I want to speak with you about the stakes of this debate, for our people and for the future of our nation.
Already we’re getting prepped for the “fear and trembling” politics which President Obama panned as a candidate.
Every worker afraid of losing health insurance if they lose their job, or change jobs. Everyone who’s worried that they may not be able to get insurance or change insurance if someone in their family has a pre-existing condition.
This includes me – so I’m listening. Calm my fears Mr President.
let me take a moment to answer a few of [the special interest group's] arguments.
The problem with letting this President answer a few of the arguments is we are beginning not to believe him. His poll numbers are slipping because people, real-people, the kind of people he was supposed to run for, aren’t seeing the solutions to their problems that he promised.
First, the same folks who controlled the White House and Congress for the past eight years as we ran up record deficits will argue – believe it or not – that health reform will lead to record deficits.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Stop looking in the past! You can not lead with your head turned around. Stop blaming and pointing fingers to President Bush and his administration. This is your era, President Obama. We want to hear your thoughts that don’t include blaming someone you could never run against.
Our proposals cut hundreds of billions of dollars in unnecessary spending and unwarranted giveaways to insurance companies in Medicare and Medicaid. They change incentives so providers will give patients the best care, not just the most expensive care, which will mean big savings over time.
When I see President Obama spin this by saying, “give patients the best care, not just the most expensive care” I think of someone who needs that expensive care but won’t get it because they need to keep costs down.
And will these proposals cut the number of dollars just like your Recovery package cut how much money from the federal deficit? Yeah, we aren’t buying it Mr President.
I will not sign on to any health plan that adds to our deficits over the next decade.
And yet, that is exactly what this reform will do. It will add costs which the tax payer will dole out.
Those who oppose reform will also tell you that under our plan, you won’t get to choose your doctor – that some bureaucrat will choose for you.
Now this I don’t think is true.
no one should decide that for you either. Under our proposals, if you like your doctor, you keep your doctor. If you like your current insurance, you keep that insurance. Period, end of story.
This sounds good. If you like what you currently have, keep it. According to President Obama, your premiums will only get lower to compete with the government plan.
We shall see.
opponents of health reform warn that this is all some big plot for socialized medicine or government-run health care with long lines and rationed care.
Because we’ve seen it in Canada and Europe. But there has to be another side to it right? Not all socialized goverment-run health care is evil.
I don’t believe that government can or should run health care.
You also don’t believe government should run a car company – how’s that coming along?
President Obama gave this interview in the context of U.S – Russia relations:
Question #1 Do you agree with the opinion expressed by many Russian and European politicians that the United States is primarily responsible for the economic difficulties that their countries are now living through?
Obama’s response:
No.
So even though he’s been talking to us about recovering from this mess, he doesn’t believe we are primarily at fault? Let’s read on.
This crisis resulted from a culture of irresponsibility regarding financial matters that took hold over a number of years in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.
So you named two continents with the United States first; and you don’t think we’re primarily at fault?
We need to spend less time thinking about who is to blame and more time working together to do what needs to be done to get all of our economies moving in the right direction.
Well I agree with that. So why don’t you, Mr President, stop speaking about how the past policies failed us. “Spend less time thinking about talking about who is to blame” please.
Question #2 Do you agree that lies and greed – - lies about the state of markets and greed of their participants — are the main reasons for the current economic crisis?
And the response:
our economy did not fall into decline overnight.
So is that a “yes” or “no”?
And though all these challenges went unsolved, we still managed to spend more money and pile up more debt, both as individuals and through our government, than ever before.
Of which, your administration continues to do. This is incredible – the idea that the debt we piled up is higher than what is currently there because of what your administration has invoked.
Question #3 Many experts believe that the 21st Century Financial Regulatory Reform you proposed may become the most significant innovation in the U.S. financial system since the era of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. What do you consider to be the most important element of this reform? Are we at the doorstep of new transparency of business and finances?
Obama answers:
The plans include three important components. First, we’re proposing a set of reforms to require regulators to look not only at the safety and soundness of individual institutions, but also — for the first time — at the stability of the financial system as a whole. Second, we’re proposing a new and powerful agency charged with just one job: looking out for ordinary consumers. Third, we’re proposing a series of changes designed to promote free and fair markets by closing gaps and overlaps in our regulatory system — including gaps that exist not just within but between nations.
Did you get all that? You will be protected by the federal government now.
Skip the boring question and moving to Questions #5
“Restarting” the relationship implies cooperating with Russia in those areas where it is possible. Does this mean weaker attention to Russia’s observation of civil rights and liberties, and to persecution against and murders of journalists? Specifically, to [the need to] apprehend and punish those who ordered and committed the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya?
