The Diane Rehm Show

Just heard that John "Pretty Boy" Edwards is being indicted. This darling of the Dems/Liberals/Progressives was never a sincere person. I new he was a fake even before everything hit the fan.
This "Two Americas" he would use as a theme in his campaign. Yea sure. He would always return to his 18,000 sq ft house on Hilton Head at the end of the day. John would mention about purchasing carbon credits when the media asked him about the energy use in that mansion.
Are carbon credits still around? Have not heard anything about them recently. I do know that one of Al Gores company's had a stake in selling carbon credits and that this kind of business is very profitable.

This economic situation is President Obama's Katrina. A BOTCHED cleanup of a disaster that he didn't cause.

John King is mistaken. The threats from the bond-rating agencies shouldn't be treated as a matter of concern in Washington. S & P issued a similar warning a few weeks ago; bond yields rose briefly, then fell again. Last night's threat from Moody's led to a seven basis point *drop* in the ten-year bond yield.

The United States Treasury is not the Greater Walla-Walla Water and Sewer District. Moody's, Fitch and Standard & Poor's do not have any information about the financial status of our government that isn't already thoroughly disseminated-- and priced-- through the bond market.

I would like to point out that John Edwards was just indicted, it is part of the breaking news portion of AOL News. He was found guilty on six counts (1 conspiracy, 1 false account, 4 illegal campaign contributions. I thought that this guy was the best candidate before the whole mistress thing, but now, I think that its good that he will have to suffer with his consequences.

Look at how much time was WASTED today talking about possible Presidential candidates. It is the fault of the media that so much time is spent on the election 17 months before the election. There are many, many things happening that would have been worth discussing.

Where are the comments about the congress raising the debt ceiling 10 times under the Bush administration?
Who the heck wants a voucher, instead of medicare, just to put money in the pockets of the insurance companies??

Why aren't journalist pointing out the facts regarding our federal deficit? The Republicans continue to cry 'no tax increases' and 'cut social spending, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid' as the solution. The facts are different. Our federal deficit is a result of multiple factors including reduced tax revenues particularly from our wealthiest citizens and corporations; increased military spending for two wars; outsourcing of military jobs, white-collar jobs, and manufacturing while giving corporations tax incentives and breaks for outsourcing jobs; and a complex tax policy that protects the wealthiest & corporations from paying taxes.

We need to raise our taxes by cutting out tax policies that favor the rich and corporations at the expense of the rest of us (99% if the population). We need to start helping emerging technologies i.e. wind and solar energy that are actually capable of creating new jobs rather then the old energy companies. We need to rebuild our national infrastructure which would actually create jobs here in the USA and stop demonizing funding these projects.

The Federal Deficit Commission gave us a clear way of resolving our deficit problems through shared sacrifice. Right now our tax policy has created the largest income inequality since 1929. I don't know why 99% of taxpayers should continue to support the Republicans tax policies that have only helped the richest 1% of our citizens. Isn't it time that we helped the other 99%.

ecarter, ' I don't know why 99% of taxpayers should continue to support the Republicans tax policies that have only helped the richest 1% of our citizens'

over 50% of Americans do not pay any federal income tax at all. The problem is spending!

phyl on June 3, 2011 @ 10:28 am wrote: “The threats from the bond-rating agencies shouldn't be treated as a matter of concern in Washington.”

Perhaps not. These are the same agencies, after all, that kept giving a “thumbs up” to credit default swaps, derivatives, and other mortgage backed “securities” long after it became obvious that they were as “toxic” as the loans they were based on.

However, in what passes for the “real” world, when those same agencies say “jump” a lot of investors (who should know better by now) will simply ask “how high”.

hainc on June 3, 2011 @ 10:47 am wrote: “The auto companies wouldn't have made it without having hit the reset button and gotten tens of billions in a gov bailout. The gov may lose $14 billion and the cost to others (employees, dealers, vendors, owners, lenders) was significantly greater.”

Actually, from what I heard the government has been recouping what it paid, with interest. (If not, I’d like to know why.)

As for those others, what “cost” are you talking about? Was it greater than the cost they’d have to bear had the auto companies gone out of business - taking all those others with them? And where’s your proof?

monte on June 3, 2011 @ 11:10 am wrote: “It's not deniable that Obama's first two years in office were focused on enacting democratic party goals not the economy. It appears obvious to this voter Mr. Obama said whatever it took to get elected. . . .”

Blah, blah, blah.

Of course it’s deniable, because it is false. You forget that among the first things he did in office was work on the economy. What you also forget, sir, is that those “goals” were what he and the party campaigned on. Thus, shockingly, they set out to do what they promised.

I’m sure you’re much more comfortable with the Republicans and Tea Partiers, who campaigned on jobs, jobs, jobs, pledging to steer clear of divisive social issues. Instead, of course, it’s been “union busting”, abortion, gay rights, and every other social issue they can raise. Meanwhile we’ve seen precious little about job creation (if any).

It appears obvious to this voter that it’s the Republicans who say whatever it takes to get them elected. That fact is also dawning on other voters!

PART TWO

Just because someone is a successful businessman doesn’t prove they will be a successful President. Consider the following:

Corporate presidents can fire whomever they wish, the President cannot fire the Congress, the Supreme Court, or any Federal judge.

Corporate presidents usually have a compliant Board of Directors to deal with, Presidents often face an independent (if not hostile) Congress, and a truly independent Judiciary.

Corporate presidents usually own enough shares (either personally or with friends) to guaranty their perpetual re-election, the President has no such power (and is term-limited).

Most important of all: these factors can (in some individuals) breed an attitude of supremacy that borders on the tyrannical, and they run their companies like medieval fiefdoms. The U.S. is a constitutional democracy, in the form of a republic, and was born in rebellion to that attitude!

Well! I never thought I’d see the day I’d come to Sarah Palin’s defense (even if only partly), but today’s the day.

While I don’t agree with David, the caller who complained about Mr. Bashir’s criticism of the use of the flag on her bus (more about that in a moment), I also can’t agree with the immediate response the guests made to that complaint. Yes, Palin is a tireless self-promoter, and a publicity hound, but that doesn’t justify Bashir’s ridiculous comment.

On the other hand, it’s always interesting to see conservatives “hoist by their own petard”. How many times have they (and the GOP) condemned others for “disrespecting” the flag, and pooh-poohed the notion of “free speech rights” in that context? Turnabout is fair play.

As for the caller’s blaming the entire media for this - one swallow does not make a summer. By all means, criticize Mr. Bashir (who made the remark) but the rest of the media doesn’t share “guilt by occupation”.

Besides, Palin relishes the media’s attention when it suits her purpose. And when it doesn’t? Well, as Tennyson said: “You can’t escape the fierce light that beats upon the public figure.” She can always go back to Alaska and play the devoted housewife. Then the media will ignore her. (For which I will be very grateful.)

Ciao!

"Etaoin stated
Of course it’s deniable, because it is false. You forget that among the first things he did in office was work on the economy. What you also forget, sir, is that those “goals” were what he and the party campaigned on. Thus, shockingly, they set out to do what they promised".

Like the Trillion dollar Recovery Act that was just a slush fund for the unions.
Remember what POTUS Obama told us that without passage, unemployment would go over 8%. Lets not forget the 96% of all Americans getting a tax cut which is around $56 a month.
Your kind of wrong that the Tea Party campaigned on social issures. When 63 new members were elected to Congress, Obama caved in and allowed a payroll tax cut.
Etaoin you are smarter than that.