New Financial Rescue Plan: Just Attend An Obama Town Hall

Yeah it really is hilarious that she got a roof over her head. Totally mockable.
Jerk.

Hers is a very touching story and there’s nothing to suggest that she doesn’t deserve this consideration. But what about the other 842,000 who share her plight during any given week? Part of the problem is that humans think about things on a preferred scale and past that point, things just get fuzzy.
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I’m experiencing the phenomenon myself. A person in our community was recently shot and killed in a semi-random act of violence. He was a witness to a drive-by and was killed as well. So even though I don’t know him personally I am deeply affected by the news. In the meantime events like that happen all over the planet on a daily basis without fazing me in the least.
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We think in terms of individual stories yet tune out the larger picture. It’s just part of being human.

Even if you didn’t get a new home out of it, at least you’d have a chance to understand what the plan was about, not having to parse all of the right-wing lies being catapulted by “journalists”. And without hearing the media actually blame Obama as the one who failed to properly explain it to the public.</a?

For Obama and Henrietta’s interaction at the town hall view –

This is why I’m a liberal Christian.

No wonder the crowds are so big…

http://www.political-buzz.com/

I was hoping Karen or Michael would post something on this

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/stimulus-package/cantors-spokesperson-apologizes-for-labor-goon-video/

Seems pretty dumb (and offensive) for one of the GOP leaders to put this out. Equally dumb? The fact that the mainstream media isn’t reporting on it at all (except via less read blogs)

New Time journalistic rescue plan: Just make an insensitive, minutiae-obsessed creep your White House correspondent.

What about the other homeless? should she have refused the help until everyone is taken care of?

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OOooh…bad snark with the title, Michael, especially with such a sweet story. Next thing we know, you’ll be picking on Habitat for Humanity or people who adopt kittens from animal shelters.
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Are you still peeved about the seating arrangement for Monday’s White House Press Conference? Is that it?

Hi, I’m a state senator with two houses and some free stunt-based publicity.

Fourlegsgood -
I don’t ask homeless people to make principled stands, she did what’s right by her, that’s all you can ask for. You don’t go into soup kitchens and complain that they shouldn’t be taking handouts while third world countries have starving people.
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I seem to remember a certain candidate who lost the presidency with an abundance of houses he could donate to a cause like this.
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Life is full of extraordinary situations, and I for one refuse to look down on a good deed because of the pains that go on in the world around it, or because of potential doubt. A woman in need of a roof over her head got one, that’s not a bad thing.

Thank you, sneezeguard.

But this highlights a fundemental problem with political thinking.
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At a nominal cost to himself, a State Senator gets a huge dose of goodwill. If, on the other hand he wanted to allocate 1.2 million in order to build a shelter for 18 Homeless families which would actually help address the problem , he’s be run out of town on a rail for “Pork barrel spending”, “Rewarding welfare cheats” and “Socialism.”

I have quite a pressing need myself..Its just to reach the senate to be able to present a ‘recovery plan’ that actually includes a regeneration component for the economy , to perhaps ensure that 842000 manage to get into homes again.

Perhaps some Time writers can assist me reach someone??

http://sites.google.com/site/newenergyworldfirst/

FlownOver, I take issue with your calling Scherer a creep. He clearly belongs to the douchbag genus.

Scherer
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You could have posted about this and came out looking golden. Instead you throw up a sarcastic title and instead you come off like the world’s biggest ass hole. Do better man.

nevi777,
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Glad to see you’re still commenting.
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I have a problem with the idea that all Americans deserve houses. We don’t. I didn’t have a house until I had the income to afford one. I know that some people have kids and they need enough room for their family. Isn’t the time to think of that before you had kids, got married or started living with your partner, what have you?
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We need to get back to personal responsibility in this country. I don’t mind government giving a helping hand but you have to be doing right by your fellow American as well. I’m glad that this lady was able to find someone generous enough to allow her to take shelter.
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My concern is that we need to begin with the teachable moments. We need to highlight the downfalls, fix the shortcomings and set on a path to get Americans back to strong financial balance sheets.

Oh, and about, MS.
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Once a hack. Still a HACK!

All this name-calling, tsk tsk. The man is clearing a jer koff.

MS – First, last, and always, a tool.

Er, *clearly* a jer koff.

