Hatboro Mike, you usually show your intelligence. Today, you show no understanding of the economic mess we're in. Idiot.

Well, thanks for reading, Patrick.

Since apparently I have no grasp of The President's mastery over the economy, perhaps you could educate me on the initiatives (That's a plural, btw.) President Obama has put in place to put people back to work, to grow investment in the economy, and to get housing and manufacturing back on track.

Plese don't start off with Solyndra ...

You're right. It's 2012 and he's still President.

Calm down with the "beginning of the end" Fox News propaganda. We lived through 8 years of that mouth breather George W. Bush and we're still standing in spite of his incompetence. Try coming up with an independent thought of your own instead of parroting Rush/Fox/Beck.

I'm curious to hear which part of the article―which sentence, even―you think "fawns" over Obama's visit, Danny.

Especially, if it's the last day of his second term, and Hillary the incumbent. Danny your just another tea-bagger idiot.

1. How many fundraisers has Mitt had?
2. There would be no need for so much fundraising if it weren't for the Republican puppets on the Supreme Court who determined that corporations are people and have the same first amendment rights as you and I, and further that money equals speech and therefore they can donate unlimited sums to the candidate/party of their choice.

It's funny how a bunch of Rachel Maddow trolls call people tea baggers. You have your own set of idiots... Maddow, Schultz, O'donnel, etc. We may be tea baggers, but you all are crap for brains liberals. I take tea bagger any day.

As to raising money... you're all OK with George Soros, that commie Greek spending his money on a U.S. election, as well as a bunch of crooks from the unions spending their money on elections (and Unions are INCORPORATED), but you hate it when the right has a source of money as well. You're going down in November. Why? Because you are running an idiot who has done NOTHING for this country, except spend us in to oblivion.

See I look at it different. I think these comments should stay to show everyone how the progressive left acts and how they behave. Why censor them? In an early, post on one of my articles, I would re-post pulled comments. He know who he is :)
We're all adults here. I say expose them for the animals that they are.

Yes, I'm aware of its alternative meaning. Fully defining it as such and choosing to use it in THAT manner, I have determined, violate the terms. If you want to allude to the alternative uses but continue to use it, as I believe those above have been (to mean a term for a Tea Party supporter), by all means please post again. I'd just like to keep our conversations clean. ;) Many thanks for your understanding.

There have been instances in the past where TEA Party members have called themselves Tea Baggers. I think this was before thei realized the alternative meanings. While calling a TEA Party member a tea bagger is not a violation of any terms of service, the reason for doing so is rather transparent. I may not agree with them on their politics, but I don't want someone calling me a Democrat greaseball either.

I was most impressed with the courage The President showed when he came for gay marriage ... the day before he was to head to a Hollywood fund-raiser on George Clooney's tennis court ... where he raised over $14 million.

You have to admit, President Obama has the timing down pat!

Wow. That's funny. You should be writing comedy for the Tonight Show, not wasting that razor sharp wit on this rag.

Why all of the ridiculous animosity about who Obama is raising funds from, but no problems with multi-national conglomerates dumping billions of dollars into not only the presidential race, but congressional races as well? Do you really think Exxon and Goldman Sachs really cares about your economic interests? I have said for years that the people running the Republican Party at the highest levels are geniuses (evil geniuses, but geniuses none-the-less) because they get the poor and middle classes to consistently vote against their own economic interests by using social "wedge" issues like gay marriage, abortion, religion, guns and birth control to rile up a base that they are going to screw as soon as they get into office.

@Koolaid: That was an honest misphrase I could not figure out how to correct, if that's what your referring to. And if it were an honest attempt at humor, it would be more fitting for Bill Maher than Stewart, as he ever took a run at a Democrat..

As for the rest of the post about President Obams's "courage" before flying out to palm checks on Clooney's tennis court, that is observation based on fact.

As for corporate money, if it gets someone into The White House who has an inking of economic know-how, I'm all for it!

