The President has decided not to "go big".

[kentuck]

Robert Reich mentions this on MSNBC a short time ago.

The President wants to create "up to a million jobs" by coaxing Congress to release the highway funds, etc.

A million jobs is nothing to scoff at but it is not going "big" when there are 15-20 million unemployed in this country. It is a band-aid.

So those that were expecting more, there you have it.

[joeybee12]

1. Did anyone actually think he would? Big means bold...

Obama doesn't do bold.

[xxqqqzme]

10. Exactly - Bold is leadership

Bold is vision; Bold is the promise of a better future.



We have timid and wavering.

[bigendian]

29. Bush was bold.. eom

[xxqqqzme]

68. dimson was a puppet w/ sawdust fror a brain.

The only thing bold he ever did was order cowboy boots w/ a presidential seal on them. Boldly tacky.

[shanti]

81. no it was big dick

who was a bold motherfucker :(

[Fla Dem]

86. Bush was rash and stupid. If he wanted, Obama could be bold & smart. n/t

[Bake]

72. No no ... we have "bipartisan."

Of course, the partisans on the other side won't agree to go small either ... sigh.

Oh for a LEADER!

Is ANYBODY surprised by this??? Are the Obama loyalists going to blow smoke up our asses again, and tell us why this is a GOOD thing?

Bake

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EFerrari]

35. He does bold on the stump but it pretty much stays there, you're right. n/t

[villager]

2. sums up his entire administration, yes?

n/t

[Bluebear]

38. Yes.

[emilyg]

56. It does.

[SammyWinstonJack]

65. YES!

x(

[Raine]

109. Yes, sadly it does. nt

[tridim]

3. The highway fund plan isn't his jobs plan.

Reich is wrong.

[closeupready]

4. No surprises there.

nt

[tridim]

6. Especially since he hasn't even announced his jobs plan yet.

You are all jumping the gun so much I'm LOL.

[kentuck]

7. When can we expect that?

And what should we expect? Something different that will help 15 million people?

[tridim]

9. Next week, it's been reported as such since before he went on vacation.

[kentuck]

13. I think we have heard much of it already...

continuation of FICA tax cuts, tax breaks for businesses hiring unemployed, approving a new trade treaty, open up the highway funds, tax breaks for green technology investment, etc.

Can we expect more?

[JuniperLea]

16. What part of "Next Week" didn't you get?

We haven't heard squat yet.

Keep your pants on.

[kentuck]

18. OK...

I'll keep my pants on but I won't hold my breath. :-)

[RaleighNCDUer]

54. "I have a plan to end the war in South East Asia." nt

[FreeJoe]

69. Yeah, don't jump on the President today...

There will be plenty of time next week when he announces his real timid, ineffectual job plan.

[JuniperLea]

90. Wow... you must have an awesome crystal ball!

Good morning! I say what a joy it is to look ahead and show you the signs of your future. So much happiness is in store for you the most brilliantly lighted stars are put to shame by the brightness of your light! Oh, happiness what an elusive thing you are, but thank GOD you were born beneath this star!

Drop another coin in the slot and I will tell you more!

[tridim]

19. Do you think those are bad things?

I'm not the President so I can't comment on exactly what will be in his plan. My guess is that it'll be practical and big, exactly what the GOP hates.

I understand you are itching to criticize anything the President comes up with, but can you at least wait a few more days until after he announces the overall plan?

[kentuck]

22. I will take your advice..

and wait for the "big" plan.

Are the above ideas "bad"? Some, yes. I do not necessarily agree with tax breaks as an incentive for hiring. I think tax increases are a better incentive. Also, I do not agree with any more trade treaties under their present composition.

[JuniperLea]

24. Well said...

:applause:

I quite honestly do not get the need to criticize the man for what is imagined... if he is truly deserving of criticism, it seems to me there would be blatant reasons... not suppositions!

:crazy:

[kentuck]

27. I say...

Put his feet to the fire and don't stop criticizing until he opens his eyes and sees the truth. We have seen it too many times in the past. Just wait. Then it is too late. Make him listen to the people that voted for him. Must we bow to his moderate, conservative, Republican policies and his form of bi-partisanship?

