This is to give our readers the opportunity to discuss whatever effects they may feel that will affect both their personal economic problems, as they see it, and the national economic downturns, layoffs, and business closings that the new Obama administration presents.
And last but least the adversities the economic dilemma that our city and town governments are currently facing regarding the possibility of being forced to layoff some of their employees.
Please restrict your comments on the national issues to this particular blog in order to free up the local blogs with local issues.
If you want to see what is coming to the country, just look at Michigan since he had the governor of Michigan sitting at the table as one of his financial advisers. She raised Michigan taxes on businesses, and when the unemployment skyrocketed, she cranked the taxes up even higher, as if to say you haven't seen nothing yet!
ReplyDeleteI'll keep my guns, freedom, and money. You can keep "the change!" Vote Sarah Palin for President in 2012! The Liberal Media wants you to think that Sarah Palin held John McCain back. We all know that John McCain's campaign surged ahead because of Sarah. She's a rising star in the GOP and could easily defeat Barack Obama in 2012!
ReplyDeleteThe Obama Administration will call on Americans to serve in order to meet the nation’s challenges. President-Elect Obama will expand national service programs like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps and will create a new Classroom Corps to help teachers in underserved schools, as well as a new Health Corps, Clean Energy Corps, Veterans Corps and Handicapped Corps.
ReplyDeleteObama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by setting a goal that all middle school and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year and by developing a plan so that all college students who conduct 100 hours of community service receive a universal and fully refundable tax credit ensuring that the first $4,000 of their college education is completely free.
While at the same time promoting youth programs such as Youth Build and Head Start, Obama will encourage retiring Americans over age 55 to serve in Handicapped Parking Corps by reporting to their local police departments unauthorized persons utilizing Handicapped Parking Spaces.
Change in 2009!
Plans are being made to promote a national holiday for Barack Obama, who will become the nation’s 44th president when he takes the oath of office January 20, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
ReplyDelete"Yes We Can" planning rallies will be at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the downtown McDonald’s restaurant, 1100 Kansas Ave., Chicago until January 13, 2009.
The goals are to secure a national holiday in Obama’s honor, to organize celebrations around his inauguration and to celebrate the 200th birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, who was born on February 12, 1809.
It appears that Obama may have been careless in his spoken statements, with international consequences. He recently spoke with the President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, on the telephone.
ReplyDeleteAfterward, Kaczynski wrote that Obama "said that the United States missile-defense project in Poland would continue." The Obama camp then released a statement to the effect that Obama had said no such thing: "President Kaczynski raised missile defense but President-elect Obama made no commitment on it."
It's possible that President Kaczynski deliberately misquoted Obama, but that seems highly unlikely. It's much more probable that Obama indulged in his usual ambiguity, failed to choose his words carefully, and thereby conveyed a misleading impression.
Actually, it isn't just President Lincoln fighting Civil War and President Roosevelt dealing with the Depression and World War II, when they both took office under more difficult conditions now facing Obama with the current Banking Crisis and ending Iraq War in Middle East.
ReplyDeleteThink of President Truman; World War II was still raging and he had to decide to use atomic weapons to bring it to an end; beyond that, the Soviet threat was now visible on the horizon with the Cold War and the Iron Curtain and the Korean War.
Or President Eisenhower, who assumed office while the Korean War was going on. Or President Richard Nixon: Vietnam and riots in the streets, and President John Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Or President Ronald Reagan, who began his Presidency with unemployment at 7.5 % and inflation at 12% and conflict of Cold War.
Was there a banking crisis? Oh yes, interest rates were at 18-20%. Now, THAT was an economic challenge! In addition, the U.S. was losing ground with Chinese goods flowing into the America market.
If you are suffering financially in
ReplyDeleteyour family budget, then you tighten up and live fiscally conservative! I don't see this new
administration talking about being
conservative and this is scary for
our economy.
I think Obama is a good man, thoughtful, intelligent. I only hope that this change that is so
celebrated works out.
Obama thinks he is a good talker, but he is often undisciplined when he speaks. He needs to understand that as President Obama, his words will be scrutinized and will have world-wide impact by the Media whether he intends it or not.
ReplyDeleteIn this regard, President Bush is an excellent model; Obama should take a lesson from his example.
Bush never gets sloppy when he is speaking publicly. He chooses his words with care and precision, which is why his style sometimes seems halting.
In the eight years he has been President, it is remarkable how few gaffes or verbal blunders President Bush has committed.
