GOP Leaders Oppose Haste On Stimulus

Washington Post: Congressional Republicans Seek Extensive Vetting of Proposal, Which Could Push Its Passage Back To February

(Washington Post)  This story was written by Paul Kane.

---

Congressional Republicans objected yesterday to hurried consideration of President-elect Barack Obama's emerging stimulus proposal, questioning the economic value of many of the projects being floated for inclusion and voicing support for a more methodical process that might delay the legislation's passage well into February.

Concerned by Democrats' push to enact the massive bill into law within days of Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R.-Ohio) issued calls for a lengthy vetting of the stimulus proposal, whose price tag could top $850 billion when it is completed next month.

"As of right now, Americans are left with more questions than answers about this unprecedented government spending, and I believe the taxpayers deserve to know a lot more about where it will be spent before we consider passing it," McConnell said in a statement. He coordinated the timing of the statement's release with Boehner, who questioned whether the plan would lead to "more pork-barrel spending that does nothing but give taxpayers' money to special interests and campaign contributors."

Neither GOP leader said outright that they would oppose the legislation, but Republicans, particularly McConnell, have the ability to at least slow the process, which could delay the infusion of federal dollars into the hemorrhaging economy.

Since mid-December, Obama's advisers and congressional Democrats have huddled in the Capitol crafting a stimulus plan that could cost $675 billion to $775 billion, with the expectation that Congress would add tens of billions more in negotiations; some economists are pushing for a package worth more than $1 trillion. Advisers have sketched an outline for the plan that would include about $200 billion in tax cuts for the middle class and businesses, and $350 billion or more to fund a massive infrastructure and technology program to rebuild the nation's highways, bridges, schools, hospitals and alternative energy sources.

Negotiators recessed for the holidays and are not likely to reconvene until after New Year's Day. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) have set a goal of passing the legislation as close as possible to Obama's swearing-in.

House Democrats, who need a simple majority to approve the bill, have considered passing it without going through the committee process, setting up a vote for the week of Jan. 12.

But the stimulus negotiations are posing the first test of Obama's pledge to run an administration that includes Republican input, something Reid reiterated yesterday.

"It is essential that we pass legislation to help create jobs and get our economy back on track. Senator Reid understands that the only way that we can do so is with the cooperation of Senate Republicans, and he intends to work on a bipartisan basis to pass an economic recovery package," said Jim Manley, spokesman for Reid.

"The state of our economy demands swift approval by both the House and Senate of an economic recovery and job creation package. While the House process is still being determined, the House has already laid the groundwork for this package with numerous hearings and the bipartisan package passed in September," said Drew Hammill, Pelosi's spokesman.

The Obama team's goal, according to congressional advisers in both parties, is consensus legislation that could win as many as 80 votes in the Senate, 20 votes more than the number needed to break a filibuster. Democrats will have at least 57 members in their caucus next month, as a recount continues in the hotly contested U.S. Senate race in Minnesota and a scandal involving the Illinois governor delays the appointment to fill Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Although talks with Republican leaders on Capitol Hill have been limited, Obama and his advisers have begun reaching out to GOP moderates, sometimes using Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. as a back channel to his former colleagues in the Senate, according to Democratic and Republican aides.

Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), a key moderate, has received a call from Obama and has had a meeting with Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy F. Geithner. This resulted in a public statement from Snowe praising Obama's effort "to work in a collaborative fashion so critical to developing solutions." She has not expressed concern about the mounting cost of the stimulus plan.

"She thinks we need to spend what we need to spend to get the economy going," spokesman John Gentzel said yesterday.

But McConnell and Boehner sent a message that, beyond a few moderates, such bipartisan support might be hard to find.

As of Jan. 20, McConnell will be the most powerful Republican in Washington, managing a minority of at least 41 Senate seats that will allow the GOP to mount filibusters. Even if Republican moderates such as Snowe and Sens. Arlen Specter (Pa.) and Susan Collins (Maine) defect on final votes, McConnell is urging his colleagues to stay united on procedural battles to force lengthier debates and more votes on amendments, which might allow Republicans to draw concessions on some issues.

In yesterday's statement, McConnell suggested finding "the right mix of tax relief and other measures," signaling his hope for a larger portion of the bill going toward tax cuts than the current projections suggest.