This demonstrates how powerful the particular is, and how important it is to the body politic to have a face for those who are suffering.
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pretty much OT, but did anyone else notice the bizarre blond to the left of Henrietta mouthing the words (ala Bill Clinton) “I love you Barack” while Henrietta finished speaking?

Tacky, Michael.

Nick Thompson is a rep not a senator. But anyway, I think you guys are overblowing this–Scherer was just reaching for a headline…

Headline for the post, I mean. I don’t think there was any bad intent or callousness…

Mr. Scherer:

Your post title gives full evidence of the fact that you are not only a useless hack of a journalist, you apparently also have no conscience. God forbid a homeless person should be able to have a roof over her head, right?

Based on your obvious lack of talent, integrity or intelligence, you will probably find yourself in her position someday.

Go phuck yourself.

cincy –

Potato, potato.

FlownOVer, it’s spelled potatoe.
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Kathy, give the blond lady a break. One sentence you’re saying pols need to face those who are suffering, the next your slagging one for showing emotion.

hi:)
I try to comment between design jobs.
I think everyone thats prepared to work a bit deserves to be able to afford basic accomodation.
The ” root cause” of the entire problem is in fact ‘unemployment’.Its been happening over the last 15 years – strangely the government calls the root cause ‘subprime mortgage’ ad ‘credit squeeze’..The only reason people began to fall, was because they were losing their jobs.Nobody really noticed, because it was a slow burn thing…but everything has a tipping cycle.
Even if you earn $1000 a month, you can make a repayment on a loan..but once that job goes, you’re in trouble.

Most people hate that GB,and blame him for all, but if you understand a bit about economics, you’ll find that US started its downcycle from the first day that Clinton opened the borders to unregulated, non-protected ‘free trade’. Of course, people were too busy making fast profits then, so they call it ‘the glory days’, when in fact US was drinking the wine of its own destruction..You could actually blame GB for continuing that trade policy though..Now lets see..for Obama to turn that one around..means Trade Wars…very complex.

You hear all the talk about ‘unfreezing credit’ – well, if you have no job, you can NEVER access credit, even if the bank has $1billion available.

It’s great that the lady got helping hand..thats one less victim of homelessness for a while, but yes..in the light of so many being homeless the move just looks like political brownie points, even though it may have been totally goodhearted.

Politicians, they can spill all the words about ‘what happened to the money’, but the bottom line is, taxpayers just get the wool pulled over their faces time, and time again. The taxpayer is being fleeced unwittingly , with stimulus package/s that will do relatively little.

Legislators may believe they’re doing the best they can, but really Mr Obama’s plan is thin ice..fancy words can’t make it solid. If McCain won, his would be thin ice too. thats my bi-partisan comment..lol. I have no real political affinity, I just look at policy and how it affects people and look at things from the perspective of right/wrong.

My target is now President Obama, because he’s in that position to make changes. If the world throws you lemons, you gotta make lemonade:) Truthfully, I do not support his economics policy..but it ok to disagree. I have my reasons.

Whether Thompson did it to garner positive publicity or as an act of genuine concern, the result is the same. A homeless person now has a roof over their head. One of us could wind up in the same situation. If I would ever lose my house (three actually), I would gratefully accept an offer of shelter for my family and myself. It was a generous act. Period.

Michael (poor me, there’s no time for my Air Force One sandwich) Scherer joins the ranks of the compassionate, such as Rush ($10 million mansion) Limbaugh in ridiculing a homeless woman.

Nevi777,
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I agree with your assessment that jobs and increasing unemployment is the REAL problem.
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But I still take issue with your pointing the finger at Obama for something he had no control over. Okay, blame Clinton / Gingrich and go forward but Obama has not even been in the office for a month, and people are unhappy with his economic policies.
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How can that be? In 3 weeks, he is supposed to articulate economic policies and turn around the ship twice the size of the Titanic that has been taking on water for the last 30 years.
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Whose economic policies would you support? What are those economic policies?

nevi777, go back further. This problems has been long in the making. I think the Vietnam War did more damage to the economy than people give it credit for, and the 30 year old bubble that just burst covered it up. 30 years of false demand created by cheap credit and now it’s over.

First there was “liberal legal scold” and now this. My response to the former got scrubbed yesterday. So, let me put it more softly: Michael, please write something that makes us think you’re less than swine, that you’re not a bubble dwellar. Dare us to believe in your humanity. Cuz right now you’re a hack of the Halperin order.