(on edit- removed the word "screams" and replaced with "opens his eyes and sees the truth")

[JuniperLea]

31. Ah yes, some would love it if he were to scream...

And it has nothing to do with what he has or has not done.

I think it's time for the people to start listening to him and to stop making shit up.

[kentuck]

33. We have listened far too long.

It is time for him to listen to us.

Sorry, I have no more patience for this conversation.

[JuniperLea]

34. Of course you don't...

Because you clearly refuse to understand it.

Why should he listen to people who never listen to him, and who accuse him of bovine excrement that never happened?

That makes zero sense, but by all means take your marbles and go home.

[kentuck]

37. What do you mean?

We have listened for almost 3 years. Why should we expect anything different this time? Yes, perhaps I should take my marbles and go home while I have a few marbles left?

[JuniperLea]

40. If you had listened...

You would know he ran as a pragmatic centrist and you would cease in your chiding about him not being liberal enough and a disappointment.

If you had listened to him you would know that he plans on releasing his jobs plans in the future... and you would know the future isn't here yet... and you would stop second guessing him on what he hasn't said yet.

[kentuck]

48. Then he would be the only President in history to govern as he ran...

That would make him unique.

[JuniperLea]

92. That is change, no question...

And he is a first on many levels.

[RaleighNCDUer]

66. Problem is, he is neither pragmatic nor centrist -

A pragmatic person takes action to keep situations from getting out of hand - he is continuing Republican policies which are exacerbating the problem. A 'centrist' would be making efforts to shift the conversation to the left, because of how far right it has gone. A centrist would be listening to the majority of the population, which is saying "tax the rich", "end the wars", "don't even THINK about touching SS" - that is where the statistical center is. He's WAY to the right of that.

After 2 1/2 years, we know what to expect.

[fascisthunter]

74. those things he continues to do are extremist

the centrist label on suits as cover.

[Laelth]

83. Spot on, RaleighNCDUer. n/t

-Laelth

[JuniperLea]

91. Fertilizer

Just fertilizer

[EFerrari]

85. This post reads like a parody of itself.

[StarsInHerHair]

114. must have believed my lyin EYES as well as EARS, then, like millions of others

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acc6Wn_BWlk Obama Promised

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA9KC8SMu3o 2007: Barack Obama promised to "walk on that picket line" if workers are denied the right to bargain


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5t8GdxFYBU but listen to these & THEN come back & explain about "listening"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UErR7i2onW0&feature=related 7 Lies In Under 2 Minutes

[JuniperLea]

123. You did notice the dates on those, right...

You did go through them item by item, right.

No, I thought not.

[RaleighNCDUer]

59. Those things are not 'imagined'. They are proposals that have been floated

and are circulating to see what response they get.

The 'plan' will encompass those items which get the best response.

If he was going to bring out a big WPA infrastructure plan, it would be floating around out there today, to gauge what opposition there is to it. The fact that it is not out there, means he has no such plans.

[kentuck]

61. I think you are correct...

They are floating the ideas for their plan.

When a candidate, the President challenged liberals to "make him do it". Well, perhaps we should take him up on that challenge?

[JuniperLea]

88. OFFS

My but you have a powerful crystal ball! Yikes! You should set up shop! Move over Doraldina!

Good morning! I say what a joy it is to look ahead and show you the signs of your future. So much happiness is in store for you the most brilliantly lighted stars are put to shame by the brightness of your light! Oh, happiness what an elusive thing you are, but thank GOD you were born beneath this star!

Drop another coin in the slot and I will tell you more!

[MilesColtrane]

47. Some expect a new Works Progress Administration

...out of a Republican House that just threatened to put the U.S. in default over government spending.

In no scenario is Congress going to authorize a trillion dollars in new spending on jobs.

[kentuck]

49. You know that but does the President?

Does he still think he can work out a compromise with these people?

If not, then it is time for campaign mode. Take it to the people. Let them decide what direction they wish to go. Stop the bullshit about working with the Republicans. They do not want to work with anyone unless it is more taxcuts or more spending. Screw them.

[MilesColtrane]

53. I believe he does.

Obama usually proposes things that have a chance of becoming law.

