52 replies to this topic

[metfan4life]

Hit a all time record low

http://news.yahoo.co...ws/ynews_pl2821

[devilsfan0405]

 metfan4life, on Jun 25 2010, 11:08 AM, said:

Hit a all time record low

http://news.yahoo.co...ws/ynews_pl2821

Honestly, with all the crap going on right now, I think any President's approval ratings would be low. People take it out on those in power when times are bad. That's just a fact of life in politics.

[robbbs]

Obama's fate will rest on the economy as the election nears. The economy will likely hold its own at the very least, and probably improve to some extent. All the rest of the rhetoric is much sound and fury, signifying nothing. Obama's a lock to get re-elected, short of something totally unexpected happening.

[devilsfan0405]

 robbbs, on Jun 25 2010, 09:39 PM, said:

Obama's fate will rest on the economy as the election nears. The economy will likely hold its own at the very least, and probably improve to some extent. All the rest of the rhetoric is much sound and fury, signifying nothing. Obama's a lock to get re-elected, short of something totally unexpected happening.

Unemployment will probably have a lot to do with it also. People are cranky when they're not working, and for good reason. This also gets taken out on incumbents, fair or not.

[Maloga]

Due to increased demand, these are currently sold out!!

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Ehop]

 robbbs, on Jun 25 2010, 09:39 PM, said:

Obama's fate will rest on the economy as the election nears. The economy will likely hold its own at the very least, and probably improve to some extent. All the rest of the rhetoric is much sound and fury, signifying nothing. Obama's a lock to get re-elected, short of something totally unexpected happening.

Not sure if I would say lock, would say decent chance, but he needs unemployment below say 8%. If above, depends on who is the other option. Same old same old, Obama's chances increase.

[devilsfan0405]

 Ehop, on Jun 29 2010, 08:49 AM, said:

Not sure if I would say lock, would say decent chance, but he needs unemployment below say 8%. If above, depends on who is the other option. Same old same old, Obama's chances increase.

That's another important factor. You can't just throw anyone against him if you're the GOP. Say what you want about his politics, but Obama proved to be a masterful campaigner. His team will tear apart an opponent who's not prepared.

[NittanyLion]

Latest numbers:

Fox News Poll: 76 Percent Say Time for Obama to Take Responsibility
By Dana Blanton
Published August 12, 2010 | FoxNews.com

AP
Aug. 9: President Obama returns to the White House after a day in Texas raising money for Democrats.
Despite more voters faulting former President Bush's policies for the country's economic woes, most American voters think it is time for President Obama to stop blaming Bush.

Nearly half of voters — 47 percent — think Bush's policies are mostly to blame for the economic difficulties the country is having today, compared to 32 percent who think Obama's policies are to blame.

Even so, fully 76 percent of voters think it is time for the Obama administration to start taking responsibility for the condition of the economy. That's more than four times as many as think it is right to continue to place the blame on Bush (18 percent).

A majority of Democrats, who overwhelmingly think Bush is responsible for the economy (82 percent), think it is time for Obama to quit blaming Bush (57 percent).

Overall, 55 percent of those who think Bush's policies are to blame think it's time for Obama to take responsibility.

Almost all voters — 88 percent — think the country is still in a recession. That includes two groups: 48 percent who not only think the recession isn't over, but also think that things could get worse, and 40 percent who say even though the recession continues, things are getting better. Another 6 percent think the recession is over, but that another one could happen.

Few — 3 percent — think the recession is completely over and the economy is recovering.

Less than a third of voters (29 percent) credit the stimulus package for keeping the country from going into a depression. Half (51 percent) think other reasons prevented another Great Depression.

Nearly two-thirds of voters (63 percent) believe government has gotten so big it is hurting the future of the country. About half as many do not (32 percent).

Obama's Job Performance
Overall, 43 percent of voters approve and 49 percent disapprove of the job President Obama is doing. That's little changed from two weeks ago, when 43 percent approved and 50 percent disapproved.

