Community | February 24, 2009 | 23 comments

Obama to lay out sober assessment, hopeful future

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Maggiekortchmar
President Obama's address Tuesday to a joint session of Congress will have a heavy emphasis on the economy and will try to strike an optimistic tone, aides said.


President Obama will speak primarily about the economy in his address to a joint session of Congress.

That's a sign Obama has heard the criticism, including from former President Clinton, that he needs to mix sober talk with an upbeat bottom line.

"He believes we will meet these challenges and lift ourselves out of this" recession, one top aide said. "He will say, 'The best days are ahead of us.' "

The latest draft is running between 50 and 60 minutes, according to two senior aides.

The speech will touch lightly on foreign policy so the president can focus largely on the economy and related issues, including health care, education and energy, aides said.

The speech will air live on CNN and CNN.com at 9 p.m. ET. Join the conversation with CNN.com and Facebook

The address will be "thematic" and won't get into much detail on Obama's plans to deal with the credit crunch and housing crisis, aides said. The broad theme will be that the country needs to look forward and not backward to solve the financial crisis, they said.

Obama will lay out the economic challenges he has been discussing in recent weeks and suggest many people will have to sacrifice to dig out of the problems, a theme he hit Monday at a fiscal responsibility summit at the White House.





Most of us are with you Mr. President. We won't be swayed into hoping you fail so that the Red team wins. We feel there are no teams anymore. Just people who would rather work than play the game
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23 comments // Obama to lay out sober assessment, hopeful future

  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  
    • Mafioso, you're just a cynical closet conspiracy theorist.

      You're too lazy to research or learn about these problems on your own, so you just condemn them and pretend they're never going to get better.

      Give me a fucking break, you just enjoy the sound of your own voice. You possess no serious insight or even a basic understanding of what's going on right now.

      Your knee-jerk, frothing at the mouth bullshit is just a self-defense mechanism. In your mind, there's always someone at the top shitting on you and it's all their fault and you can't stop because the whole thing revolves around ripping you off because it's harder to admit that the world is an immensely complex place and that the roots and solutions to the issues we face are not simple, convenient answers.

      It's easy to blame "corporations." But how does that make you different from stupid cunt conservatives blaming "liberals" and "the government?" It doesn't. It's fucking juvenile and embarrassing.

      So do me a favor and do more than stare at your tv like a zombie and then pretend like you like have an insightful opinion on this topic. How about you read the fucking stimulus bill for yourself, read about different economic theories and actually research the damage corporations are doing to our country?

      Oh yeah, because then you'd actually have to inform yourself and that takes a lot work.

    • 2 years ago
  • current89
  • Mafioso
    • 0
      Mafioso  
    • Saladin:

      Hardy har har... I only watch tv for two reasons, ESPN Sports/NFL Network and Family Guy. Oh and occasionally Adult Swim. Other than that I read books, articles, and various blogs for my information on current events and politics. Most of the places I look for information are usually international media outlets who cater to English speaking subscribers. You can't really count on any of the American media outlets (some ironically owned by some of the very competitors of the ones I subscribe to [ooh more conspiracy]).

      If you douche bags don't inform yourselves properly, and cannot refute anything I see all around me and read about everyday with anything other than "hope" or the hope of the possibility that some of these "great" ideas and proposed policies and stimulus packages will pan out and "help" the American people, then don't get angry with me. Be angry with yourselves for being ill informed.

      P.S.
      In order for the world to be as complicated as you might want to think, the people in it would have to be intelligent, resourceful, open minded, and efficient. Which clearly most of us aren't. Most of the people in this planet are fucking morons. Not sure if you would be included in that group, but if I am correct in the assertion that you read the stimulus bill and have some grasp on economics and economic regulation, and you still think it will help the American people. Then I'd have to lump you in that category, because I do and anyone else who does has said the same thing I have. It's meant to keep money in the corporate infrastructure and banking corps as well. Get with it. Done and done. No additional retort needed or even possible.

      P.P.S.
      Don't confuse the world being full of complex things like nature and human physiology as examples of the world's problems being complex and their solutions even more so complex. The problem is quite simple, corruption, and the solution even more so simple, action through reaction. We're complacent, admit it.

    • 2 years ago
  • Mafioso
    • 0
      Mafioso  
    • Oh and let's not forget dumbing us down with things likes pop culture, money, fashion, video games and any other materialistic things corporations have fed us to turn our brain into mush.

    • 2 years ago
  • Mafioso
    • 0
      Mafioso  
    • Ummm Cybexg, how would we not know the plans of our competitors? They've been enacting programs, policies, and legislation in the guise of development and progress almost since the inception of the two party system. It is no secret how they (the government) maintain their control over Americans.

      The economy, security, and the threat of war always helps keep the sheep in check. Oh, and telling them you know what's best for them because you are smarter than them. That always works, since most Americans are border line retarded.

    • 2 years ago
  • current89
  • Mafioso
    • 0
      Mafioso  
    • Mafioso:

      No, I get his point. Anyone who thinks any politician is our "friend" or that we don't have a clue about how things are truly being run (when we actually do, but we think it too far fetched to be true), are the ones that are truly the sheep.

    • 2 years ago
  • cybexg
    • 0
      cybexg  
    • I disagree w/ the sheeple comments for 2 reasons. First, I do believe that at least some portion of those elected are at least trying to make the situation better.

      Second, if I am wrong in my first reason, then it is too soon th act. It was Sun Tzu who wrote, "if you do not know the plans of your competitors, you cannot make informed alliances."

    • 2 years ago
  • Alex_French
    • 0
      Alex_French  
    • damn straight. no more choosing sides. lets all finally work together.