Obama says:
Of course not.
Finally, a quick answer. But followed by:
I seek to reset relations with Russia because I believe that Americans and Russians have many common interests, interests that our governments recently have not pursued as actively as we could have.
For instance?
For instance, I believe that Americans and Russians both would benefit from fewer nuclear weapons in the world, greater control over nuclear materials around the world, a defeat of extremist elements in Afghanistan and Pakistan, an Iran that produces nuclear energy but not nuclear weapons, and a North Korea that refrains from launching missiles and exploding nuclear weapons and instead returns to the negotiating table.
All of this sounds great. The only problem is implementing these changes. Who’s gonna trust us?
Here’s a good question in #6
Will you sign the new START treaty if Russia conditions its signing upon non-deployment of the U.S. missile defense system in Central Europe?
Obama responds:
Given the threats around the world, especially those growing from North Korea and Iran, our goal is to enhance missile defense for the United States and our allies in Europe and elsewhere.
Basically “no”. All this diplomatic speak is hard on the eyes.
We are not building and will not build a system that is aimed to respond to an attack from Russia.
Stop being afraid of us!
Then there’s a stupid question about his political relationship with Secretary of State Clinton. So we’ll ignore that.
Last week, I spoke to you about my commitment to work with Congress to pass health care reform this year. Today, I’d like to speak about how that effort is essential to restoring fiscal responsibility.
As if we should listen to the man who is racking up huge deficits!! So much for Liberal fiscal responsibility.
America spends nearly 50 percent more per person on health care than any other country.
Do these other countries make as much money as Americans? Do they have the access to such medical breakthroughs that Americans do?
Americans are being priced out of the care they need.
This I agree with. It does cost quite a bit to keep health insurance. Why doesn’t the other insurances go up? It must be a medical conspiracy.
Meanwhile, Medicare and Medicaid pose one of the greatest threats to our federal deficit, and could leave our children with a mountain of debt that they cannot pay.
Nevermind what you’re budget is going to do to our children.
And I have made a firm commitment that health care reform will not add to the federal deficit over the next decade.
That is a big commitment Mr. President. Care to tell us how that will work?
my Administration has already identified how to pay for the historic $635 billion down payment on reform detailed in our budget.
Okay. So how will your administration pay for it?
This includes over $300 billion that we will save through changes like reducing Medicare overpayments to private insurers, and rooting out waste in Medicare and Medicaid.
That’s less than half. What about the rest?
However, any honest accounting must prepare for the fact that health care reform will require additional costs in the short term in order to reduce spending in the long-term.
This is incredible. This President will go down in history as the “Spend It” President. I swear he is spending the United States into destruction.
If you like your plan and your doctor, you can keep them – the only changes that you’ll see are lower costs and better health care.
Why are people angry at President Obama if this plan is true? If you can keep your plan, why would you be angry for allowing others to get the coverage they need?
Vice President Biden gave these remarks before a Cabinet meeting on Monday. Let’s take a look and dissect it.
Vice President Biden:
In a little more than a hundred days, I think your Cabinet has done a pretty good job, Mr. President, on the Recovery Act.
Pretty good? Just pretty good? I would take those words to be an insult, especially coming from Biden who is known for his sharp retorts.
I think we’ve put in place — or they’ve put in place a pretty strong platform upon which we can begin to build this new economy.
Did you catch that little “oops” moment? First he said “we’ve put in place” then corrected himself and said the Cabinet put in place. But we may have stumbled upon the truth that it’s all Obama’s pulling of the strings. Which isn’t that big a deal if things work.
95 percent of the families in America are now receiving a tax break, and they’re seeing it in their paycheck every month.
Once again, I must be part of that 5% that hasn’t been seeing that tax break in my paycheck and I have a low-paying job.
And, Mr. President, a couple of weeks ago — and you’ve authorized me, and I thank the Cabinet for doing this, to call a Cabinet meeting once a week.
Right here you see Joe Biden will run in eight years. He’s a power-hungry mogul.
The 10 most significant of those projects, Mr. President, we’ve put in this book that we’re going to give you — it’s called “Roadmap to Recovery” — here.
I’ll need to see a copy of that book.
in the next hundred days, Mr. President, we think we’re going to grow the jobs by another 600,000.
Keep track of that number.
And on a side note, do you see how Vice President Biden continues to say “Mr. President”? It’s like he thinks we’ll forget who he’s talking to. It’s like when the crazy Christians pray to God and say “Father, God” every other word. But that’s another rant for another time.
Here are some of the Roadmap’s projects:
the Cabinet members — they believe they’re going to be able to put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the street during this summer.