Most Democrats (77 percent) approve of the job Obama is doing as president, and most Republicans (81 percent) disapprove. Independents are slightly more likely to disapprove (46 percent) than approve (42 percent).

Similarly, 48 percent of voters approve "of the policies of the Obama administration" and 47 percent disapprove.

Some 30 percent of voters say the country is better off today than before President Obama was elected, while 38 percent say the country is worse off. Another 30 percent say there is not much of a difference.

By 49-30 percent, more voters approve of President Obama being a guest on "The View," including 73 percent of Democrats, 31 percent of Republicans and 36 percent of independents. Women (52 percent) are more likely than men (45 percent) to approve of the president appearing on the daytime television show.

The president appeared on the show July 29. He's held two solo White House press conferences so far this year — one in February and another in May. Which is the more effective communications strategy?

A majority thinks they learn more when the president holds a White House press conference (54 percent) than when he appears on television talks shows (18 percent), though 11 percent think they learn about the same from both and another 12 percent says they don't learn anything from either.

The Fox News Poll involved telephone interviews with 900 randomly chosen registered voters and was conducted by Opinion Dynamics Corp. from August 10 - August 11. For the total sample, it has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Summer Vacation
About half of voters (52 percent) say they have or will take a vacation this summer. Among those who aren't vacationing, half blame it on the lack of money (51 percent), while others blame it on having no time to get away (20 percent), or both a lack of time and money (14 percent).

Yet most — 74 percent — say it's no big deal that the Obama family has gone on a number of vacations this year. One in five, though, says they feel resentful (21 percent).

[vascudave]

we need to shed the senate, otherwise no president will have favorable numbers, the machine is running wild.

[devilsfan0405]

 NittanyLion, on Aug 13 2010, 09:16 AM, said:

Latest numbers:

Fox News Poll: 76 Percent Say Time for Obama to Take Responsibility
By Dana Blanton
Published August 12, 2010 | FoxNews.com

AP
Aug. 9: President Obama returns to the White House after a day in Texas raising money for Democrats.
Despite more voters faulting former President Bush's policies for the country's economic woes, most American voters think it is time for President Obama to stop blaming Bush.

Nearly half of voters — 47 percent — think Bush's policies are mostly to blame for the economic difficulties the country is having today, compared to 32 percent who think Obama's policies are to blame.

Even so, fully 76 percent of voters think it is time for the Obama administration to start taking responsibility for the condition of the economy. That's more than four times as many as think it is right to continue to place the blame on Bush (18 percent).

A majority of Democrats, who overwhelmingly think Bush is responsible for the economy (82 percent), think it is time for Obama to quit blaming Bush (57 percent).

Overall, 55 percent of those who think Bush's policies are to blame think it's time for Obama to take responsibility.

Almost all voters — 88 percent — think the country is still in a recession. That includes two groups: 48 percent who not only think the recession isn't over, but also think that things could get worse, and 40 percent who say even though the recession continues, things are getting better. Another 6 percent think the recession is over, but that another one could happen.

Few — 3 percent — think the recession is completely over and the economy is recovering.

Less than a third of voters (29 percent) credit the stimulus package for keeping the country from going into a depression. Half (51 percent) think other reasons prevented another Great Depression.

Nearly two-thirds of voters (63 percent) believe government has gotten so big it is hurting the future of the country. About half as many do not (32 percent).

Obama's Job Performance
Overall, 43 percent of voters approve and 49 percent disapprove of the job President Obama is doing. That's little changed from two weeks ago, when 43 percent approved and 50 percent disapproved.

Most Democrats (77 percent) approve of the job Obama is doing as president, and most Republicans (81 percent) disapprove. Independents are slightly more likely to disapprove (46 percent) than approve (42 percent).

Similarly, 48 percent of voters approve "of the policies of the Obama administration" and 47 percent disapprove.

Some 30 percent of voters say the country is better off today than before President Obama was elected, while 38 percent say the country is worse off. Another 30 percent say there is not much of a difference.