His office has begun a daily ritual of digging through local media reports on stimulus spending proposals by mayors, highlighting what his aides consider egregious requests. Recent editions include Philadelphia's effort to collect $100 million in stimulus funding to redevelop land for a casino and Minnesota's plea for $6 million to help with snow-making at a ski resort. A New Hampshire official was reported calling the stimulus plan "free money" for local projects.

To slow the process, Boehner called for a week-long cooling-off period between when the bill is drafted and when it is voted on, allowing time to dissect it for signs of "irresponsible spending."

[hologram5]

They are worried about an 850Billion dollar price tag when they already tossed 750B to the wind with no regulation? Hmm, sounds kinda idiotic to me.

[cariboubarbi]

Has the GOP become the party of NO?

No new ideas.

No responsibility for the huge mistakes they''ve made.

No to anyone who''s been elected to get us out of this mess.

[afmca]

It is sad that the Republicans spent the last 8 years destroying the American economy and ruining the lives of millions of hard working middle class Americans and the Republican Senate and House leadership want to use their ability as the new vast minority to slow down legislation to spread the pain even longer in 2009.

Every leading economist states that the American economy needs a quick and huge kick start; not more tax breaks for the wealthy. The Southern based Republican Party was willing to see large U.S. based auto companies go belly up to support their quest for low wages and foreign imports. They now want to see how many more companies that employ Americans at good wages they can destroy.

O''Connell should have been defeated in KY. He is a worthless political hack. Boehner will be gone in 2 years once the people of Ohio realize he was willing to let more manufacturing jobs disappear. The Republicans are dinosaurs and their leaders are becoming extinct. At least it proves the theory of evolution ... Republicans just cannot adapt to the changing political climate.

[lochlan-2009]

"but Republicans, particularly McConnell, have the ability to at least slow the process, which could delay the infusion of federal dollars into the hemorrhaging economy"

The Republicans are skating on the thinest of ice. I''ve personally sworn off voting for a republican for a long long time, after these last eight years, and there are no shortage of people in this boat with me. Sure hope these few remaining republicans use their last days, in a party that could fade away to nothing, to do something good for once for America and Americans. It would be nice to see them really keep an eye out for the wasted and excessive spending at the Dems disposal now. As long as it is done with America''s interest in mind, and not the greedy elitist agenda the GOP had these last eight years, at a cost of tens of trillions of $$$$ to every HARD WORKING American.

[torva-2009]

"GOP Leaders Oppose"

The epitaph of the Republican party!

May it pass quickly to oblivion and from memory!

[dnamj]

The Republicans are bound and determined to turn the USA into a third world feudal mess. I hope that they keep losing elections.

[sharednotion]

Personally, I like the idea of some sort of temporary "sales tax holiday." Congress could choose a period, such as the last weekend in March 2009 (allowing time for federal, state, & local government co-ordinate for the sales tax holiday). Congress could pass a federal law ordering the U.S. Treasury to reimburse state AND local governments for 100% of sales taxes lost that weekend, but ONLY in states whose state legislatures mandate ALL units of government in their state to bring all sales taxes down to ZERO throughout that ENTIRE weekend. THEN, heavy publicity through the news media would let Americans nationwide know about the savings they can get on ALL purchases that weekend (INCLUDING ZERO federal state or local excise or sales taxes on the purchase of a new car, for example: as lomg as a downpayment of at least 10& was paid in that tax-holiday weekend, the no-tax policy would STILL apply on all of your subsequent payments on the car.)

[renojmc]

Good for the Republicans! The liberals think they know best how to dole out our money to us. Just cut our taxes and leave us alone! That will stimulate the economy.

[suzyku]

The Republicans have gotten us into the current mess we''re in! We should NOT listen to anything they have to say, they''re all clueless nuts who are more concerned with their own (bad) agenda''s then moving this country out of the *** pile they''ve put us into! Just say NO to them! They have already done enough harm and have proven their worthlessness!

[kazoodan]

Exactly Davicar- It started with a realy Dumb Democrat- Clinton- . Good God, now we have the woman as Sec of State- Geeze, what''''s next..Michelle Obama running for NY Senator?

Posted by peace4321 at 12:22 PM : Dec 30, 2008

Wow. Still blaming the dog for the child urinating on the rug. Sad.

