UPDATED
President Barack Obama will be at a Home Depot in Northern Virginia this morning to push job creation. This visit will focus on the "economic impact of energy saving home retrofits," according to Politico.com.
The president will meet with small business, manufacturing and labor sectors during his Home Depot appearance. He will also be urging homeowners to make their houses more energy efficient to save money and help that sector of the economy.
Obama is pushing legislation to "jump-start" business hiring. The jobs bill will contain new incentives for small businesses to hire more workers. There also would be additional money for roads, bridges and other infrastructure improvements.
Until we get Americans back to work, the economic recovery will not be a real recovery.
Here's a portion of the Associated Press report on the Obama appearance at the Home Depot:
President Barack Obama said Tuesday that home insulation "is sexy," his newest appeal for Congress to pass incentives for homeowners who make their homes more energy efficient.
"Here's what's sexy about it. It saves money," the president said at a Northern Virginia Home Depot store. He was joined at the outlet by members of Congress representing Virginia and labor and business leaders involved in services to lower use of natural resources consumed by homeowners.Calling insulation the in-thing, Obama's pitch was part of a broader administration push to lower the nation's 10% unemployment rate. And it marked the fourth time in less than two weeks that the president has presided over high-profile events that call attention to his efforts to curb joblessness.
Last week, Obama advanced a new spending plan that would provide tax breaks for energy-efficient retrofits in homes. The plan also calls for small business tax cuts and new spending on highway and bridge construction. The administration hasn't put a price tag on the plan, but it could total more than $150 billion.
I think that at this point we have a very stupid man trying to dig out of a very big hole with a toothpick. He is ruining this country and hopefully we will be able to call him a lame duck at the end of 2010. My grandkids have nothing to look forward to, it very sad.
This President is squandering money left and right and nothing seems to work. Now the idea of retrofitting our homes is another waste of taxpayers' dollars, just as it was the clunkers' this year. In the meantime, we have our soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, men and women who shouldn't be there in the first place. I hate to think how much money goes to pay for the stationing of our Armed Forces in these two countries.
Pres. Obama talks about spending billions and trillions without blinking an eye. We will pay the consequences of this man and those who don't stand up and stop this mess. it's disgusting!!
I am awed by President Obama. The first vote I cast was for Eisenhower, and never in my lifetime has a president taken office with the nation in such disarray as now: huge deficits, two wars, economy collapsing, the country so influenced by angry ideologues.
He has tackled more problems in his first months in office than any president in my lifetime, including Roosevelt. He steps up to bat and risks it all on everything he tries to fix. And he remains calm, centered, seemingly unflappable. He is the epitome of what it means to be an American, to uphold the values of our founding fathers, and to do so in the face of the obstinate refusal of the minority party to participate in the solutions.
I hope I live long enough to see the day when Americans of every persuasion begin to cooperate to solve problems. "Just Say No" is not a creative, productive, responsible response. Divided with hatred, we will fail. President Obama strives to unite; we are all a part of the Divine One. United we will fulfill the expectations of our founders.
I think that under the circumstances the president is doing a great job. Especially because of what he inherited from the previous Republican administration. As a Vietnam veteran I am not in favor of more troops in any combat area but I do understand the need for them. Still I would wish that they all could come back home sooner than soon.
The president's new proposal is great in my opinion. We have installed double paned windows with gas in between, plus, insulation under the wood siding and we already feel and see the difference. A suggestion does come to mind on jobs creation. Lean on big business to stop outsourcing jobs to third world countries and bring them back home.
obama is jesus christ reincarnated!!!
Cash for caulkers will not meaningfully stimulate the economny and lower unemployment. Tax cuts will. Cut the corporate income tax to 10%. Eliminate the capital gains tax. Reduce personal income taxes. Take cap and trade off the table. Take health care off the table. The latter two frighten businesses. Find ways to lessen government regulation and red tape. Supply side policies grow the economy and create jobs.