Many do not like that tactic for its lack of political style points.

They'd rather he "go big" and be shot down in big flames, thus proving that he's got liberal balls of steel.

He's always been about actually governing.

[kentuck]

58. But governing what?

that is the issue? Do we want him to govern as a conservative if that is what it takes to pass laws?

It has nothing to do with "balls of steel". People need a demonstration that he is willing to fight for democratic values and positions.

[MilesColtrane]

62. OK, I'll put you down as preferring a fight instead of a new jobs bill.

[kentuck]

67. Put me down as...

Someone who doesn't believe the Republicans will agree to anything, big or small. Therefore, the only option left is to take it to the people. Let the people decide in November 2012 which direction they prefer. However, make damn sure they know what our direction is...

[Dragonfli]

116. That is a funny coincidence, that is almost word for word what the Chamber of Commerce recommends

I guess the Chamber is as "liberal" as Obama now.

He is parroting everything I think they have said except for the part about corporate offshored money getting an amnesty for pennies on the tax dollar, maybe he will add that!

[CTyankee]

119. I am so effing sick of hearing about green technology...

I've been hearing about this vague idea of "gee wouldn't it be great if we were more competitive with other countries on green technology" ad nauseum. Then...nothing. Other countries get more competitive and we fall farther behind them and we keep saying "we need to do this..." over and over again. Other countries just do it. What's the matter with us?

[JuniperLea]

11. Why not just join in on making shit up?

Like the author of the story noted in the OP?

No, just go ahead and ignore the bigger picture and continue to blame Obama for not doing something. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[no limit]

20. If it is indeed just 1 million jobs without much new spending what will your opinion be?

Or are you not allowing yourself to share your opinion on the matter with us at this time?

[treestar]

96. As usual, and they make up their minds beforehand

And ALWAYS put it in terms of "bravery" "boldness" and "bigness" like that's ALWAYS the best approach, no matter how stupid.

[jzola]

5. When did Reich get on the inside?

[polmaven]

15. Good question.

:shrug:

[EFerrari]

39. There are big articles out today. Maybe he read them. n/t

[sabrina 1]

52. If only Reich WERE on the inside. The fact that no one like

Reich is a part of this administration was a sign from way back, that we are getting from them was what we would get.

It is a shame that there are no Progressive Economists on this WH economic team. Maybe if there were, the economy would be in better shape.

Is Reich joining the now huge contingency of formerly respected Progressive Democrats UTB? Is there anyone left, no pun intended, who has not been discarded as soon as they state an opinion that is not filled with accolades for the policies of this WH?

[MessiahRp]

121. Wait do you honestly think with his Washington connections he has no inside information?

Really?

Naive much?

Rp

[JuniperLea]

8. First, that's not his job plan...

Second, it's not just the highway jobs that are increased with a project like this. New workers create more spending (demand) and spending (demand) creates more jobs in the industries that feel the demand for goods and services. There is an absolute domino effect that is being ignored... no, it's being hidden! And it needs to effing stop now!

This is horrifically shallow and disingenuous thinking.

Fertilizer.

[Raven]

12. Why doesn't he give Congress a complete menu...from small

projects to big ones and lots targeted to key Congressmen's districts.

[kentuck]

17. Good question.

I think that would be a step in the right direction. I will not hold my breath until the "official" jobs plan surfaces.

[gratuitous]

21. Let's not jump the gun

It's too early to complain about what did or didn't happen when the President made his Major Jobs Speech. Once the speech is issued, it will be too late. The Goldilocks Moment, when it's ju-u-u-u-st right, can only be discerned in retrospect, but any criticism is too early until it's too late. So please don't criticize the President until it's too late, or you're just a pony-loving dirty fucking hippie who's too naive to understand how things work in the real world, and this was the best starting point ever and nothing more could have been gotten and the Republicans are real mean and we have to keep our powder dry and it's too close to the election to step out too far and even though about 80% of Americans think so too, and shut up.

[RaleighNCDUer]

101. ...

:applause:

[Marr]

23. C'mon, it's campaign time. Does anyone actually believe Obama's bullshit anymore?

I mean for crying out loud, we JUST came off the "debt limit crisis" and they've got big cuts coming our way come fall.

