US News
Obama takes off gloves as Senate hits impasse (1st Lead)
Feb 6, 2009, 6:04 GMT
Washington - US President Barack Obama took off his bipartisan kid gloves Thursday night, chiding Republicans for insisting on failed economic strategy and his own centre-left Democrats for nit-picking over the details of an urgent economic stimulus package.
His remarks came as centre-left Democratic Senators suspended a negotiating session in the face of stiff resistance from Republicans against a 900-billion-dollar stimulus package before Congress.
The centre-right party has clung to enough votes in the Senate to block legislation through parliamentary manoeuvres.
Most of Obama's fire was directed at Republicans, warning them not to 'come to the table with the same tired arguments and worn ideas that helped to create this crisis.'
He was referring to their insistence on including even more tax cuts in the stimulus package than he has already granted.
He delivered the speech in Williamsburg, Virginia, to a Democratic House of Representatives conference after making his first flight on Air Force One since taking office little more than two weeks ago.
'We are not going to get relief by turning back to the very same policies that for the last eight years doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin,' Obama said.
Amidst the worst financial crisis the nation and world have faced in decades, Obama warned that the economic crisis will turn into a 'catastrophe' if Congress does not adopt the plan.
Analysts were bracing for the loss of another 500,000 jobs when the January unemployment report is released at 1330 GMT Friday. On Monday, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is expected to reveal details of a new rescue plan for the financial sector, the Wall Street Journal reported, while Obama prepares for his first news conference Monday evening.
Obama warned the economy would lose 'about a trillion dollars worth of demand this year (and), a trillion dollars of demand next year because of the contraction of the economy.' That is the reason for the huge size of the anti-recessionary measure, he said.
'The American people are watching. ... They did not vote for the false theories of the past, and they didn't vote for phony arguments and petty politics,' Obama said. 'They sent us here to bring change. We owe it to them to deliver.'
But he also warned his Democrats against engaging in a 'contest for who's in power and who's up and who's down' and called on everyone to 'set aside some of the gamesmanship in this town and get something done.'
The House of Representatives last week passed their own 819-billion-dollar version of the plan on strictly party lines. Republicans defied Obama's outstretched hand - he went up to Capitol Hill to meet with them, and invited them to the White House - and voted as a block against the plan.
A different version proposing 900 billion dollars in expenditure is before the Senate.
Democratic majority leader Harry Reid had suggested negotiations with Republicans could last through the night in the hopes of shaving off 100 billion dollars, with a vote later Friday. But before midnight, he closed down the talks and indicated they would resume on Friday, CNN broadcaster reported.
'I can't imagine what would happen to the financial markets tomorrow ... if this bill were to' fail, Reid said earlier Thursday.
If passed by the Senate, the two chambers would have to reconcile their competing versions in the next week. Democrats, who control the majority in both houses, have promised to finalize the bill by February 13.
Democrats currently hold a 58-41 majority in the Senate. Congressional offices have been inundated with calls from the general public on both sides of the argument.
The world's largest economy has been in recession since December 2007 and lost 2.6 million jobs over the course of last year. The economy shrank 3.8 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2008 according to initial government estimates.
Obama has said the stimulus bill will save or create at least 3 million jobs over the next two years, a projection supported by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office which has projected it would create from 1.3 million to 3.9 million jobs by the end of 2010.
The debate has centered largely on government spending programmes, which account for about two-thirds of the package and include investments in renewable energy, transportation, healthcare and education.
About one-third of the stimulus is comprised of tax cuts and incentives for car and home buyers in order to revive consumer spending.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in US
- 1. Mitt Romney Addresses Tea Party Summit Pictures
- 2. Seven injured as US Navy plane crashes into apartments
- 3. At least three injured in US Navy plane crash
- 4. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, others to face death penalty trial
- 5. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, four others to face death penalty trial
Older Talkback
page: 1
'... peddle fear, greed and impatience....and see if that works.'
George Bush used it very effectively to win elections and start wars ...
You should know it works SP4 ... you peddle YOUR fears on a daily basis.
time to impeach now
the Republicant's and push to pass the bill. They lost---you won, the hell with the 'looser' party.
..does not make me wrong. Takes off gloves??? More like picks your pocket...900 billion...what is that...$300,000 per job creatd? do the math on that monkey boy #12 and get back to us...
Yes he said it...
The parties need to start working together. We've had it up to here with the crap of the last 8 years. We all need to hope that this President and Congress will succeed bigtime - it only makes sense, then we all win.
So you are never wrong, SP 4? Interesting.
I never said that, you did. All I do is look at the posts and reply, case by case. No one is fooled here: they heap on all the right toppings until the vote will pass. It IS about $300,000 per job created, and pardon me for saying so, but that seems like a lot of money to me, doesn't it to you, Ted? On this, Ted, I'm not wrong.
Could care less what you say, you lost loser.
Who's Ted?
How about the democraps?
Those boners took the majority in congress 2.5 years ago and that is the same time gasoline prices shot through the roof so dont talk about a can not do attitude with republicans.
Like the Democrats are responsible for high gas prices!!!
'How about the democraps?'
'Those boners took the majority in congress 2.5 years ago and that is the same time gasoline prices shot through the roof so dont talk about a can not do attitude with republicans.'
