Obama targets key groups in election's home stretch

It's super funny watching GOP candidates like Ken Buck and Carly Fiorina say 'we need to reduce the deficit' live on national tv and then completely fail to put up a single way they think it should be done, even when pressed repeatedly. Even more hilarious, conservatives arre once again switching off their brains, rolling over and buying all of it. They are completely unable to suggest ways to 'fix the deficit,' something they are 'really angry' about despite voting for bush, the biggest spending president in global history, and the same guy who authorized the massive bank and economic bailout. The same packages that conservatives are railing against...

Sushi, you said a mouthful. If you think it is obvious now, wait until a few of them are elected.

They will be junior members of the crummiest committees and will perform horribly on them because all they want to do is produce sound bites. They will miss votes and misvote. When budget time comes, we will have plenty of sound bites showing them cutting social security and veterans' benefits which will doom them. Then when the next election comes around they will have nothing to show for their time in Washington. Either the electorate will buy it, or they will replace them with someone who can truly benefit the nation and the consituencies.

I hope all the Tea Partiers win. They need to be exposed. And when they get fired up, they start talking, and they can't talk and think at the same time. They just aren't wired for it.

The party of no is becoming a party of know-nothings. All the GOP people who knew how to push levers have been trashed as RINOs. So now the kindergarteners are driving the GOP bus.

Word from the New York Times is that only ONE GOP candidate accepts anthropogenic climate change. Unfortunately, Obama cannot make that an issue, but it shows pretty well what a bunch of trogs they are.

Word from the New York Times is that only ONE GOP candidate accepts anthropogenic climate change.

Its one too many but we're okay with it, since the Senate,under Clinton, rejected Kyoto 99 -1. We are well aware that the NY Times shills for Obama as aggressively as any of the MSM.

What universe is Obama currently living in? RealClearPolitics reports he told crowds in Ohio yesterday

" They’re [ Republicans] fighting back. The empire is striking back. To win this election, they are plowing ten’s of millions of dollars into front groups. They are running misleading negative ads all across the country. "

Like many watching this guy I predict he will not run 2012 and may even quit the office of prez before his term is up.

Klein2, implication agreed, anyone who rejects climate change at this point is delusional. The key fear among GOPpers, of course, is, besides purposely ignoring the reality of climate change, they fear it will 'raise taxes.' TimRussert, you have been railing against the defiicit. Why do you vote GOP, the party that jacked up the deficit by $6 trillion?

Obama is going to have to fight to address both of the above and a host of other issues and areas the GOP either couldn't care less about (environment, cutting the deficit) or have totally destroyed (the surplus they inherited from Clinton and the Dems, America's prestige). But first, I'm keen to hear from our conservative poster friends why bush's $700 billion no-strings-attached bank/stimulus cash giveaway was ok, while Obama's strings-attached stimulus package that demanded - and is - clawing money back, is not.

anyone who rejects climate change at this point is delusional.

No one denies the climate changes.Japan, as we have all been told, has 4 seasons. I agree. Jury is out on anthropomorphic 'warming'. . Even Great Britain's Royal Society has issued a climbdown on the subject.

TimRussert, you have been railing against the defiicit.

Not on this thread, and not with people who don't comprehend US politics and economics.

Why do you vote GOP, the party that jacked up the deficit by $6 trillion?

I didn't vote GOP in 04 or 00. I vote Libertarian , if and when I choose to vote. The world is not as black and white as you see it.

Repubs, bad as they were, did not 'jack up' the deficit by 6 million, unless you want to say Obama has jacked it up 18 trillion.

TimRussert - "Repubs, bad as they were, did not 'jack up' the deficit by 6 million, unless you want to say Obama has jacked it up 18 trillion."

They sure did.

18 trillion??? Wrong again.

And sushisake3, you are simply avoiding the real issue:spending.

It has soared under Obama Reid and Pelosi. It is the number concern in my country. WSJ shows this administration has increased already out of control spending a monstrous 21.4 percent. The figures are from the CBO - non partisan. Try the search. Read, learn and reflect.