[collegedudeu]

It''s not just "liberals" who are fed up with the Republican party. My ideals are to the right, however I refuse to align myself with the current republican brand. It has become a party of corruption and fecklessness. There is a reason why republicans are losing elections and members, such as myself, and it has nothing to do with "liberals". It has to do with their do-nothing approach that is causing America to fall further behind the rest of the world.

[samthetvcat]

Sometimes the GOP actually come up with good ideas, but they seem to sort of end up shooting themselves in the foot with the delivery.

Like with the auto bailout, they put those conditions in which would have made great strides towards making the big 3 viable, only the contempt they seemed to have towards unions which resulted in their lack of attention to demanding concessions from management as well made them look like they only cared about scoring political points. And then polls ultimately showed that people actually supported the auto bailout, so they ended up on the wrong side of the issue.

The way they''ve set up this opposition here too to me seems to smack of political calculation (?) Because they haven''t expressed ANY concern whatsoever for the tanking economy, the stress people are feeling, and the thirst for some urgent relief.

It''s actually probably great to know that it''s not so easy in life for Government to just whip off a check for hundreds of billions of dollars, but they should have at least offered to pass an emergency stimulus bill of a smaller scale on day one - maybe to get stimulus checks out to the public asap or something like that.

I don''t know if this helps their image of being kind of cold, apathetic, and all about saving THEIR money (?)

[dburfears]

"Party First" is the motto of the current GOP leadership, and Americans are tired of it. The more obstructionist they are, the more marginalized they will become. Boehner is a horrible "leader". It is time for new and more constructive blood in the House GOP leadership.

[samthetvcat]

---"In yesterday''s statement, McConnell suggested finding "the right mix of tax relief and other measures," signaling his hope for a larger portion of the bill going toward tax cuts than the current projections suggest."---

And this REALLY doesn''t help them - apparently tax cuts aren''t going to do much to stimulate the economy because incomes (of individuals and corporations) are collectively down. What''s worse is that apparently tax cuts are hard to repeal in the future which means their idea doesn''t help at all right now and is apparently going to cause greater problems in the future with little net gain except for I guess themselves and their like corrupt self-dealing Halliburton cronies and their ilk?

Wow, that''s really not good to just make people suffer while they hold out for tax cuts for like Cheney or whoever . . .

[ofbyfor3]

Well since WALL Street already got THEIR bailout and didn''t even have to give up their multi-million dollar bonuses, why the heck should the Republicans give a hoot about MAIN Street?

[sf91b2s]

I have to echo the thoughts of a previous post. These republicans shoot themselves in the foot continually. First they claim they are only looking out for the citizen. Then the memo comes out with how lets give it to the union now for hurting us in the election. To me when you purposely try to harm americans using your public office. You should be given the boot immediately. Make all the noise you want. After the 20th this will be like the Reagan years. He will get what he wants. When he wants. The old GOP is dead. This is about us now. America as a whole.

[fairandbal]

This is an easy no brainer strategy for the GOP. They don''t care about the average american anyway, only the rich Wallstreet Executives who''ve already stolen millions of the taxpayers money already.

Just stall on any real stimulus that''ll help average americans. Let the economy go into Depression and then blame Obama. It''s all the GOP has left of their failed ideology.

[terrapin78]

Republicans are for conservative values, perhaps with a differant generation of leaders that preferred party will get in shape. No matter what generatioin there is of a liberal brand, it is still the same shi-.

Posted by peace4321 at 12:51 PM : Dec 30, 2008

There will be no GOP left after Palin is the top dog (biitch).

Conservatism is a deadend.

[terrapin78]

The Republicans have gotten us into the current mess we`re in! ------------------------ Posted by suzyku



That`s a funny thing to say considering the Democrat Majority in both the House AND the Senate. Funny.

Posted by DaVicar3 at 12:55 PM : Dec 30, 2008


The heavy damage to the US by the GOP was done between 2000 and 2006. Then since, Repugs have only wanted to obstruct the move forward. And we see how well that worked for them in the last election cycle.

[fairandbal]

Republicans are for conservative values, perhaps with a differant generation of leaders that preferred party will get in shape. No matter what generatioin there is of a liberal brand, it is still the same shi-.

