So Republican leaders in Congress are putting off the Slurpee Summit with President Obama, which had been scheduled for Thursday and would have given us all something more to talk about during this first week of the lame-duck session.
Politico says the GOP is still mad Mr. Obama showing them up at that question-and-answer session in Baltimore. Talking Points Memo says it was no ambush, since Republicans had been itching for the meeting after their big Scott Brown win. And Steve Benen of the Washington Monthly brings the outrage that any American would be perfectly justified in owning:
In January, House Republican leaders extended an invitation to the president, and he accepted. The arrangements were made weeks in advance, and Obama showed up on time, as expected. That Republicans would characterize this as a "last-minute decision" to "crash" their gathering suggests GOP officials have suffered some kind of head trauma. . . . At some point, it'd be great if the GOP leadership realized that Congress is not a junior high's student government."
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Head injury, possibly, but it sounds like they're just using the same "Decieve the public because they probably won't remember the facts anyway" theories as Beckerhead et al. And, they realize that they are preaching to the choir...or do I give them too much credit?
More stalling, They are so predictive anymore, and people don't see it. What's the problem with American's. Is it going to take us being a 3rd world @!$%#ry before they realize who is fighting for them. I'll keep fighting but it seems like ALL the politians get by with whatever they want to do. And there is nothing we can do about it except complain, and hope someone hears us and corrects this. We need to start a movement. I'm willing I'm old what have I got to lose, I'm just afraid for my children and grandchildren. You see no one in my family has ever been to college, and now I'm sure we can't afford it.
Please get a student loan for college. It is worth it. It is also very reasonable to repay. Even though it seems like a lot of money the difference between what you can make without specialized training and with specialized training makes a student loan affordable. If you can make 1200.00 a month now with out a degree compare that to 3000+ a month with benefits. Even if you pay $400 a month towards your degree you are still way ahead. $3000.00- 400= 2600.00/month which is more than double $1200. Although you are more likely to be paying $250 a month towards your student loans. Your kids and grand kids are worth the investment. That is why student loans were created in the first place. Don't let cost keep you from pursuing your dreams. You will be able to pay back the money. I agree with your post otherwise.
Yup.
Even then, they'll still try to blame the dems, and people will fall for the scam all over again.
Please do not. At least not first, there are many ways to attend college and NOT go into extreme debt. It puzzles me why someone goes 50,000 to 100,000 in debt for a liberal arts degree.
Just so you can be sure I know what I'm talking about...I got a tuition scholarship to a community college, got a job in the bookstore (allowed to borrow textbooks for free), and lived at home. That paid for first two years.
Attended University with only a $200 dollar scholarship, didn't go far. So, I applied to be a resident assistant which covered room and board, worked off campus which covered text books, and only had to rely on my parents (could have taken a loan but they were able and willing) for the rest of tuition.
Here are some other suggestion:
1. Go to a local community college for first two years.
2. Apply for ALL scholarships and grants.
3. If parents can't help, see if you can live at home while you save money (takes discipline).
4. When looking for work see if they have a tuition assistance program.
5. Go to school online (from state institutions NOT private pay-through-the-nose programs). This allows you to work full time in the day and only attend part time.
Get creative, you can do it but you have to be mature and make adult decisions. You can't have all the luxuries of life and work your way through college.
Great points. I also went to a community college for 2 years, allowing me to take courses I knew I would need once I went to the 4 year school I was planning to attend. Took care of a lot of basic physics and math courses for a lot less money than I would have spent at the other school, and it had the added benefit of allowing me to take higher level courses that many of my classmates couldn't take at the same time because they lacked a lot of the prerequisites that I already had. It allowed me to take some graduate-level courses with folks that are now big names in their field. I also worked on campus at the time, which was a lifesaver. Education is vital, but you have to be smart on how you spend your money to get it.
I would agree: Don't take out any loans at this time unless you really know what you're doing. Universities are way overpriced and are not the "venerable institutions" they once were. They're rackets. There's going to be major reform in the next 10 years.
Community college is a good way to go. Don't stop learning. Get every bit of knowledge and training you can find. In the future, education will be a lifetime, 24/7 thing.
But be careful about going into debt for college.