Wall Street Journal OCTOBER 13, 2010

The 2010 Spending Record In two years, a 21.4% increase.

TimRussert, if bush and the GOP had been responsible with spending and policies, do you think the Obama administration would have had to spend as much as they have??

If bush and the GOP had been responsible caretakers of the nation's finances, do you think they should have cut taxes in a time of war - the first time an American government has EVER done this?

If bush and the GOP had been responsible caretakers of the nation's finances, do you think Obama and the Dems would have had to launch the costly stimulus measures, the auto industry and the bank bailouts??

Of course, they would not have.

You are crying about the spilt milk without looking at how the milk got spilt.

You would not be going off about spending under the Obama administration if bush and the GOP had not left America's fiscal house such a disaster.

Sushisake3 - I am American. I know what I see when I am back in the States. I am old enough to remember the Carter 'malaise'. You arent doing a very good job of changing minds here.

You aren't doing a very good job of answering basic questions.

Keynes is not the answer. Never was.

Neither is spending like there's no tomorrow, claiming you want to 'cut the deficit,' and then not having any sensible ideas for how to do this, as the GOP has done.

The GOP has a tried and true strategy for getting out of recessions:

Tell everyone they will cut govt spending, but not actually do so. Give a big tax break.

However, given the state of the Feds finances this won't be possible, but I keep hearing the same noise. Are there any other bullets in that gun?

if bush and the GOP had been responsible with spending and policies, do you think the Obama administration would have had to spend as much as they have??

that's the funniest and most innocently self-contradicting comment of the day!

Sushisake3 - I guess you missed Obama's admission the other day that there are no 'shovel-ready' projects. It was all a lie. Again, as bad as Bush was these Democrats have come close to doing irreparable damage to the Republic. November is the last turnoff before we are stuck on the Road to Serfdom.

TimRussett - "Sushisake3 - I guess you missed Obama's admission the other day that there are no 'shovel-ready' projects."

I guess you missed the news items recently showing GOP senators cutting ribbons for projects funded by Obama's stimulus - the same one that they voted against and continue to whine about?

TimRussert - 'I am American.' Which, of course, means that if you are like the vast majority of Americans who were duped by bush's claims that Saddam had WMD, you will likely hold a pretty biased, one-sided view of your country's politics. Not criticizing you; just stating an opinion based on recent concrete facts. Saying 'I am American' does little, if anything to add to the credibility of your posts.

"a tough political environment for Democratic candidates"

How can this be? Haven't the Democrats been leading the country in the right direction? Good grief, it should be a landslide win for every Democrat, no?

What we are hearing from the conservatives and tea partiers - in fact their grand strategy to fix the economy - is an an angry shriek of 'Cut the deficit!!' that echoes until it quickly recedes into the total silence that accurately reflects how the conservatives/tea partiers intend to bring down the massive debt that their recent votes have been instrumental in creating. And, amazingly, Sarge thinks his country's crippled economy is just one big joke.

The openly 'liberal' New York Times reports many Democrats up for office are now in rebellion against Nancy Pelosi and by association the failed policies of President Obama.

The grand old geezer of the party, Bill Clinton, campaigns for his wife and shuns bigwig Dems (like New Mexico's Bill Richardson) who endorsed Obama instead of Hillary.

The Left is again eating their own?

To cut the deficit, why don't conservatives/tea partiers propose a plan like the British government has - an across the board funding cut for every govt. department? Oh, sorry - that would never fly with the 'money grows on trees' conservatives/tea partier crowd who seem to think nothing needs to be paid for, as evidenced by their raucous support for bush's plan to actually CUT taxes when he launched not 1 but 2 wars.

Honestly, it's pretty worrying to imagine the GOP/tea partiers controlling Congress given their proven stunning incompetance. You can't run a country on soundbites.

Frankly, I'd be really interested to see a blueprint for how the GOP/tea partiers intend to bring down the deficit. Only, problem is, they don't have one.... Wait! That's not quite true - if you call the GOP/tea partiers' collection of baseless, irrational soundbites a 'blueprint,' then I'll eat my words.

Honestly, it's pretty worrying to imagine the GOP/tea partiers controlling Congress given their proven stunning incompetance.