By 49-30 percent, more voters approve of President Obama being a guest on "The View," including 73 percent of Democrats, 31 percent of Republicans and 36 percent of independents. Women (52 percent) are more likely than men (45 percent) to approve of the president appearing on the daytime television show.

The president appeared on the show July 29. He's held two solo White House press conferences so far this year — one in February and another in May. Which is the more effective communications strategy?

A majority thinks they learn more when the president holds a White House press conference (54 percent) than when he appears on television talks shows (18 percent), though 11 percent think they learn about the same from both and another 12 percent says they don't learn anything from either.

The Fox News Poll involved telephone interviews with 900 randomly chosen registered voters and was conducted by Opinion Dynamics Corp. from August 10 - August 11. For the total sample, it has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Summer Vacation
About half of voters (52 percent) say they have or will take a vacation this summer. Among those who aren't vacationing, half blame it on the lack of money (51 percent), while others blame it on having no time to get away (20 percent), or both a lack of time and money (14 percent).

Yet most — 74 percent — say it's no big deal that the Obama family has gone on a number of vacations this year. One in five, though, says they feel resentful (21 percent).

Interesting numbers...I think a lot of people really want to give Obama a chance and see him do well for the country's sake, but think it's time for him to step up his game now. It's time to put the past behind, quit blaming prior administrations and own what is going on today. As Harry Truman said, "The buck stops here."

[vascudave]

 devilsfan0405, on Aug 13 2010, 10:02 AM, said:

Interesting numbers...I think a lot of people really want to give Obama a chance and see him do well for the country's sake, but think it's time for him to step up his game now. It's time to put the past behind, quit blaming prior administrations and own what is going on today. As Harry Truman said, "The buck stops here."

not to beat the horse, but....there is one common denominator for years...regardless of the pres. they just point fingers and so goes the cycle.

[devilsfan0405]

 vascudave, on Aug 13 2010, 10:04 AM, said:

not to beat the horse, but....there is one common denominator for years...regardless of the pres. they just point fingers and so goes the cycle.

You're right. I think it's worse with Bush, though. Everyone was just so disgusted with him by the end of his 2nd term and couldn't wait for him to leave. But I do remember conservatives trying to make excuses for Bush when everyone said (rightfully so) that 9/11 happened on his watch. They tried to turn it around and blame Clinton for not doing enough to combat Al Qaeda while he was President. You can spin this stuff all day and make specious arguments, blaming whoever you want.

[NittanyLion]

 devilsfan0405, on Aug 13 2010, 09:02 AM, said:

Interesting numbers...I think a lot of people really want to give Obama a chance and see him do well for the country's sake, but think it's time for him to step up his game now. It's time to put the past behind, quit blaming prior administrations and own what is going on today. As Harry Truman said, "The buck stops here."

 vascudave, on Aug 13 2010, 09:04 AM, said:

not to beat the horse, but....there is one common denominator for years...regardless of the pres. they just point fingers and so goes the cycle.

 devilsfan0405, on Aug 13 2010, 10:39 AM, said:

You're right. I think it's worse with Bush, though. Everyone was just so disgusted with him by the end of his 2nd term and couldn't wait for him to leave. But I do remember conservatives trying to make excuses for Bush when everyone said (rightfully so) that 9/11 happened on his watch. They tried to turn it around and blame Clinton for not doing enough to combat Al Qaeda while he was President. You can spin this stuff all day and make specious arguments, blaming whoever you want.

Agreed with everything above.

[icehater]

Here's the real question:

Does anyone think Obama is doing a good job and what things can you say that he has done are really going to help America in the long haul. I can't name any and I think he is an awful and indecisve President with little to no experience and is in far over his head. I used to think he was a good guy with good intentions but I no longer do. He now comes across to me at least as arrogant and condescending. Maybe I'm wrong but I've read stories on foreign leaders having no respect at all for him and that and the fact that he would raise taxes on the high income earners scare me the most about him.

