The American Spectator

The USS Fungus-Mungus| 2.14.09 @ 10:49AM

RSM, you may want to revise that last date for Plouffe unless the lad is a fortune teller.

Moreover, several have been vindicated by seeing the foolishness in McCain's tactic. But Plouffe is on right in part; it was the prominence of an ailing economy under an incumbent Republican president with no discernible answer in sight.

Robert Stacy McCain| 2.14.09 @ 1:58PM

Thanks -- just caught the mistake. Corrected.

Interloper| 2.14.09 @ 4:11PM

It wasn't any one event that doomed McCain. The meltdown of the economy and his cluelessness, such as declaring the economy sound and donning his ersatz Superman cape to fly to Washington to save the day were part of it. But, so were the Sarah Palin malignancy (which RSM dare not mention because he is a Palin booster), McCain's pathetic performance during the debates, etc. People began to realize that the doddering old fellow who claimed he could keep them safe was no solution to anything.

But, most important was the extraordinary ability demonstrated by Barack Obama and the excellence of his campaign. Were Obama white, McCain's abysmal electoral performance would have been even worse.

ruth| 2.14.09 @ 4:21PM

Obama would never have been elected without the assistance of the traitorous and corrupt LameStream Media. It's obvious to all that he's unqualified for POTUS.

Interloper| 2.14.09 @ 6:01PM

Nearly 75 percent of the population approves of President Obama's performance, with 63 percent enthusiastic about it. With less than a month in office, the President has:

• Negotiated the most significant economic stimulus package in American history and is ready to sign the bill for it,

• Restored funding to childrens' health care, averting another mess in the making,

• Began the process of dismantling the illegal prison at Guantanomo Bay,

• Persuaded mortgagers to stop foreclosures on homes while solutions to the mortgage crises are sought,

• Begun the process of withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Never in history has a President achieved so much so expeditiously.

ruth| 2.14.09 @ 6:48PM

Time will tell how disastrous his 'expeditious' deeds will be. I don't think it will be long before we know, either. Unfortunately. He still hasn't filled his cabinet, LOL. Too much liberal corruption.

Truth| 2.14.09 @ 7:10PM

Anyone calling that a stimulus package hasn't a clue. Its a spending bill plain-n-simple and will do nothing for the economy. You aught to try reading it sometime, I bet you haven't.

Reagan said it best at his inaugural address: "government isn't the solution, government is the problem."

There was no 'Restoration' of funds to children's healthcare, he EXPANDED it to include another 3.5 million children at the cost of 32.8 BILLION, just another spending bill.

There is nothing illegal about Guantanomo, they are enemy combatants and frankly would kill you in an instant if given the chance. You should try to at least have the basic understanding of what an ENEMY is and what he/she believes.

"stop foreclosures"? A flat out lie either by you or whoever told you. Check your local papers for evidence on that. Record foreclosures are predicted for the year and are still happening.

The deal with troops in Iraq was signed by Bush, what world are you living in?

NEVER IN HISTORY HAS A PRESIDENT SPENT SO MUCH IN THE FIRST 30 DAYS!!!

Talk about clueless, wow.

Aaron Schock Is So Very Fine| 2.14.09 @ 7:23PM

Numbers for all:

===The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 39% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Twenty-six percent (26%) of voters now Strongly Disapprove of the President’s job performance to give Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of +13 (see trends).

The bounce Obama received from his televised press conference on Monday night has faded quickly. The number who Strongly Approve of the President’s performance had been just under 40% for eight straight days before the prime-time show, bounced up over the 40% mark for three days, and has now returned to the baseline.

Additionally, the number who Strongly Disapprove of the President’s performance reached a new high today. Forty-eight percent (48%) of Republican voters nationwide now voice such a negative opinion, up from 29% in the first polling after inauguration day. ===

Alan Brooks| 2.14.09 @ 7:57PM

the economy will be eventually growing by opposition to him.

but social progress is over; it was always based on canard-- and now it has run its course. marxism is having the last bloody drops squeezed out of it.

Ran| 2.14.09 @ 9:30PM

RSM,
Your analysis was in the X-ring. When the suspension 'announcement' came, I recall thinking that he could go up, stand tall and say "No to this bill! I smell a rat!" It was a golden opportunity for McCain to distance himself from both Bush and Obush. Obama. [Whatever.] Instead we were served-up a weak concession speech. It was Maverick Time, but McCain preferred Me Too. He lost us at that point.