Why? Are you immigrating to the US, mr.sushisake? Now is not a good time, I can assure you.

If you are so certain that the GOP/tea partiers - hardly one and the same but that's well over your head - are going to further damage the US economy why arent you giving any who might listen your investment strategies and the other choices which will empower people of your political persuasion so you can ,uh, fight back , or whatever it is you imagine you are doing here?

Cancel all unspent TARP and stimulus funds, cut non-defense spending back to 2008 levels, just lobbed off 1 trillion dollars of debt right there. Just part of the plan that Congressman Paul Ryan has proposed as the House Republican Ranking Budget Committee member.

You can read the rest of the plan on Congressman Paul Ryan's website. It's been out for quite the while now he even calls it " A Roadmap For America's Future" it's quite the realistic blueprint for restoring fiscal sanity again and away from this keynesian Obama nightmare.

Then again, I guess we can just rant on about Bush instead as usual in a story that has nothing to do with him, but Obama and the Democrats totally failed economic policies. He tells a pretty good car in the ditch and slurpee story though, over and over again.

MisterCreosote, I'm not an American, therefore - naturally in the eyes of people like yourselves - my opinions carry zero weight despite them being more accurate than those of most of your countryfolk.

my opinions carry zero weight despite them being more accurate than those of most of your countryfolk.

So impress us with your accuracy. If you know so much about US politics (your rather typical Aussie insistence that the tea party and GOP are one and the same aside ) and economics and are convinced a Repub majority will just worsen an already bad economy what steps are you taking financially to profit from the impending slide?

It's amazing how GOP backers shy away from pertinent questions relating to the rampant spending of the Bush era, 2 failed wars, unwise tax cuts and a host of other gaffes. Honestly, I don't see Democrats or Republicans solving America's mess.

What's needed is 1 or 2 true alternative parties who can form some sort of coalition. A major problem with US elections is that you vote one party out, and the other gains control. It's the biggest farce of democracy on the planet.

In Canada we have about 5 viable alternatives (Conservatives, Bloc, NDP, Green Party, Liberal) and about 11 fringe parties who vy for power. The irony, eh??

@TimRussert SuishiSake3 has thrown a lot of sensible questions your way, but you fail miserably to answer them. Where did Clinton's surplus go that Bush inherited? To think 48% of eligible voters in 2008 chose McCain/Palin for the White House says a lot about flawed logic. And this is a Canadian's perspective.

"the rampant spending of the Bush era"

If the Bush era spending was "rampant," what is the Obama era spending? Drunken?

"2 failed wars"

Lessee... the awful Taliban removed from power and free elections held in Afghanistan... a ruthless dictator removed and free elections held in Iraq... yes, two complete and total failures, LOL!

"Where did Clinton's surplus ( dot com bubble ) go that Bush inherited?"

Ever hear of 9/11? LOL!

maxtheitpro,

It's amazing how GOP backers shy away from pertinent questions relating to the rampant spending of the Bush era, 2 failed wars, unwise tax cuts and a host of other gaffes.

What is even more amazing is the insistence of bringing Bush into this debate when it is quite obvious the American people could care less and are voting the ruling Democrats a huge vote no confidence in the CURRENT Democratic leadership and their economic policies, then again I guess we could give the old race card another play again, if the Blame Bush thing isn't panning out anymore.

Sarge.

So since the wars were that succesful and if republicans are elected we can see equally sucessful wars in North Korea, Mozambique, etc?

Zenny, nah, we're leaving those wars up to others.

Sailwind, please remind yourself that a very large chunk of Obama's spending would have been completely unnecessary if bush hadn't thrown the economy under the bus. That's why bush is relevant, despite your insistant denials that he isn't.

You and I both know that you are old enough to relaize that U.S. history does - in fact - extend further back than 2008...

Oh, and who did you vote for? Oh yeah, bush.

You're a part of the problem.

Sarge - "If the Bush era spending was "rampant," what is the Obama era spending? Drunken?"

Sarge also completely fails to understand - either purposely or intentionally - that bush handed Obama a crippled economy.

