Obama to “Newcomers” of Classical Music: Michelle Tells Him When to Applaud

hey guys,the 1st step in health care reform has passed,and it looks like president obama will win over the republicans again..

why am i cheering for him over the republicans? because they are cheering and rooting against him for trying to better our country and they are mad that they lost the election and he beat the fox news/karl rove machine..and he did again tonite..

one question republicans..

why is it fair for the rich to get tax cuts and we the middle and lower class don't but we have to carry the load of the taxes that they don't have to pay??

and,why is it that a public option is good enough and used by the senate and house members but when its offered to their constituents,its all wrong and its not good?? maybe its because the republicans are lying and are getting paid by the insurance companies..

lmao..they even call themselves the conservative party and put c's as their party affiliation instead of r's for republican..

they don't even want to be called republicans either,lol...

Ohhhh...I thought Obama said that Michelle tells him when to CRAP!

Also since we hit on economics in this thread, Matthew Yglesias has nice recommendation post up on his blog for Bruce Bartlett’s The New American Economy: The Failure of Reaganomics and a New Way Forward. "His argument, in a sketch, is that conservatives should understand Ronald Reagan’s policies as a fix for a specific situation (stagflation) and not a Holy Writ to be followed at all times."

I highly recommend reading both the book and Yglesias's post because he highlights a bit about why Europe is not the growth dystopia it's made out to be.

Obama hasn't changed a thing for me or anyone I know.

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Maybe you need to get out more. I know people who got new cars, all the roads in my town were improved and all the major highways around here either have been or are being improved, my stock portfolio has improved, we're not being as squeezed at the store (my husband owns a store, and also sells italian food wholesale to restaurants and other specialty shops); we just got our loan for two additions, one at our house and one on another property, so credit is available again; my sister's job was saved, and fewer Americans than forecasted filed claims for unemployment benefits last week, a sign job losses are slowing as the economy begins to recover. In addition, the stimulus package included many tax breaks. A single person with no children making between $20,000 and $30,000 would/should see a 12.5% reduction in his or her tax liability for an annual savings of $453. The same person making between $50,000 and $75,000 would/should see a 4.6% drop, or $626.

Bush's tax cuts were actually not in keeping with solid supply-side economics as he didn't match them with corresponding cuts in spending. His monetary, fiscal and economic policies are what got us much of the way to where we are right now But hey how evolved of you to look back on the good ole days and whine about the present rather than do something positive-- like start a business on the side and hire some folks.

Mesquito, they already did the cute sasha hiding in daddy's office bit.

Mr president you are not jfk stop with the references. Anyways nothing wrong with some classical music. Nothing has changed for me, not that I expected it would, I only make 35,000 no kids so no tax breaks I am taxed to death. Now more than likely my healthcare plan that I gave up my raise for will like be taxed to death and my paycheck will likely be less. Sad seems from where I am seem like people who make nothing always get free stuff thrown their way the rich people don't miss the money and the people who make the average salary always get squeezed out of more. Obama hasn't changed a thing for me or anyone I know. 2012 might be the year I vote for none of the above. I sure miss that 600 dollars I got from Bush.

So how's that Hope and Change working for you?

Posted by: Jenn | Nov 5, 2009 7:05:06 AM

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I get so tired of this question.

Obama was elected at a time of both great hope and great fear-- as we were already rolling quickly toward a Great Depression and were unclear whether Bush and Paulson and the Dems in Congress, with heavy assists from Obama, had done enough to pull us back from the brink.

Has fear won out? For some, I suppose, as it always does-- but not for all of us. I find nothing about being the fearful or the fearmongering admirable.

A year ago I was in downtown Chicago and the feeling was amazing. The joy and hope was palpable-- we'd issued another referendum on extreme neoconservatism (prevalent since the 80s) -- and the next morning it seemed the relief was felt around the world.

Of course, any time the economy goes into a downturn, there is unrest, and any time there is a mandate for bold, progressive action, conservatives and other status quo clingers fight back, as if change for the better threatens them in some nefarious manner.

And in response some members of Congress and the admin get overly cautious.

The fearful were able to restrict the size of the stimulus package, and we will all suffer the consequences (the jobless recovery that drags on longer than any of us would have liked.)

Those who were so naive as to think huge change would be immediate have had to rethink that-- it will take longer than 9 months, 18 months, 4 years, 6 years, a couple elections. Structural obstacles to change always seem to become immovable in the face of real change. BUT we have space now. Space to move forward. And I do still feel the hope and change. I'm not a "giver upper." We just need to get re-energized. True change requires ongoing mobilization. No complacency.

