Let's face it, people; this administration isn't interested in creating jobs.

[Joe Fields]

Obama had a ton of good will on his side a couple of years ago. He knew what the people wanted. He knew what the people needed.

But instead, he catered to the corporatists, whose money and influence propelled him into the White House. He's had two years to develop a jobs program. He hasn't done it. That fact alone looms the largest in the election swing earlier this month.

Over two million Americans will lose their unemployment benefits this holiday season. But Mr. Obama, don't you get it yet? While these good hard working Americans need those extensions in their unemployment, what will save this country is JOBS, dammit.

Do this country a huge favor, Mr. Obama. Quit bending over for this nation's richest few and devise a program that will put America back to work.

I have little hope left that this will happen. The evidence to the contrary is too clear for me. But if you don't, then only God knows what the end consequences might be.

[flvegan]

1. You still think he cares?

[BlueIris]

42. That is laughable, isn't it?

:rofl:

[SammyWinstonJack]

43. Not at all.

[Joe Fields]

47. Depends on how you define caring.

[Historic NY]

2. congress pass laws not the President. What jobs do you propose?

If the Congress doesn't pass an extension then one won't get passed.

[hlthe2b]

6. Economists are warning his freezing of Federal pay will decrease jobs

In Colorado, today, the news reports I heard were underscoring this projected impact on the economy and slowdown of any new job development.

[Historic NY]

11. Federal jobs.....even most State & local governments are cutting or laying off....

they been begging 40yr employess to leave/retire in NY State, but some didn't so the bottom gets laid off or jobs are just abolished. Every dept took a hit.

I guess it depend which economist is being paid...

"The federal government, when you look on average, they make about 50 percent higher wages than the state of Utah than they do the overall state average," says Utah Dept. of Workforce Services chief economist, Mark Knold.

Knold says the government workers already have a relatively high pay rate, which is reason for the pay freeze proposal.

http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-fed-pay-freeze-utah-workers,0,4633995.story

[hlthe2b]

12. You are arguing a tangential issue.

But, since you simply want to attack economists, rather than their viewpoint, forget it. I don't buy into that kind of tactic.

[Hello_Kitty]

17. OMFG. Yet another DUer pushing that RW meme.

Them gubmint workers make too much!!

[Historic NY]

20. I'm retired from the goverment...R U.went 3 yrs sometimes w/o a raise.

[hlthe2b]

29. yes... it makes me want to spit nails.

[avaistheone1]

18. Why would the freezing of Federal pay decrease jobs?

[Hello_Kitty]

21. By taking $28bn out of the economy.

Money going into people's paychecks is money that is spent.

[avaistheone1]

23. The $28bn is not there today.

How can you take something out that isn't there. It doesn't exist.

[Hello_Kitty]

25. Which could be said about every proposed spending program. eom

[avaistheone1]

27. Frankly I would rather see

that money go to the unemployed whose benefits are set to run out. That is where the money is desperately needed, and surely would be spent in ways which are critical to those individuals and it would help the economy as well.

[Hello_Kitty]

30. False choice. And a foolish one.

We could very well end up with this federal wage freeze, no UI extension, and a continuation of Bush's tax cuts to the rich.

[avaistheone1]

31. How so?

[Hello_Kitty]

32. I just told you.

First off, I haven't seen any assurance that the money saved from the wage freeze will be applied to extended UI benefits. Even if that's the case, it's no assurance that Republicans and Conserva-Dems will assent to the UI extension.

[glitch]

54. Not to mention cuts to Social Security.

But then neoliberals really aren't interested in welfare (it doesn't mean what most have been programmed to believe it means) economics.

[Hawkowl]

34. Think of it as gasoline

The economy is a car. The wages are the gasoline that fuels the economy (spending). You have so much gasoline now, so who care how much we need tomorrow? Do you see the problem yet? Lack of planning on your part can simply drive the car into a ditch.

[hlthe2b]

28. Because of the impact on spending in the economy...

areas where there are many Federal workers, it will make a dent.

[Romulox]

41. Remember when Obama went on TV and DEMANDED that Congress not tax taxpayer funded bankster bonuses?

:hi:

[WinkyDink]

52. Then he ought not to speak of them. "Green jobs", blah de blah blah.

[hlthe2b]

3. Clinton was a micromanager to a great extent-- in many areas

I fear that either Obama has tuned out, ignoring his principles and instincts, or he has delegated to asshole idiot advisors who view this all as one big game (and one that they have no clue how to "win".

[laughingliberal]

8. Nah, I think he's just fulfilling commitments made in Toronto. nt

[Radical Activist]

4. He created jobs in my town. Yours too.

You probably don't recognize many of them because much of the money is funneled through state and local governments and private contractors. One of those jobs was the person who did the energy audit on my house. Another was several road projects in my area.