If he hadn't, conservatives wouldn't be shrieking so bad and life would be a whole lot more peaceful.

As it happens, bush handed Obama a hospital pass and Obama had next to no choice but to spend his way out of it.

But wait! The GOP has a plan! It's.... 'cut the deficit!'

lol!!

Yes, Sushi, I keep forgetting it's going to take most of Obama's two terms to fix the mess left by Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld, LOL.

It's going to take DECADES to pay off the debt accumulated by the drunken spending of Obama's Democrats. We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore! The healing starts with the Democrats losing their majority in the House and possibly the Senate in next month's election. I've already mailed in my absentee ballot.

Sarge - "It's going to take DECADES to pay off the debt accumulated by the drunken spending of Obama's Democrats. We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!"

That's pretty funny coming from someone who is part of the problem but is a little too simple to understand why.

Sushi,

Just a silly question, after Nov 2nd when the Democrats have lost darn near everything who are you going to blame then? I don't think the Bush thing is going to work very well after that.

Just a silly question, after Nov 2nd when the Democrats have lost darn near everything who are you going to blame then? I don't think the Bush thing is going to work very well after that.

Well obviously, it will be Obamas fault. Since everything that happened under Bush was Bush's fault, then everything that happens under Obama is his fault right? I mean, just cause Republicans take over congress, it doesn't make anything that happens their fault right? That is your paradigm right? After all in 2006 when Dems took control of congress, nothing that happened, was their fault, everything that happened, happened because of Bush...

Sailwind, if the GOP takes Congress, a lot of people are going to simply write off the U.S. The GOP under bush had zero fiscal discipline and the only thing that has changed in the party since he left is the number of wrinkles - and idiot circus extremists. The GOP know they haven't got a viable strategy to cut the deficit. Their soundbites and slogans aren't going to do it and you know it. The only thing the GOP excels in is failure and if they win, we'll be seeing a lot more of it. The only noteworthy difference between the tea party and the GOP is that the former contains slightly more clueless extremists than the latter, but it's not going to make much difference once they finalize the marriage of their parties.

Wait! Some people are saying the GOP has a plan to cut the deficit! In fact, the GOP had a perpetually tanned party hack present it just last week. I read through all of it, word for word. It was the same as the last 'plan,' except it was completely new and different because...they changed the title.

Damn. What a letdown. I thought the GOP had a strategy for a moment there. Turns out they don't and never did.

Pretty amusing to see Molenir laying into Sailwind above. I thought you guys were of the same political bent? The excitement of the expectation of a failure-wracked GOP winning Congress must be overwhelming.

Facts aside, can either of you two gents tell the rest of us how - specifically - the party you plan to vote for plans to bring down the deficit? No soundbites please. Bullet points, 1, 2, 3, etc.

Thank you in advance.

Where are obama's American supporters?

Sushisake3 - - still no reply to my question? impress us with our accuracy.

Oh btw, latest news from pollsters is "blame Bush" is worth 2 percentage points at the polls - to Republicans, that is.

MisterCreosote, what kind of a question is that? Like asking 'where are all the trees?' in a forest. Sadly, the only 'winners' that will emerge from a GOP takeover of Congress will be the truckers in the huge convoy supplying cool-ade to GOP headquarters.

MisterCreosote, I'll ask you the same question: can you tell the rest of us how - specifically - the party you plan to vote for plans to bring down the deficit? No soundbites please. Bullet points, 1, 2, 3, etc.

Thank you in advance for posting a credible answer explaining - in detail - how your party of choice plans to reduce the deficit. The floor is all yours.

How sad. No American support for Obama and his failed policies.

I can't believe this - MisterCreosote, Molenir and Sailwind - not one of them has answered my simple question asking for specifics about how the party they plan to vote for plans to bring down the deficit. Nothing. Not even a soundbite. Which proves my point - the GOP and tea party do not have any credible plans to cut the deficit. But MisterCreosote, Molenir, Sailwind, Sarge, etc. seem more than content to vote for them anyway. Like boarding an international plane flight without a pilot. What. A. Total. Joke.

