Had the tv on when that presser began – couldn’t watch – I just hear dmyself muttering, “where was this Obama a year and a half ago?”, and “too little, too latem,” “fat chance, buddy,” etc., etc.

So I turned it over.

I might think Obama and Co. had been reading fdl and atrios if I didn’t know how much they hate us hippies.

Anyway, nice talk, nothing will happen. President Snowe and Presidents Conrad and Baucus and Ben Nelson will see to that, even if they can get Reid to introduce it.

Equation :

Depression : New Deal = Great Recession : Stimulus Package (Groundwork) + Incomplete Energy Independence or A Jobs law

The Problem = The destructive war & military waste + Stimulus Package
Therefore = Incomplete Energy Independence or A Jobs law – The destructive war & military waste
Criticism = Stimulus Package (Groundwork)
Conclusion = Gambling on Iraq Oil + weapon sell Again + Double-dip Depression

Cure = Slashing the destructive war & military waste + Completion of Energy Independence or A Jobs law

Anger at These :
　
Gambling on Iraq Oil Again : A Drop in the Bucket Vs. Growing Population & Demand World-wide. The Age of Cheap Oil = A Thing of the Past.
　
1. At this time, it looks like the oil-friendly country is gambling on Iraq oil again, citing a big government & deficit, and therefore the world-wide stimulus package worth trillions and health care reform in America are now at stake.
　
2. Of the money by the money for the money is getting a society nowhere near prosperity.
Gambling on party of “no idea” is sure to be much like Throwing an Egg of Economy Against a Rock.
　
The outcome of government take-over :
　
1. In banking industry, the result of government take-over is big bonus parties backed by the tax-payer’s invaluable cash.
　
2. In healcare reform, the outcome of government take-over is to dump ill children when needed most.
　
3. In oil spill, the administration should be held responsible for its deregulation, urging a big government
　
Chanting deficit :
　
1. Amid chanting deficit, the same old failed policy.
　
2. Amid chanting deficit, hands-off approach over huge trade deficit from oil money spill & trade imbalance with China from remorseless health care premium.
　
3. Unfortunately, as a direct consequence of remorseless health care premium, numerous folks have no choice but to hang onto affordable offerings, since one in two households is said to face a hard decision between necessity & drug.
　
4. Inaction cost in relation to health care reform totals $9trillion over the next decade.
　
5. Over the next 10 years, total Bush tax cut costs will equal $3.9 trillion, …. the tax cuts would increase deficits by nearly $4 trillion between 2005 and 2014.
　
The most critical debt : Personal Bankruptcy
　
1. The current recession came from Personal Bankruptcy largely as a consequence of the relentless health care costs, pain at the pump, and the subsequent subprime mortgage crisis.
　
Facig huge trade deficit from oil money spill & trade imbalance with China, the primary economic policy of previous administration was ” spending baby “to the great delight of republicans’ sponsors.
　
2. By comparison, the recovered stock market value alone, around $1.5 trillion, is nearly twice as much as the stimulus package, set aside all the other benefits.
　
As always, the republicans and unqualified media let folks locked in a box. ruling out the positive effects.
　
　
The most promising deficit-cut of government : Slashing the destructive war & military waste
　
1. Slashing the destructive war & military waste alone supposedly could be enough to balance the budget.
　
　
Energy Independence : An Only Way to Desperately-Needed Job Growth
　
1. My response to the question : where are jobs ?
In the trade deficit, exactly in the severe and persistent oil money spill, taboo of ” do not add to the deficit” party.
　
2. Under the existing lavish Bush tax cut for bonus parties, a sole job plan for the republicans, the country already saw millions of job cuts.

Ah, but read further:

As with many issues, paying for any initiative is the major divide between the parties. While Mr. Obama in September proposed a long-term solution to create a national infrastructure bank, which would seek private and public partnerships to invest in projects selected on merit, he seeks $50 billion in federal aid up front and he would offset that spending by closing an array of tax breaks for the oil and gas industry.

Still essentially accepting the Republican frame, still not getting the point of “stimulus” or “aggregate demand”. It’s not a bad thing to move money from the dinosaur-burning industry to the pockets of construction workers, but a) like that will happen, and b) it does not actually help the damn economy as a whole if you just play pocket pool.