So should that comment be flagged for being inappropriate since we all know the alternative meaning of the word "came?" Just saying...

And here's where the Tea Partiers started calling themselves Tea baggers.
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/enough-whining-teabaggers-actually-i

I didn't say that people calling TPMs Tea Baggers was right. I just said that it was TPMs who started doing in themselves first before they realized how inappropriate the phrase could be taken.

I love how in 2008 he had all the answers. People melted over his charm. Suckers.

Exactly. Unless Obama can make his skin white and change his name to a classic 'American' name like Tom Smith, Republicans will just block all he begs Congress to do.

So again, I ask, what has The President acomplished that has improved our economic situation. He bailed out GM, which was a bandaid for the DNC's Michigan union cronies. Other than that and extending the BUSH TAX CUTS, nothing!

I see absolutely no Leadership from Obama in an effort to get us back on track. You can TRY to blame the intransigence of Congress but President Reach-across-the-aisle has done NONE of that, and effectively killed any bipartisan effort when he and Nancy and Harry decided to shove the healthcare bill down the Republicans throats.

Leadership? He hardly knew ya!

1/29/09 Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed into law
2/17/09 Stimulus Bill signed into law
5/25/09 Sonya Sotomayor nominated & approved as Supreme Court justice
2009 Liquidation of GM & Chrysler avoided: $96 billion in personal income losses avoided, $28.6 billion net public benefit in income taxes/social security taxes paid; 1.45 million American jobs saved & 115,000 jobs created at GM & Chrysler since implementation
1/1/10 Discrimination based on gender identity banned in federal workplaces 3/23/10 2010 Health Care Reform Act signed into law
3/30/10 Student Aid Act signed into law
6/02/10 Federal benefits extended to same sex partners of workers through memorandum by Obama administration
7/22/10 Wall Street Reform Act signed into law
12/17/10 2010 Tax & Jobs Compromise signed into law
12/22/10 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act signed into law
12/22/10 US sponsored measure to include “sexual orientation” in the definition of human rights adopted by the UN General Assembly, 122- 0.
1/4/11 Food Safety Modernization Act signed into law
2/23/11 Defense of Marriage Act declared unconstitutional & no longer defended in federal courts by the Obama Administration
5/2/11 US Forces Kill Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan
12/17/11 War in Iraq ended with last American troops crossing border into Kuwait
2/22/12 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act signed into law
5/9/12 Obama becomes the first President to publicly support the legalization of same sex marriage.

Not to burst your bubble, Marc, (OK, maybe that's not accurate.) but NONE of that has done anything to improve our overall economic condition. How exactly do things like Sotomayor's nomination to the USSC, repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Food Safety, etc., etc. have ANYTHING to do with economic recovery?!? Even the ACA has in effect thus far done more to damage the recovery than to help it.

You're really grasping with a long least of everything-plus-the-kitchen-sink to get in a few dubious (I'll give you GM.) and even harmful economicHail Marys.

I would count several things on Marc's list toward economic recovery (although I don't think the Wall Street reform went nearly far enough). What you also have to realize is the absurd stiff, and uncompromising opposition he has found in the Republicans. They are the ones who have taken our government hostage again and again just to get their way. They are responsible for America's credit downgrade (as noted by the rating agency) by making it so America looked like it might not pay its debts. Obama has put forth many economic ideas (remember, the president is not exactly in a position to legislate, only push agendas for Congress to attempt to pass) which have been rejected and stalled by Republicans. This Congress wanted nothing of note to get done so that the economy wouldn't be up to snuff by the time the next presidential election came around. They then wanted to blame the bad economy on Obama so they could put in their own candidate. To me it is just a shame that Congress was willing to put America through such economic woes just to get their own man in the White House.

The Dems get no sympathy from me for Republican intransigence. President Reach-across-the-aisle screwed that up when he teamed up with Nancy and Harry to shove the ACA down the GOP's throat.