Question: Can the Democrats come up with no better candidate for California governor than Jerry Brown?

Sushi, believe it or not, I have other things I do then read and post on JT. I know it may surprise you, but I actually have a life. In regards to your question, I can't give specifics, because I don't know what they plan to cut. However I can tell you precisely how they will reduce the deficit. To put it simply, they won't appropriate the money. Spending bills originate in the House, with Republicans in control of the purse, they control how much money gets appropriated. They can simply pass what they think the budget ought to be, and only appropriate that amount of money, for the specific programs and departments. Obama can veto the bill, in which case, no money is appropriated. This is what Republicans did under Clinton, to force him to balance the budget. They simply refused to budge on spending, shutting down the government multiple times, until Clinton compromised. If Republicans have the will to do it, simply having control of the house, they can refuse to appropriate any more money, then the government takes in, thereby balancing the budget.

Whether or not they have the will, will certainly be in question. A lot of the freshmen republicans no doubt will go for it. Some of the old guard will as well, but there are a lot of liberal Republicans who won't have the stones to go toe to toe with Obama. If they get together with the surviving Dems led by the Wicked Witch of the West, they might be able to keep spending the way they want, over the objection of the rest of the Republican party.

I bet I'm going to hear the same tired old 'Obama's policies are pushing up the deficit!' or variations thereof. But Obama and the Democrats are spending on Americans - on near universal healthcare, on investments in energy projects, construction projects, high-speed rail, embrionic research, reforming Wall st. regulations, small business and a whole lot more to curtail risks for Americans, bring down costs for Americans, create new industries for Americans, rebuild and improve America's infrastructure for Americans....in fact, the current Congress has been the most effective Congress in more than half a century. And that's despite the continual blocking tactics of the GOP. What did MisterCreosote, Molenir and Sailwind's party of choice do? Send billions offshore to fund 2 idiot wars, give tax cuts to America's super rich elite, cut taxes at a time of war (1st time this has ever been done), gut EPA environmental regulations and drive the economy off the cliff into the worst not just U.S. but global recession in 80 years.

And now, ladies and gents, they want more.

Molenir - "In regards to your question, I can't give specifics, because I don't know what they plan to cut."

So, let me get this straight - you don't know how the party you plan to vote for is going to cut the deficit, but you're going to vote for them anyway?

If, as I assume, you a going to vote for the GOP or one of their cousins in the tea party, I take it you do realize they are the same crowd who rubber-stamped EVERY spending bill bush waved in front of them, and that the GOP became the biggest spending political party in global history?

I also take it that you realize that most of the same party are still in the GOP? Same leopard, same spots - so to speak?

We both know the tea party has no serious policies of speak of, and that the soundbites they put out are not backed by any hard policies.

Also, that if any tea partiers do win seats, they will start at the bottom of committees and have no real power or sway at all?

For the above reasons, let's stop considering them or the moment.

So, we've got the GOP, which has a recent history of open-the-floodgates spending and of wracking up the biggest deficit anywhere in global history - and you're seriously considering voting for them?

Being the thinking, educated person that you are, I would have expected better than that.

in fact, the current Congress has been the most effective Congress in more than half a century. And that's despite the continual blocking tactics of the GOP.

If the desire is to destroy the US economy, then by any measure you wish to name, you are correct. They have been more successful then any congress in recent memory. If you mean in passing laws, also. If you measure them as passing unpopular laws, that the majority of Americans oppose, then again you are correct. Which is why they are getting tossed out on their ass, in favor of a congress whose greatest desire is not to destroy the US economy, and pass laws hated by the American people.

So, let me get this straight - you don't know how the party you plan to vote for is going to cut the deficit, but you're going to vote for them anyway?

Yes. To be more precise, I am voting for them, to cut spending so that the budget is balanced. As for what they're cutting, whatever it is, will hurt. Theres no question of that. However its whats necessary, and whats best for the country. One of the things they can cut, is any funding for Obamacare. That will save a trillion dollars, right there.

