Editor's Note: With President Obama’s first anniversary in office following Tuesday’s Senate election upset for the Democrats, Thursday’s American Morning audience revived many negative perceptions about the president’s effectiveness as a leader of the Democratic Party and the country.
- Claire: I am so sick of Barack Obama blaming Bush for everything that goes wrong in his administration, including the Mass Senate race. Makes one wonder if Michelle Obama gets pregnant will he blame that on Bush too? This guy needs to put on his "big boy" pants and start taking responsibility for what his administration has fouled up.
- Jerry: Now that Congress and the President are losing constituent confidence for not taking the advice of actual forecast professionals, the Obama Administration is now waking up to the fact. […] It's just time for Congress and the President to get on board in a game on strategy instead of an end game theory that translates where this Nation will monopolize the fact that you get the best results when you give better resolve. And it's as simple as that!
How would you grade President Obama as he celebrates his first anniversary in office? What would you like to have seen him achieve that he did not?
Others showed less affection for the Republican’s joy at the election result, remarking “if I were a politician, I wouldn't appreciate having the reputation of having won an election fighting against the working class of people.”
- Louise: Watching the reaction of the media and Republicans on the results of the Massachusetts vote, is a revelation. I haven't seen the Republicans and National Media so happy since they beat Hillary Clinton and the Democrats efforts to get health care for the working people who do the heavy lifting in this country without reward! Now if I were a politician, I wouldn't appreciate having the reputation of having won an election fighting against the working class of people, but then if one is to get the attention of the National Media, that is necessary. I have to hand it to them, the Republicans know their psychology in vote getting. […] Obama saw the sick and afflicted when he was campaigning and listened to them, and he is trying to meet those needs as a large part of the responsibilities he has as President. Another reason given for the Republican win in Massachusetts is their alarm over the rise in the National Debt. Yup, you understood me right! Many people besides myself have short-term memories!
- Chris: Government suppose to be big to take care [of] its people. If government are not big then the money will be left to the one percent, which mean private government and they only cares about profit.
- Karin: what about the republicans making a sat. emergency session to keep terri schiavo alive-that is gov't intrusion not small government. government intruding in our choices and privacy- then there is the patriot act, and the going into our phones and data and on and on. republicans are the party of big government not to help the people but to intrude. please talk about that
How do you feel about the Republican win in Massachusetts? Were the voters forgetting that it was the Republicans who increased government spending so substantially during the Bush years? Has President Obama worn out the “Blame Bush” excuse?
Goldman Sachs’ profit announcement riled many who were disgusted by the bank’s excess, yet some defended the organization: “[Goldman] was ‘told’ that it ‘had’ to take TARP. Paulson didn't want to single out any bank and cause a run on the bank. Why haven't you reported that?”
- Keith: Why do we even bother with the goldman sachs stories. We keep hearing about a backlash from the people or the scorn of the public, goldman people dont care about that. It's like the rich king of a poor country, he doesn't care if the people hate him, he still lives in his big mansion and lives his lavish life.
- JV: Has Christine Romans lost her mind? Boo-Hoo for Goldman Sachs. They gave to charity? Sure it did–that charity in the Caymans. Make them and all the other Wall Street crooks give back every dime and dollar and every bonus!!!!!!
- AS: Christine Romans is not telling a complete story. Goldman is going to make record profits because it's lost so many competitors. It was "told" that it "had" to take TARP. Paulson didn't want to single out any bank and cause a run on the bank. Why haven't you reported that?
How do you feel about the massive profits earned by Goldman Sachs? Were they simply “opportunists” in a bad situation or are they “crooks”? What do you think should happen to the bonus money earned by the bank?