In State of the Union, president calls for three-year spending freeze
Declaring that “I do not accept second place for the United States of America,” President Barack Obama compared the economic crisis to the greatest challenges of the nation’s past, saying “history’s call” demanded a years-long freeze on huge chunks of popular government spending programs.
In his first State of the Union address, Obama bluntly compared the recession to great challenges of the past like the Civil War and the bloody struggle for civil rights in the 1960s. While there has been progress, it has stalled, he said, telling lawmakers in the House chamber and millions of Americans at home that “the devastation remains.”
“I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people,” Obama said. “... This problem is not going away.”
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40 comments:
In the 10 or so minutes during which he gave the response, the new governor of Virginia made Barack look like a buffoon.
A freeze after 20% increases isn't to hard. It only covers 1/6 of the budget anyway. It would be better to eliminate each and every earmark.
Obama is a prime example proving the ignorant should not be permitted to vote without being tested before hand! He is an idiot his wife is not worthy of being first lady of anything much less OUR country and the Czar crap is just that a bunch of bull!
Notice they did not say "3 year spending freeze on just a really small part of the budget."
And what level is this spending frozen at? I think spending on everything, already way too high, shot up a ton this past year.
Empty political promises with no positive effect for the average citizen.
what no bashing of obama
didn't watch it. I have already seen enough of what obama promises and what he does! the next couple of years can't go fast enough! good riddance!
Con!
Obama's State of the Union address was an incoherent, disorganized, and most regrettably defiant, mess of a speech.As far as expectations for the State of the Union the president's speech was a sizable failure.
By my count President Obama made several significant policy pivots -- for the first time he advocated the use of nuclear power, domestic drilling, clean coal, capital gains tax cuts, spending freezes, and called on Congress to "tighten their belts" just as American families are being forced to do.
the man is a joke
this is like telling your wife your cutting back and not going out to dinner; but we live in sby and I'm picking up a new rifle in the morning
the discretionary spending freeze is 2% of the Fed budget
How bout we cut HIS discretionary spending by 100% ???
The problem will go away , when he goes away.
Blah, Blah, Blah Blah Blah
Any of you spend your time waiting for the government to make you prosper and you are the fool.
The reason for a spending freeze is he has spent all the money.
Bad part about that is , congress let it happen. God it looks bad , civil war may be around the corner.
Maybe the only way out of this mess. He reminds me so much of the failed African leaders who were full of themselves and greed.
More lies! How can anyone take this guy seriously after what he has done?
If some of you would step down from your idealogical pedestal you might see that this president has done some good things and he has done some bad things. And if you would debate based on the facts, not scare tactics and personal attacks, you would see that there are some good ideas from this administration, and other ideas that should be fine tuned or completely thrown out. But your blind idealogy keeps you from taking what should be an objective view of the facts. tisk tisk
How about stopping Pollitt's deal to pay $1.5 Million for a 5 acre parking lot at the Civic Center!
the man wants to freeze spending yet you still complain. 11:26 and 12:59, look up some facts before you speak. By far most spending comes from the 3 major entitlements and defense. Congress has to take the lead in cutting costs here. The president is attacking the first area of spending that he has direct control. And for all the hoopla about earmarks, you could eliminate every single one but it still be a drop in the bucket compare to the Big 3 entitlements and defense. Atleast give the man credit for taking the first step.
I'm giving him credit alright
6:57, if you would have opened your ears, you would have heard Obama advocate for all of these during his campaign. But what he did say is that
#1 expand nuclear but have a safe way of storing the waste (without which nuclear cannot be a "clean" energy source.
#2 drilling is great, but we can't drill our way out of this problem
#3 he's always said cut capital gains taxes for small business
#4 and he's always called for cutting waste
I'm glad you are now up to speed with the administration's plans!
Let me just make something very clear here. The Pbama State of the Union speech was simply put, complete BS. Made me sick so I turned it off. My Wife is a democrat and voted for Obama and we only lasted 10 minutes and she changed the channel. Now THAT says a lot!
To all the Obama Bashers:
If by the 3rd quarter of 2011, unemployment is down, our soldiers are coming home with victory, a majority of Americans taxes have been lowered or stay the same, we've begun to see advancements in the green economy, and some improvements in our education system, I want you all to be willing to click that Obama button come November.