Posted by peace4321 at 12:51 PM : Dec 30, 2008

Let''s see.... real conservative values.... hmmm.

- starting a war based on lies, killing thousands.
- party leaders that protect child molesters in their legislative ranks and closeted *** that champion anti gay discrimination.
- Only real economic strategy of the past 16 years.. privatize social security and tax cuts for the rich. that worked really well didn''t it?
- protecting industry who pollutes our land, and air. HUGE tax giveaways for big oil at the same time they tell average americans they can''t afford a better health care system.

We''ve seen REAL conservatism in the GOP and it''s failed miserably. It needs to go away forever.

[cariboubarbi]

Republicans are for conservative values, perhaps with a differant generation of leaders that preferred party will get in shape. No matter what generatioin there is of a liberal brand, it is still the same shi-.

Posted by peace4321 at 12:51 PM : Dec 30, 2008

Let''''s see.... real conservative values.... hmmm.

- starting a war based on lies, killing thousands.
- party leaders that protect child molesters in their legislative ranks and closeted *** that champion anti gay discrimination.
- Only real economic strategy of the past 16 years.. privatize social security and tax cuts for the rich. that worked really well didn''''t it?
- protecting industry who pollutes our land, and air. HUGE tax giveaways for big oil at the same time they tell average americans they can''''t afford a better health care system.

We''''ve seen REAL conservatism in the GOP and it''''s failed miserably. It needs to go away forever.

Posted by fairandbal at 01:00 PM : Dec 30, 2008




Well said!!

[Mccarthyaw]

That`s a funny thing to say considering the Democrat Majority in both the House AND the Senate. Funny.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by DaVicar3 at 12:55 PM : Dec 30, 2008

Was hardly a majority, and there is still the problem of a republican as president. Their majority was not veto proof, so compromise was necessary to get anything done. Plus, that was only from 06-08, before that, republicans had the majority, and did not need to compromise much to get anything done with Bush in office.

[cariboubarbi]

The heavy damage to the US by the GOP was done between 2000 and 2006. Then since, Repugs have only wanted to obstruct the move forward. And we see how well that worked for them in the last election cycle ------------ Posted by Terrapin78



= = = = = = Since 2006???
I guess I have to remind you, that in November of 2006 (when the Democrats took over the House and Senate) the DOW was $12,400...
what is it today, after two hole years of Democrat ''''smarts''''???

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:03 PM : Dec 30, 2008




I''m sorry that you are a moron.

[trillion1]

DaVicar and a few neonuts are the only one''s who swallow that Dems took control in 2006. A two vote majority is not "control". And the GOP who were so quick to throw $700 billion dollars away on Wall St. want to stymie something that could well help working Americans.

[cariboubarbi]

''''hardly a majority''''...''''too much damage for Obama to fix in for years''''...

. . . and the excuses keep coming!

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:06 PM : Dec 30, 2008



Dems had a slim majority in the House and no majority in the Senate. Republicans went into total obstruction mode in 2006 with a record number of philibusters and Presidential Vetoes.

Can you point to a few Democratic initiatives that actually passed that support your ridiculous assertion?

[cariboubarbi]

''''hardly a majority''''...''''too much damage for Obama to fix in for years''''...

. . . and the excuses keep coming!

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:06 PM : Dec 30, 2008


%u201CThe strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail ... so far it%u2019s working for us.%u201D Republican Senator Trent Lott 2007

[trillion1]

Face it. DaVicar is just a stupid troll not worth wasting time responding to.

[cariboubarbi]

After 8 years of Bush`s lies, I guess they think that Americans are pretty stupid ------------------------------------- Posted by yesbama1




= = = = = = = = =
actually, it took me just one day in early November to realize how stupid Americans are...

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:15 PM : Dec 30, 2008




Speaking of stupid, how many times did you say you voted for Bush?



lol!

[cariboubarbi]

After 8 years of Bush`s lies, I guess they think that Americans are pretty stupid ------------------------------------- Posted by yesbama1




= = = = = = = = =
actually, it took me just one day in early November to realize how stupid Americans are...

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:15 PM : Dec 30, 2008




Speaking of stupid, how many times did you say you voted for Bush?



lol!

[ofbyfor3]

two hole years of Democrat ''''smarts''''???

