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21 Feb 2009 19:29

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Biz, U.S.: Obama wants cake, then to eat it (too), then go on a diet

  • Cutting the deficit Obama, who just signed a massive stimulus bill into law, then went to Canada to, uh, celebrate, spoke in his weekly radio address about the need to cut the deficit by the time his four-year term ends. With the extra spending, he’ll have his work cut out for him. But hey, that’s why we elected him to office, right – that whole change thing? source
  • Cutting the deficit Obama, who just signed a massive stimulus bill into law, then went to Canada to, uh, celebrate, spoke in his weekly radio address about the need to cut the deficit by the time his four-year term ends. With the extra spending, he’ll have his work cut out for him. But hey, that’s why we elected him to office, right – that whole change thing?
  • Already on the table He didn’t exactly come to office with a clean slate deficit-wise. He came in with a deficit of $1.2 trillion left by that Bush guy, which should probably rise to $1.5 trillion by the time all his stimulus stuff hits. In other words, imagine one of Scrooge McDuck’s giant money bins. Then imagine it empty. Then imagine jumping into it. source
  • Cutting the deficit Obama, who just signed a massive stimulus bill into law, then went to Canada to, uh, celebrate, spoke in his weekly radio address about the need to cut the deficit by the time his four-year term ends. With the extra spending, he’ll have his work cut out for him. But hey, that’s why we elected him to office, right – that whole change thing?
  • Already on the table He didn’t exactly come to office with a clean slate deficit-wise. He came in with a deficit of $1.2 trillion left by that Bush guy, which should probably rise to $1.5 trillion by the time all his stimulus stuff hits. In other words, imagine one of Scrooge McDuck’s giant money bins. Then imagine it empty. Then imagine jumping into it.
  • How he plans to do it Among other things, he’s suggested taxing the he investment income of hedge fund and private equity partners at higher rates. Currently, they’re taxed at the capital gains rate, which is 15 percent at most. He wants to tax them at ordinary income tax rates of as high as 39 percent. Which probably won’t make Rick Santelli happy. source

20 Feb 2009 13:40

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U.S.: How’s Obama doing in the polls?

  • 67% approval rating, down a bit but still pretty high source

19 Feb 2009 21:45

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U.S., World: Obama’s first foreign trip: It went alright, eh?

No offense man, any foreign relations are good, but isn’t Canada kind of close? source

18 Feb 2009 10:52

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Biz, U.S.: Obama’s got a plan to prevent foreclosure

  • $75 billion will be set aside in the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, to be announced today source

17 Feb 2009 23:22

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U.S., World: Obama signed the stimulus. What’s his next order of business?

  • 17,000 fresh troops to Afghanistan source

16 Feb 2009 10:20

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U.S.: One “car czar” isn’t enough. Obama needs a task force.

  • The auto industry is “necessary,” says an Obama advisor. After initially saying he was going to put one guy in charge of the auto industry’s restructuring, Barack Obama thanks a staff is necessary, an official says. The task force would be overseen by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House economic adviser Lawrence Summers. Tomorrow is GM and Chrysler’s deadline for submitting their company’s plans to restructure. source

16 Feb 2009 10:01

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U.S.: Who’s ranked as our best president? Take a guess.

  • 1st place for Abe Lincoln, according to a ranking by 65 historians. source
 

15 Feb 2009 15:06

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Offbeat, U.S.: Obama’s “spiffy ride”: Air Force One

  • Hey guys, what do you think of my – this spiffy ride here?
  • Barack Obama • Discussing Air Force One, which he gave a good workout this week while he was trying to push the stimulus plan. Like how he corrected himself there? • source

15 Feb 2009 09:05

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World: Today, Venezuelans decide if Hugo Chavez sticks around

  • Term limits? Who needs ‘em? Just to make sure everyone was awake, loud bugles woke up people in Venezuela reminding them that today, they vote on whether President Hugo Chavez can get term limits removed so he can stay in power for decades if he so chooses. People in the country are split on the vote. If Chavez loses, he could have to leave office in 2013. source

14 Feb 2009 09:31

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Biz, U.S.: Obama has his stimulus package – he just needs to sign it

  • I will sign this legislation into law shortly, and we’ll begin making the immediate investments necessary to put people back to work doing the work America needs done.
  • President Barack Obama • During his weekly radio address, on the passage of the $787 billion stimulus package he pushed through Congress. He hoped to get bipartisan support but it didn’t happen, with the bill passing along party lines. • source