It's not juvenile to make sure you have your ducks in a row before you meet with the political opposition to discuss issues. The Republicans have a huge number of new members (the Democrats are burdened with this) and need time to hear from them. As I recall, the Obama administration was not too quick to reach out the Republican leadership shortly after his win. Welcome to the world of politics where everything trivial is blown out of proportion!
RobDon, since the republicans had been anticipating the mid-term outcome for months, I believe their leadership should have made plans for such a meeting well in advance. If it was a priority for them, I am certain they could have made it happen. It's not as if the major issues of the lame duck session were a surprise.
Yes, Dutchie6, but there's no need that that meeting has to take place even before the new Congress is seated. I guess one could make the case that it would be better but the bigger point would be that there is nothing the new Congress can do until January.
If they (Repubs) gave the intention of meeting and then said they could not and now the President is saying that you should meet now, that sounds sort of junior highish to me.
Obama had summoned (THIS IS THE PRESIDENT SPEAKING!!!)..congressional leaders from both parties for a gathering Thursday to discuss the way forward after the midterm elections. The meeting was to focus on economic concerns, particularly the tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003 that are set to expire at year's end. (HERE ISOUR PRESIDENT ALLOWING HIMSELF ...A PUBLIC SMACKDOWN!! CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF HE WERE A ROOSELVELT OR A TRUMAN???@!$%# WOULD HAVE PUBLICALLY HIT THE FAN!!)...But the White House said in a statement (THAT CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT IS ON HIS KNEES...AT THE READY...TO UNZIP BOEHNER WHENEVER HE IS READY!)..Tuesday night that the meeting had been rescheduled "at the request of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner due to scheduling conflicts in organizing their caucuses." The meeting will instead be held on Nov. 30, the White House said.
The meeting had been scheduled and agreed to. I don't believe that last minute changes had to be made. I believe that it is just another slap in the face to the president by these selfish clowns. They continue to demonstrate that they are not only ethically and morally banckrupt but also rude.
The Republican leaders' continued disrespect of this President is shameful.
Actually, what is shameful is Obama's continued reaction to the Republican disrespect. When they kicked sand in his face he smiled and said, "Let's compromise". They then beat him up, and he smiled and said, "Let's be friends". We are now at the pooping on the head stage, and I'm curious if he might somehow grow a spine. Not holding my breath.
Obama sees the Republicans as his enemies, not his friends. You put his comments in quotes! Here's something he really said, "We’re going to punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us." Doesn't sound to 'sit down friendly' to me.
Apparently you haven't been paying much attention the last two yrs.
Please explain. I'll be glad to listen. I was just pointing out the M.Fehrman that Obama did his fair share of "kicking sand." Are you saying he didn't?
As for me, I am sick of all this #*&!% from both the Dems and Repubs. I think it is time for a revolution be it peaceful or violent. Nothing seems to stop these people. I have been a pacifist all of my life but it seams like tanks and missles are the only thing that might do the trick. The problem with this is that they own the military legalized murderers and I am sure they can count on Black Water as well. If they put us in "camps" and they are on military bases, we loose our Consitutional rights and are tried under military law. How wonderful to live in America! I think this country is doomed. I am thinking of immigrating to China as at leasts their economy seems to be on the rise. If we could just realize that this is not about Blue versus Red and see that it is the wealthy taking everything we have so they can hoard it for themselves we would be fighting a different battle. FOR GOD'S SAKE AMERICA, WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE FIGHTING PSYCHOPATHIC FASCISTS! IT IS OUR COMPLACENCY THAT IS KILLING US.
Wow, that's... unhinged. Stop listening to the Alex Jones-Beckerhead-Internet crazy machine and start realizing that you're being sold a bill of goods with a huge crazy tax added.
They discussed this on Morning Joe today, and to my amazement, they were all highly critical of the repubs on this. The consensus seemed to be that the Tea Party members of the new class of legislators needed to be heard from and placated, so the party leadership bowed to them and dissed the President. In other words, the leadership is in name only, as they will do anything to keep the Tea Partiers happy and supporting them. If that is the case, what is the point of McConnell and Boehner even going through the charade of pretending they are leading their party? Just pick a couple of random Tea Party nuts, like DeMint and Bachmann, and have them meet with the President in their new roles as repub leaders in the Senate and House. The current leaders will be lap dogs.