You questioned his leadership, Mike, so I just listed some of the major achievements that Obama has had during his first term. Some of those are beneficial to the economy. Some of them helped the country overall. Of the ones mentioned, these specifically have an economic impact -- and some of that benefit still is on the horizon"

* Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed into law
* Stimulus Bill signed into law
* Liquidation of GM & Chrysler avoided: $96 billion in personal income losses avoided, $28.6 billion net public benefit in income taxes/social security taxes paid; 1.45 million American jobs saved & 115,000 jobs created at GM & Chrysler since implementation
* Discrimination based on gender identity banned in federal workplaces
* Health Care Reform Act signed into law
* Student Aid Act signed into law
* Federal benefits extended to same sex partners of workers through memorandum * Wall Street Reform Act signed into law
* 2010 Tax & Jobs Compromise signed into law
* War in Iraq ended with last American troops crossing border into Kuwait
* Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act signed into law

Benefitting the economy is not something that happens when you sign your name on something and the money starts pouring in. Sometimes you need to pass a law and wait for the effects to take place.

So to pay back Obama for trying to help out people without health insurance the GOP tanks our economy? I understand if maybe that makes sense to you, but to me it just shows that certain Republicans don't really care about the American people and this only cements my desire to stick with Obama, despite his shortcomings.

@Marc: Sorry, I was talking about Economic Leadership. And nothing you listed - outside the GM bailout - has had much positive effect on the economy. Negative - yes, as in ACA ... The problem with your list is that any effects won't be felt for YEARS down the road. And not EVERY action requires a bill thru Congress, as demonstrated by the recent immigrant end-around.

@John ... No, the Republicans did not set out to "tank the economy". They decided to play the same "bipartisanship" game the Dems were playing. Don't think I'm happy with the Republicans either. I wonder what happened to the Political Middle.
http://crankymanslawn.com/2012/06/14/the-missing-political-middle-the-loss-of-american-governance/

I agree that a middle ground is needed. It is sad that we only have 2 legitimate parties to choose from. I excuse neither from their part of the mess we are in, but I just find it frustrating when it is all blamed on one side and not the other.

Lugar: "Make his skin white"? Huh? Congress put a jobs bill in front of him that he won't sign? He had both houses of Congress for his first two years and his big fixes for the economy were Obamacare and "the stimulus". All that did was take the debt, deficit and unemployment to new heights. If he hasn't found the answer three years in, what makes you think that doubling down will produce the answers? @Koolaid: THAT is FUNNY! We already have an idiot one heartbeat away from the presidency. You didn't see "Lunch Box Joe" at your last Mensa meeting, did you? Against a woman for vice president? Not very progressive, tolerant nor anti-war-on-women friendly, are you?

Bill, having a majority in both houses didn't mean that the Republicans were powerless. They have been law-blocking Obama since he started because it was their goal, as they stated publicly, to make him a one-term president.

Also, I'll take Biden, fool as he may be, over Palin any day of the week. He at least seems more interested in helping the country than turning herself and her family into reality television stars. Also, since you decided to think that Koolaid suddenly started hating women (really that was a bit too far especially because he/she only was talking about Palin) maybe you hate black people because you dislike Obama. Or maybe you hate Delaware because you dislike Biden. See how silly you were?

That being said, I'm only reluctantly for Obama (I think he could be a stronger presence and push more for what he wants). In my own humble opinion he understands the world and economy better and has more conviction than Romney. I know this is debatable, but it is just what I believe from what I have read about both men.

You couldn't be more right about that,Jeff! Our country has come very far in so many ways over the years but sadly,bigotry is still alive and well in 2012. It's shameful.

Stimulus did not fail (see most economists). Last I checked GM is doing fairly well.

