**I think if McC and Palin did nothing that would be a C-. **
I don’t agree. Most people here were clamoring for the President to do something to help and if McCain/Palin did nothing (which is likely what would have happened considering their aptitude in economics) the outcry would have been the same.
It’s just politics. You will never be happy with Obama and the Democrats will never be happy with the Republicans. Actual policies have no bearing.
This is the same Obama who, 6 weeks ago in Indiana, said that this “isn’t your ordinary, run of the mill recession” and called the current crisis “the winter of our hardship” Link …
…that Obama?
In over his head is an understatment. Well, at least he’s surrounding himself with good people. Oh, wait…sorry, scratch that.
To answer your question, I give him a B-.
Maybe from a non-accredited, 3d world, on-line, community college…
Understood and acknowledged. Hard to compare to the two situations, I admit. But, it is interesting that they reacted in competely different manners.
JSA, sorry to pick on this one point, but this was an entirely different situation. You can’t just cut taxes out of a recesion. The upper bracket when Reagan took office was through the freakin’ roof. They cut the uper bracket way down to get the economy moving…and then raised taxes 4 times afterward.
Just a couple points.
The cold war started well before Reagen and unemployment didn’t hit double digits until about 2 years into his first term. I’m not quite sure as far as interest rates.
~Matt
Reagan lowered taxes top rate from 70% to 28%,
A “Tax rate cut”
Obama lowers taxes $292 billion
None of which is a “Tax rate cut”, most of which is “Targeted credits” and a good deal of it is “Welfare” giving “Credits” to people that have a negative tax rate to begin with. All in all the “Tax cut” portion is around 120 Billion IF you spend your money as the government wants you to. In the end there simply is not comparison.
~Matt
Just a couple points.
The cold war started well before Reagen and unemployment didn’t hit double digits until about 2 years into his first term. I’m not quite sure as far as interest rates.
~Matt
Oh please. You know what I meant. The cold war reached it apex under Reagan and unemployment was at around 9% when he started and quickly went into double digits. And, as I repeatedly said in this post, my point is to rebut the assertion that ANY president would be over his/her head. Other presidents faced worse situations than that facing President Obama.
The cold war started under Reagan? That’s a new one.
Gimme a break, you know exactly what I meant and the point of my post, but, like many others, in classic Lavender Room fashion, you have taken it out of context.
The cold war reached it apex under Reagan
And I would disagree with this. I grew up and was in HS under Reagan. While my parents generation spent time doing nuclear bomb drills, building bomb shelters and hiding under desks I didn’t once experiance any of that.
The cold war reached it’s end during Reagen and part and parcel because we “Out spent them”. But the presidents before Reagen had FAR more on their plate as far as threat from the cold war than did Reagen. Bay of pigs, Cuban Missle Crisis and any number of other “Close” calls were far closer to the “Apex” of the cold war and all WELL before Reagen.
Reagen did a fine job of cleaning up and IMO was a good president, but didn’t have to work with the threats of the older Soviet Union.
and unemployment was at around 9% when he started and quickly went into double digits.
Unemployment was at 7.5% in January of 1981 and didn’t hit double digits until Sept of 1982, almost 2 years later.
to rebut the assertion that ANY president would be over his/her head. Other presidents faced worse situations than that facing President Obama.
I’m not disagreeing. There were many capable presidents that have dealt with as severe or worse conditions.
I actually don’t think Obama is in “Over his head either”. I just think he’s taking advantage of the situation and ramming a bunch of crap thru while he has a chance. Couple that with the fact that he really has very little control over the economy, Neither did Reagen or any other president, and people nail the president for something they have very little influence on.
~Matt
**I think the President is in over his head. **
Any President would be in over his head with all the shit happening. Would you prefer McCain and Palin at the helm? Oh. My. God.
Reagan faced a FAR worse financial situation that President Obama. Interest rates were over 20%, double-digit unemployment, incredible inflation, plus, the start of the Cold War. Reagan turned it around doing EXACTLY the opposite of what the Obama Administration is doing.
Obviously, the Reagan Administration was not in over its head. How quickly we forget …
But do you remember that Bush Sr. had to raise taxes (read my lips…) to get us out of the mess Reagan got us into? How quick we do forget…
Not that I agree at all with our governments stimulus plan BS
But where were these economists before the crisis? Did any of the guys on this panel foresee or warn about what is happening now a year or two ago?
If not, why should I take them seriously?
After getting the fat ass bills spending passed and with a couple of up days in the stock market, President Obama is feeling it and pronounces the economic crisis, ‘not as bad as we think.’
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D96SP30G5&show_article=1
On the other hand, according to the WSJ, a panel of 54 economists give Obama and Giethner an ‘F’
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123671107124286261.html
I think I side with the economists.
I think I side with the economists.
I’m SHOCKED! shocked I tell ya!
I do find it very funny when conservatives complain that Obama is not getting us out of this financial mess fast enough, a financial mess that they, and the people they put in power, created.
You guys gave us 8 long miserable years of Bush/Cheney and their lackeys in Congress led by Delay, Hastert, Boehner et al, they ran the ship of state into an iceberg at 30 knots, and took all the lifeboats, and now you’re whining that the new skipper and crew brought in to stop us from sinking just ain’t pumping water fast enough for your liking.
Well you’ll have to forgive the American people if we don’t relly care who you conservatives side with. We’ve seen your side in action and we’re still trying to clean up their mess.
With all due respect, there is PLENTY of blame to go around. But I firm place the majority of the blame on Barney Frank and the Clinton administrations “Community Reinvestment Act” that FORCED lenders to give home loans to people who flat out could not afford them.
Period.
Except the folks that received loans per the CRA are defaulting at lower rates, so that particular dog won’t hunt.
But I firm place the majority of the blame on Barney Frank and the Clinton administrations…Period.
Of course you do, I wouldn’t have expected anything else.
Except the folks that received loans per the CRA are defaulting at lower rates, so that particular dog won’t hunt.
And there are even studies to prove that point.
If not, why should I take them seriously?
Well, im not LT83, but I suspect his answer woul dbe because they now disagree with Obama. If Mickey Mouse came out against Obama, I’m sure LT83 would side with Mickey as well.
And there are even studies to prove that point.
Matt, you know ditto heads don’t read.
Hey Barry, when have you ever discounted what pointy headed academics have to say about anything. Oh wait, maybe when they go against your guy.
The cold war started under Reagan? That’s a new one.
Gimme a break, you know exactly what I meant and the point of my post, but, like many others, in classic Lavender Room fashion, you have taken it out of context.
The point of your post was clear except that you misspoke. No big deal really, I was just pointing it out. You could just admit it and move on rather than somehow twist it around in classic Lavender Room fashion and blame me.