[pecwae]

98. I don't know why

the fact that it's indeed campaign time just whooshes over the heads of so many.

[tblue]

25. It's like we're constipated. Mr. President, please.

Let's put some umph in our fight! Some passion and energy! Stop picking just the low-hanging fruit and reach for the stars. We need vigor and inspiration and a path to our dreams. Not just a crumb here or there or a tourniquet on our bleeding. Or a lecture to eat our peas. If you shoot for an A, you might not get it but at least you'll might get more than if you shot for a C.

He's so deflated, this president. Why can't he show the world "THIS is what a Democrat can do!"? Even if he fails he'll win! Why does he remind me of Charlie Brown?

[blindpig]

26. A government jobs program like the WPA is anathema to business

and we know who owns the store....

[JuniperLea]

30. Bull pucky...

Just nonsense.

When one business grows it creates jobs, jobs create spending, spending creates demand, demand creates more jobs...

But that TRUTH doesn't fit the...

[blindpig]

43. As though capitalists think like that...

That is not their concern, just the next quarter's bottom line. Exploiting labor is where profit comes from, a large scale government jobs program would increase the cost of labor for the private sector as the pool of the unemployed dries up. Capitalism is only rational to the individual capitalist, admidst the competition of capitalists it is anarchy and for the rest of us calamity.

[JuniperLea]

87. OFFS

That is the basis of how business works. Sure there will be some exploitation of labor, but in order to keep up with increasing demand, companies will absolutely need to hire more people or they will die.

The rest of your screed is just too bizarre to answer to... "The pool of the unemployed dries up" ... yeah, that's reality based.

[CTyankee]

120. Yup. And in the long run, "we're all dead."

[EFerrari]

36. Yup.

[woo me with science]

112. +1

[Odin2005]

124. +1,000,000,000,000,000,000

[elocs]

28. Wow! What a surprise! Coaxing Congress=giving Republicans what they want

in return for some of what he wants.

To any in a union: be happy that you don't have Obama negotiating your next contract.

[Ikonoklast]

77. I've been on a contract committee for a union.

And yes, compromise is *exactly* what happens during a negotiation...both sides give a little, both sides get a little.

That is the reality of a negotiation, seldom does one side walk away with everything they want in contract negotiations.

[MessiahRp]

122. Possibly but do your union leaders come to the table caving to the companies demands immediately?

And then give them even more of they want when the negotiations begin?

Obama is quite possibly the worst/weakest negotiator of all time.

Rp

[Pirate Smile]

32. What I read was that on the Tom Joyner show he said that the proposals already out there would

create up to 1 million jobs. I didn't think he said his NEW proposal would do the same so I'm not sure anyone knows what they are talking about yet.

Seems like more premature freak out.

The existing highway bill that has to be renewed was what President Obama talked about today. That is similar to the FAA fight that happened (and is still happening - existing funding ends Sept 16).

Everybody needs to just chill out.

He wants to give his jobs plan in a joint address to Congress on September 7th.

Reich doesn't know what that is going to include.

This is like the "Obama is going to destroy Social Security" garbage again.

[WI_DEM]

41. Why don't we wait and see what he does before making any judgements.

[kentuck]

51. Let's not wait.

Let's force his hand. Let us offer a different viewpoint than Tim Geithner. Let the President know what we think ahead of time. It may help him make his decisions. Waiting, as we have done every time thus far, had not been a wise or beneficial option.

[jeff47]

75. Because this will happen:

1. Obama proposes measures that are kinda helpful, but not big enough.

2. GOP screams, waters down the proposals to the point of only being mildly effective.

3. Bill passes, Obama touts the final compromise as absolutely perfect. Critics on the left are maligned for either "not giving it a chance", or for being "unrealistic" when they say the plan is nowhere near big enough.

4. Time passes. Critics are proven right. They mention that more needs to be done. They are maligned for "hating Obama" and being "unrealistic". The economy still sucks, Obama takes a hit in the polls for how he is handling the economy.

5. We go back to step 1.



Why am I predicting this? Well, it's happened four times so far, and the administration doesn't seem to think they have made any mistakes, much less learned from those mistakes.

