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REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS
Republicans slam Obama's plan before hearing it (and some won't even bother to show up)
Thursday, September 8, 2011 11:56 AM
NIKI2
Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...
Quote:A titanic political battle took shape Thursday as Republicans began criticizing President Barack Obama's jobs plan before he unveiled it at a joint session of Congress, while the White House and Democrats promised to push for approval of the proposals. White House spokesman Jay Carney told CNN that Obama will send Congress legislation titled the American Jobs Act next week, based on the plan that one Democratic source said will exceed $400 billion in tax cuts, extend unemployment benefits and offer other measures intended to boost job creation and economic growth. "He will challenge Congress to examine what he's put forward, to recognize that all of these ideas are bipartisan in nature," Carney said. "They're the kinds of things that Republicans and Democrats have broadly supported in the past. And that, therefore, given the fact that they're paid for, given the fact that the economy needs help and that Americans need help, Congress should act right away and get it done." Republicans, however, sounded like they had their minds made up already. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday morning it will be another attempt at failed stimulus policies. {Hell, they had their minds made up the minute he was ELECTED!} ..... One Democrat familiar with the package said the plan would be paid for partly by closing corporate loopholes and raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans in the future. {Republicans: ) A legislative struggle is certain. Republicans call for corporate tax cuts and deregulation as steps to spur job growth, opposing what they label new stimulus spending. {Man, these guys just couldn't BE more transparent if they tried!} The Democratic leader in the Republican-controlled House -- Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California -- asked the ranking Democrats on committees that will consider the legislation proposed by Obama to urge their Republican chairmen to "schedule immediate hearings and legislative action" on the measures. House Speaker John Boehner, meanwhile, invited 12 business leaders -- dubbed "job creators" in his statement -- who have been affected by regulations enacted by the administration. These are "people with real world experience on how the regulations coming out of this administration are impeding their ability to grow their business and create jobs," Boehner's statement said. At least five Republicans -- two senators and three House members -- don't plan to attend the speech, which McConnell said was more of a political event than a policy statement. {Gosh, what nice guys; I'm certain they'll be willing to get together with the Dems and work on some kind of compromise, they're already showing all kinds of signs of being willing to listen, yes indeedy!} Obama's proposal could also include patent reform and the creation of an "infrastructure bank" started with as little as $10 billion to help spur new private-sector projects. Ultimately, interest paid on the loans would make the bank self-sufficient. Meanwhile, small businesses could be targeted with a number of incentives designed to encourage hiring, including an employer payroll tax cut, tax cuts for hiring Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, and tax credits for hiring the long-term unemployed. Obama may also propose a new jobs training program modeled on a Georgia initiative that allows those receiving unemployment insurance to be placed at a local company for up to eight weeks of training. In addition, a repatriation tax holiday has been under consideration. American corporations currently have more than $1 trillion stashed overseas to avoid paying the 35% corporate tax rate. If lawmakers were to pass a repatriation measure, companies may be allowed to bring that money back to the United States while paying a reduced tax rate. Proponents of such a measure argue that corporations could use the funds to hire more workers. {Reads: send more jobs overseas}
Thursday, September 8, 2011 12:25 PM
Quote:Actions speak louder than words, and at least five Republican members of Congress-two senators and three representatives –plan on sitting out the president's jobs speech before a Thursday joint session of Congress. Call it an act of defiance, protest, or a simple "scheduling conflict"-some members just have other plans. Georgia Rep. Paul Broun also sat out the president's State of the Union address in January, tweeting from his office on Capitol Hill. This time, the congressman told CNN's American Morning Thursday that he's planning to host a "town hall meeting over Twitter" so that constituents can "communicate with me and tell me what they think about the president's speech." The three-term Republican congressman accused President Obama of believing in socialism during his last tweet-and-response during a joint session. ..... "This president does not listen. This is just another campaign speech," he stated. {Something along the lines of "look who's talking!"?