Typical of the idiotic right-wing neo-cons. They have total control for all that time and blame something like gas prices on the Dem's.
How about the dead in Iraq?
How about the dead and wounded US soldiers?
How about the waste of troops in Afghanistan and then leave another administration to clean up the mess?
How about the 4 + million lost jobs?
How about a dollar that is worthless?
I guess a raise in gas prices is 'small potatoes' when compared to those???? Probably not to a Republican't as most of those idiots never serve in the military and are on welfare so they don't have to worry.
Barack Obama as next President of The United States of America
The die is cast and for reasons that only a privileged few know, you Sir, will be the next President of the United States of America. Your next 4 years will be a turning point in US history and planet earth. CHANGE, your advisors and high stake investors offer the nation will undoubtedly be the same rhetoric and empty promises that make up a political campaign, that campaigns for appointment for any public office in America.
The White House will be the Black House to some, the Aryan Brothers of America will not be so happy, but yet will blame you and your staff if you fail, which will reinforce their belief that the Aryan Nation is the true leader for America. The religious zealots will be busy bees making nests to survive the onslaught of lies, corruption and deceit. Business enterprises and other competing nations will capitalize off of your inexperience in the art of corruption and murder. The organized crime organizations from different nations including our own will benefit from the lack of control over national crime.
Military governments including our own will test your tolerance to pain and deception and trick you into needless and profitable domestic and international conflict. You will no doubt attempt to colorize your staff to soften the race conflict once in office.
As President you will be President. Nations will respect you only for your title of office. Americans will soon see after your appointment as President that your intentions were manipulated by those that make the rules. You will fill the spot in history as planned, and nothing more.
You will never while in office be able to pull the troops from conflict in any land we are engaged in. As a matter of fact we as a nation will be engaged in a new conflict of war, which will galvanize Americans to seek a different form of government and a different and honest Congress.
You will attempt to shore up Americas problems with false promise and lies, because you cannot directly affect the CHANGE you promised.
Your frustration will be your downfall while in office, and your co-dependence on those that you trust will also add to your demise.
Our Armed Forces in rank will respect you as good soldiers they are, but those under them will not, and for good reasons, that only a good soldier knows.
America will not be America until its government respects the People, and tells the truth. America is a Republic, not a Democracy or Fascist Government or is it?
Until you can walk thru the streets and neighborhoods of America unaided by Secret Service or any other law enforcement agency you will not be respected by the many, only by the fearful and selfish few. Americans can protect their leaders if they are honest and respectful of the people they were elected to serve. Our Government has forsaken us for many hundreds of years, and now we will wait until your 4 years are finished for us to come to fruition.
CHANGE FOR AMERICA FOR AMERICANS!
The American Republic
A Sovereign Republic
..the dems have stymied domestic drilling for 30 years. Now, as gas goes up...again...we have no hedge...so, yes, gas prices are due to a lifetime of dem obstruction. Bush warned us 8 years ago about this and you ignored him. Now, he ls laughing in your face.
He warned you about this too. Read and weep:
This was preventable.Sep 21st, 2008 - 01:59:13
John McCain predicted Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac crises, pushed 2005 legislation to prevent trouble:
The 'FEDERAL HOUSING ENTERPRISE REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2005' would have headed this off but it was killed in the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs by Chris Dodd who recieved the most money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
President Bush sought to rein in Fannie and Freddie in 2003.
The Democratic response to Bush in 2003:
“These two entities — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — are not facing any kind of financial crisis,” said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. “The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.”
Representative Melvin L. Watt, Democrat of North Carolina, agreed.
“I don’t see much other than a shell game going on here, moving something from one agency to another and in the process weakening the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get affordable housing,” Mr. Watt said.
Hey idiots stick, ha, ha ha. We won and we are going to do what we want. Ha, ha you joke of a human being.
This black guy can't do it!
The coming economic collapse of the US is unavoidable.
I also foresee the break-up of the United States itself into multiple smaller countries.
'This black guy can't do it!'
What's 'black' got to do with it bigot?
'The coming economic collapse of the US is unavoidable.'
Losers like you give up real easy. Go eat your government cheese and drink your PBR-bigot.
'I also foresee the break-up of the United States itself into multiple smaller countries.'
That has been predicted before by people lots smarter than you (most everyone). You probably do not live in the US, but if you do please leave before it starts to 'break-up'. People like you need to move to Alaska and live under the biggest liar Governor, in the country.
Leave it to the neocon nazis to want to destroy the United States now that they have been removed from power. Their pathetic fallen star pinupPalin and her traitorous hubby have been involed in secessionist movements for years. They all want Alaska, Texass, and Miami, Fl. to leave the US, and beocme neonazi enclaves. They will try to revive slavery, abolish public education, and revert to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of their ancestors, whom they believe were put here on earth 7,543 days ago, by their God, who also supposedly made only them to be the so-called 'chosen ones'.
Good ridance to bad rubbish. Let's pray that they all do leave the US, form their own country, kingdom, or whatever, and leave the rest of us alone to live here in peace.
page: 1
SP4: Obama the fast learnerFeb 6th, 2009 - 13:40:33
...peddle fear, greed and impatience....and see if that works...
Report this comment