President Barack Obama - Term 1 and 2 Thread

[S2M]

S2M, I guaranfuckingtee you that W. would have gladly given up a (ficticious at that point) second term if it meant 9/11 would not have happened. Guarantee!

I disagree, but I guess that is what makes debate so interesting.

[Uno_up]

middle east...earth's asshole****. fuck**** em all. they are fuck****ing cuckoo for coco puffs. sacred land. it's a fuck****ing desert. the only thing dumber than dying for that barren wasteland is the ludicrous religious fuck****face extremism. i say we test our entire arsenal on that dump. MAYBE we give israel a half hour to pack and split(but again we have retarded holy land/shit****hole logic) , what the fuck****. the rest flunked humanity 101 and get to perish. suck my balls. and i'm a LIBERAL. what a bunch of shit****bags.

[Angel]

middle east...earth's asshole****. fuck**** em all. they are fuck****ing cuckoo for coco puffs. sacred land. it's a fuck****ing desert. the only thing dumber than dying for that barren wasteland is the ludicrous religious fuck****face extremism. i say we test our entire arsenal on that dump. MAYBE we give israel a half hour to pack and split(but again we have retarded holy land/shit****hole logic) , what the fuck****. the rest flunked humanity 101 and get to perish. suck my balls. and i'm a LIBERAL. what a bunch of shit****bags.

What's with all the ****s??

[Uno_up]

middle east...earth's asshole****. fuck**** em all. they are fuck****ing cuckoo for coco puffs. sacred land. it's a fuck****ing desert. the only thing dumber than dying for that barren wasteland is the ludicrous religious fuck****face extremism. i say we test our entire arsenal on that dump. MAYBE we give israel a half hour to pack and split(but again we have retarded holy land/shit****hole logic) , what the fuck****. the rest flunked humanity 101 and get to perish. suck my balls. and i'm a LIBERAL. what a bunch of shit****bags.

What's with all the ****s??

it's to warn you too late that you're reading a cuss word. some are easily offended. how's your boytoy gator doing by the way?

[Angel]

middle east...earth's asshole****. fuck**** em all. they are fuck****ing cuckoo for coco puffs. sacred land. it's a fuck****ing desert. the only thing dumber than dying for that barren wasteland is the ludicrous religious fuck****face extremism. i say we test our entire arsenal on that dump. MAYBE we give israel a half hour to pack and split(but again we have retarded holy land/shit****hole logic) , what the fuck****. the rest flunked humanity 101 and get to perish. suck my balls. and i'm a LIBERAL. what a bunch of shit****bags.

What's with all the ****s??

it's to warn you too late that you're reading a cuss word. some are easily offended. how's your boytoy gator doing by the way?

OK, well thanks for the delayed warning, we all appreciate that.

[RedWingFan]

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2 ... urrent-tv/

Hahahaha! I guessed he'd go to HDNet with Dan Rather. I guess I gave Olbermann too much credit!!!

Olbermann Said to Be Going to Current TV

By BILL CARTER AND BRIAN STELTER

Keith Olbermann, the former top-rated host of“Countdown”on the news channel MSNBC, will announce his next television home on Tuesday, and people familiar with his plans pointed Monday to a possible deal with the public affairs channel Current TV.

Neither Mr. Olbermann, his representatives, or executives from Current TV would comment on the move, but they did not deny that the channel, which counts former Vice President Al Gore as one of its founders, will become at least one partner in Mr. Olbermann’s future media plans.

One of the people with knowledge of the plans said Mr. Olbermann would have an equity stake in Current TV. The people insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized by their employers to comment in advance of the official announcement.

On Monday a public relations agency hired by Mr. Olbermann scheduled a Tuesday morning conference call for an announcement about his next job. “He and his new partners will make an exciting announcement regarding the next chapter in his remarkable career,” the agency wrote in an e-mail.

Current TV has set up a presentation with advertisers for Wednesday afternoon in Manhattan to announce its future plans. The channel may be betting on Mr. Olbermann to put it on the cable map. The low-rated five-year-old channel needs the help. Targeting young people, it originally subsisted on YouTube-style submissions and video journalists. More recently it started producing and acquiring traditional television series, like repeats of “This American Life.”

Mr. Olbermann departed MSNBC in January after some stormy interactions with management, including a suspension for contributing to political candidates. The settlement of his contract precluded his joining another television outlet for an undetermined period of time, but an announcement of a future assignment on Current TV would presumably not violate the terms of that deal as long as he did not start until after the agreed-upon waiting period.

