As you might know

So, as some of you may or may not know, tomorrow the new President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, is moving into the white house. Hopefully this means a new future for the great country of USA, we all pray that he can fix what Bush ruined, so we will have to see.

Anyways , some of you might have heard about his outline plan for spending tax breaks. You may know he is sketching out recovery plans for us. So, this topic is about what you think of his ideas and plans for the recovery of the United States.

President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday offered the most detailed statement yet of his economic recovery plan, sketching out broad-based spending proposals and tax incentives aimed at reviving an economy mired in recession.

In his weekly radio and video address describing what he called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, Obama spelled out five main goals. He said his plan proposes to:

• double renewable energy production and make public buildings more energy efficient;
• rebuild crumbling roads, bridges and schools;
• computerize the health care system
• modernize classrooms, labs and libraries;
• and provide tax breaks to American workers.

"Economists from across the political spectrum agree that if we don't act swiftly and boldly, we could see a much deeper economic downturn," Obama said. "That's why we need an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that not only creates jobs in the short-term but spurs economic growth and competitiveness in the long-term."

The main goal of his plan: to create 3 million new jobs. Most would come from the private sector, he said.

As Obama prepares to take office on Jan. 20, the country faces a series of severe economic and political challenges.

Nearly 2 million jobs were lost in the first 11 months of 2008 - the final government reading on the employment picture will be released on Friday - and the economy has stagnated. Investors suffered the worst year in stocks since the Great Depression, and foreclosures are rising while housing values are declining at record paces.

Virtually every state is facing a budget shortfall, forcing many to make plans to cut back on critical services and raise taxes.

To that end, Obama's advisers and lawmakers have said they expect his legislation to provide increased aid to states to pay for Medicaid, as well as a boost to unemployment benefits and food stamps. However, he didn't mention it in his address on Saturday.

Obama's video address did not attach an estimated price tag to his proposal, but his advisers have said publicly they expect the size of the spending package to range between $675 billion and $775 billion.

Many economists have called for stimulus spending to approach or even exceed $1 trillion if the government expects to successfully beat back one of the deepest downturns in more than two generations.
Next step: Making the pitch to Congress

Next step: Making the pitch to Congress
On Saturday, the president-elect confirmed that he will meet with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders next week to sell them on the plan.

While his aides have been in talks with Capitol Hill staffers, Democratic and Republican lawmakers have been calling on him to present details for what could be the most expensive spending bill in U.S. history.

Some Democrats and Republicans have already raised red flags about the proposed plan's potential scope and the prospect of a rushed attempt to pass the bill in time for Obama to take office on Jan. 20.

A sharp debate is likely over several crucial questions. Will the proposed measures in fact boost the economy? What's the right balance between seeding short-term stimulus versus funding long-term projects? Will money intended to yield long-term dividends for the economy as a whole end up merely serving politically motivated agendas or pet projects?

Obama attempted to assuage some of those concerns on Saturday when he called for "vigorous oversight and strict accountability for achieving results." He stressed that his plan is not an attempt to "throw money" at the economy's problems.

"I am optimistic that if we come together to seek solutions that advance not the interests of any party, or the agenda of any one group, but the aspirations of all Americans, then we will meet the challenges of our time just as previous generations have met the challenges of theirs," Obama said. To top of page

 

1. The President - Elect isn't moving into the White House for weeks. He's only heading over to Washington and living in a hotel.


http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/03/news/economy/obama_stimulus/index.htm

 

Tomorrow is his official date when he start's moving his things in. He doesn't LIVE in it untill jan 20.

 

Personally I don't like him, also he doesn't really seem to fit in to what the other presidents were before their presidency. Most of them were men of prestige, men who had done something. George Washington was general of the continental army. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Eisenhower was the commander of armed forces in Europe. George H W Bush fought in WW2. George W Bush fought in Vietnam. Most of them were Heroes or they had something to do with something important. Obama I see him doing nothing that would be considered as good as those previous ones listed.

 

Yeah but honestly, look where that has gotten us. Bush was by far one of the shittiest presidents we've had. McCain agreed with Bush over 90% of the time, and we can't afford 8 more years of the same.

 

McCain also helped Arizona out quite a bit.

I think Obama is just gonna piss off other countries in my opinion.

 

Why do you think that Cfrey?

 

McCain would have been a one term president, so only four years for him. I do agree in some aspects though. Bush did some good things and some bad things, but was nowhere near as bad as some previous presidents. You are correct though, change isn't always a bad thing.

 

I assume that this will be televised so down too see history. I hope Obama will live up to his expectations.

 

History will probably judge Bush as a decent president, not the best nor worst.

 

In today's society we are so segregated that it's going to be tough for a black president to be successful, I stand by this by stating that Obama won how many of the southern states? He has to figure out a way to have southerner's participate in the activities that he thinks he necessary to fix out nation. He's going to bust his ass to make our nation better, and less fucked up from what Bush did.

 

Do you have any recollection of what Bush did?
Many say he did a horrid job which I agree, but, he did do somethings which the American people fail to recognize. Remember when GM was going to file bankruptcy and Congress denied the bill for the bailout? Bush cut them checks in a surplus of 10 billion dollars. Now you may say Obama disagrees with everything Bush does, which some say will make him a great president, but, who was alongside Bush when the checks were written for GM and Chrysler? Obama. Now I have no doubts that Obama will attempt to salvage what's left of the economy and bring America back into times of prosperity, but, how can we know exactly what he will do? How can we assure that he will succeed? The answer is simple; we won't know.
Look, I see where your coming from and I realize a lot of people think Obama is the way to salvation, but we can't go predetermining the future. It's not that we are so segregated, it's that sometimes change is difficult to fathom. In simpler terms, when all America has ever had was a white president and blacks were in the 'backseat' in presidential elections, it's hard to accept a black president because it's just not the norm. Now, it's foolish to think that just because he's black that he will fail or just because he's black he won't be as efficient as a white president. Whether Obama won a northern state or a southern state is irrelevant, America isn't split in two anymore.

 

Bush didn't start trying to better the economy until his term was close to ending.

 

A 3rd term for Bush is better than a 2nd term for Carter.

How will he do the first 4, while implementing the last of the 5?

That is an impossible task; the money HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.

If it is coming from the Government, HELLO BIGGER DEFICIT.

 

George W Bush also got kicked out for crashing an airplane while FUI

 

Atleast he risked his life to serve, Obama won't even take a glance at a recruiting station.

Obama won't fight for this country, nor will he ever.

And how in the hell, did a man come up out of nowhere and become the President-Elect?

Chicago is known for dirty politics, and this is where Obama is from.

 

So because someone served in the army, they are a better person?

 

He didnt come from no where, he was a senator...

 

Yes.

As with any other armed forces.

How does one go from nothing.. to a Senator?

 

So a person should be merely pulled into power just because of a military state?