[woo me with science]

113. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1849909&mesg_id=1850071

[spin]

42. Is it summer rerun season?

I thought I watched the original show which was called "Shovel Ready Projects". It got very poor ratings and was never a hit.

[Skidmore]

44. Ah, the crisp sound of knees jerking.

Fall must be in the air.

[ingac70]

45. Simply Reich's opinion.....

He has no inside knowledge.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

46. From his own letter to Reid & Boehner -

"It is my intention to lay out a series of bipartisan proposals that the Congress can take immediately to continue to rebuild the American economy by strengthening small businesses, helping Americans get back to work, and putting more money in the paychecks of the Middle Class and working Americans, while still reducing our deficit and getting our fiscal house in order," the president wrote. "It is our responsibility to find bipartisan solutions to help grow our economy, and if we are willing to put country before party, I am confident we can do just that."

He is not going big.

"rebuild the American economy by strengthening small businesses" = tax cuts for "job creation"

"helping Americans get back to work" = job retraining program recently mentioned as well as infastructure programs

"putting more money in the paychecks of the Middle Class and working Americans" = extention of payroll tax cut

More of the same as the first stimulus, with a minor tweak. :(

[daa]

50. He doesn't need a joint session for that. The payroll tax

will do nothing, it is already in place and hasn't created any jobs. If it expires that takes money away but leaving it in place does not give anyone any extra.

[kentuck]

55. What if they refuse to let him speak to a joint session?

Would they be that bold?

[YvonneCa]

84. Or change the date...

...on him: http://www.speaker.gov/UploadedFiles/8-31-11_Speaker_Letter_to_POTUS_on_Joint_Session_Request.pdf

Yes, they DID. :grr:

[Shagbark Hickory]

57. So, by "bipartisan", he means republican and teaparty.

[Safetykitten]

60. He's lowering expectations. Chess you know.

[gkhouston]

64. My expectations are nearing the Earth's core. n/t

[CelticThunder]

63. Whew - the suspense was killing me!

[COLGATE4]

70. He is giving in to (as usual) Plouffe and Daley, who gave him that

advice - 'don't go big - just pass some small things to show you can get things done'. Great.:puke:

[mitchtv]

71. I'm stunned

never wouldda guessed

[Better Believe It]

73. Releasing highway funds won't create 1 million jobs. It means 1 million people won't be laid off!

[spanone]

76. until the speech, it's speculation. there you have it.

[Fumesucker]

93. And after the speech it's too late..

As was pointed out before by another poster, the Goldilocks moment when it's just right to criticize can only be determined in retrospect once all the kabuki and soap opera drama have run their course.

[Brickbat]

78. What is it the kids say? "Go big or go home."

:think:

[shanti]

80. sounds like he's "going home"

awesome job, prez

[tridim]

97. A joint speech to Congress is going home?

Awesome awesomeness there shanti.

[madamesilverspurs]

79. The journey of a thousand miles

begins with a single step. Unless you're Obama, in which case you'd damned well better snap your fingers and achieve the destination in a split second. Don't open the door, just walk through it. Anything less and you're a caving incompetent.


Sheeeyut.

[atheistprogress]

82. I respect obama.

but i wish he respected us more.

[tabasco]

89. Yes, he should be attempting to reach 0% unemployment with his plan.

Good point.

[JNinWB]

94. There has never been 0% unemployment in the US

[tabasco]

100. Was the sarcasm tag really necessary?

:dunce:

[treestar]

95. How long will it take you to understand that no boldness, bigness,

toughness or bravery applies here? Just asking a Republican Congress for things they will not do does not have any effect.

Would you want a Repub President to have that power? No.

I'm getting sick of this language. It's ignorant, that's what it is.

[kentuck]

99. The track record is that he gets very little..

But he usually gives a lot away. Better to not deal at all. Repubs are not going to play the game. How many times do we have to be shown? They want to fight and obstruct. If that's what they want, we have no choice but to fight back, in my opinion.

[DCBob]

102. "go big" would be futile with this congress.

even going moderate may not work.

