Paulson and Bernanke on Capitol Hill

NO BAILOUT

Allow Drilling Now, use the income for that to help
Make Capitol gains tax ZERO for the next 6 -12 months to help stimulate growth

Wake up America, if the baiolout goes Paulson becomes the most powerful man in the country unfeathered by the people, he could funnel that money anywhere especially since he wants it all under wraps!

STOP the BAil oul Call you Congress!!

JR, Obama didn't tell you the truth about Rev Wright, Louis Farrakhan, Todd Stroger, Emil Jones or any of hte rest of the crew from Cook County. Obama is a shill of the party machine. They're loving the fact they might get this close to all this money!

This is the fault of congress for pandering to people for votes. For years, they've been propping up unrealistic hyperbole about the rights of everyone to do the insensible. It's high time we got rid of the whole pack of them and got new ones. The old ones don't work anymore. (pun intended)

Leonard, "in the current state of our nation" there are probably more patriotic ways to making a living than being a member of Congress. The current RealClearPolitics poll average of three polls has Congress' job approval at 21.3%.

I hate my government right now, especially Bush & Cheney. First the Iraq war, then hurricane Katrina, now this. Ugh!

James,

Lobbying may be a noble profession, but in the current state of our nation there may be more patriotic ways to make a living.

Ryan C, actually the senator (and congressman) is more to blame. The lobbyist is being paid by his or her organization, company or constituents to persuade members of Congress to enact legislation that benefits his or her organization, company or constituency; or block passage of a bill that would be detrimental to his or her organization, company or constituency. It is up to the senator or congressman to report lobbying violations. Unfortunately for too long, some senators and congressmen have accepted many benefits bestowed upon them by lobbyists.

Lobbyists have been demonized by many senators and congressmen, the mainstream media and the public. But lobbying can be a noble profession. Unfortunately just like in any profession there are some who are unethical and who break the law in order to gain powerful influence. But the lobbyists could never gain this powerful influence if the senators and congressmen, themselves, remained ethical and reported the abuses.

Ryan C., our founding fathers didn't provide term limits for president either. But Congress decided 2 terms was enough for the president. My personal opinion is that 6 terms in the house (12 years) and two terms in the Senate (12 years) is sufficient. That way no congressman or senator becomes too powerful. Right now there are dozens who have held their seat for 20 or more years. And then there is Sen. Byrd--49 years and counting!

Brad,

Being the Bill Clinton fan that I suspect you are, I'll consider the deep conviction of your position in this matter.

Bill Clinton's endorsement of Obama was about as enthusiastic as Obama's condemnation of the Iranian President. Something to think about.

"Who's more to blame? The lobbyist, or the Senator in his pocket?"

That is a good question.

We'll have to ask Rick Davis.

"We need term limits."

Term limits suck. You are left with an uneducated legislature that leans heavily on lobbyists.

The real problem is gerrymandered districts in which the incumbent is pretty much assured reelection until they retire or commit some gross violation of public trust or huge scandal.

"Our founding fathers never intended that running for Congress be a career. "

And yet they never sought to limit terms. Indeed many of the founding fathers would serve in government for years. In fact the Senate was thought of a statesmen body that would be above the rancor and emotion of the populace.

"...we need a new Congress, starting with the leadership."

We need term limits. Our founding fathers never intended that running for Congress be a career.

"We do not need a trillion dollar bailout - we need a new Congress, starting with the leadership"

hear hear. Well said.

Time to think. Has anyone wondered why Congress has NOT blamed Bush with this? Doesn't it make you just a bit curious? Who do you think voted down tighter oversight of Freddie and Fannie when they were warned that trouble was brewing, and who do you think put pressure on the mortage companies to make risky loans to people who could not afford them, and could not possibly pay them back? If you don't know, call your Congressman/woman and ask them. If you would like the answer in a multiple choice form, here you go:
a. Congress
b. Congress
c. Congress
We do not need a trillion dollar bailout - we need a new Congress, starting with the leadership. If we, the American people do not have the backbone to clean out both houses, and I mean clean out the dirt from BOTH parties, we had better prepare for a long, hard road ahead. Congress WORKS for us, but they have become so arrogant that they look with disdain upon us, and flippantly tax us to death at the stroke of a pen. I call upon all of you, and I mean ALL, to take our country back by voting in some representatives in Congress that will be devoted to the good of the people, and not the good of their respective parties - they are slowing but surely destroying our nation. I find it sad to see how many of you join willingly in the partisan tongue wagging without the least idea of what the truth really is while our nation receives blow after blow after blow. Can you not see that we are crippled, and you continue to strike at the few threads holding us together? Rise up Americans - we are our ONLY HOPE - they can talk hope and change all they want, but unless we take back the reigns of power from Congress, we will not be able to recover from the debt they are throwing at us.

Obama has put forth his policies, just because you choose not to read them, doesn't mean they don't exist.
This bailout is a joke, there is no explaination as to how exactly it will work well for the taxpayers or the economy since while it will allow these insititutions to provide credit, the dollar will be weaker. There are no provisions to elinate the behaviors that got them into this in the first place, and no mechanism to insure the tax payers will recoup any of the funds that are put up. On top of that Paulson wants no oversight or accountability for a $700 Billion dollars account he would have sole control over and the President wants it rushed through?! That alone is reason enough to take our time and rewrite the thing from the bottom up.

God, even the republican shills are have a problem with this one. Haven't your masters at McCain central told you what to say yet?

McCain is using this for political advantage, is that who do you want as president? A person that will tell you ANYTHING he thinks you want to hear or Obama that tells you the truth? McCain is a liar. Choose neo-cons, America depends on you, but remember, you picked Bush TWICE.

Hi Steve

Republicans also share in the blame. My point was Paulson and Bernanke did a good job under difficult circumstances. I usually vote Republican but if you represent the party I may have to reconsider. Your vocabulary indicates that you are a true intellectual and not to be taken lightly.

Greg, Obama needs to be refreshed on just what his stance is. He's been schmoozing with the likes of Streisand for the past couple of weeks and has lost all touch with reality. They were afraid he would answer a question with -People ............