And if, 7 years from now the economy is having a healthy boom, and your taxes have lowered/remained stable, the deficit is on it's way down, and you see even greater overall prosperity in this country, I want you all to be willing to praise Obama just as you praise the legacy of Reagan.
And if none of these things comes to pass, you have the right to never ever put another liberal in office again (I know I won't).
Joe, thats the problem. How can anyone effectively debate the merits of someone's position when they haven't even listened to what that person's position is. Oh thats right, you'll learn by listening to what Rush tells you.
This is the same problem in Congress; they no longer debate. What you see on CSPAN is old men screaming at an empty room. Everyone simply votes how the party leader wants them to (applies to both parties).
Open your eyes and ears and take an objective look. Keep the good, throw out the bad. This is the essence of compromise and the only way to get the best plans moving forward.
7:47
What has he done?
It's been over a year. What has he done?
8:56, He has
#1 sent our soldiers the support they need to win in Afghanistan
#2 crafted a strategy to bring our soldiers home from Iraq with victory
#3 used a large portion of the stimulus to cut taxes; I've enjoyed the extra money in my paycheck!
#4 extended health coverage through CHIP
#5 plenty of economists agree the measures taken through TARP and the stimulus heeded off an even more disastrous depression
#6 layed a foundation for the formation of new jobs in the green economy
#7 kept plenty of teachers and police officers from joining the unemployment line
#8 has extended unemployment benefits. Sucks to be out of work, but how many of you who received extensions would disagree that it has helped you get through?
Where he has done bad?
#1 Leave Guantonamo alone and hang whoever you catch trying to attack us
#2 Pull back from drastic changes to healthcare and concentrate on smaller yet effective solutions
#3 make it clear to N.Korea and Iran that we don't care about your little POS countries (no regime change), we just can't have you threatening us with nuclear war and we won't
#4 allowed dems to drop bi-partisanship after winning the 60 majority
Hows that for objective analysis?
IMPEACH
Obama is the most arrogant President we have ever had ! He insulted both the Congress and the Supreme court and let them know he was more powerful then they ! I thought we had 3 branch's of Government but Obama thinks he's our Dictator ! Vote out Democrats and impeach this dishonest Socialist !
He knows nothing about the civil war.
10:16 where was the insult to the Supreme court or congress? Reps. call this man a liar and compare him to homicidal dictators yet when he voices his disagreement with a decision, you call him arrogant.
9:27
#1 The request for more troops was sent to Obama on August 1st for 60,000 more troop. Obama sat on that request for over 2 months while our soldiers were being slaughtered and then only approved 30,000. Hardly an accomplishment.
#2 The war in Iraq was won before Obama was even elected and he can hardly take credit for the inevitable, nice try though.
#3 There is no tax cut, only the withholding tables have been changed, you will find out when you file you 2009 tax return that you have to pay that extra money back. The “Stimulus” bill does NOTHING for private individuals and everyone can see that the Democrat stimulis bill has not worked and most will argue that it has made conditions worse.
#4 Yes, now people that had their own insurance now are being forced into chip
#5 And plenty of other economists agree that it was taxpayer money wasted
#6 For every “Green” job created 10 existing jobs are lost.
#7 Is that those “Jobs saved” that Obama keeps citing
#8 True, as long as we keep extending the benefits people will keep taking them. I personally know many people that are going to “Milk” unemployment for as long as they can.
Where has he gone bad?
You forgot
He has declared war on banks, insurance companies, investors, and doctors. The net result is that the money people in this country are frozen in fear of what he will do next causing the economy to be frozen as a result.
Has been trying to RAM through a complete government takeover of the health care industry in this country, and take away personal choices and freedoms of the citizenry. You can try and argue that Obama wasn’t behind this healthcare push, but you would be lying if you did.
How’s that for blowing holes in you list of accomplishments?
10:54 The issue was free speech I know that's not popular among Socialists like you but we are still a republic at this point ! It was supposed to be the state of the Union address not the blame everyone else for your failures address !
11:18, alot of half truth and talking points especially your "declare war on banks..." crud.