Doesn’t seem like a big number does it?
Health and Human Resources:
They’re going to enable us, the states, to create and build on 1,129 health care centers in eight states and eight territories, providing service to approximately 300,000 additional people.
Interior: 107 new park projects that are underway that are going to make a real difference. A lot them have to do with energy savings, Mr. President, using high-tech energy standards.
Veterans: 90 veterans’ medical centers across the country are going to see improvements in their facility. Access and caring for veterans is better and is going to begin this summer.
We’re going to start, in the Department of Agriculture, 200 new waste water and waste projects in rural America.
Transportation: We’re going to begin work and rehabilitation on 80 — 98 airports, 1,500 highway locations throughout the country.
And at EPA, Mr. President, we’re going to accelerate the clean-up on 21 super-fund sites that exist on the national priority list.
Education: 135,000 education-related jobs, including teachers, principals, administrators and staff support
We’re going to create, at Labor, 125,000 summer jobs
Are these government jobs? I’d like to see what these summer jobs look like.
the Defense Department, they’re going to initiate 2,300 construction and rehabilitation projects on 359 military facilities across the country.
There you go. Take another look at what’s going to happen during the summer and tell me what you think.
I refused to let these companies [GM & Chrysler] become permanent wards of the state, kept afloat on an endless supply of taxpayer money.
Instead of them being wards of the state, they are now owned by the state. How convenient.
if GM and Chrysler and their stakeholders were willing to sacrifice for their companies’ survival and success; if they were willing to take the difficult, but necessary steps to restructure, and make themselves stronger, leaner, and more competitive, then the United States government would stand behind them.
Stand behind them and pull their hands behind their backs and tie them off with baler twine. I like this metaphor, keep it going.
The original restructuring plans submitted by GM and Chrysler earlier this year did not call for the sweeping changes these companies needed to survive — and I couldn’t in good conscience proceed on that basis.
Instead, you took control of them to make them change.
The 60 days GM had to submit its revised plans have now elapsed, and I want to say a few words about where we are and what steps will be taken going forward.
Sixty days. Sixty days for GM to come up with a major reconstruction. Sounds like a George W. Bush ultimatum to me.
I became convinced that if Chrysler were willing to undergo a restructuring, and if it were able to form a partnership with a viable global car company, then Chrysler could get a new lease on life.
What do you mean by a “viable global car company”? Are you suggesting we ditch the American brand?
Just 31 days after Chrysler’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, a court has approved the Chrysler-Fiat alliance, paving the way for a new Chrysler to emerge from bankruptcy in the next few days.
It begins with Chrysler and ends with the WORLD!!! (insert evil laugh)
GM will start building a larger share of its cars here at home, including fuel-efficient cars. In fact, if all goes according to plan, the share of GM cars sold in the United States that are made here will actually grow for the first time in three decades.
This is what I like to see. I want to see this actually happening.
Considering GM’s extensive operations within their borders, the governments of Canada and Ontario have agreed to do their part with an investment in GM’s future, and I want to thank them for doing so. I also want to thank the government of Germany for working diligently to reach a Memorandum of Understanding on the sale of a major stake in GM’s European Division and for providing interim funding that will make it possible for that transaction to be finalized.
At least three governments are putting money into General Motors – quite impressive.
That’s why our government will be making a significant additional investment of about $30 billion in GM — an investment that will entitle American taxpayers to ownership of about 60 percent of the new GM.
You can’t honestly think that we believe that. It’s not the taxpayers who have ownership. The real ownership is the Federal Government of The United States. The taxpayers are just fronting the bill. We’ll have absolutely no say in how it’s used. Don’t feed us that drivel.
These steps have put our government in the unwelcome position of owning large stakes in private companies for the simple and compelling reason that their survival and the success of our overall economy depend on it.
Why not just let them die? Why did the government have to step in? Maybe it would be better for crooks to lose once in a while.
They [a board of directors] — and not the government — will call the shots and make the decisions about how to turn this company around.
And this board will answer to the government. We all see through it Mr President.
The federal government will refrain from exercising its rights as a shareholder in all but the most fundamental corporate decisions.
I’m sure you’ll find ways to call any number of decisions, “a most fundamental corporate decision”.
And I want to remind everyone that if you are considering buying a GM car during this period of restructuring, your warrantees will be safe and government-backed.
This might just be the first ever Presidential commercial for a product.
Difficult days lie ahead. More jobs will be lost. More plants will close. More dealerships will shut their doors, and so will many parts suppliers.
How many people are going to commit suicide because of what you just said?
And that’s why I’m calling on Congress to pass fleet modernization legislation that can provide a credit to consumers who turn in old cars and purchase cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars.