Interloper| 2.14.09 @ 9:57PM

Yes, even the Right-leaning Rasmussen Daily Poll shows the President with an approval rate of 60 percent.

The more balanced Real Clear Politics Daily Poll has President Obama with 65 percent approval.

Caveat: Daily polls are not nearly as important as monthly or longer term polls.

I think the WaPo's headline about the stimulus package sums it up best: "A Win of Historic Proportions."

Next, the first couple gets to break out a bottle of very good vintage from the White House wine cellar to celebrate the signing.

ruth| 2.14.09 @ 10:04PM

Yes, a win of disastrous historic proportions. Time will tell and we ain't goin' anywhere, so we'll be watching closely.

Sean| 2.15.09 @ 12:03AM

Obama has so far been a worse President than GWB. That is something very hard to do.

As for McCain, anyone that paid attention to the so called debates could tell he was a fool. Republicans were retards for nominating him. Next time we have debates we need to let the candidates question each other. One question from Ron Paul showed John McCain knew absolutely nothing about economics.

Jack Kemp uumm Phil Gramm

Alan Brooks| 2.15.09 @ 12:06AM

im not going to say anything bad about Obama, he's bourgeois, keeps his trousers on, and when he's on the street he doesn't swagger like snoop doggy dogg.
besides, O can do well. Clinton was re-elected; FDR got re-elected;

Nixon was re-elected.

ruth| 2.15.09 @ 12:55AM

Obama's a power monger, and not as clever as he fancies himself to be. He's just playing good cop to Pelosi's and Emanuel's bad cop. Predictable. Liberals always over-reach--they can't help themselves.

trurl| 2.15.09 @ 8:16AM

Interloper, I think you mistyped your closing sentence. It should read:

"Never in history has a President achieved so much to ruin a once great nation so expeditiously. "

And if all we're talking is approval ratings, well, things like the Soviet revolution looked good once to to large segments of certain populations. Not to mention various other dictators.

Interloper| 2.15.09 @ 3:39PM

Sean said: "Obama has so far been a worse President than GWB."

I say: Proof?

'trurl' should also try to answer that question.

Being generous, I'll help. President Obama, though he has made substantial progress for the country, has been in office for less than a month. President Bush, having a proven record of failure after eight years in office, is being rated one of the worse presidents ever by historians and other experts, not to mention the American people.

I do foresee an event that will make all but the most obstinate Right Wingers appreciate President Obama: The death of John McCain while he is in office.

mike| 2.15.09 @ 3:55PM

Sadly, the electorate will only realize what a Big mistake they made when they feel the PAIN that will be inflicted by putting this country in Debt for as far as the Eye can see!

"Brother, can you spare a dime?"

When a country starts looking at their "Masters" for it's very welfare, it is in Deep Shit!

"Here it Comes, Ready or Not!"

ruth| 2.15.09 @ 4:11PM

Leftist historians have never been honest about repub presidents. History will judge George W. more fairly and generously.

nate ver burg| 2.15.09 @ 10:08PM

Thank GOD he lost.As a conservative I would hate
to see a Republican (so called) sign this horrible
disgusting,pathetic crap sandwich they call a
stimulus bill.

JP| 2.16.09 @ 10:24AM

Interloper:

" Negotiated the most significant economic stimulus package in American history and is ready to sign the bill for it"

Since when is negociating a $1 trillion spendng package with a Democratic Congress an accomplishment? He got all of 3 Reppublicans to sign it.

"Restored funding to childrens' health care, averting another mess in the making,"

We already have Children's Healthcare via Schipps. Every mother and child in the US is already covered. All he did was to expand Schipps eligability to couples making $83,000 a year.

Began the process of dismantling the illegal prison at Guantanomo Bay

He's done nothing of the sort. Prisoners will continue to go the Gitmo, and his "study" is non-binding.

"Persuaded mortgagers to stop foreclosures on homes while solutions to the mortgage crises are sought"

No, in reality he has gotten Citi Group to suspend foreclosures until 15 March. Citii Group is now a ward of the state, and the suspension will continue to scare off private investors, continue the downward pressure on real estate prices, and continue drive Citi Group ever closer to permanent insolvency.

"Begun the process of withdrawing troops from Iraq. "

Actually, CENTCOM has had a plan in motion since Aug 2008. Obama had nothing to do with it.