Let’s not even think about the horror of graft and distortion that federally subsidized corporate QUANGOs will produce in 5 or 10 years. We have to still have a country by then to be worried about it.

Is there a word for when someone posts the same rant to every single political website on the net?

Anyway, I would just like to add the Michael Bennet, the SEIU and PCCC supported candidate for CO-SEN, opposes the “no brainer” infrastructure bank unless the funds are deducted from the stimulus.

David,

I urge you to really investigate this policy.

Goldman Sachs infrastructure investment bank division has backed this since Dodd tried to pass the Infrastructure Bank legislation.

It’s the Goldman backing that has me deeply concerned.

But they’re onto this no-brainer policy now, and it demands support.

Yes it does. It’s too bad, however, that a larger portion of the original “stimulus” had not been directed to infrastructure improvements. Given the magnitude of the need, $50 Bill isn’t a whole lot of money. I’ll take it, though.

infrastructure spending is a bargain right now because of low borrowing costs and low labor costs

I don’t like the ‘lower labor cost’ part of that equation, we need living wage jobs not bargain basement jobs

What needs to happen is that O-man has to get one of those vision thingys.

Stimulus 2.0 should be labeled: “Main Street–Your ‘Bailout’ at last”.

Included should be selling points like:

a) A power grid that won’t go down due to weather, and yet your electric bill will go down about half;

b) Our sewer systems are leaking and need replaced. Anyone else care to cook with water that seeked out into the groundwater? Also, how about the government taking responsibility for any breaks on your property outside your home? (So you don’t have to?).

c) High speed rail–how’d you like to travel from New York to Boston in half the time as a car, at a fraction of a cost of a plane, and without the hassle of driving?

d) Solar panels on all homes that merit it—how’d you like to be able to get a power bill that’s negative some months?

e) Faster internet

f) Subways or very convenient busing in every city above a certain size.

And many other things where people can see a practical benefit to their lives. People can be downright eager to support things where they can see a benefit.

Oh, and increasing Social Security (at least by 50 %) would be nice too, by removing the cap and applying the FICA tax to *all income*.

StewartM

Well, it would be a great deal. But if your credit card’s maxed out, even a 50% off sale can’t be too enticing.

If he just ended the overseas adventures entirely, that could fund this and other programs without making the deficit even more ginormous.

Obama has the right idea but Goldman Sachs being involved well after the infrastructure is built with our money does Obama intend to Privatize it?
Next problem this is way to small.

Faster trains like Europe and Japan have not the joke of a high speed rail Obama is currently backing.
Also high speed freight powered by windmills and sun built along the tracks that would get rural America working plus high speed freight means I could get West Coast salmon almost fresh. Imagine Florida Oranges a day off the tree!

With Obama sinking climate change legislation over the gas tax by going out of their way to say they opposed it, it would seem strange to then come out and support a gas tax for something comparatively minor.

Obama should go to the voters and say do you want Wars or Jobs! Then announce he wants half the war money to create jobs the other half to paydown the debt.
Lets see Tea baggers vote against jobs and paying down the debt when not paying down the debt means thanks to interest more taxes later on.

Strange or Obama never really cared about the gas tax?

Yeah, it appears to be better than nothing. Hopefully it will benefit the quality of life for citizens. By comparison, China plans to invest $300 billion in high speed rail alone:

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/05/high_tech_transportation.html

nice gesture, 1 1/2 years late. Too damn small if it even gets funded.

now that would be brilliant

but I don’t think “brilliant” and obama go together, not any more that’s for sure

Obama should go to the voters and say do you want Wars or Jobs!

I’m not sure you can say that to the American people. The right-wing would have a field day saying “Obama’s putting social spending above national security… Obama, why won’t you fund the troops?!”

Nah, Obama needs to sell the end of Afghanistan as a victory, not an austerity measure. Americans don’t want to hear that the country is too broke to fight a war.

it’s all in the way he frames the proposal, he can definitely point out that he can spend more on national security when he spends less on the war.

though I am attributing a skill he does not posess

Obama and a Spine doesn’t seem to go together either:(

Words, words, words,
I’m so sick of words.
I get words all day thru
First from him, then from you….

Obama hasn’t delivered on anything he promised in the past, so why should we believe that he will deliver on anything he promises now?