#1 "Slaughter"? Really? Sounds like you are quite a bit caught up in the media hype. From what I understand, the generals on the ground are quite happy with the resources they have recieved so unless you can provide evidence to the contrary, save your armchair military strategizing.
#2Again, even the commanders on the ground wouldn't rule that Iraq is won, even today. Until the Iraqi forces can stand on their own, nothing is won. Again, I'll judge by what the commanders say, not the voice from the armchair.
#3 Filed my taxes earlier this week and they are looking pretty good! I'm not paying anything extra back. Neither is my fiance who makes considerably more than I do.
#4 No one forced you to buy CHIP. But fortunately it has been there for so many people who are now out of a job.
#5 conservatives say the stimulus sucked while liberals say it was too small. The CBO (one of the more objective analysis you'll find) shows the stimulus is working albeit not at the pace that many of us would like.
#6 are you saying green jobs kill other jobs (if so I want to see the evidence)? Or that we're just losing jobs faster than green ones are being created? If the latter, NO $h!t. It aint called recession for nothin. Green jobs are about long-term growth.
#7 yes, exactly. If you would listen, he clearly pointed those out as examples last night.
#8 so you think the millions laid off through no fault of their own, many of who worked for the same company for 10+ years (while paying into the system) are "milking" the system?
11:36 can you say hypocritical? Free speech means he has the right to speak out against what he sees as a bad ruling just as you do. Last I checked, even though he spoke out about it, the constitution did not suddenly burn down and the separation of powers evaporate. He doesn't like it, he's going to have to formulate constitutional measures that blunt the ruling; measures which the supremes will have ample opportunity to challenge if it is the people's will. Grow up!
1:14 This wasn't a news conference it was the state of the Union ! He was supposed to talk about that and didn't which was a round a bout way of acknowledging his failures ! One branch of government shouldn't try and usurp the others unless your a socialist ! Your truly pathetic !
Again, tell me how speaking out against a ruling that has the potential to have a direct impact on our country somehow usurp the power of the judicial branch. I mean, did I miss the chinese water torcher of Alito segment? Did he point a gun at Roberts? Was there an executive order disbanding the supreme court that I missed today?
He talked for over an hour about the State of the Union. Legislation affecting the way elections are ran in this democracy has direct implications on the State of the Union!
Rush et al. has you guys so whipped in a froth that you can't even think straight.
2:36 Your state run filtered media has you mindless and uninformed once again time place eludes you !
2:36 Isn't the President supposed to lead ? instead of bullying and harassing the other branch's of government. As much as he want's to be he is not bigger than and cannot operate outside the restraints of Constitution !!!
2:42 attempts to insult because he/she cannot effectively refute what has been said.
2:48 what the hell are you talking about? So you don't include the constant "Obama is a socialist, unamerican, muslim out to destroy america" barrage coming from republicans in congress "bullying and harassing the other [branches]". Hows that for some partisan pile of crap.
3:08 Your the one insulting and the one who can't refute the fact Obama was factually wrong ! More kool aid ?
3:08
The law that Congress enacted in the populist days of the early 20th century prohibited direct corporate contributions to political campaigns. That law was not at issue in the Citizens United case, and is still on the books. Rather, the court struck down a more complicated statute that barred corporations and unions from spending money directly from their treasuries — as opposed to their political action committees — on television advertising to urge a vote for or against a federal candidate in the period immediately before the election. It is true, though, that the majority wrote so broadly about corporate free speech rights as to call into question other limitations as well — although not necessarily the existing ban on direct contributions. Refute that !
7:47 nice synopsis. But the question was not necessarily the merits of the court's ruling. The argument was the accusation that somehow Obama is bullying, harassing, or trying to usurp the power of the judiciary by stating he did not agree with the ruling during the SOTU.
Matter of fact, I seem to recall during the last administration, Bush and plenty of Reps. during multiple forums trashed the rulings of courts across the country as "activists judges". Bush used his constitutional powers to appoint who he saw as a good pick for the supremes. Congress helped vet the pick. And meanwhile they all still spoke out against rulings that they found objectionable. No problem, both from a legal and political standpoint. So 2:48 don't try to change the rules just because you don't like this president.
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