If Obama doesn't raise his standards, he will exceed Bush's total before he is inaugurated.
Today with control of the White House, the Senate and House of Representatives, Senator Schumer (D) New York and his liberal colleagues are twisting the First Amendment's guarantees of Freedom of Speech and of the Press -- ALL TO SET THE STAGE TO SILENCE voices of RUSH, HANNITY AND OTHERS.
ReplyDeleteIf you're a liberal, you can burn the American flag, put four-letter-word bumper stickers on your car, commit lewd acts on-stage, play profane rap music loudly on your car radio, produce, rent and distribute the most disgusting filth in broad daylight and on the Internet in plain view of minors and even use taxpayer dollars to depict Jesus suspended in bodily waste.
The liberals are now seeking control over the content of speech their top priority by shutting down the voice of conservative speech on your local radio and your TV stations.
He is a good man who is talking about taking more of your money to give to people who refuse to work or are here illegally, so work some overtime at your job so you can do your patriotic duty and pay more taxes to support people who sit on the front stoop and drink beer all day. The price of beer is increasing, so they need more help!
ReplyDeletePolitics As Usual...Frank Smith?
ReplyDeleteWhat's your answer Frank Smith?
Step up to the Plate?
NEW BRITAIN — Democrats on the Common Council have once again checked their Republican counterparts, this time squelching the GOP’s choice to fill a vacancy on the school board with a 33-year-old father of two and instead choosing former school board member (from 1999-2003) Leslie Jacobs, whom RTC chairman Paul Carver called a pawn for the Democrats.
At the last council meeting two weeks ago, the Democrats tabled the appointment of Jamie Giantonio, sparking a harangue by Republican Mayor Timothy Stewart, who scoffed at the move as political payback.
Carver said Monday that the Democrats are extracting payback from the Republicans for their part in the blockage of the Democratic Town Committee’s choice to fill a Democratic vacancy on the Common Council last year with Rick Lopes.
WASHINGTON — A congressman from Georgia said Monday he fears that President-elect Obama will establish a Gestapo-like security force to impose a Marxist or fascist dictatorship.
ReplyDelete"It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is, he's the one who proposed this national security force," Rep. Paul Broun said of Obama in an interview with The Associated Press.
"I'm just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may — may not, I hope not — but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism."
Broun cited a July speech by Obama that has circulated on the Internet in which the then-Democratic presidential candidate called for a civilian force to take some of the national security burden off the military.
"That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did," Broun said. "When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist."
Obama's comments about a national security force came during a speech in Colorado about building a new civil service corps. Among other things, he called for expanding the nation's foreign service and doubling the size of the Peace Corps "to renew our diplomacy."
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set," Obama said in July. "We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."
Broun said he also believes Obama likely will move to ban gun ownership if he does build a national police force.
Obama has said he respects the Second Amendment right to bear arms and favors "common sense" gun laws. Gun rights advocates interpret that as meaning he'll at least enact curbs on ownership of assault weapons and concealed weapons. As an Illinois state lawmaker, Obama supported a ban on semiautomatic weapons and tighter restrictions on firearms generally.
"We can't be lulled into complacency," Broun said. "You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential."
Obama's transition office did not respond immediately to Broun's remarks.
Just hours after President Bush and President-elect Obama met in the Oval Office of the White House, details of their confidential conversation began leaking out to the press, igniting anger from the President Bush, sources claim.
ReplyDelete"Senator Obama would be wise to keep close counsel," a top Bush source warned.
Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) - President Bush urged leaders of the world's biggest economies not to abandon free - market capitalism as they seek an escape from the financial crisis, calling it the `"best system" for delivering growth.
ReplyDeleteIn a speech at the Manhattan Institute in New York before weekend talks among leaders from the Group of 20 nations, Bush said policy makers should resist the urge to meddle too much in markets as they seek to reverse the financial and economic turmoil now engulfing the world.
"History has shown that the greater threat to economic prosperity is not too little government involvement in the market, but too much," Bush said. "Our aim should not be more government, it should be smarter government."
CHICAGO (CBS) ― Mayor Richard M. Daley says a parade of corporate chief executives have told him huge layoffs are planned around the city and will carry into next year. The news is especially alarming because the discussion concerns not just city jobs, but the private sector. Thus, it seems the City That Works is about to become the city that gets laid off. Mayor Daley says corporate leaders told him huge layoffs will impact the city this month and next, and into the new year. He also says city, county and state governments should be prepared for their revenue to fall dramatically because of the souring economy.