You might wish to add:

Obama is pushing Afghan President Karazai ever closer to Iran and the Taliban. Since he was inaugerated he has publically dissed Karazai, Biden has also doen privately, and Hillary has called him a Nacro Prime Minister. Good job Obama: push the only man who can deal with Aghan's tribes into the enemy's camp just as we're sending an additional 20,000 troops there.

Also add, that Iran and Korea are now both engineering rocket techology that will eventually give them ICBMs. Obama appears not have a problem with this.

Obama will add at least $ 2 trillion this month to a $`11 trillion Federal Budget deficit. Good job.

JP| 2.16.09 @ 10:31AM

"I think the WaPo's headline about the stimulus package sums it up best: "A Win of Historic Proportions." "

Surely you jest. Giving Congress $1 trillion is akin to taking a group of 10 year olds to Pizza Hut. By your definition, Santa Claus is the model of political leadership we should emulate. Giving Congress a trillion dollars of taxpayers money is no different than giving Cheech and Chong water bongs filled up Thai Stick.

And if getting this bill passed was so easy, why did Obama take 3 days off to play hoops in the "hood?

JP| 2.16.09 @ 10:33AM

"Yes, even the Right-leaning Rasmussen Daily Poll shows the President with an approval rate of 60 percent. "

Lest you foget, Bush enjoyed approval ratings in the mid 60s himself.

We will again re-visit Obama's approval ratings this summer. If unemployment continues to go up, your Annointed One may be in serious trouble.

Interloper| 2.16.09 @ 1:43PM

The main objective of the stimulus package is to create and retain 3.5 million jobs by 2012. Most Americans realize that the 'pie in the sky' claims about the stimulus package being disseminated by the Right are false. They also know that the recession, which President Obama inherited, will take years to end.

notmypresident09| 2.16.09 @ 2:39PM

Interloper, or is bootlicker more appropriate. How can you type with your head in your messaih obama blow up doll's lap all day.

Marc Jeric| 2.16.09 @ 3:44PM

Abu Hussein from Kenya says he will "create or save" 4 million jobs. This way he can claim sucess no matter what happens with the unemployment rate, to viz.:
1) if the unemployment is the same, he can say that it could have been worse by 4 million - so he saved those 4 million jobs;
2) is the unemployment is by 2 million worse, he can say that without his porkulus bill it would have been 6 million jobs worse - so he can say that he saved 4 million jobs; and
3) if the unemployment is by 2 million jobs less, he can say that he created 2 million plus he saved 2 million jobs.
With this typical marxist turn of phrase he cannot lose.

Michael Dooley| 2.17.09 @ 8:48AM

Interloper? Mike Roush. Is that you?

It wouldn’t matter if, while standing on the White House lawn, angels suddenly appeared and lifted Obama into Heaven and, as he ascended, he issued his Great Commission for domestic policy. The President is leading us down a road that is bad for the country and harmful to those who have the least recourses to withstand the strains of the new American order. (People with money and/or steady incomes can insulate themselves from social engineering in varying degrees.)

What confounds Conservatives is that the Left and most of the so-called moderates disregard empirical/historical evidence. The measures for government control/beneficence for our besetting problems have never worked anytime—anywhere—both in the past and in the present. We have no faith this stimulus plan will work. History tells us as much. The previous stimulus (thank you, so damn, frickin’ much Bush 43) has hardly lived up to all the ballyhoo and b.s. As you may remember, we were against that one too.

We are not disgruntled merely because Liberals and in and Conservatives are out. Indeed, I would rather “be ruled by a wise Liberal than a foolish Conservative”. It is that so much liberty and bonds of society are sacrificed for little to no benefit. Most Liberal achievement is little more than a Potemkin village. Looks good. Not real.

Interloper| 2.18.09 @ 3:31PM

Now that the stimulus package is a fait accompli, we can get on with finally doing meaningful things about the deterioration of our economy. Sitting on our hands waiting for a magical recovery was never an option. Considering the dispatch the Obama campaign and administration have moved with so far, programs will be funded and in action within weeks.

Meanwhile, the President is starting to take the war on terror where it should have been focused all along. He's sending thousands of troops to Afghanistan.

Way to go, President Obama!

Frosty| 2.18.09 @ 5:31PM

I feel so much better about our national security now that Interloper has spoken. Liberals always know how to protect our country. Tough bastards! Now if Obama could only fill his cabinet--too many demo liars and thieves!!