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:03 PM : Dec 30, 2008

Ummm, that would be 2 ''WHOLE'' years, genius. And when Republicans stonewall and veto simply for the sake of ideology, it seems a bit insincere to blame it on the Dems.

[irmcvet971]

we were having a discussion...and exchange of ideas...take your little insults and name-calling elsewhere, child!

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:25 PM : Dec 30, 2008


He''s right! NO ONE on here has seen you post ANYTHING but the standard "Party" line. A NEW or DIFFERENT idea? NOT ONCE... NEVER!

[irmcvet971]

We need to remove these obstructionist repigletards so the Democratic Party can correct the damage caused by the Bush "Administration."

Posted by yesbama1 at 01:20 PM : Dec 30, 2008

Agreed! When they were Borrowing and Spending us into this mess they never wanted to debate or discuss ANYTHING. When they were sitting on their hands while the De-Regulations THEY insisted on pushed us off the edge we heard NOTHING from them. The Republican Party doesn''t exist anymore... what we have now is the Southern Obstructionist Party and it''s no better now than it ever was!!

[terrapin78]

I think it is telling that the Repugs in Congress think that obstructiong prgress is a good idea for them.

I''d say go for it,

I like how well it is working for them as evidenced by the last 2 elections, 2006 and 2008.

Keep it up and we''ll make it 3 elections in a row that Repugs in Congress are given their "pink slips".

[terrapin78]

two hole years of Democrat ''''''''''''''''smarts''''''''''''''''???

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:03 PM : Dec 30, 2008

Is he talking about Larry Craig? -- two hole years?

Posted by yesbama1 at 01:31 PM : Dec 30, 2008


Speaking of Larry, has he come out of the closet yet?

I didn''t think so. He should not have plead guilty after months of weighing the options.

Another great and honored Repug, Larry Craig!

[mitch5511]

These jokers need to back off. The GOP leaders were in goose-step with Bush all the way. It''s their fault we were in this mess in the first place with all their deregulation BS!

[krazytaz312]

I agree that something needs to be done to stimulate the economy, but I am not ready to jump on the first thing smoking. We as a country are not going to fail if the vote doesn''t occur until February, probably less than 30 days after Obama takes over. We need both parties to be smart and think long term as well as near term. Someone needs to look at this and see what this is really going to cost us. $850B for the stimulus package and how much for the tax cuts? How are we, as a nation, going to pay for all this.

[ofbyfor3]

..actually, ''''genus'''', I purposely substituted the word ''''hole'''', (something a fool falls into) for ''''whole'''' (entire), as a way to stress my point. Clearly, sarcasm can even be wasted on genies like you!

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:35 PM : Dec 30, 2008

...excuses, excuses...

[ioweign]

GOP Leaders Oppose Haste On Stimulus

Washington Post: Congressional Republicans Seek Extensive Vetting of Proposal, Which Could Push Its Passage Back To February

#####

Where was this GOP mindset when Bush wanted to invade Iraq ???

[irmcvet971]

WHAT in the BLUE BLAZES IS WRONG with the Southern Fascist! SOMEONE had BETTER do something and I mean REALLY quick or the Economy will be spiraling out of Control. The LAST people on PLANET EARTH we need to be listening to right now is THESE people... the ABSOLUTE LAST PEOPLE ON PLANET EARTH!!

[irmcvet971]

I agree that something needs to be done to stimulate the economy, but I am not ready to jump on the first thing smoking. We as a country are not going to fail if the vote doesn''''t occur until February, probably less than 30 days after Obama takes over. We need both parties to be smart and think long term as well as near term. Someone needs to look at this and see what this is really going to cost us. $850B for the stimulus package and how much for the tax cuts? How are we, as a nation, going to pay for all this.

Posted by krazytaz312 at 01:38 PM : Dec 30, 2008

That''s NUTS!! The Republican''s should be standing aside and giving our new President and his Administration ANY and ALL weapons they need to fight this thing. In case you haven''t noticed there is NO SIGN of any even slowing of the Depression we are in. We need NEW direction and NEW thinking... these OLD TIRED FASCIST are not the ones to look to for that change.

[jt_lancer]

What is it that makes people think that government ''stimulus'' can magically revive the economy? Does anyone realize that ALL government (aka. taxpayer funded) ''stimulus'' comes at the expense of investment and job growth in the private sector?