If you have little experience in business you'd say - as Obama does - that the 2% of America that makes that level of income can afford it, so why the big deal. Well most of America thinks purely of W-2 wages. Most folks in that 2% grouping that Obama talks about, and fails to mention, are the folks that run profitable to very profitable small businesses. Still sounds OK to tax them- right? Well here's the rub. They actually report more income than cash they receive. This is because ther are paying down business loans used to expand their businesses and after the severe recession we had, banks have tightened loan ratios on them. In some cases they have applied a 1.25-1.50 coverage ratio on them. This means that if the business has - as an example - 5mln of fixed charges (loan payments, interest payments, capital expenditures, and tax liabilities or in the case of a sub chapter S corp, tax distributions to owners so that they can pay their tax liabilities on business income) they must have 6.25mln to 7.5mln of operating cash flow. The bank wants 25%-50% excess cash flow over these fixed charge obligations, or they can declare a default of the loan and the usual remedy is a higher interest rate. So businesses that are actually very successful small businesses in a terrible economy are frozen by overly fearful banks and that is now a lot more complicated by Obama's intention of raising of taxes so they remain frozen even if he puts it off a year because business needs to know that decisions they make are based on a permanent foundation. They can't expand without belief that the tax rates they now pay will stay the same, and that is why unemployment is so bad and likely gets worse. You see that 2% that Obama talks about is responsible for a high majority of new hires in America. In many cases I've heard this number is as high as 90% of all new hirings. I've even heard this number is over 100% because you need a level over 100% to counteract all the jobs corporate America is exporting overseas to India and other places. And guess what, these are small businesses so they keep the jobs in America. Now if you raise taxes on these people they may actually have to lay people off. Why? Think about a guy who is on the edge and is covering those very tight bank ratios at 1.26 to 1 or 1.51 to 1. You raise his taxes $300K and how does he stay compliant with the loan? There is an answer and no one is going to like it but he stays compliant with the loan by cutting expenses some $400-450K and those cuts ar usually salary costs. I know all this full well because I'm crunching numbrs for my business on what Obama's tax policy means and it isn't pretty. In fact about 10 businesses I meet with once or twice a year are preparing layoffs for the day that Obama raises their taxes so that they can ensure they will stay compliant with their bank loan covenants. This is what Obama doesn't get and until he gets it unemployment a'int coming down and may get a whole lot worse.

[devilsfan0405]

 icehater, on Aug 18 2010, 01:00 AM, said:

Here's the real question:

Does anyone think Obama is doing a good job and what things can you say that he has done are really going to help America in the long haul. I can't name any and I think he is an awful and indecisve President with little to no experience and is in far over his head. I used to think he was a good guy with good intentions but I no longer do. He now comes across to me at least as arrogant and condescending. Maybe I'm wrong but I've read stories on foreign leaders having no respect at all for him and that and the fact that he would raise taxes on the high income earners scare me the most about him.