Hopefully it will be worth it. I want the credit to be advantageous. If so, I may be inclined to turn in my Kia for a GM automobile.
The unemployment rate is at its highest point in twenty-five years. We are still in the midst of a deep recession that was years in the making, and it will take time to fully turn this economy around.
Such a high note. It’s almost like he’s calling forth the spirit of Jimmy Carter. I can almost hear it now, “Flee for your lives!”
To restore fiscal discipline, we identified 121 programs to eliminate from our budget.
I was hoping for more programs to be eliminated. Wait! I just read that; they identified programs? Let’s see you do more than identify them. Eliminate them.
to restore a sense of fairness to our tax code and common sense to our economy, I have asked Congress to work with me in closing the loopholes that let companies ship jobs and stash profits overseas
We commented on this action a few days ago. Let’s see how Congress responds. There are many lawmakers in the pockets of these companies…
Americans know that they have a responsibility to live within their means and pay what they owe.
Which means don’t max out your credit cards on shoes so you won’t get those surprise rate hikes!
they also have a right to not get ripped off by the sudden rate hikes, unfair penalties, and hidden fees that have become all-too common in our credit card industry.
Let’s discuss what unfair really means. If someone is constantly maxing out their cards and only paying the bare minimum, I would think the credit card companies can set the rates to whatever they want.
nor should you need a magnifying glass and a reference book to read a credit card application.
This I agree with. That booklet that comes with your credit card is ridiculous.
we can’t tolerate profits that depend upon misleading working families.
Here is the quote! Keep it in mind when you’re looking at Federal programming and the profits they make.
You can read the full transcript here. Let’s take a look:
many[businesses] are aided and abetted by a broken tax system, written by well-connected lobbyists on behalf of well-heeled interests and individuals.
Let’s kick all the lobbyists out of Washington D.C. Let’s create a new law that forbids lobbyists from having face-to-face conversations with our lawmakers.
It’s a tax code full of corporate loopholes that makes it perfectly legal for companies to avoid paying their fair share.
This is where it gets tricky, see; please explain to me who determines what, “their fair share” looks like. I’m assuming President Obama will be the one who determines this.
It’s a tax code that makes it all too easy for a number — a small number of individuals and companies to abuse overseas tax havens to avoid paying any taxes at all.
A small number? What in the world does that look like in the eyes of a nation like The United States? I’m assuming he is talking about the incredibly lucrative businesses…name names Mr President!
I want to see our companies remain the most competitive in the world. But the way to make sure that happens is not to reward our companies for moving jobs off our shores or transferring profits to overseas tax havens.
I was taught to completely ignore what the person said before they said the word “but”.
I’m announcing a set of proposals to crack down on illegal overseas tax evasion, close loopholes, and make it more profitable for companies to create jobs here in the United States.
And we’re off:
We will stop letting American companies that create jobs overseas take deductions on their expenses when they do not pay any American taxes on their profits. And we will use the savings to give tax cuts to companies that are investing in research and development here at home so that we can jump start job creation, foster innovation, and enhance America’s competitiveness.
In other words: “We’ll stick it to ‘em.”
And … this … will save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars — money that can be spent on reinvesting in America
In other words: money that can be spent on President Obama’s federal programs.
I’m asking Congress to pass some commonsense measures.
Let’s see how commonsense they really are.
let the IRS know how much income Americans are generating in overseas accounts by requiring overseas banks to provide 1099s for their American clients
Sound fair?
If financial institutions won’t cooperate with us, we will assume that they are sheltering money in tax havens, and act accordingly.
I can see it now, the IRS stomping into the Swiss banks.
We’re putting a middle class tax cut in the pockets of 95 percent of working families
What is this obsession with ninety-five percent? That’s all we heard during the campaign.
It’s a down payment on the larger tax reform we need to make our tax system simpler and fairer and more efficient for individuals and corporations.
Can’t wait to see what this “larger tax reform” will look like if this is only the down payment.
We’ll look at this remarks and a few of the questions he answered. You can find the transcript here.
Beginning his statements, he explained how his administration is dealing with the Swine Flu.
every American should know that their entire government is taking the utmost precautions and preparations.
Which is a relief compared to how pathetic our previous administration dealt with a crisis on the homefront.
Our public health officials have recommended that schools with confirmed or suspected cases of this flu strongly consider temporarily closing.
This would really stink for college students who are almost finished with the year.
I’ve requested an immediate $1.5 billion in emergency funding from Congress to support our ability to monitor and track this virus and to build our supply of antiviral drugs and other equipment, and we will also ensure that those materials get to where they need to be as quickly as possible.