I may read the book, I may not. It depends on the time I have and how quickly I get through the books on my reading list (currently at about 35), but I do keep up with the news and have read a lot about how Romney ran things. Most of what he claims he did with Bain wasn't really done by him (see politifact.com for most of these accounts) and a lot of what Bain did was actually pretty terrible for the economy as a whole, though it made Bain a whole lot of money. As governor Romney takes credit for a lot that wasn't really his doing and he claims bipartisanship but he used the veto like crazy which doesn't really support his claims. Salt Lake City Games is small fish compared to the mess we are in that started because of the insane lack of regulation on Wall St. and in the subprime mortgage business.

As I said before, though, I am not a person who loves Obama. I think he could have done more and could have been stronger (as much as she is a scheming politician, I think Clinton would have been a very strong president who would have really pushed her agenda instead of trying the bipartisan route Obama tried and failed at doing). I do, however, think that Obama has become stronger in the last year and a half.

I appreciate the congenial dialogue as well Bill! It is refreshing.

Ah... yes, here was the unhelpful type of dialogue I was missing. Thanks Victor.

Based on the horrible misspellings in your comments I think you FINISHED the rest of your case, Victor. Was it Milwaukee's Best?

Every actual economist I have seen in the news has stated that the stimulus was at least a modest success. Not wanting to keep you waiting on something you can read right now, this is what I turned up on short notice: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-25/obama-s-economic-stimulus-program-created-up-to-3-3-million-jobs-cbo-says.html

For GM, you should tell all of those people who would have been put out of a job that the government did the wrong thing. You should also tell Romney, who somehow claimed credit for the auto industry bailout. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/romney-takes-credit-for-auto-industry-turnaround-reignites-bailout-debate/
Also, money invested shouldn't be payed back right away. That isn't really how investment works. You need to focus on long term strategy with investments (as opposed to day trading). What was done was needed otherwise more pain would have been caused to many more people if GM failed.

I never said Obama hasn't accomplished anything meaningful as president and I'm not here to claim he made great legislative accomplishments as a Senator and state rep (as I said before, I supported Hillary).

For Bain, you really need to take a look at what he did. Politifact did great pieces where they interviewed people who worked at Bain who said that Romney was completely not involved in things he took credit for (Staples, for example). Saying someone can hire the smart people doesn't make them a good leader. That's just silly.

I actually have spent a little time in the private sector as a manager. Please don't get all Dr. Bob Sklaroff on me when we had such a nice talk going. In the end, I think that it is not just about the people you hire, but how you work and lead them. Romney wasn't involved when he claimed he was.

Also, I am merely defending what I think Obama did right. There are many things I think he did wrong. It's not my fault if you just happen to be focusing on the wrong items.

You can watch a part of my life tomorrow at 3pm on Abington News & Views, Victor. If you miss the episode of OFF THE RECORD it re-airs on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm on the same channel. Sadly I won't be able to watch it since I don't have Comcast and I'm quite busy working my three other jobs (two of which are indeed for comic book companies which is why you keep making disparaging remarks based on my comic book geekdom).

What you fail to understand is that comics are not for little boys -- especially when creating them is part of my livelihood. I think it's a wonderful career, creating things that make children happy. And adults happy for that matter. But above all things else, it's a job. And having not just one job but THREE (four if you count hosting Abington News & Views) is a big part of what makes me anything other than a "little boy." Working and contributing to my family financially, paying taxes and supporting the economy...that makes me a man.

What do YOU do for a living Victor, besides run as a judge a fail miserably?

The "token" answer will be that Obama didn't actually get Bin Laden -- that other people did. Which of course then goes directly against the remark that "Great managers surround themselves with great people and the team is responsible for success." You see...Republicans want to blame all that is wrong on Obama and fail to give him credit for anything that has gone right. They'll say that the he's responsible for the failures of anyone around him but also refuse to give him any accolades for anything those around him accomplish. It's quite sad, actually, the way that they fail to see the dichotomy of that sort of belief.

Victor: I think that's actually quite admirable that you do that. I wish you continued success.

And it's a shame that you wont watch the show, because you're missing some great discussions with four very educated people. Both sides of the table do a great job of stating their case and listing the facts and their beliefs. You should give it a shot.