I do believe that positive thinking is in order, but despite the setbacks from the meltdown of '08, (or have you forgotten) Obama wasn't the main cause of the meltdown. He is part of the cog who rose through the ranks of the Democratic Party. He was chosen from the masses after a majority rule of Republicans and the hardest period for working class America.
I am no less a critic of President Obama than hardline Republican counterparts, but there is a distinct difference. I know the working class suffered through 8 delirious years of the Bush administration and the policies are still a continuation through the first year of Obama's administration. The fallout seems unfixable because like fixures, power structures and dominant forces rule politics and lead the course of our path, whether it be recession or boom. That being said, President Obama needs to concentrate his efforts towards the working class. He's already done his part to resuscitate Wall St. and the Banks. This effort would be no different if Senator McCain was elected. The Republican Party would have backed McCain and supported the bailouts. Instead, politics ruled and the Republicans chose to play the game against the Democrats. Let's bring our soldiers back home, bring in new green industry, replace our need for fossil fuels, and the need for continual wars! We are at a turning point. We can choose and fall prey to the forces of greed and the old ways of dominance for wealth, or we can lobby our President Congressmen,and women to take a different path!
Sounds like you guys just returned from an annual HK pilgrimage in the Papua airport. Welcome back, how did the book sales go?
What Seamus said times 10.
Now, now, let's not be so hard on Daru Stevens. Stevens brought up some interesting points and has surely seen enough Presidents to have a clear picture of how things work. By no means is Stevens "old" especially as I get older, ha ha but I have noticed that many "older" Americans feel the same way as Stevens. I know of several people who are in their 70s and 80s who are all Republicans that have surprised me with their support of Obama. All have lived through many Presidencies and all have made similar comments as Stevens. They were wary during the elections but have been very pleased with Obama. They are looking forward to change and see Obama's administration as a turning point. Having lived through the Depression, they know the risks of economic chaos. They've been through wars and they've seen the political parties evolve. I can see how Obama's demeanor would appeal to older generations but they are not naive and there has to be something more that leads them to support him in much the same way as Daru Stevens. I'm still pondering on it but before you poo poo Stevens thought you might want to ponder yourself why older folks, many Republicans, are pleased to have Obama at the helm. It is possible they have a perspective that younger folks don't see. It's worth taking a closer look at. Comments like mdub420 only show a closed mind. You don't have to agree but to not even consider isn't a desirable quality in my mind. The only people who think Obama is God, the Almighty, the Annointed One are the Republicans who coined the phrase to further their partisan spin in the media.
There is no magic bullet. Just like some small and some large issues all contributed to this country's downfall, a combination of small and large solutions will be required for its comeback. Cash for clunkers was never meant to be the end all solution. It is a method of chipping away at the big problem and that is a successful strategy. Your ideas for tax cuts are great and we should head that direction; however, they will never be cut until the programs those taxes support are cut. We need fewer Americans eager to take whatever hand out they can get and support only with Americans that just want a hand UP. As I've said before, even Superman can't stop a speeding train dead in its tracks; even he get pushed backwards a ways before his efforts start to work. Its too soon to throw in the towel on Obama. He not only jumped in front of a speeding train but landed in a train wreck.
Ron, nicely said; I think we are both on the same page.
More stupid,meaningless,expensive symbolism.As if it wasn't insulting enough that taxpayers were raped in the "Cash for Clunkers" program as we helped pay for people's new cars(their responsibility,not mine)"The Community Organizer "and his inept minions now want us to pay so more irresponsible morons can take tax money and put insulation and weatherstripping in their homes(their responsibility,not mine)...and this will turn the economy around while providing jobs.Stupid!Our blogging Obama sympathizers never seem to mention or acknowledge that Obama was in the political party that was in control for the final 2 plus years of the Bush administration and the Democrats were more of a factor in the decline of our economy and country than the president.That is pure intellectual dishonesty on their part but being "Stuck on Stupid" is how the "Leftists" followers can exist in their "Exempt from Responsibility" bubble.These "Liars" are as big a threat to our country as any foreign enemy.