[kentuck]

103. Nothing is going to work with this Congress...

...unless you offer them more spending cuts or taxcuts for the wealthy. Let's get real. They want a fight - let's give it to them.

[DCBob]

104. fighting for the sake of fighting doesnt help anyone get a job.

I think its best to go reasonable and try to pick off some of the moderate GOPers to get it passed.

[kentuck]

105. We have tried that for almost 3 years...

and it doesn't work.

I say that if there is not going to be any compromise, then go after them politically. Destroy them. They are worthless.

[DCBob]

106. there has been quite a bit of legislation passed with a few GOPer votes.

it can be done again.

[StarsInHerHair]

115. fighting helped Truman, helped FDR, Obama just doesnt have the stomach for it

& there's this


FIGHTING HELPS THE GOP & TEA PARTY

[blkmusclmachine]

107. All appearances now is that the WH is intentionally trying to throw 2012:

:argh:

[Raine]

108. Gee I'm so suprised ... NOT

"bold" is not in Obama's vocabulary. :argh:

[ProSense]

110. This is about preserving funding for existing projects and jobs.

It has nothing to do with next week's speech.

President Obama Calls on Congress to Pass Transportation Measures to Protect Jobs

<...>

This morning, President Obama urged Congress to pass a clean extension of key transportation programs as soon as possible. I was proud to stand in the Rose Garden with the President as he called for Congress to protect critical jobs and bolster our roads, bridges, runways and railways.

At the end of September, if Congress doesn’t act, the nation's surface transportation program will expire. This provides funding for highway construction, bridge repair, mass transit systems, and other essential projects that keep our people and our commerce moving quickly and safely. It also provides money for thousands of transportation projects currently under construction around the country. When the law expires, those projects will shut down, taking precious jobs with them.

For America's construction workers and their families, it represents the difference between making ends meet or not.

If we allow our transportation law to expire without an extension, almost 1 million construction and other workers will lose their jobs over the coming year. If the extension is delayed for just 10 days, our nation will lose nearly $1 billion in highway funding, and that is money we can never get back. In addition, over 4,000 of our professionals in the Department of Transportation will be immediately furloughed without pay.

Like the President, I think it is unacceptable to put jobs at risk in these difficult times just because Congress cannot work out its differences.

To let partisan grandstanding cut necessary transportation investments and consign American businesses to roads that are in disrepair, and travel and shipping delays that cost millions of dollars, is inexcusable.

Yet we have seen it happen before. In fact, just last month, with the Federal Aviation Administration authorization up for extension, Congress let authority for this important agency lapse and thousands were furloughed. Construction sites at airports were shut down with workers sent home without pay. The federal government lost millions of dollars a day in unrecoverable tax revenue.

And when Congress finally got its act together, they extended the FAA for only one month. It expires again on Sept. 16th and we need Congress to act quickly.

<...>

As the President said, "At a time when a lot of people are talking about creating jobs, it's time to stop the political gamesmanship that costs us jobs."

That's why I was glad to see representatives of the AFL-CIO and the US Chamber of Commerce standing side-by-side with the President today. The folks who have to deal with the result of legislative inaction agree that a failure to pass clean extensions of the FAA and the Surface Transportation authorizations will be extraordinarily painful for all Americans.

And once those clean extensions are passed, let's get to work on long-term reauthorizations. As the President said, it's time to put construction workers back on the job doing the work that America needs now.

It's time to have a serious conversation in Congress about making smart investments while interest rates are at historical lows and unemployment is high.

It's time to give certainty to the people who are trying to run the best aviation system in the world and to those who are trying to construct complex road, bridge and transit projects.

It's time for the United States to stop playing catch-up and, once again, to lead the world.

[FogerRox]

111. This is a bunt. Hes not swinging for the stands.

and by that measure its going to be a close election.

[Lionessa]

117. Expecting? not based on previous performance. Hoping to be wrong this time? sure.

[LWolf]

118. And, in other news, the sun rose this morning. nt

[spin]

125. No surprise there. (n/t)

[Autumn]

126. This President does not do big.

There can be no big when you ask the pukes to decide how far you can go. That he has done since the beginning.

[deaniac21]

127. We need to elect Ricky Powers as MFPOTUS.