AM

when all else fails you can always depend on luck... Sometimes it don't come in the flavor ordered up but, hey...

If it weren't for bad luck
I'd hqave no luck at all...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Aug 10 - 11:10 AM

85% of Chimpanzees in the USA believe that Chongo Chimp will one day be president of the United States. Only 43% of Gorillas think so. The statistics are not yet in on lemurs and Barbary Apes.

Don't you feel better now that you know this? ;-) Feel free to use it to bolster your argument as you either attack or defend Barack Obama.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: mousethief
Date: 23 Aug 10 - 08:23 PM

Little Hawk:

85% of Chimpanzees in the USA believe that Chongo Chimp will one day be president of the United States.

I think you need to pay more careful attention to the actual wording of the questions in the poll. The chimps were asked, "If it were up to you, would you rather that Chongo Chimp become president, or Sarah Palin?" The results were: 85% Chongo 14.5% Undecided 0.5% Write-In Vote for "Mine That Bird", winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Aug 10 - 10:58 PM

LOL!!!

Isn't polling great? I always trust the polls to tell me exactly what's going on in the world and what the future may hold. ;-D

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 23 Aug 10 - 11:23 PM

Little Hawk: "85% of Chimpanzees in the USA believe that Chongo Chimp will one day be president of the United States."

YOU BIGOT!!!@@$$#%$!!!&&*#@<>:")(*^ YOU ARE A RACIST!!..AND INSULTING CHIMPANZEES!!!!


Yo-ho,

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Aug 10 - 11:41 PM

Gad! I've been publicly accused of bigotry, racism, and insulting chimpanzees! I may never have media credibility again! I feel that cushy Hollywood movie and talk show deal slipping through my fingers. My book sales are in freefall. William Shatner is mysteriously "too busy" all of a sudden to return my calls, and even my dog won't come when I call! The next shocked face I see staring at me from the Weekly World News at the grocery checkout counter may be mine!!!!!

Oh, woe is me. Once accused, forever damned. ;-D

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 08:21 PM

Milestone On The Road Out Of Iraq
Yesterday evening, speaking to the nation from the Oval Office, President Obama "declared an end to the seven-year American combat mission in Iraq," saying that "the United States has met its responsibility to that country and that it is now time to turn to pressing problems at home." While around 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, and will still engage in combat while carrying out what is now primarily a training and advising mission, yesterday's announcement by the President represents the fulfillment of a promise he made in February 2009, to have the majority of U.S. troops out of Iraq by the end of August 2010. The President noted that, over the last decade in Afghanistan and Iraq, "we have spent over a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas," and that "as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy and grit and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad." Describing the new Iraq mission, Vice President Biden said, "We have a written agreement with the Iraqi government, signed by George W. Bush, binding President Barack Obama to withdraw all troops by the end of next year. ... But we have faith that the Iraqi troops who our sacrifices have allowed to be trained are in fact ready and will be increasingly able to supply total security to this country by the end of next year." Biden adviser Tony Blinken told reporters, "We're not disengaging from Iraq, and even as we draw down our troops, we are ramping up our engagement across the board."

DEFINING THE WAR'S LEGACY: President Bush's decision to invade and occupy Iraq remains controversial, though it's now obvious that the main justifications for the war -- Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction and a substantive relationship between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda -- were false. Several key decisions the Bush administration made, such as disbanding the Iraq army and the de-Baathification of Iraq's bureaucracy, fed a growing insurgency that was gathering steam even as President Bush prematurely declared in May 2003 that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended." The ensuing insurgency led to years of sectarian strife and the near-collapse of the Iraqi state. With the U.S.'s attention and resources focused on dealing with the Iraq insurgency, Iran was able to extend its influence both with Shia parties in Iraq and throughout the region, the Taliban was able to retrench in Afghanistan, and anti-American extremists throughout the Middle East drew strength from the constant images of death and destruction beamed out of Iraq via satellite. Many of these radicals gained expertise from tactics honed against American forces in Iraq.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 01:01 PM

Well Well Well. The Mudcat historian has no facts to present on Obama's cosmic intergalactic flip flop from "Let me be clear: There is no military solution in Iraq and there never was. The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq's leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops. Not in six months or one year _ now" to look how good my surge worked.

And nothing to say about his broken "I will promise you this, If we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am President, it is the first thing I will do."

Other than another personal attack.

From the Obama website:

"All Combat Troops Redeployed by 2009: Barack Obama would immediately begin redeploying American troops from Iraq. The withdrawal would be strategic and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government. Troops would be removed from secure areas first, with troops remaining longer in more volatile areas. The drawdown would begin immediately with one to two combat brigades redeploying each month and all troops engaged in combat operations out by the end of next year."

I think Amos makes a better Drummer than Historian.