If you have little experience in business you'd say - as Obama does - that the 2% of America that makes that level of income can afford it, so why the big deal. Well most of America thinks purely of W-2 wages. Most folks in that 2% grouping that Obama talks about, and fails to mention, are the folks that run profitable to very profitable small businesses. Still sounds OK to tax them- right? Well here's the rub. They actually report more income than cash they receive. This is because ther are paying down business loans used to expand their businesses and after the severe recession we had, banks have tightened loan ratios on them. In some cases they have applied a 1.25-1.50 coverage ratio on them. This means that if the business has - as an example - 5mln of fixed charges (loan payments, interest payments, capital expenditures, and tax liabilities or in the case of a sub chapter S corp, tax distributions to owners so that they can pay their tax liabilities on business income) they must have 6.25mln to 7.5mln of operating cash flow. The bank wants 25%-50% excess cash flow over these fixed charge obligations, or they can declare a default of the loan and the usual remedy is a higher interest rate. So businesses that are actually very successful small businesses in a terrible economy are frozen by overly fearful banks and that is now a lot more complicated by Obama's intention of raising of taxes so they remain frozen even if he puts it off a year because business needs to know that decisions they make are based on a permanent foundation. They can't expand without belief that the tax rates they now pay will stay the same, and that is why unemployment is so bad and likely gets worse. You see that 2% that Obama talks about is responsible for a high majority of new hires in America. In many cases I've heard this number is as high as 90% of all new hirings. I've even heard this number is over 100% because you need a level over 100% to counteract all the jobs corporate America is exporting overseas to India and other places. And guess what, these are small businesses so they keep the jobs in America. Now if you raise taxes on these people they may actually have to lay people off. Why? Think about a guy who is on the edge and is covering those very tight bank ratios at 1.26 to 1 or 1.51 to 1. You raise his taxes $300K and how does he stay compliant with the loan? There is an answer and no one is going to like it but he stays compliant with the loan by cutting expenses some $400-450K and those cuts ar usually salary costs. I know all this full well because I'm crunching numbrs for my business on what Obama's tax policy means and it isn't pretty. In fact about 10 businesses I meet with once or twice a year are preparing layoffs for the day that Obama raises their taxes so that they can ensure they will stay compliant with their bank loan covenants. This is what Obama doesn't get and until he gets it unemployment a'int coming down and may get a whole lot worse.

Good points, Ice. You're on the ground with these people everyday and know how their business works, so I trust your word a lot more than someone preaching from the ivory tower like Obama or Geithner. Doesn't help that hardly anyone on his team has any real-world business experience. That's been a major issue from the start. He just has a bunch of eggheads from colleges and universities who work in textbook theory and not reality.

And I agree with you about his sarcasm and arrogance. His speeches are becoming more childish by the day IMHO. I'm also getting tired of hearing that Republicans just say no to everything and have no ideas of their own. That's pure hogwash. They have been offering suggestions; Obama and his team just choose not to listen to them.

[NittanyLion]

 icehater, on Aug 18 2010, 12:00 AM, said:

Here's the real question:

Does anyone think Obama is doing a good job and what things can you say that he has done are really going to help America in the long haul. I can't name any and I think he is an awful and indecisve President with little to no experience and is in far over his head. I used to think he was a good guy with good intentions but I no longer do. He now comes across to me at least as arrogant and condescending. Maybe I'm wrong but I've read stories on foreign leaders having no respect at all for him and that and the fact that he would raise taxes on the high income earners scare me the most about him.

If you have little experience in business you'd say - as Obama does - that the 2% of America that makes that level of income can afford it, so why the big deal. Well most of America thinks purely of W-2 wages. Most folks in that 2% grouping that Obama talks about, and fails to mention, are the folks that run profitable to very profitable small businesses. Still sounds OK to tax them- right? Well here's the rub. They actually report more income than cash they receive. This is because ther are paying down business loans used to expand their businesses and after the severe recession we had, banks have tightened loan ratios on them. In some cases they have applied a 1.25-1.50 coverage ratio on them. This means that if the business has - as an example - 5mln of fixed charges (loan payments, interest payments, capital expenditures, and tax liabilities or in the case of a sub chapter S corp, tax distributions to owners so that they can pay their tax liabilities on business income) they must have 6.25mln to 7.5mln of operating cash flow. The bank wants 25%-50% excess cash flow over these fixed charge obligations, or they can declare a default of the loan and the usual remedy is a higher interest rate. So businesses that are actually very successful small businesses in a terrible economy are frozen by overly fearful banks and that is now a lot more complicated by Obama's intention of raising of taxes so they remain frozen even if he puts it off a year because business needs to know that decisions they make are based on a permanent foundation. They can't expand without belief that the tax rates they now pay will stay the same, and that is why unemployment is so bad and likely gets worse. You see that 2% that Obama talks about is responsible for a high majority of new hires in America. In many cases I've heard this number is as high as 90% of all new hirings. I've even heard this number is over 100% because you need a level over 100% to counteract all the jobs corporate America is exporting overseas to India and other places. And guess what, these are small businesses so they keep the jobs in America. Now if you raise taxes on these people they may actually have to lay people off. Why? Think about a guy who is on the edge and is covering those very tight bank ratios at 1.26 to 1 or 1.51 to 1. You raise his taxes $300K and how does he stay compliant with the loan? There is an answer and no one is going to like it but he stays compliant with the loan by cutting expenses some $400-450K and those cuts ar usually salary costs. I know all this full well because I'm crunching numbrs for my business on what Obama's tax policy means and it isn't pretty. In fact about 10 businesses I meet with once or twice a year are preparing layoffs for the day that Obama raises their taxes so that they can ensure they will stay compliant with their bank loan covenants. This is what Obama doesn't get and until he gets it unemployment a'int coming down and may get a whole lot worse.

