To me, it comes down to looking at what steps Obama has taken directly, openly and marked with "helping the economy," so to speak. The discourse in getting points across on this forum comes in at what Obama is doing more discreetly with his Progressive agenda and cohorts.

Anyway, to address some of what he says he's done for the economy and what he wants to do for the economy:

So far, he's passed a $787 billion stimulus plan, the largest spending bill in the country's history. Unemployment is at an all time high.

Capped executive pay. Appointed a task force to oversee the restructuring of the Big Three automakers. Appointed an auto czar to help direct federal funds.

Grants GM and Chrysler billions more in federal loans. Replaces GM CEO Rick Wagoner. Tries to broker a deal between Chrysler and Fiat and with the automakers' creditors and unions to avoid bankruptcy.

Announces $75 billion Making Home Affordable Plan; six banks sign up to participate. The two-part plan calls for servicers to reduce monthly payments to no more than 31% of eligible borrowers' pre-tax income or to refinance eligible mortgages even if the homeowner has little or no equity. The plan also includes incentives for loan servicers to modify mortgages for at-risk borrowers. People are still losing homes at record rates. Home prices are diving. Community organizing groups are working with people to buck the system and just quit paying their mortgages.

Secures release of the second half of $700 billion allocated for the Troubled Asset Relief Program before taking office. Announces broad outline of Financial Stability Plan in February, a revamp of how TARP money will be used. Offers outline on plan to buy toxic bank assets, then later reveals details on how its new public-private investment program (PPIP) will work. Conducts stress tests to assess big banks' ability to absorb losses if economic conditions worsen. Taps Fannie Mae CEO to oversee TARP.



Now, just two weeks ago, according to Obama, the economy is headed in the right direction, but the work isn't finished yet. He says the work left to be done is extending unemployment benefits, helping small businesses get access to loans, and providing relief to states to keep their teachers and law enforcement personnel employed.

Of course this means more taxes. Not better housekeeping of a mess, just more taxes and deficit spending.

When Obama said this on June 30 to a group in Wisconsin, he added that a number of Republican senators are using their power to prevent these measures from coming up for a vote:

"They still believe that, even after the Wall Street crash, even after the BP oil well blew, that we should just keep a hands-off attitude. They think we should keep doing what we did for most of the last decade leading up to the recession. So their prescription for every challenge is pretty much the same—and I don’t think I’m exaggerating here—basically cut taxes for the wealthy, cut rules for corporations, and cut working folks loose to fend for themselves. Basically their attitude is, you’re on your own. ...

"So I just want everybody to remember, we've tried the other side’s theories. We know what their ideas are. We know where they led us. So now we've got a choice. We can return to what we know did not work, or we build a stronger future. We can go backwards, or we can go forward. And I don’t know about you, but I want to move forward in this country."

Now let me ask you jebartle, why did Obama kick into campaign mode and talk down the Republican Party? The Democrats hold a majority, right. Why don't they pass what they feel need to be passed and be done with it?

At this town hall speech, Obama talked about passing "the strongest financial reform since the Great Depression, with measures that would help prevent another economic crisis from happening—but most Republicans are planning to vote against reform, including John Boehner, House minority leader."

Is that a strong leader or a strong campaigner for the November elections? Is that reaching across the aisle and asking for cooperation for the betterment of the country?

The President said, "The leader of the Republicans in the House said that financial reform was like—I'm quoting here—“using a nuclear weapon to target an ant.” That’s what he said. He compared the financial crisis to an ant. This is the same financial crisis that led to the loss of nearly 8 million jobs. The same crisis that cost people their homes, their life savings.

"He can't be that out of touch with the struggles of American families. And if he is, then he’s got to come here to Racine and ask people what they think. Do you think we should fix—I mean, maybe I'm confused. Do you think that the financial crisis was an ant and we just needed a little ant swatter to fix this thing? Or do you think that we need to restructure how we regulate the financial system, so you aren’t on the hook again and we don't have this kind of crisis again?

"When you ask men and women who have been out of work for months at a time, who talk about how they’ve been barely hanging on, they don't think this financial crisis was something where you just need a few tweaks. They know it’s what led to the worst recession since the Great Depression. And they expect their leaders in Washington to do whatever it takes to make sure a crisis like this doesn’t happen again."

He goes on then to promote his clean energy bill and the green jobs. All the while in campaign mode.

"Some of these same folks want to maintain the status quo, where we just rely on oil and other fossil fuels for all of our energy needs, even though we know that our dependence on these energy sources is a problem because they’re finite. They’re going to run out, and that jeopardizes our national security and our prosperity and our planet.

"So I want to move forward. I believe it is time for this country to embrace a clean energy future. I don’t want clean energy jobs to go to China. I don’t want them to go to Germany. I want those industries to take root right here in the United States of America. ...

"That’s why we need to pass legislation that makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy for America’s businesses. We’ve got to have a national mission to change the way we use energy and produce energy. And you know what, it will be good for our economy. It is going to drive our economy in the 21st century."

Now to me the weird part of his speech was at the end when he said,

"It is not time for us to look backward, it’s time for us to look forward."

Really, Mr. President?


http://money.cnn.com/news/storysuppl...ays/index.html