A move to Current TV would challenge Mr. Olbermann’s fans of his MSNBC show — where he drew about a million viewers a night — to follow him to a channel that is considerably less accessible. Current TV is available in only about 60 million homes, and is usually available only on the digital tier of cable television systems, which requires a separate receiver. MSNBC, which is owned by NBC Universal, is available in 85 million homes and is almost always available as a basic cable entry.

But the addition of Mr. Olbermann, the former sports anchor who made himself a progressive star at MSNBC, would surely elevate the channel, bringing it attention it has never before received. The channel also wears its liberal politics on its sleeve.

With Current TV, Mr. Olbermann would also gain a measure of independence. Unlike most cable channels, including MSNBC, which are owned by large media companies, Current is privately and independently owned by Mr. Gore and other backers.

It is also possible that Mr. Olbermann will separately pursue other ventures, like an Internet destination.

Speculation has surrounded Mr. Olbermann since he abruptly left his job at MSNBC. He has been savoring the speculation, even posting a link on Twitter on Monday afternoon to a countdown clock for his announcement.

The abruptness of Mr. Olbermann’s departure last month suggested that he already had lined up another media job. The Internet domain name TheOlbermannShow.com was registered two days before his televised goodbye. A few days afterward, he set up a new Twitter account, called “FOKNewsChannel,” short for “Friends of Keith.”

The departure came just days before Comcast took control of NBC, leading some to suspect that he was forced out by Comcast — an assertion that the companies vigorously denied. Comcast owns a 10 percent stake in Current TV.

[hoagiepete]

UNDERDOG: CNN POLL: 51% SEE NO SECOND TERM FOR OBAMA...



this is only going to get worse for the won whose gonna lose.

I just hope the R's can roll out a good candidate. I'm not sure they can.

[Seven Wishes2]

What FF failed to mention is that Obama wins every poll when the question becomes "would you vote for Obama or (Republican Candidate x)" - beating Romney, thrashing Palin, as well as Newton. Although I might be tempted to vote for Romney at this point.

[RedWingFan]

HOUSE VOTES NEXT WEEK TO BLOCK OBAMACARE FUNDS

After they block the funds they need to keep sending repeal bills thru the house and force Senators to go on record as to whether or not they support an unconstitutional bill right up until election day.

[RedWingFan]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right- ... .html#more

Obamacare support melting away
By Jennifer Rubin
Pretty much as expected by conservatives, Obamacare has remained unpopular with the public. It's under attack in the courts. And now, vulnerable Senate Democrats are running for the hills. ABC News reports:

"We're looking at everything humanly possible. I've always had a concern and a problem with the mandate, that we were forcing it, basically saying by the law of the land you have to buy the product," Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV, told ABC News today. "But on the other hand, I know that's been the linchpin. I'm looking for flexibility any way I can."

Manchin is one of the moderate Democrats trying to figure out how to repeal the individual mandate. While talks are still in the early stages, Manchin hopes the push will take shape sooner rather than later.

Joining him in these efforts could be a handful of other Democrats who are also up for reelection in 2012: Nebraska's Ben Nelson, Missouri's Claire McCaskill, and Montana's Jon Tester.
You can understand why liberals might be starting to panic. So earnest Obamacare supporters are rushing in. Ezra Klein offers his contribution:

Replacing the individual mandate wouldn't be particularly hard. All we need is another policy that does the same thing -- specifically, discourages free-riders who don't want to buy insurance until after they get sick and thus leave the rest of us paying for them.

Not only is the repeal of the individual mandate no big deal, it's actually better for the Dems! Ezra announces, "The danger, as I say at the end, is not that the law does get changed, but that it doesn't. That the GOP won't let it thrive and the Democrats won't let it die and so it just limps along." (I guess the "historic legislation" was badly crafted, after all.)

This is not one of the more effective spin-squad efforts. To begin with, Democrats are running from Obamacare Their willingness to push for a major revision, one vehemently opposed by the White House, of the "historic legislation" is not a helpful sign for the saleability of the plan in the 2012 election.

As for the politics, Ezra has missed a key stumbling block: House Republicans and more than 40 Senate Republicans will not vote for an individual mandate-lite, if you will. They want to repeal Obamacare outright or defund it. Remember, the Republicans are running and governing on repeal and replace. In other words, Obamacare can't be fixed in their eyes because the entire premise of the legislation and the cost it entails are unsustainable. Oh, and the president is opposed to it, too. In other words, virtually everyone save the nervous Senate Democrats is opposed to the idea of fiddling with the individual mandate.