No. Except maybe health care.

I think he is doing a mediocre job, not great, not terrible. However I don't think, given what he came in to, that anyone else could be doing much better (except Hillary Clinton, who was and still is IMO, the best candidate for the current presidency).

[NittanyLion]

 devilsfan0405, on Aug 18 2010, 07:34 AM, said:

Good points, Ice. You're on the ground with these people everyday and know how their business works, so I trust your word a lot more than someone preaching from the ivory tower like Obama or Geithner. Doesn't help that hardly anyone on his team has any real-world business experience. That's been a major issue from the start. He just has a bunch of eggheads from colleges and universities who work in textbook theory and not reality.

And I agree with you about his sarcasm and arrogance. His speeches are becoming more childish by the day IMHO. I'm also getting tired of hearing that Republicans just say no to everything and have no ideas of their own. That's pure hogwash. They have been offering suggestions; Obama and his team just choose not to listen to them.

I actually really haven't heard any. There's been no compromise on their side of the aisle either, and when you're in the minority, you have to compromise and come to reasonable agreements. I really have only heard complaints and whatever position the President takes, they just take the opposite, no matter what their stance was prior to the election (see bailout). Anyone remember Bush's "mandate" back during his term when the Repubs had control of all three branches? He declared it himself because "that's what the people voted for".

[Ehop]

 NittanyLion, on Aug 18 2010, 08:41 AM, said:

I actually really haven't heard any. There's been no compromise on their side of the aisle either, and when you're in the minority, you have to compromise and come to reasonable agreements. I really have only heard complaints and whatever position the President takes, they just take the opposite, no matter what their stance was prior to the election (see bailout). Anyone remember Bush's "mandate" back during his term when the Repubs had control of all three branches? He declared it himself because "that's what the people voted for".

If people repeat the same thing over and over again, it sounds real. The party of no is a joke. If one has control, they do not need to listen to the minority. It is what Republicnas did for six years and it was not good. Their were many healthcare alternatives, there are alternatives to many issues, but its not heard, because they are not interested. Although I do think the current Republican leadership are idiots. Dems give the two Senators from Maine a little bit and they do not need to worry about the other 39.

I think the only hope is a real third party, but the ones in power (D and R) will do everything they can to fight it. Those in power do not want to give it up, whether its a Dem or Rep. The average person is more interested in American Idol than they are the US Congress and what is going on. Every issue becomes a 15 second sound bite and no one cares about understanding an issue, whether its tax the rich (newsfalsh, the real rich avoid taxes), big business is bad, big government good, we are here to help....

We are left with an Obama or Bush for reasons other than leadership. Congress runs amok (Republicans did it when they had power and now Democrats are on sterroids) and the Supreme Court becomes more and more political (can the average person even name 5 or 6 justices).

People get what they deserve and if you want to elect a smooth talking con artist who never answers a question, double talks on every issue, bribes those that contribute to his casue (recent $26B bailout or GM illlegal takeover), who really does not get it, they get in a spiral that will take close to a revolution to get us out of it.