In other words, government ''stimulus'' means private sector DE-STIMULUS.

Government does not have its own money, folks. Every dime it gets comes at the expense of taxpaying Americans who actually worked for the money.

Government stimulus is a folly. It doesn''t work. In fact, it typically makes things worse.

[kazoodan]

I guess I have to remind you, that in November of 2006 (when the Democrats took over the House and Senate) the DOW was $12,400...
what is it today, after two hole years of Democrat ''''smarts''''???

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:03 PM : Dec 30, 2008

The Dow was at 14,000 in Oct. 2007. So what''s your point?

[terrapin78]

I happen to know for a FACT that my lame excuses are VERY clever!

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:42 PM : Dec 30, 2008

And you probably believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy! LOL

[jt_lancer]

Keep worshiping your Democrat and Republican Masters, slaves. You don''t have to do anything; just let them run your lives. They will make everything better for you.

[voultron]

Is this the same GOP members of congress who passed Bush''s bank bailout at lightning speed?

The GOP needs to work in the letter "H" as part of their Grand Old Party logo. Naturally the letter H stands for Hypocrisy...the "GOHP" works.

[trillion1]

Yes, first clean out the GOP. Then they may start running canadates who will actually listen to the voters. Then get rid of the Dems and maybe they will start running canadates who listen to the voters. The bottom line is if you voted for an incumbent don''t expect Washington to care about you.

[element51]

Let me first say that I am a life long democrat and a strong Obama supporter. I also think that it is time to put some money back into America and our infrastructure. However, in reading the article I was struck by a couple of things. One was 100 million to develop land for a casino and the other was 6 million to produce snow for a ski resort. These things are not inportant to the nation as a whole. We need to make sure that there is no pork in this stimulus package. Every cent should go to projects that will benefit ALL Americans, not just a few. And as to you, DaVicar3, I won''t waste the time to hurl any insults your way. You do yourself fine by the things you post. And to those of you who are so anxious for Obama to fail, don''t you realize that if he fails you will go down the drain right along with the rest of us? It''s time to put this petty bickering behind us and to try to bring this country back to the greatness that we once had. It''s still there, we just need to show what we are capable of achieving. America first!!!!!!!

[voultron]

It''s a waste of time smacking the wayward GOP sore loser, DaVicar. He obviously doesn''t understand the rules of the US Senate. His lack of the basic knowledge regarding the workings of our federal government proves he isn''t worthy of an decent exchange of ideas.

He forgets that his hero, Karl Rove predicted a "permanent Republican majority for decades to come."

That goofy prediction lasted all of six years! The Bush administration and the GOP majority in congress made sure that fat Karl''s all seeing vision never materialized.

Just a few days left until our national nightmare is over...

[the74blaster]

I guess I have to remind you, that in November of 2006 (when the Democrats took over the House and Senate) the DOW was $12,400...
what is it today, after two hole years of Democrat ''''''''smarts''''''''???

Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:03 PM : Dec 30, 2008

So do you care to tell us what party''s president currently resides in the Whitehouse?

Do you want to talk about the current value of the public debt and what has happened to it during the last 8 years of republican rule?

January 20th cannot get here soon enough! Good bye to the incompentent republicans, the party of economic death.

[likeitis5050]

So do you care to tell us what party''''s president currently resides in the Whitehouse?

Do you want to talk about the current value of the public debt and what has happened to it during the last 8 years of republican rule?

January 20th cannot get here soon enough! Good bye to the incompentent republicans, the party of economic death.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by the74blaster

Give us a break. What good is Congress if EVERYTHING CAN BE DONE BY ONE PRESIDENT. Remember this when Obama slides to the bottom....and you desperately try to blame Congress...or some mayor some where....you never cease to amaze.

First Bush is stupid...really stupid...then he''s so smart he can cause an entire economy to collapse...all by himself. Pick a side and stick with it. You simply sound retarded. When gas was $4 a gallon it was Bush...dam.n him. Now gas is under $2 a gallon and where is all the credit. NOW WE HEAR IT''S BECAUSE ''THEY'' KNOW OBAMA IS COMING. Guess what...you can''t have it both ways. AND I DID NOT VOTE FOR BUSH so save the slobber it will take to give me the raspberry...idiot.