ReplyDelete"This is going to be all year, so it's going to be a very frightening economy," Mayor Daley said. "Each one tells me what they're laying off, and they're going to double that next year. We're talking huge numbers of permanent layoffs for people in the economy. It's going to have a huge effect on all businesses."
The mayor said the gravity of the situation cannot be underestimated.
"We never experienced anything like this except people who came from the Depression," Mayor Daley said. "When you have that many layoffs early – and they're telling me this is only the beginning of their layoffs – that is very frightening."
Mayor Daley also warned that local governments will be in jeopardy and may not have enough money to meet payroll, although he is not worried about paying City of Chicago employees. In addition, the federal bailout plan is changing, and the big three automakers are all warning they could go bankrupt, and lawmakers say if the auto industry goes down, the huge number of jobs lost would cause more house foreclosures. Upon hearing the mayor's grim news, workers were jittery, to say the least.
"Even if you have a job it's scary. You don't know if it's going to last. You don't know if you're going to keep it or not?" said Michelle Thompson. "So, what are we to do?" Every sector of the job market is suffering.
"I've been applying at millions of places, and it's just so hard to get a job. They're cutting hours like crazy – at McDonald's," said Ramona Patino.
Job placement analysts say end-of-the-year layoffs are at a five-year high. "The last quarter is often the heaviest time of the year for downsizing. Often, that means much more hiring at the beginning of the year as companies start to grow again and think about the future," said John Challenger of the placement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. "This year, it's going to be much more difficult because the economy is in recession. No one expects to come out of it by January or February."
Don't worry about the layoffs. Who needs a job anyway. They can all just quit their jobs next month anyway. The Democrats are going to give them houses, cars, "tax refunds" for taxes they never paid and it will all be free! HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE!
ReplyDeleteChicago is coming to the rest of the nation:
ReplyDeleteMayor Daley: Prepare For Mass Layoffs
CEO's Tell Mayor They Plan Huge Layoffs In November, December
Reporting
Joanie Lum
CHICAGO (CBS) ― The warning is out – Mayor Richard M. Daley says a parade of corporate chief executives have told him huge layoffs are planned around the city and will carry into next year.
As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, when Daley made the announcement, workers around the city felt a chill, and they are wondering who will be laid off next.
The news is especially alarming because the discussion concerns not just city jobs, but the private sector. Thus, it seems the City That Works is about to become the city that gets laid off.
Mayor Daley says corporate leaders told him huge layoffs will impact the city this month and next, and into the new year. He also says city, county and state governments should be prepared for their revenue to fall dramatically because of the souring economy.
"This is going to be all year, so it's going to be a very frightening economy," Mayor Daley said. "Each one tells me what they're laying off, and they're going to double that next year. We're talking huge numbers of permanent layoffs for people in the economy. It's going to have a huge effect on all businesses."
The mayor said the gravity of the situation cannot be underestimated.
"We never experienced anything like this except people who came from the Depression," Mayor Daley said. "When you have that many layoffs early – and they're telling me this is only the beginning of their layoffs – that is very frightening."
Mayor Daley also warned that local governments will be in jeopardy and may not have enough money to meet payroll, although he is not worried about paying City of Chicago employees.
In addition, the federal bailout plan is changing, and the big three automakers are all warning they could go bankrupt, and lawmakers say if the auto industry goes down, the huge number of jobs lost would cause more house foreclosures.
Upon hearing the mayor's grim news, workers were jittery, to say the least.
"I'm an analyst for one of the largest credit bureaus in the city, and I'm really concerned with the economy right now; the structure that we're in," said Tonya Farr. "I don't want to be laid off, hopefully not."
"Even if you have a job it's scary. You don't know if it's going to last. You don't know if you're going to keep it or not?" said Michelle Thompson. "So, what are we to do?"
Every sector of the job market is suffering.
"I've been applying at millions of places, and it's just so hard to get a job. They're cutting hours like crazy – at McDonald's," said Ramona Patino.
Job placement analysts say end-of-the-year layoffs are at a five-year high.
"The last quarter is often the heaviest time of the year for downsizing. Often, that means much more hiring at the beginning of the year as companies start to grow again and think about the future," said John Challenger of the placement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. "This year, it's going to be much more difficult because the economy is in recession. No one expects to come out of it by January or February."
Meanwhile, those who have jobs are just trying to hold on.
"I'm budgeting my money. I paid my bills at the beginning of the month, and that's it. I ride the rest of the month on maybe $10 in my pocket a week," said commuter Kurt Korzi. "It's tough. It's really tough."