Eventually the choice for red-state Democrats will be: Defend Obamacare as is or vote to repeal it. In the realm of electoral politics this is a "heads I win, tails you lose" proposition for the Republicans.

[RedWingFan]

The rats continue to jump from the sinking ship.

Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection next year and will instead return to the private sector, boosting Republican George Allen's chances of reclaiming his former seat.

Webb, the former secretary of the Navy and an acclaimed filmmaker and author, said in a statement that his decision to retire from the Senate came "after much thought and consideration."

He didn't offer specifics about his post-Capitol Hill plans

[Seven Wishes2]

Keep couting those chickens, RightWingLoon.

There are 3.1 million new jobs looking for the right applicants now. Your boy W and 6 years of GOP dominance in the House and Senate produced the only Administration in history with two recessions to its "credit" as well as a net overall job LOSS in eight years.

Scumbags like McConnell are the ones who evoke images of rats.

[S2M]

If I were Washington, or the common folk - I'd be a little less concerned about the Health Care Bill, and more concerned with this CALIPHATE business....

[conversationpc]

There are 3.1 million new jobs looking for the right applicants now. Your boy W and 6 years of GOP dominance in the House and Senate produced the only Administration in history with two recessions to its "credit"...

This is at least the second time you've repeated this lie, so I'll just copy & paste my previous response to you on this...

Not even close to accurate. There have been several Presidents including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, Benjamin Harrison, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, and George Bush.

[slucero]

Jesus what an idiot...

BREAKING: N.Y. Rep. Chris Lee resigns after Craigslist personals scandal
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/20 ... ns/?hpt=T1

Washington (CNN) - Republican Rep. Christopher Lee of New York resigned his House seat Wednesday following a report that the married congressman had tried to meet a woman on Craigslist.

"It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of Western New York," said a statement by Lee posted on his website. "I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents. I deeply and sincerely apologize to them all. I have made profound mistakes and I promise to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness."

The statement said that "the challenges we face in Western New York and across the country are too serious for me to allow this distraction to continue, and so I am announcing that I have resigned my seat in Congress effective immediately."

Just before 6 p.m., an announcement read on the House floor said Lee had resigned as of 5 p.m. Wednesday and the number of the House members decreased by one from 435 to 434.

Lee, who is married and has a son, resigned after the website Gawker published an item reporting he corresponded with a woman who posted a Craigslist ad and allegedly sent her a bare-chested photo of himself.

The speed of Lee's resignation indicated a culture of zero tolerance by House Republicans for potentially controversial behavior so soon after winning control of the chamber for the first time since 2007.

Lee was first elected to Congress in 2008 from New York's 26th district in the western part of the state, which includes suburbs of both Buffalo and Rochester. He won re-election last November.

[Seven Wishes2]

What is it with New York polticians and scandals? Fuck. Guliani, this guy, Rengel, Spitzer...I hate their politicos as much as their teams.

[Michigan Girl]

CBO Director: Obama Health Law Will Cost US 800,000 Jobs...

Well, look
at the positive side, at least they'll have free health care ...I'm making myself laugh here!!

[S2M]

CBO Director: Obama Health Law Will Cost US 800,000 Jobs...

How?

[slucero]

CBO Director: Obama Health Law Will Cost US 800,000 Jobs...

How?

Actually the correct language was "Obamacare Would Reduce Employment by 800,000 Workers"...

CBO Director Says Obamacare Would Reduce Employment by 800,000 Workers

Jeffrey H. Anderson
February 10, 2011 2:37 PM
http://www.weeklystandard.com/print/blo ... 47288.html

Testifying today before the House Budget Committee, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Doug Elmendorf confirmed that Obamacare is expected to reduce the number of jobs in the labor market by an estimated 800,000. Here are excerpts from the exchange:

Chairman [Paul] Ryan: “[I]t’s been argued...that the new health care law will create jobs and increase labor force participation. But if I recall from your analysis, it was quite the opposite. Is that not the case?”

Director [Douglas] Elmendorf : “Yes.”...

[…]

Rep. [John] Campbell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, we'll -- and Dr. Elmendorf -- and we'll continue this conversation right now. First on health care, before I get to -- before I get to broader issues, you just mentioned that you believe -- or that in your estimate, that the health care law would reduce the labor used in the economy by about 1/2 of 1 percent, given that, I believe you say, there's 160 million full-time people working in '20-'21. That means that, in your estimation, the health care law would reduce employment by 800,000 in '20-'21. Is that correct?

Director Elmendorf: Yes. The way I would put it is that we do estimate, as you said, that...employment will be about 160 million by the end of the decade. Half a percent of that is 800,000.

