I just read on another blog that the banks are $1-2 trillion in debt and the powers that be are afraid to break it to the American public. We either bail them out or take them over, two crummy deals. I say take them over, fire all the executives (they should be able to last 2-3 years off savings) let the workers run the day to day functions and after the housing market stabilizes SLOWLY start selling the assets if done properly we can ride the market up to at least close to break even.

These people still don’t get it!  The Rethugnikans and their Democratic collaborators still don’t (a)take responsibility for allowing the nation to get where it is because of deregulation and no enforcement of the laws on the books, (b)continued tax cuts and a war of choice!

I hate to say it but maybe as more and more of the Rethugnikan “base” is unemployed, under-employed, and homeless - they will understand the reason that government needs to “spend” money, in supplying the states with much needed funds to unemployment compensation, teacher police and firefighter pay, hospital services, etc.!  While the Congress fiddles, Main Street burns!

Now is not the time for timidity, now is the time for the bold ideas - such as spending to improve mass transit, better more modernized schools, and more efficiency in our energy grids.  Now is the time to restructure our banking system - separating banking from investment houses!  How about not voting for these idiots unless they really do have a clue!!!

coloradokarl—I would go along with that, yes!

$350 Billion remaining tarp funds purchase foreclosed homes and pay for refurbishment and affordable rent subsidies. This hires construction workers,takes houses off the market (price stabilization) and affords housing to displaced families. The housing bubble is the root of our problems. Fix this and we wouldn’t need “stimulus” Just one Idea for your thoughts.

godistwqaddle—But the MSM loves them.

It’s like “fair and balanced.” A progressive tells the absolute truth.  A Republican is called in and tells absolute lies.  A “centrist” apparently believes something in the middle.

Despicable, spineless people, centrists.

> coloradokarl, February 9 at 7:03 pm;

Yes; it does give one pause, doesn’t it. I remain an optimistic pessimist.

http://whatintheworld-icarus.blogspot.com/

The wrong things were cut, no doubt about it. The GOP base is NOT going to vote for this. The so-called liberals might as well put the social spending back in! If the bill does nothing, the GOP will not blame it on their spending that they took out, not more tax cuts, nor the Wall St Bailout.They wont even accept their own, nor Dubya’s responsibiity for the huge , useles spending of the last 8 yrs (Neither do Dems) NO matter what “doesnt ” happens they wil blame it on “spending”!

coloradokarl—what is the extremely simple solution?

ocjim—The Deep South is still a neo-con stronghold. They dont believe in govt at all. They are just waiting for the big bar fight in the sky, I guess…they want to give more tax cuts (or, no taxes at all) to big corporations so they might give then a crappy job working on an oil rig, with no benefits, I guess. They dont really believe in Unions, equal pay, etc.

None of the Republicans in either House of Congress have a clue. It’s not all about them and retaining their seat. It’s about our survival—first economically and second as a democracy.

But in the Senate, Republicans, who can get beyond vilifying all who don’t agree with them, are still logically and morally challenged.

The rest of the Republicans—the neocons—are a lost cause, and how can their constituents still support them?

The unemployment rate in many southern states is nearing double digits, including Alabama and North and South Carolina while Kentucky and Tennessee are near 9%.  What do people in Senate Republican states do?

Kentucky has the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell.  And Senators Burr, Chambliss, Thune, Shelby, Hutchison and Corker are all hard-headed southern Republicans who are still spouting Reaganesque dribble: for example, saying that government is the problem.

One wonders what those trodden under by economic crisis in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee are saying about the boneheaded ideologues who represent them.

But perhaps the Republicans are just posturing, knowing that the Democrats will pass the legislation without them.

They can hope the recovery plan fails, and they can say, “I told you so!”

Krugman is right, don’t give a dam about the public, there only interested in more give aways to the wealthy, like the “flip the house” provision in this bill.

It’s clear to me that Republicans are willing to destroy this country, rather than give up political power.

Maybe if they were all under investigation for wrong doing under Bush’s regime, they would be a little more concerned about their country. 

Obama, should Veto this, and hold out for what America needs.

Obama should veto this package, It’s not worth the debt and future inflation. What happened to our “New energy economy?” the Republicans are rolling the dice on 2010. This is a very dangerous game for more that the obvious reasons. The “Three meals from Anarchy” theory comes into play at approximately the 12% unemployment rate (read 20% actual). The solution is so simple to me I wonder what the problem is. Unless civil disobedience is what the “Hidden Hand” truly wants on our slow and perilous journey to the One World Government. A Bankrupt America plays nicely into this agenda. This perfect storm of financial chaos is starting to look a little too…well, PERFECT !?!