[icehater]

 NittanyLion, on Aug 18 2010, 08:37 AM, said:

No. Except maybe health care.

I think he is doing a mediocre job, not great, not terrible. However I don't think, given what he came in to, that anyone else could be doing much better (except Hillary Clinton, who was and still is IMO, the best candidate for the current presidency).

What is good about the Healthcare bill? Our society was actually against it and it was forced on us in the end. I d'ont think you fully get the point I made about small business, Mike. If Obama is really intent on getting employment back up the last thing in the world you'd do is raise taxes and the first thing you'd do is cut spending way back. If you want to stimulate the economy you do it with good seeds on fruit bearing soil, not throwing good seeds on bad soil. The economy has not come back to where it is by anything Obama has done. It's feebly come back because the massive layoffs stopped, banks unfroze equity lines and got more agressive with credit card deals and those that remained employed felt more secure to spend again thanks to lower prices (see below link), knowing they had income to spend with and lending to fall back on in case they needed it. The banks were freer here because they saw that the Fed would keep interest rates very low for a long time. Hence folks with good credit got all those 0-2% balance transfer e-mails, But on the business side of things banks tightened credit ratios to avoid defaults on loans (real non-payment defaults, not non-compliance defaults) and this has strangled small business. Obama is going to strangle them even more with higher taxes now. Until small business gets the secure feeling that job secure consumers got they will not release monies to expand even if they could. The combo of Obama's taxes and tight buiness lending is why the economy is stalling and could fall back into a recession. Major corporations are very profitable now because of all the layoffs and increased off loading of jobs to overseas. Even legal is now being exported (see below 2nd link). But those corporations pay corporate taxes which are going unchanged. They are actually printing and then hoarding more cash because of their size. Corporate america is sitting on trillions of dollars right now in this get and hoard stage. They are reticient to transfer cash back to the investors/owners via distributions and they are also cautious on expansion because of fears of a double dip - which would start with smalll buisness layoffs. Small business pays individual tax rates and in some cases those rates will go up as much as 30% when you go through all the things that come undone at the end of this year. In most cases they will go up 10-15% and in order to satisfy that you need a 20-25% cut in spending to offset that, hence a round of layoffs coming from small business is what lies ahead of us.

If you remember when we were discussing the economy a few years ago Robbbs pointed out quite accurately how low the stock market could go and I pointed out (apparently also quite accurately) that the market would bounce back quickly but then enter a 10,00-11,000 lasting trading range. I felt this way for some of the reasons I noted above and that was all long before Obama got in.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/business...mp;ref=business

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/business...ndia&st=cse

[vascudave]

 Ehop, on Aug 18 2010, 09:12 AM, said:

If people repeat the same thing over and over again, it sounds real. The party of no is a joke. If one has control, they do not need to listen to the minority. It is what Republicnas did for six years and it was not good. Their were many healthcare alternatives, there are alternatives to many issues, but its not heard, because they are not interested. Although I do think the current Republican leadership are idiots. Dems give the two Senators from Maine a little bit and they do not need to worry about the other 39.

I think the only hope is a real third party, but the ones in power (D and R) will do everything they can to fight it. Those in power do not want to give it up, whether its a Dem or Rep. The average person is more interested in American Idol than they are the US Congress and what is going on. Every issue becomes a 15 second sound bite and no one cares about understanding an issue, whether its tax the rich (newsfalsh, the real rich avoid taxes), big business is bad, big government good, we are here to help....

We are left with an Obama or Bush for reasons other than leadership. Congress runs amok (Republicans did it when they had power and now Democrats are on sterroids) and the Supreme Court becomes more and more political (can the average person even name 5 or 6 justices).

People get what they deserve and if you want to elect a smooth talking con artist who never answers a question, double talks on every issue, bribes those that contribute to his casue (recent $26B bailout or GM illlegal takeover), who really does not get it, they get in a spiral that will take close to a revolution to get us out of it.

give that a prize! nice write up