[S2M]

Well....I don't have the time to read that at this moment, but without explaining exactly how it will reduce jobs, and how he arrived at these 'estimates', I can't believe it....

[Archetype]

Well....I don't have the time to read that at this moment, but without explaining exactly how it will reduce jobs, and how he arrived at these 'estimates', I can't believe it....

"I don't have time to read that, but it must be wrong, because I said so"

That what you're saying?

[S2M]

Well....I don't have the time to read that at this moment, but without explaining exactly how it will reduce jobs, and how he arrived at these 'estimates', I can't believe it....

"I don't have time to read that, but it must be wrong, because I said so"

That what you're saying?

No, but I can't say either way until I read it. Do you want me to just believe it because someone says so?

The wise man suspends judgment.

[whirlwind]

by Bob Schmidt



Health care reform, Obamacare, will probably add to economic pressures that will cause higher unemployment levels and raise prices in some cases. Several large corporations have already announced that they will incur large expense in the first year of the newly passed legislation. A. T. and T. indicated that they alone would suffer a one billion dollar loss due to the new law. Catepillar, John Deere, and others issued similar statements after reviewing the effects of eliminated insurance tax credits for prescription drug coverage provided for their large labor force.

[whirlwind]

Side Effects: Obamacare Hurts Low-Income Workers

With a struggling economy and stagnant unemployment rate, the last thing the United States needs is any public policy that will hurt job growth. Unfortunately, Obamacare’s new federally mandated, essential benefits package will diminish new job opportunities, especially for low-income workers.

This is expected to occur because the new law requires employers to offer health care coverage or pay a penalty. And they can’t offer basic health plans. Instead, all job-based health plans must include what the government determines to be “essential benefits.” Since benefits that employers provide to their work force mark a dollar-for-dollar reduction in cash wages, more benefits in these government-mandated plans will mean less available income for salaries or new jobs. Inevitably, this provision will further drive up the health care costs for businesses, forcing them to hold back on new hiring and investments

[Melissa]

CBO Director: Obama Health Law Will Cost US 800,000 Jobs...

Well, look
at the positive side, at least they'll have free health care ...I'm making myself laugh here!!

Exactly! "Cost", "reduce", whatever, still crap, lol.

Good to see you back MG! Hope you had a fun time!

[whirlwind]

President Barack Obama and congressional leaders claim that the Senate health bill, which will likely face a vote in the House by the end of the week, will decrease the deficit and bend the cost curve related to health care spending. However, recent analysis by The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis (CDA) shows that this is far from true. Instead, the bill’s mandates and numerous new taxes will have tumultuous effects. Passing Obamacare will come at the expense of the American people as it would grow the federal debt, increase premiums, and stifle economic growth.

The Senate bill would have disastrous effects on the economy and federal spending. CDA shows that the bill:

* Increases the federal deficit and national debt. The Congressional Budget Office shows deficit neutrality for the Senate bill—however, this is based on static analysis which ignores the effects new taxes and an individual and employer mandate would have on economic growth. These provisions would decrease investment in the economy, resulting in lower wages and salaries. This means less taxable income, lowering federal revenues and growing the debt. Increased borrowing puts upward pressure on interest rates causing some private sector productive investment opportunities to be foregone. This also increases the interest owed on the national debt, such that the government would pay, on average, $20 billion more in interest between 2010 and 2020. By the end of the decade, CDA estimates the publicly held debt would be $755 billion dollars more than under current law.

[Don]

Mubarak just fucked everybody up. Suckers.

[S2M]

So basically in a nutshell - The Republicans don't care when Big Business is granted bailouts, on taxpayer money. So they can have their Gold Parachutes, and lofty bonuses....but as soon as something is suggested that would let the average american bail his/herself out....all of a sudden that isn't so kosher. My guess is somewhere amoungst the paperwork some beancounter found that the bill would cost some republican-interest company/person a whole lot of scratch.....although I'm sure that at least some of the things being said are true....I'm sure it will not show actual savings for a couple of years - until the wrinkles are ironed out. Which may be cause for concern for the repubs....on the other hand, haven't we given MORE than enough time for washington to iron out the wrinkles of the War in Iraq? That was their baby, and we let it pass. How many deaths and wasted tax dollars on that decision?

[Saint John]

Mubarak just fucked everybody up. Suckers.

He's gonna get himself assassinated. It's just a matter of time.

[Don]

Mubarak just fucked everybody up. Suckers.

He's gonna get himself assassinated. It's just a matter of time.

He thinks he's Tony Montana.