What happened with all the money that was given during the stimulus emergency? How many times will President Obama request immediate funding for emergencies? Better yet, how many emergencies will we have?
I’d like to mention is how gratified I am that the House and the Senate passed a budget resolution today that will serve as an economic blueprint for this nation’s future. I especially want to thank Leader Reid, Speaker Pelosi, all the members of Congress who worked so quickly and effectively to make this blueprint a reality.
And don’t forget to mention how no one from the other party ran with you on this. Even some from your own party disagreed.
I also campaigned on the promise that I would change the direction of our nation’s foreign policy — and we’ve begun to do that as well.
Which includes bowing to another head of state…is this a good thing for the President of the United States to do? Is it time for us to get off our selfish highhorse? What I really dispised was the Press Secretary excusing it as President Obama reaching to shake his hand with both hands. How pathetic!
You can expect us to work on health care reform that will bring down costs while maintaining quality
And everyone with health care currently, stand on your head if you believe this is possible. Universal Health Care equals lower costs/quality care?
When asked about federalizing the auto industry, President Obama said:
I would love to get the U.S. government out of the auto business as quickly as possible.
And near the end of the briefing he said,
I think our first role should be shareholders that are looking to get out. You know, I don’t want to run auto companies, I don’t want to run banks.
Mark those words everyone! They are down and in writing!
With regards to halting waterboarding:
it takes away a critical recruitment tool that al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations have used to try to demonize the United States and justify the killing of civilians.
No offense, but al Qaeda will continue to demonize the U.S. and kill civilians until hell freezes over. Stopping that form of torture will not stop the recruitment.
Asked if he would ever use those torture tools to protect the nation, President Obama said,
I will do whatever is required to keep the American people safe … and there have been no circumstances during the course of this first hundred days in which I have seen information that would make me second-guess the decision that I’ve made.
With regards to abortion and why President Obama is pro-choice:
The reason I’m pro-choice is because I don’t think women take that position casually. I think that they struggle with these decisions each and every day, and I think they are in a better position to make these decision ultimately than members of Congress or a President of the United States
Now here I find myself in agreement. I think choice is a person’s right. I don’t think there should be a federal law criminalizing a choice like this. On the other hand, I think those who perform these procedures should do everything in their power to explain the situation, describe what will happen and offer up alternatives.
Say what you want, but this President is a good one. I look forward to what’s in store under his watch.
President Obama gave a speech promoting science. Beware, the video is over thirty minutes long. Below we’ll take some quotes from the speech and discuss it.
there are those who say we cannot afford to invest in science, that support for research is somehow a luxury at moments defined by necessities.
I would like to know who these, “those who say” are. Can someone find me a link or a quote of a person making that claim?
Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been before.
You have to be careful when you make statements like this; that something is more essential than it has ever been before. Particularly to science. Arguments could be made that in years past has been them most essential time for science than today.
Federal funding in the physical sciences as a portion of our gross domestic product has fallen by nearly half over the past quarter century.
Whose fault is this? Was this the result of eight years of so-called Republican rule? (I say so-called because I don’t believe the Bush administration was truly a Republican one)
Our students are outperformed in math and science by their peers in Singapore, Japan, England, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Korea, among others.
This isn’t because of science isn’t getting money, it’s because math and science are difficult classes and Americans are lazy.
We will devote more than 3 percent of our GDP to research and development. We will not just meet, but we will exceed the level achieved at the height of the space race, through policies that invest in basic and applied research, create new incentives for private innovation, promote breakthroughs in energy and medicine, and improve education in math and science.
“More than 3 percent” does that mean 3.1 %? But beyond that, this sounds exciting. I’m ready to read about new discoveries again that are positive!
my budget makes the research and experimentation tax credit permanent. This is a tax credit that returns two dollars to the economy for every dollar we spend
I would be interested in how he got these simple numbers given the fact that some research proves to be a failure.
That Apollo program produced technologies that have improved kidney dialysis and water purification systems; sensors to test for hazardous gasses; energy-saving building materials; fire-resistant fabrics used by firefighters and soldiers.
The very proof that science and research is good. Excellent Mr President. Give us a declaration in the spirit of President Kennedy.
I’ve set a goal for our nation that we will reduce our carbon pollution by more than 80 percent by 2050.
Not quite the goal I was hoping to hear. It’s 2009 and you’re talking about 2050. We want to hear a bold statement about this year or the following year.
Under my administration, the days of science taking a back seat to ideology are over.
That is President Obama’s code word for faith-based or religion.
So there is alot in this speech. Some great, some a little flaky. But I’m excited to see where our nation can go with scientific research blazing.