"People can't afford to do certain things that they're used to doing, so if there's no revenue coming in, how can a business stay alive?" said Sonya Robinson. "They say that they're going to help us and technically, it's not helping us, because we're paying more taxes and working like a slave, and not getting anything out of it in return."
Challenger said the holiday season is looking bleak.
"As more people become insecure about their jobs, they lose their jobs, they don't spend as much. That's bad for retailers," he said. "This holiday season is going to be very tough."
The City Council will take a vote on the 2009 city budget Nov. 19. The budget contains layoffs, a slowdown in police hiring, and new taxes and fines – some bad news for Chicagoans who remain employed.
Obama’s Coattails Surprisingly Short
ReplyDeleteWhile Barack Obama won a resounding electoral vote victory in the presidential race, Democrats did not score the impressive gains nationwide that might have been expected.
Democrats gained five state legislative chambers — the New York Senate, Nevada Senate, Delaware House, Ohio House, and Wisconsin Assembly.
But they lost four others to the GOP — the Tennessee House and Senate, Montana Senate, and Oklahoma Senate, National Journal magazine reported.
According to Tim Storey of the National Conference of State Legislatures, Democrats picked up about 100 state legislative seats, “about half the normal turnover.”
Democrats will gain at least 17 seats in the U.S. House and at least five in the Senate, fewer than party insiders had hoped for in recent weeks.
Charlie Cook of National Journal offered several possible reasons for the Democrats’ performance on Election Day:
A large number of first-time and younger voters went to the polls this year, and it could be that they did not venture past the presidential choice on their ballot.
Some voters may have chosen to keep Republican incumbents in place to prevent Democrats from gaining complete control in Washington.
Since Democrats had gained so many seats in 2006, they were defending many seats in districts previously held by Republicans.
In any case, Cook concludes, “What happened down-ballot was not proportional to what happened at the top.”
On November 4th, 2008 millions of Americans were shocked that a man of Barack Obama's limited experience, extreme liberal positions and radical political alliances could be elected President of the United States.
ReplyDeleteFor many of these Americans, the explanation was rather simple... the news media, completely enamored with Obama, simply refused to do their job.
On Election day twelve Obama voters were interviewed extensively right after they voted to learn how the news media impacted their knowledge of what occurred during the campaign.
These voters were chosen for their apparent intelligence/verbal abilities and willingness to express their opinions to a large audience. A rather shocking video provided some insight into which information broke through the news media clutter and which did not.
Calling an illegal alien
ReplyDeletean "undocumented immigrant" is
the same as calling a drug dealer
an "unlicensed pharmacist".
Republican Saxby Chambliss won an incredible victory in Georgia, beating Barack Obama's candidate 57 to 43 percent.
ReplyDeleteThis was nothing short of a landslide.
The results are a terrible disaster for Barack Obama.
The media won't tell you this, but I will.
Remember, Obama lost Georgia to McCain by a margin of 52 to 47 percent just a month ago.
And in the November Senate race Chambliss just barely nosed ahead of Democrat Martin, forcing the special run-off election.
Almost a month after Barack Obama's presidential win and the media's "honeymoon" with him, Georgia voters decisively rejected Obama at the polls yesterday.
The media won't admit this in any coverage today, but the Georgia election was simply a referendum on Barack Obama.
We at the National Republican Trust spent over $1.2 million to defeat Obama in Georgia — thanks to donors like yourself.
In our TV ads, we made it crystal clear — a vote for the Democrat would give Barack Obama a filibuster-proof Senate.
Obama would be able to pass his radical agenda of more taxes, left-wing judges — even citizenship for 12 million illegals.
This was the only issue for Georgia: should Barack Obama be given a blank check.
Georgia voters voted overwhelmingly "NO" to Obama.
Consider Chambliss' victory Tuesday was almost three times McCain's victory over Obama on election day.
Despite the media's love affair with Obama, the American people are simply not buying it.
Despite Obama's radio ads backing Democrat Martin, millions in Democratic money and thousands of Obama volunteers in the state, Georgia still said "NO" to Obama.
Since Obama was elected, he has already proposed the largest federal public works program in history — a $700 billion program to put 2.5 million people basically on the public's payroll. This means you the taxpayer will have to pay for all these new workers!
Obama promised a socialist agenda. He is now delivering one.
We at the National Republican Trust fought during the presidential election campaign to expose Obama.