I think I could debate every point in your blog, but for the sake of brevity, I just want to comment on one phrase: "I am awed by President Obama." At least you got to the source of the problem that some people have with Obama right up front. Simply put, many Americans were or are in love with the image of Obama. Not the reality or the substance of Obama, but the image.
Repeatedly, during the past year and during the campaign, pollsters asked the public, "What does he believe, what does he stand for?" And over and over, we got the same answer - they didn’t know, but we are going to vote for him anyways.
In one respect, the Obama campaign was the beneficiary of a brilliant marketing ploy - evil, but brilliant! "Manipulating the emotions and thereby restructuring the thoughts and beliefs of large numbers of people is what modern marketing is all about." - The Marketing of Evil - David Kupelian. It’s really suggests mind control and manipulation via the media.
Obama is one big joke. Any sheeple that believe in him and his policies are just as naive as he is.
The fact that so many people can seriously accept that advocating home insulation is a legitimate activity for the POTUS shows how ridiculously shallow and dependent they have become! Such a pitch as was made at Home Depot by Obama would not so long ago have been the stuff of comedic parodies. Truly pitiful and pathetic, imho.
Kim-
I have a good deal of respect for and generally agree with your posts, but I think there are two points that need to be mentioned. First, the person who originally referred to Obama as the "The One" was Oprah Winfrey. After Obama's sppech at Invesco Field Chris Matthews made this analogy of the Democrats nomination of Obama- "You know in the Bible they talk about Jesus serving the good wine last. I think the Democrats did the same". This is the same Chris Matthews who said after an Obama primary victory "I felt this thrill going up my leg" and on a Jay Leno appearance said "If you're actually in the room when (Obama) gives one of his speeches and ytou don't cry, you're not an American." On MSNBC's Joe Scarborough Show, Joe reported' "He has been sainted. He is Saint Barrack." and "They (the media) have deified this man while destroying everybody that got in his path." I have no doubt that the Republicans tried to play on this "deification" thing, but the Democrats and the media were the ones that started and promoted it- not the Republicans.
Second,as Ronald Reagan showed in the 1980s if you cut tax rates the federal government receives more tax revenue. Many programs should be cut or eliminated, but a tax cut should not be held hostage to program cuts in the misguided notion that the tax cuts "should be paid for". The problem is and always will be spending. The Congress (Republican or Democrat) is genetically unable to reign in spending.
Joe, point made; the characterization has come from both sides. I guess I take exception with the fact these are individuals speaking their point of view. Because an individual, who may be a Democrat says something does not automatically mean all Democrats share their characterization. Especially Chris Mathews and that "thrill going up his leg" thing. HA. By now you can see, I hate generalizations.
Yes, you are correct about tax cuts. In the past that was true; however, in todays world we have too many special programs and I don't think the formula still works. I was not advocating not cutting taxes, I was more advocating getting rid of special programs. To me a hand UP is food, a temporary roof over one's head if it is lacking, and the tools to get a job and temporary unemployment funding for those who have been working but lost their job. THAT'S IT. All the rest of these programs like solar panels, second languages in school, free computers, etc. go beyond what the government should do. If these programs, and more like them, are cut then the tax cuts would be easy because there would be a surplus. Fewer taxes, help the economy grow and further cuts can be made. You are right, tax cuts should not be held hostage by programs but in reality they are. I think government will always be poor at reigning in spending because there are too many Americans (voters) who sit there with their hand out. GIMMEE GIMMEE. Now I consider the Cash for Clunkers different because it was in response to the demise of the auto industry and it was a TEMPORARY program. I think they should have let those in the auto industry that were failing to fail myself. Too many Americans didn't want that because not only manufacturers and dealers would go under but also the support industries; and I will admit the domino affect would have been huge. The program did have an impact even though it was rough going.
P.S. The respect is mutual.
Too many shovels not enough leadership.