} ..... Arguing that "you can't lead by speeches," freshman congressman Joe Walsh stated that he won't just be boycotting the president. {Note: "Boycotting"} ..... "I'm actually going to fly home this afternoon and instead of attending his speech I'm going to sit with 40-50 small businessmen and women–the job creators in this country–and they're going to give me their recommendations and I'm going to take them back to the president." {In other words: "What corporations want is important to me; what the President might propose to increase jobs isn't"} But House Speaker John Boehner wasn't in favor of actions by errant members of his party Thursday. "I have encouraged my colleagues to come tonight and to listen to the president," he addressed the floor. "He is the president of the United States and I believe that all members ought to be here and do this. Doesn't mean they are going to. Remember, I am just the speaker, all right. I have 435 colleagues who have their own opinions and they are entitled to them. As an institution, the president is coming to our invitation. We ought to be respectful and we ought to welcome him." {Go John. The man understands "class" AND "respect" in this matter, at least!} Louisiana Sen. David Vitter just had bigger and better plans, but changed them to attend. Though he originally stated, "I'm going to be watching from my family room in Metairie, Louisiana because I have a Saints game party there and I'm absolutely going to be there for the big game," spokesman Luke Bolar confirmed that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid changed the vote schedule, effectively cancelling the senator's travel plans. "Apparently my attending my own Saints game party at home in Louisiana is the latest casualty of Washington partisanship," Vitter wrote in an e-mail to staff. "This HAS gotten out of hand!" {THIS has gotten out of hand?!?! Attending a joint session of Congress rather than sitting in your living room watching a football game???} ..... Still, Texas Rep. Ron Paul won't leave the presidential campaign trail to attend. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has pressing family matters that will keep him away from the Capitol as well –though his absence is less than political. Spokesman Alex Burgos told CNN, "Senator Rubio will be returning home early this afternoon to be with his mother, who has been hospitalized following a series of strokes." And freshman Rep. Lou Barletta announced Thursday he will return to his home state of Pennsylvania to attend to matters related to "unprecedented flooding" in large parts of the Northeastern and Central portions of the state. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/08/gopers-speak-up-but-some-wont-show-up-to-thursday-speech/#more-174491 guys just blow my mind. I have been poo-pooing the idea that this President has sufferd from a lack of respect by the Republicans, but this is pretty blatant. Okay, so Rubio and Barletta can claim valid excuses (tho' I don't know if those are their real reasons), but a joint session of Congress to hear the President's proposals on creating JOBS, the single biggest issue in America today..."boycotting" it is pretty ballsy, in my book. And pretty disgusting.
Thursday, September 8, 2011 7:34 PM
ANTHONYT
Freedom is Important because People are Important
Friday, September 9, 2011 12:49 AM
KIRKULES
Friday, September 9, 2011 1:18 AM
AURAPTOR
America loves a winner!
Friday, September 9, 2011 2:51 AM
M52NICKERSON
DALEK!
Quote:Originally posted by AURaptor: This was a campaign rally speech, held in front of Congress. And nothing less. Truth is, Obama is desperate, and it's starting to show. After last year's 'Summer of Recovery' and hearing month after month that the recession is over, and the economy is on its way back , Obama is NOW admitting that maybe we should do something about jobs. But Gibbs said that Obama was all about jobs, jobs, jobs, from day one. And then after OCare was passed, we were told that Obama was going to do a " hard pivot " towards jobs.... what the hell ? They think that just because they say it, that makes it so ? "Pass the bill, NOW! Pass it now !" How many times did this man-child demand that from the adults in the room ? He's like a spoiled brat, demanding his allowance, and promising to do his homework and chores, later on. " Oh, and give me my dessert now too! Stop being mean! "
Friday, September 9, 2011 2:54 AM
SIGNYM
I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.
Friday, September 9, 2011 2:55 AM
Friday, September 9, 2011 2:56 AM
Quote:Originally posted by SignyM: It's CLEAR that Republicans don't care about jobs.
Friday, September 9, 2011 3:01 AM
Quote:Originally posted by AURaptor: Quote:Originally posted by SignyM: It's CLEAR that Republicans don't care about jobs. Biggest lie probably ever on FFF.Net " I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "
Friday, September 9, 2011 3:08 AM
Friday, September 9, 2011 7:19 AM
Friday, September 9, 2011 7:38 AM
Friday, September 9, 2011 11:46 AM
Quote:Originally posted by Niki2: Kirk, if you want anyone to take your rant seriously, you need to provide FACTS and cites to back up those facts. Otherwise, it's just that: A rant reflect political partisanship with no basis in fact. I say what you wrote is bullshit. And I've posted details and facts and figures to show what the Obama stimulus actually DID. So...?
Friday, September 9, 2011 12:21 PM
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