Obama needs to sell the end of Afghanistan as a victory

Kind of hard to do if Ossama isn’t dead but yes that would be a better PR sell. However what if Obama used the cash for green energy and green cars, trains etc?
Then he could say every Dollar we spend on Foreign oil is a Dollar in Ossama’s pocket. If we cut oil demand 50% we cut Ossama’s cash 50% which is something George Bush and all of America’s armies havent been able to do in 8 years.

Because this time he really promises not to snatch the football away.

By comparison, China plans to invest $300 billion in high speed rail alone:

Bingo.

Good Point even if he does he will likely fold and only do 10 billion in infrastructure spending and claim he won the battle just like he did on healthcare.

Seconded! and how many jobs are they creating?

Got a treat for ya here.

This strikes me as being another cynical, dishonest campaign promise that Obama has absolutely no intention of delivering on. Nevertheless, that he feels compelled to offer it up speaks volumes about how badly he knows his party is set to lose next month. We should capitalize on this to push for as much infrastructure investment as we can get — no asking for half a loaf and bargaining down to crumbs.

Obama should be asked you couldn’t pass healthcare before what makes you think you can pass this with less Dems in congress? Just what is your plan?

I had to look up QUANGOs

1> a quasi nongovernmental organization; an organization that is financed by the government yet acts independently of the government.

Or more confusingly -

2> Semi- or quasi- autonomous (non-)government agencies. Members of the governing bodies tend to be appointed from a variety of sources with the remit of overseeing devolved government spending in many aspects of public life, health, economic development, and public-private partnerships.

Deer and Cats getting along how did they meet?

In this woman’s yard, apparently. Got it from a co-worker.

Who owns the project when its done is my worry. I don’t want KBR anywhere near my water system they can’t even build a shower that won’t electrocute our troops.
Just why do they still have Government Contracts?

I thought maybe over drinks lots of drinks:)

Or is there a pot catnip crossbreed they both like? I’ve seen cows eat wild pot before maybe deer like it too?

Deer and rabbits will strip a pot plant in a blink.

Thank you very much. I had a wedding to attend yesterday evening so I never got back to Caturday.

Those are great. I wonder how it happened.

Cahnstance has to get over her overly protective phase before she can aspire to such a relationship!

Lefties and Gun Owners may finally have something to bond over but if the animals love the plant maybe we should be eating it too?

Currently an expensive food additive.

Co-worker showed me an email with them today. Had her forward it to me. I just posted it.

Because I hunt, I have a lot of friends whose politics are more conservative than mine—OK, a lot more :) . However, one of them was telling me a few months ago how disappointed he was that our state wasn’t covered in windmills and that we didn’t have electric cars. That’s what I call common ground.

Agreed!

Unfortunately, for many folks war is jobs.

Well, thanks again. I’ll have to show them to Cahnstance as something she should aspire to. Did your co-worker describe how the ‘relationship’ had come about? Did the cat owner raise the doe from a fawn?

An infrastructure bank is similar to Fannie and Freddie. Private lenders (such as Goldman) make loans to the state or local agency. The Infrastructure Bank buys these loans, slaps an AAA government guarantee on them and resells them on the securities market. Since neither the private lender nor the government holds on to the loans, the lender is free to go out and make more loans. This is the leverage.

What’s in it for the lender? Service fees, sometimes toll collections, tax breaks.

What could go wrong? What happened to Fannie and Freddie.

I think as things get worse for more people we’re finding common ground now where we would not have been able to do so not so many years ago.

We get them green jobs boeing can make wind turbines if they can make jet turbines.

It came from a friend of a friend of my co-worker. All I know is what was contained in the note and I don’t think she’s (co-worker) interested in the details. She just thought it was cute. Can’t argue with that.

Fuck Boeing. An employee-owned start up is the way to go.

Nope. Can’t argue with cute, evah.

Hahahahaha. That was my friend’s conclusion as well.

If the Fed can give near-zero interest loans to the banksters that will gamble with the money they can give near-zero interest loans to small employee-owned firms to help re-establish our manufacturing base. No corporate entities need apply and would be prohibited from having any connection with said firms other than supplying parts.

That way when they talk about supporting small businesses, they could actually mean it.

13 trillion to aid the Bankster Cartells and 50 billion for the rest of us.