Lets turn this around though shall we? When people voted for Obama, they didn't get specifics either. They got sold on 'hope and change'. Thats what your idol, your god did, and you were somehow ok with that. Before the election, no one realized he would be one of the most incompetent Presidents in History, or that he would force all these socialist programs down Americas throat, that he would sign into law burdensome new regulations on every single business in America, or that he would go on a whirlwind apology tour, bowing to every crackpot dictator and king, while simultaneously apologizing for Americas dominance. See, if he had come out and told people what he actually planned to do, he wouldn't have gotten elected. That may sound like a good reason not to vote for a Republican, but we know what the Dems have done, and we don't like it. We Americans are choosing a different path.

So, we've got the GOP, which has a recent history of open-the-floodgates spending and of wracking up the biggest deficit anywhere in global history - and you're seriously considering voting for them?

Allow me to fix your statement here...

"So, we've got the GOP, which has a recent history of open-the-floodgates spending and of wracking up the biggest deficit anywhere in global history until the Dems took over, and showed them how to really burn money."

Dems took congress in 2006, and they have been on a spending spree that makes the GOP look frugal by comparison.

Molenir, I don't think I've ever seen an educated, well-spoken conservative trash themselves so comprehensively as you just did in your last post. I guess you may well get what you vote for. Good luck. If the GOP takes Congress, you're going to need way more than luck.

Molenir, I don't think I've ever seen an educated, well-spoken conservative trash themselves so comprehensively as you just did in your last post. I guess you may well get what you vote for. Good luck. If the GOP takes Congress, you're going to need way more than luck.

The GOP will take back, at least the house come November. If the GOP deliver on their promises, to rein in spending, then sanity will finally return to Washington. I sincerely hope we get what we vote for.

I don't doubt that what some hope for. Of course the GOP has never delivered that so.... Well what's the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and hoping for different results?

for sushisake3 - Plans to cut our massive deficit and more importantly create jobs depend on the outcome of the mid terms. You don't seem interested in actually learning what the Republicans have planned.Otherwise you would be here with a critique of Rep. Paul Ryan's plan, among others. The info is out there. Your weird fixation on American conservatives is not worth our stoking anymore. I probably speak for others here but I have never met a non American so obsessed with a single party in a country half the world away. Strange.

In the latest poll, "nutcase" Sharron Angle is leading Democrat stalwart Harry Reid 50%-47%. How is this even possible?

Has the GOP formally adopted ryan's plan?

I remember ryan's plan. It included privatizing Medicare and soc sec. Those ideas are complete non-starters. They'll never get through the house and senate.

The latest Gallup poll on Obama's job approval is 43% with 50% disapproving. How can this be? Hasn't he been leading the country in the right direction?

The GOP has a 30% approval rating. How can that be? Aren't they providing great ideas for fixing the nations problems?

The GOP has a 30% approval rating.

Wow, that means they are 3 times more popular than our deadbeat Dem Congress.

Actually the polls have them about the same with a 20% approval for congress in general. Which is just weird as can be...

@Junnama: May I ask where you got that number? The lateswt Gallop generic poll has republican favored by 48% vs 41% for democrats.

Pollingreport .com. I was just looking at approval ratings, not election polling :)

Molenir - " If the GOP deliver on their promises,..."

Your argument falls apart right about there.

News this past week (obviously not on this site though...) is that Obama has lost almost half of his former support.

Incredible.

When the democrats receive a shellacking on Nov. 2nd, Obama can say it's not his fault they lost so big because he inherited them when he took office.

RR

Your argument falls apart right about there.

Considering the last time they delivered on their promises was in 1998, when they managed to balance the budget, and actually made Clinton look like a good President... It really depends, will they do like they did in 94? If so, Obama might become merely an incompetent idiot, rather then the worst President in US history.

Yes, we remember 1998. A surplus caused not by cutting spending but ballooning tax revenues that was completely blown by the same congress in 2001. Unless we're expecting a huge increase in tax revenues (not happening), that event is not repeating itself.

Er, its more then semantics to point this out. But the congress in 98, was different then the congress in 2001. Quite different in fact. The election in both 98, and 2000, changed the landscape quite a bit. Though Republicans were still the majority party.