Why couldn’t the conversation be limited to the lame duck session? Then schedule another meeting before the new congress convenes.
Proof that the GOP has their own reality that only they believe in. Much like how the Bush era was handled.
Your right, congress is NOT junior high, it's kindergarden ! It's about time that we take this "lame duck" and cook the goose. I am sooo tired of paying these clowns their salary with my tax dollars. If they pulled this crap in the private job sector they would all be fired. Where is Donald Trump when we need him? Can someone please look at these Republican "leaders" and say the magic words "YOUR FIRED" !
Rachel makes so, so very much sense, as all on MSNBC that it's depressing! The "mainstream" media is disgusting... it seems they're all afraid of Murdoch and Fox and refuse to penetrate and report the truth any longer. Ratings, ratings, ratings... it's bull@!$%#... What we need is an in-depth, full-scale investigation of Nielson "ratings." Why are we to believe that they are not in the pocket of Murdoch, etc... It's insane, when you look at Limbaugh's facebook page, it lists 600,000 "friends." Where the hell is his "20 million" And speaking of that, if the dems don't get the fairness doctrine this lame-duck, it is lost forever... that's the only method to speak to the truth to their lunatics. I called Schumer (my senator) and got absolutely no response other than it's not on the agenda! I spoke with Sheila Jackson Lee's office, explaining and asking what can be done and never got a call back. This strong, proud, dem is getting fed up, and when they lose people like me, they really lose. They're wussies, and THEY, almost as much as the repubs are to blame for the debacle that is now known as the USA. How very, very sad. Stay strong Rachel and MSNBC.
I've got to agree that the wussie Dems are as much to blame as the GOP for the state of the country. And I also question just how much of the spin we hear on the election results and what it all means is really legitimate. It's very possible the election wasn't about Repubs or the Tea Party so much as it was plain disgust with the Dems, with a super majority, rolling over at every frown from across the aisle.
What was the percentage of Blue Dogs that were sent packing as opposed to actual Dems? That seemed weird for a public that supposedly wanted fiscal responsibility. Dems were sent to DC in 2006 and 2008 to fix things. They weren't sent there to sing Kumbaya, cave in on everything, and try to'just get along'.
If you think things are bad now, wait five years. We'll be back to the Depression era lifestyle with old people rummaging in garbage cans and the poor making thistle soup to survive.
Speaking of giving-in, MSNBC just announced Obama responded to the
Republican 'thanks, but, no thanks,' by saying their agreement to
meet sometime later "signals cooperation." Really???
Honestly I'd be happier with a Jr. High student council running things more than a Republican controlled house. At least Jr. High schoolers would work to make things better.
Obstructionism isn't a winning solution for our country long term. Sadly it seems to be a winning strategy for Republicans in the short term.
I think Obama is attempting to use the "Law of Expectations" which states that if you express a positive expectation of someone (or someones), they will rise to meet your expectation. Unfortunately I think this law has been repealed where the Republican leadership is concerned.
The law wasn’t repealed it was filibustered
The problem with that is that they both have to be speaking the same language!
Saying they 'can't attend' only proves the GOP leadership as both small and petty - hard to pick which. The sad thing is, our President is a gentleman and his mother apparently drummed it into him to think the best of people, so he will try again.
I wish he wouldn't. All that we have gained by being courteous and fair, has been a kick in the teeth and contempt by the public. That is how we got these yahoos in Congress that have no intention of helping the unemployed before they help the richest 2% get their tax cut. Their flim-flamming explanation is that they don't want 'taxes to rise' just proves that putting them off until the NEXT election in 2012 would be more of the same. Make them filibuster or cut them off. Forget about meeting them. One can only hope that this time he won't offer the intimacy of his own rooms for their dinner. Meet them at Denny's.
Isn't this a great country! or is it "?".
Isn't it about time that Obama followed through with his promises. To HELP the middle class. If he let's the "right" get away with giving tax cuts to the wealthy "STILL", then his statements to help the middle class have no basis. If the big corporations don't pay taxes anyway, they cut millions of jobs in the last ten years UNDER these tax cuts; unemployment is still really high. I don't see continuing the tax cuts as any incentive for giving people jobs. (at least here in the US). Forget the top 2%. The poor and elderly are taken care of. IT'S THE MIDDLE CLASS THAT'S HURTING STUPID!!!!