Oh, what a wonderful, wonderful man he is. Republicans would not have even made such an empty gesture! Thank God for Democrats!

Well, here’s my raspberry from the far side of the country.

When can we “officially” throw this guy under the bus?

Two years too late and not nearly big enough or comprehensive enough. And you just know the Republicans and Teabaggers are going pitch a hissy-fit about it being more socialism and a sop to the unions right before the mid-terms. The Republicans will also ‘Just say, No!’ to anything in Congress.

Great. This is one of my top five. But he has to go big. Make it a WPA project. The top one is to pledge to veto any cut in SS or raise in the age. Another one right up there is to promise to veto any effort to extend the tax cuts for the rich, even if this means an increase for the rest of us. He can offset some of that disappointment with asking for an increase in the minimum wage. Hell, they bailed out Wall Street, time now to bail out the working man, even if that means hamburgers get a little more expensive. And while we are on the subject, extend unemployment. Unusual times deserve unusual remedies. Hang those bastards with their hatred for the middle class working people.

you know what? let the bastards scream about socialism. Hell, FDR was the best “socialist” this country ever had. Don’t ever forget it.

Yep, go for it, cynical or no.

Most of these nitwits wouldn’t know a socialist idea if it put a foot up their ass.

Cmon do you guys blve that he and the dems are going to spend money on the infrastructure? The time to do this was when he walked into the White House with a majority in the House and the Senate. He is not going to get anything done once the republicans take control of the congress. Fifty billions dollars is too small anyway.

A service sector economy doesn’t need no stinkin’ infrastructure.

yes, even if we could allocate $300 billion to high-speed rail it would be diluted by the amount that must be spent on government red tape (impact studies such as environmental/noise, EEO, OSHA, prevailing wages, etc., etc.) — I have worked in the civil construction industry for almost 30 years and the endless, mind-numbing “extra costs” are the perfect example of governence run amok !! Another good example of this is the idea of energy independence through homeowner personal windmills, a good idea a couple of years ago but now every Tom, Dick and Harry local government(s) are in a rush to regulate — we must get over this hurdle which also includes the NIMBY folk — get a life !!

Democrat president, Democrat house, Democrat senate. What’s the problem? They don’t even need tax revenues, they can just print the money like they already do. And if the Democrat agenda has been so good so far, why in the world should they do poorly on Nov. 2? And if they haven’t done so well, how would kicking them out and putting in the evil GOP solve anything?

I’ve lost my TU on the GOS at least 20 times in the last 5 years for getting zeroed by DLC toadies. yawn.

anyhoo – the Fri. 10 Sept. warning that I couldn’t post till I acknowledged being “warned” – I didn’t click on the stupid thing till today, and that was so I could reco a bobswern diary.

obama is a FUCKING LIAR. anyone who needs me to back that up, with “facts”, and that the DLC branch are a bunch of greedy scum, good ONLY at selling us out AND staying in charge. yawn. skim a newspaper that has been published for the last 30 years for your “facts”.

I’m 50, I’ve NEVER felt so divorced from this whole kabuki bullshit –

0-$ell-0ut is gonna do something for U.$. peee-ons! ha ha ha. talk about magic pony pony-shit.

rmm.

Finally a little truth for the American people!

“Americans spend more money on transportation than food”

Yep! .80 cent of every American dollar spend on gasoline wasted out your tailpipe, then sitting in traffic waiting to pay a $10.00 toll to utilize a Bridge? Dumber than “dead dirt.” Real value for your spent dollar America?

From the Whitehouse report(pdf) linked in the diary:

The plan includes a $50 billion up-front investment connected to a six-year reauthorization of the surface transportation program and the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank to leverage private capital and select projects of regional and national significance.

Is this a plan to privatize public infrastructure?

Meh, at the end of the day we need jobs and we need to fix infrastructure. So maybe we need to bite into this even if it’s attached to private finance via a barbed hook.

But still, I’d like to know more details. I see no fiscal reason why our government needs to ask Wallstreet to invest in public infrastructure which our government can just as easily fund itself.

Yep, I am aware of what the infrastructure bank is and how it will operate and what the unfortunate risks happen to be. Thanks for writing about it. This is very important for us all to understand. I wrote a few diaries on this back in January.