99 days, and counting down
Back from his whirlwind foreign tour, Democrat Barack Obama pivots back to the economy today -- 99 days before the presidential election.
He met in Washington with his top economic advisers, including investor Warren Buffett, former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger, and Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt.
UPDATE: After the meeting, Obama issued this statement: “I am deeply concerned about the growing challenges facing the American economy....American families are facing tough economic times as the costs of healthcare, gas, and even basic groceries skyrocket, but wages remain stagnant, the dollar remains weak, and the housing market continues to decline. Our economic problems are so interconnected and complex that we cannot focus on just a single economic problem in isolation or consider policies from just a single perspective – instead America needs a broad-based strategy to jumpstart the economy in the short run while addressing our long-run challenges.”
Jason Furman, Obama's economic policy director, issued a statement about the new federal deficit projections out today: "Today’s news that the deficit could reach $490 billion next year is an urgent reminder that our fiscal policies must change. These have been years of unprecedented fiscal irresponsibility. That's an important issue in this election because Senator McCain is proposing to continue the same Bush economic policies that put our economy on this dangerous path and that will drive America even deeper into debt. Barack Obama will restore balance and fairness to our economy by cutting wasteful spending, shutting corporate loopholes and tax havens, and rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, while making health care affordable and putting a middle class tax cut in the pocket of 95% of workers and their families."
Republican John McCain, meanwhile, will be in Californian raising money and talking about offshore oil drilling.
McCain also issued a statement on the deficit.
"Today the Administration released another reminder of the dire fiscal condition of the federal government -- a budget deficit for this year of $389 billion and a sad legacy for the American taxpayer: a deficit estimated at $482 billion next year. There is no more striking reminder of the need to reverse the profligate spending that has characterized this administration's fiscal policy.
"I have an unmatched record in fighting wasteful earmarks and unnecessary spending in the U.S. Senate and I have the determination and experience to do the same as President. As President, I have committed to balancing the budget by the end of my first term. Today's news makes that job harder, but should not change our resolve to make the tough decisions and the genuine effort to reach across the aisle that are needed to ensure a lasting solution to the spending problem that threatens the very stability of our economy.
"Strong economic growth is the first step to getting back to a balanced budget. My Jobs for America plan -- a comprehensive strategy that includes keeping taxes on individuals, investment, and small businesses where they are today; incentives for businesses to invest more and keep well-paying jobs in this country; and leading to more jobs, higher pay, and -- ultimately -- growth in revenues.
"Senator Obama will not commit to balancing our budget, does not propose to control spending, and has only one answer to every challenge: raise taxes. His plan is to increase tax rates on investment, income, and above all on the small businesses that drive our economic growth and create jobs. It is a plan that will not work for American workers. It will not work to solve the budget mess -- his taxes would not raise enough over the next decade to cover his spending proposals, let alone make a dent in the budget deficit."
Speaking of McCain and passing the 100-day benchmark, the Democratic National Committee has launched a new website that between now and Election Day will list the 100 ways it says McCain would represent more of the same of President Bush.
"As the election approaches, Americans are developing a clear sense of who Senator McCain is and why his promise of four more years is the wrong choice for the country," DNC Communications Director Karen Finney said in a statement. "In a year when voters are seeking change, we look forward to presenting 100 of the ways in which McCain is out of touch with the American people and represents more of the same failed policies of the last eight years."
The issue is not "change" but the "kind of change". Voting for change for change's sake is immature if not stupid..which brings us to Obama. Obama is like the tent preacher, running about the country (and the world) spewing platitudes about change that thrill the simple-minded, yet when Obama is pressed for details his stock answer is "I will keep my options open". Getting a firm commitment from Obama is like nailing jello to the wall, and there is a reason. Obama brayed (along with Reid and Pelosi) that we had "lost" the Iraq war and that the surge would not work. Now that the surge has worked, Obama discounts the surge by claiming that it was unnecessary because we had already created a safe environment that enabled the Sunnis to come on line. Obama claims surges do not work, yet he wants to duplicate the surge in Afghanistan and stage a Cambodia-style invasion of Pakistan. Obama wants to socialize medicine without regard for the expense to taxpayers (who will pay the employer's premiums through higher retail prices, a hidden tax that Democrats are chronically too stupid to understand) and he loves $5/gallon gas prices . Obama's personal vision is a socialist Amerika with people standing in bread lines as they "come together over Obama". Watching the little megalomaniac in Berlin did not remind me of Kennedy or Reagan, it reminded me of Hitler.
Maybe Obama and his campaign can address the issue that he cannot pronounce the name of the state where he attended Harvard. Instead of pronouncing Massachusetts he says Mass-a-too-sits. Really? Sounds like he could give two-**its about the state. Shouldn't the future president be able pronounce the states correctly. Or does he say it is cool-i-fornia because he is getting that highly touted Hollywood support. Maybe governor Patrick will stand up for our state at some point while giving all of his support to Mr. Obama and give a five minute primer on our states correct pronunciation. We have learned how to separate the pronunciations of Osama and Obama, how about Massachusetts and mass-a-too-sits?
I guess McCain has already had his conversation with Gramm and his economical package is a done deal. More of the same for a nation of whiners who think they're in a mental recession.
The way in which the press is trying to manipulate the political process in America is utterly disgusting. My wife and I have become so tired of the bias that we have turned off the tv as soon as Couric or her counterparts hit the airwaves, it's just sad what reporting the news has sunk to. I truly am thinking of getting rid of my satellite service and finding something better to waste my time on.
Obama picked the appropriate place, Germany, to hold his "Hail Victory" speech. He embraces and wants to incorporate the political philosophy of national socialism here in the United States of America. Google it if you don't know what is behind national socialism and its European context.
Obama preaches change but cannot articulate "change from what" nor "change to what". He jumps around in his answers to appease whichever way the political winds are blowing. He speaks in platitudes hoping that no one challenges him and when they do then his campaign can mark them as racist.
The mainstream press is so desparate to create a headline that they have fallen for this political hack.
Mark Menser/Michael Smith - where is the beef to your complaints? You are just jealous. President Obama - get use to it.
Im sure Carly will set the economy straight, she's the Dr. Kevorkian of economics...........
Obama can't save us. 7 years of war, 4660+ dead young Americans and rising, and 9-trillion-dollar in debt (also rising). Still no bin laden in sight! Yes BushCo failed, but what did Dems do? Chucklenut led us straight to hell and Dems followed him with their spineless bodies as usual. We are tired of being sold out by all-for-one corporate greed that’s leading the economy melt down just to make the 1% richer with no ethics or accountability whatsoever, while the other party bent over and did nothing to stand up to the BushCo criminals. It’s time to take the government back to the people. WWW.VOTENADER.ORG. We need to stop this two-party sell out now!
Mass-a-too-sits is correct. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble.
I have a Ph.D in American History (pre-1865). We were required to pass a brief oral examination on pronunciation once during my undergraduate studies and once during my graduate studies. Nearly 3/4 of my class in *graduate school* failed at the correct pronunciation of Massachusetts.
The fact that so many Americans can't pronouce the name of a state within their own United States correctly is telling beyond words.
If you're a Massachusetts native, Mr. Smith, shame on you. Get educated.
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