The best jobs program is to pass a clean energy bill and put people to work building our new energy infrastructure. Obama pushed for it and the Senate blocked it. Have you called your Senators about that yet? They should be voting on it during the lame duck session.

[Radical Activist]

5. There are people in my town working on high speed rail projects right now.

Thanks Obama!

[laughingliberal]

7. K & R nt

[regnaD kciN]

9. Uh...the stimulus he put through created THREE MILLION jobs...

Let's face it, people; some here can only see a glass that isn't 100% full as totally empty. :eyes:

[Joe Fields]

10. What I see is a need for a WPA style program.

Three million jobs, supposedly? Yet unemployment (true unemployment is around 15%?)

The glass isn't even one fifth of the way full, and his allegiances cannot be denied, but I'm sure you will try.

[JoseGaspar]

14. Not even the White House claims that...

The word was "saved", not "created". 1.7 million jobs "saved" would have been a better estimate. But, let's not quibble. Let's make it 3 million and let's assume that all would have been lost without the Stim. That would make the glass one seventh full (the OP was much too kind to your comment).

Now, let's try that again:

"...some here can only see a glass that is 14% full as totally empty."

Really?

How unreasonable...

[avaistheone1]

19. Yes,

there is a significant difference between saving jobs and creating jobs.

[Bluebear]

26. Careful, he made rolly eyes.

:eyes:

:)

[SammyWinstonJack]

44. ...

:spray: :evilgrin:

[w8liftinglady]

57. -Unfortunately,the job creation...at least in my area-is minimum-wage jobs/no benefits

all manufacturing jobs have been outsourced.farming/ranching cut WAY down.State/County jobs bare-boned.
Military/prison system/fast food/healthcare for the overwhelming number of uninsured...take your pick.

[Liquorice]

13. I can't help but be worried about losing the WH in two years. We can't afford

a republican president. It will be a nightmare of Raygun proportions. I hope Obama wakes up soon and grows a spine. Capitulating to the right-wing is going to get us nowhere. He needs to get an FU attitude toward them and set a much stronger course and agenda. I don't understand why he doesn't seem to see that you cannot negotiate with these people; they are psychopaths.

[Joe Fields]

15. Did you ever see the made for T.V. movie "V"?

If not, look it up.

[Liquorice]

16. I haven't seen the movie, but the ABC series, "V" is great. I think it's based on the movie. nt

[glitch]

55. Loved it, even bought the dvds.

How does the remake compare?

[eilen]

36. I hope the President wakes up some day and remembers he's a Democrat. nt.

[kenny blankenship]

40. I hope millions of other people wake the hell up and REALIZE THAT HE'S NOT

If this party is to have any future, besides being the Team Republican's JV squad, it has to start thinking Beyond Obama right now.

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. !!!

:thumbsup:

[glitch]

56. Yep. And if it doesn't, then we do. nt

[blindpig]

50. How much difference could it make?

Really? Everything of substance that this administration does has been to the benefit of the ruling class. He ain't gonna tell them to fuck off, they are essentially on the same page, apparent differences are mere jockeying and display. The entire political class is our enemy.

[Safetykitten]

22. Ah, we now have arrived at the moment of zen.

[Raine]

24. I don't even think he cares about saving his own job

two years from now. :-(

[somone]

49. Why should he?

The guy's all set for life. A very lucrative and rewarding career is waiting for him no matter what. Plus, he's already got the Nobel Prize in his pocket, so he won't have to do a thing to prove himself anymore (unlike Carter or Clinton).

[dkf]

33. The American worker needs the security of a job, not a temporary unemployment benefit that

Gets kicked around like the political football that it is.

It beats me why a person who gets their unemployment extended would blow those funds on Christmas presents. To me it is ridiculous to suggest that an unemployed person who is at the mercy of a Republican congress should even think about buying unnecessary crap.

[eilen]

37. Maybe the unemployed person would like to not to be homeless this Christmas. nt

[dkf]

38. Some bozo on TV was saying we need to keep up unemployment benefits

So people can spend money on Christmas presents.

Wouldn't you admit that is a stupid thing to say?

[w8liftinglady]

51. what bothers me is the hiring frenzy before Christmas,only to be laid off in jan

now,as far as the unemployed buying presents...
Having had 2 kids at home while on disablity,it's hard to toally ignore Christmas,especially when you know they have suffered right along with you.A parent guilt trip.My kids are each getting one.

[Lorien]

35. Have you sent this letter to Obama? I doubt that he reads DU. nt

[L0oniX]

39. O yes they are ...in India.

[Edweird]

46. He has explicitly stated as much. He dirted on FDR and touted the private sector.

More than just a little 'Reaganesque'.

[Individualist]

48. K&R

[opihimoimoi]

53. Tons of jobs out there waiting but the GOPers say NO to EVERYTHING