Having said all that, of course, we need jobs. Health care and jobs. Alternate energy related jobs in the mix would be helpful and move us in the direction of leading in this important sector globally. What I don't see is any fresh ideas from the right-- just the same tired crapola when everyone knows the right isn't credible on job creation. Rarely have been. Look at numbers historically (and watch the spin and grand excuse-making to explain away the fact that more jobs tend to be created under Dems) Of course, someone always mentions Ronaldus Magnus but take a peek at inflationary and deflationary factors and seriously grapple with the differences in the finer economic details between the early eighties and now. Understand that as Ronaldus Magnus moved us out of our paradigm to match the circumstances, we also need to be able to look outside of paradigms and meet the needs of present circumstances.

Hope is in keeping with the American spirit. Change takes longer than a New York minute.

Time to pass health care reform. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are likely to pass their climate bill out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee without amendments today.

Does he really think this is what being president is all about: concerts at the White House, basketball, free golf, trick or treats, Michelle's garden, and beer blasts for his buddies?

"The Democrats just extended unemployment benefits to help people with covering their food, housing and other expenses - and maybe the odd treat if the money works out right."

And how does continuously extending welfare payments to people create new jobs and improve their prosperity? It doesn't. But from Washington's perspective, it keeps the sheep from organizing any civil unrest.

"You have to remember - unemployment is at 10% more or less which means 90% (more or less) are not unemployed. It's not as if the entire economy has stopped purchasing things."

The 10% figure is bogus. The unemployment and underemployment figure is at least 18% to 20%, if not higher. Major cities like Detroit (run by DEMOCRATS) have unemployment north of 30%.

So how's that Hope and Change working for you?

High and rising unemployment makes people unable to buy food, flat screens, and ipods.

Posted by: Sigmonde | Nov 4, 2009 10:59:07 PM

So the "dollar at historic lowest" is entirely irrelevant to the purchasing power of the dollar? OK then.

Re: "More phony kennedy references."

Don't forget trying to make us think that Michelle has Jackie's class and style. lol

Why doesn't he work on fixing the economy?! He's sitting around listening to classical music. I wish Hillary had won, but the DNC took her electoral votes away from her. Well, are they happy now? Obama doesn't know what he's doing and he lacksforceful personality needed to get things passed.

"High and rising unemployment makes people unable to buy food, flat screens, and ipods."
________________________________________

The Democrats just extended unemployment benefits to help people with covering their food, housing and other expenses - and maybe the odd treat if the money works out right.

You have to remember - unemployment is at 10% more or less which means 90% (more or less) are not unemployed. It's not as if the entire economy has stopped purchasing things.

"The dollar is at all times lows, yet ipods are cheap, flat screen tvs are cheap, clothes are cheap, food prices are flat - what gives? "

High and rising unemployment makes people unable to buy food, flat screens, and ipods.

"Meanwhile... funding for municipal symphony orchestras is being slashed because they play the music of dead white men."
____________________________

You're thinking about funding for opera . . .

Meanwhile... funding for municipal symphony orchestras is being slashed because they play the music of dead white men.

the dollar is at all time lows,
samadams | Nov 4, 2009 9:46:55 PM

How exactly do you reconcile that with the fact that the consumer price index is actually down this year (hence the widely-publicized lack of cost-of-living bumps to social security)? The dollar is at all times lows, yet ipods are cheap, flat screen tvs are cheap, clothes are cheap, food prices are flat - what gives?

How charming.

I feel like we are watching an Obama reality show with the minute by minute updates of every move of the first family.

Riveting.

Anyone notice we are monetizing the debt that other countries are shunning, the dollar is at all time lows, unemployment the highest in nearly thirty years....

More phony Kennedy references. Pretty soon they'll be making Sasha and Malia play under the Oval Office desk and playing touch football on the South Lawn.

"Behind every great man, is a better woman". I swear no truer words were ever spoken, Michelle is definitely a neat First Lady. She brings a charisma to the White House much like Laura and Hillary had the same persona we like to see in First Ladies. What happened to their husbands? Only kidding.

I love classical music, was raised listing to the opera's and could not tell you much about the performers, but the music is pure. Knowing when to clap is a problem because I for one have clapped at the wrong time. It's almost as embarassing as being the last person to be laughing after a story, and you finally realize it 20 seconds after everyone else has stopped. Oh well, no harm no foul.

Honestly though I would love to see the arts be highlighted more in our schools and our communities. Music and plays are one gift that binds families and community together as much as football and other sports. Maybe one day we will be in a position where we can afford to have these luxuries take a more prominent role in our communities.
Have fun guys.