      "anyone who makes up their mind before they've heard the issue is a fool"

      - chris tucker

    • 2 years ago
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  
    • Even bleating sheeple are still docile and follow the herd for it is truly said and so they believe

      "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want He makes me down to lie
      Through pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.
      With bright knives He releaseth my soul.
      He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.
      He converteth me to lamb cutlets,
      For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger."

      So that the sheeple still allow the wealthy to "still have the power to regulate and control the economy regardless of whether the revenue created from these taxes will even be used for what they are intended for."

      Because the wealthy use all the distraction tactics and shell games to keep the sheeple in line to keep them from organizing enough so that

      "When cometh the day we lowly ones,
      Through quiet reflection, and great dedication
      Master the art of karate,
      Lo, we shall rise up,
      And then we'll make the bugger's eyes water."

      But is the nature of sheeple to bleat more than be able to cooperate enough to change from being sheeple because they are too mired in their own concerns.

    • 2 years ago
  • samthesixth
    • 0
      samthesixth  
    • For someone who is such a great communicator it's about time he figured out positive words work better.

      I agree with Mafioso, I have heard enough. I just want to see action. Come on! NOT ONE congressperson even read the bill before the vote. These people will say anything because they can get away with it as we the sheeple are just that!

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  
    • samthesixth:

      That's bullshit and you know it.

      Stop listening to Rush Limbaugh or Republican propagandists.

      All Republicans did for weeks was criticize tiny little aspects of the bill they were pissed off about, how in any way is tat consistent with "no one having read it?"

      Better yet, how about YOU fucking read it. Then you might actually be worth listening to.

    • 2 years ago
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  
    • Then isn't that what ""He believes we will meet these challenges and lift ourselves out of this" recession, one top aide said. "He will say, 'The best days are ahead of us.' " means?

      How else are you going to organize that "influence" if enough people don't agree with it?

      They don't have to have you 'dick" in your hands if they can divide enough people so that they are all stumbling around in different purposes.

    • 2 years ago
  • Mafioso
    • 0
      Mafioso  
    • Argon, they are not holding my dick in their hands. So what if they got resources, who do you think they have to resort to, to get those resources. US! They still have to depend on people like us for their resources. That's my point. Their greatest resource is us. Without us they ain't shit. So, let's start flexing our fucking influence muscle and do something about this shit.

    • 2 years ago
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  
    • Well if you believe that then the next decade won't be any different than the last and there is nothing to be done about changing the corrupt system since the wealthy are holding all the resources and influence.

      You got by then and you'll get by in the future even if on "crumbs" so it makes no difference.

      Bitching about 3rd parities doesn't make any progress if the odds are rigged against them, neither does about any of the policies if the goverment is not listening to it.

      As they say "If you think something is impossible then you're right since you'll never even TRY to do it"

      Complaining about the corruption implies that you're willing to do more than just rant about it to be worth anything.

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • Oh, come on, Mafioso, that extra 65.00 is going to make me rich. :::sarcasm::: I hear you. They're all the same. They just try to do all they can to recycle the money back to their benefactors just enough to not piss them off and give out a little bit of crumbs to keep the ignorant masses happy. OOOO look, I got 65.00 more a month off my taxes! Thank you so much! Spare me already.

    • 2 years ago
  • Mafioso
    • 0
      Mafioso  
    • And everyone needs to stop saying higher taxes and taxing everything will help. Because it is still going into a corrupt system that will use the money for themselves and will still have the power to regulate and control the economy regardless of whether the revenue created from these taxes will even be used for what they are intended for. Fuck this government.

    • 2 years ago
  • Mafioso
    • 0
      Mafioso  
    • Who cares what he has to say, look at the stimulus bill that was put together to supposedly help the American people. It is more for the corporations and banks and keeping money there than it is about helping people out. No one really qualifies for the refinancing of their mortgages for a lower percentage rate and monthly payment. It makes no sense. And to top it all off, an extra 20 dollars a paycheck is supposed to help a family or single person out. Maybe it will, but not in a way that will stimulate the economy as much as it will be a little extra to survive on for a day. It is ridiculous. I can't believe anyone would have hope for anything other than another disastrous presidency, administration, and congress. The entire government is nothing more than a fucking corrupt system of financial gain and redistribution amongst a few key players. That ain't no conspiracy, look around you, and then look at the motherfuckers running things. They don't look like they are hurting at all, while all of us barely even get by. Fuck this bullshit. You people need to get heated and demand change, instead of sitting with your thumbs up your ass, waiting for the first black president to usher in a "new era" of politics. The fact the word politics is even being used, proves it will be nothing more than the same bullshit politics that always take place every four years.

    • 2 years ago
  • uberdeft
    • 0
      uberdeft  
    • The worst of the foreclosures will be in 2011 and banks won't lend the bailout money because they do not know the extent to which assets will be devalued. Get the book "The Great Depression of Debt" by Warren Brussee. He called "it" four years ago and this version is an update with better information and more predictions.

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  
    • It's good that he's taking Clinton's advice. As ineffective as he was as President I think the guy has some solid economics in his head.

      But I don't know if it will help, I think this problem is deeper than typical recessions. It's not just consumer confidence that's down, there's a lot more at stake here.

      But I am looking forward to what he has to say, especially if it actually translates into new action.

    • 2 years ago
  • honusurf
    • 0
      honusurf  
    • Hows he going to do that talking out of 2 sides of his mouth again. Doubt it, bet market will tank again soon anyway. I saw the future- guarantee Dow 6800 soon folks!

    • 2 years ago
  • Wesnology61
  • current89
    • 0
      current89  
    • Its amazing ,we have a president who not only understands the English language but is also willing to level with the American people. I'll definitely be watching tonight.

    • 2 years ago
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