Policy, is a broad issue so I just look at the basic framework.
The current Obama policy, is as dangerous, erratic and as full of holes as Paulson’s 3 page plan was. If Obama will not recognise that ”Free Trade”, with no regulation/ no protection is WRONG, then you can be sure that US will not emerge from this crisis.

It’s a fundamental that has to be put right. GB would still say ” Free Trade/no regulation/no protection” is ‘right.

Although market problems started earlier than Clinton, I mentioned that as a defined staging point because it was directly communicated to the American people at that specific time, how ‘good’ everything would be, and it was ..but as you can see, short lived.

I agree with Obama on some stuff, and disagree on others. My differences are nothing to do with him ‘personally’ – so nothing to do with him being a dem. I’m not even an American..lol. My clients are allover there though.

On average, you will find that Dem policies, lead to overall ‘lawlessness’. What you cannot grasp today, you may only see 10 years later. Americans are generally too quick to be mesmerised by spin. You just hear ‘toxic assets’and ‘credit squeeze’ via the media, and the next minute 300 million people are saying ‘well, we have toxic assets’…what you do have there , are a few toxic asses that easily poison the minds of millions. This is not confined to a specific party. Can anyone tell you what a few of these ‘toxic assets’are? Soon as you wanna know something like that, is when things all become grey. If you want to know where banks are investing, thats ‘not possible to disclose’.So, if 1 trillion of taxpayers money just ‘evaporates’, nobody can tell you where it went:) This is all quite ‘transparent’..lol.

In the world of politics and high corruption, the taxpayer is like a snowball that just gets kicked around..sure there’s a bit of a ruckus and some kick up a fuss..there’s some talk about the beloved country,and the ball rolls on..

‘Unprecedented’ means ‘we don’t have a clue’.
The rest, gets summed up for you like this : ” The devil is in the details” ..sounds witty, but leaves you in the deepest grey.

Before you take issue, understand that Obama has been around a while, and was busy liasing with treasury for a couple of years now.
The policies are more Clinton policy, than Obama ones really.
So, consider this ..what you see coming, you can avoid, its what you don’t see coming that hits you flat on your back.

Within a short while, you will see stimulus 1/2/3/4/5 as many can already see…so, effectively, Obama will have moved US to a deficit it will not recover from.

Correction in US requires a total reversal of current direction. Economists now base their strategy on a study of the Great Depression. Within 2 years, you’ll see that Great Depression was a relatively simple fix.

http://sites.google.com/site/newenergyworldfirst/

Read again carefully – I offered 1000x the energy yield of ALL known clean energy methods in a manner that will address jobs/infrastructure/technology/stock markets/food prices/electric vehicles etc, all at once. Because only wind/solar/biomass/wavepower and a few others are the only known things on this globe, what I said may seem ‘impossible’.

Doesn’t it amaze you that man can fly to the moon, and have see galaxies that nobody has seen before, but can’t create much ‘energy’ right here?

So..I made an open offer to that President Obama, that can be challenged by the world’s most fantastic physicists, engineers , economists and anyone else that he has at his disposal. He’s not in my addressbook, or on my phonelist, so I can only do it out here simply because government communication systems revolve around ‘autoresponders’.

Just because you see no solution yet, does not mean it doesn’t exist.
World leaders are now just running around like rats, to the tune of the Pied Piper of financial destruction. When they decide to come down from their perch of ‘self wisdom’, then perhaps you can begin to see change. Do you really think that if you gathered every world leader, everyday for all the days of 2009 left in the year, that they can put ONE concept on the table to actually provide a ‘fix’ to the global crisis?

I looked at Davos 2009..a comedy. You can watch the next few international summits – hot air. Big speakers..all ‘experts’..so, there are lots of people up in that roost that think their position in office , indicates superior wisdom and intellect.

Its very much like if you talked to Donald Trump – He’d speak down to you as if you were some bug, because he believes that his IQ is determined by his wealth. If you spoke to some physics professor, and you were lets say..a mechanic. He’d probably ‘pfft’at anything you say, because he knows the dynamics of an engine – yet, has no idea how to fix it.

Economists and politicians are similar. Too many bright sparks, but no fire.