USA Today...

[OregonSmock]

He is what he is, black, white, green, purple...who gives a eff.  Somebody please try to make an argument on anything he has done worth a crap other than running this country further into debt, yanking away what little freedoms we have left, and being an overall worthless rough ridin' piece of crap that contributes nothing but evil to the country

 

Just off the top of my head:


Ended the war in Iraq  The timeline for troop withdraw was implemented by Bush during his last term.  Obama ended the war in Iraq.  Bush started the war in Iraq.
Created national fuel emissions standards  sounds good but CAFE standard were already 35mpg by 2020. He increased it to 35.5 by 2016. He increased it to 54.5 mpg by 2025.
Invested heavily in alternative energy  Largely a failure that cost taxpayers millions in failed loans to cronies Obama's green energy investments have an 83% success rate, higher than Romney's success rate with Bain Capital.  http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/10/04/mitt-romney-keeps-solyndra-canard-alive/
Passed significant health care reform   To be determined, so far costing ratepayers millions in higher premiums Up to 50 million people now will have access to health care.  It's a huge accomplishment for millions of Americans.
Killed Osama bin Laden  Thank you rendition  Not sure what this means, but Obama gave our military the authority to raid bin Laden in Pakistan, something that McCain said he wouldn't do if he were President.
Ended Don't Ask Don't Tell  OK
Set a timeline to end the war in Afghanistan  To be determined. Should have ended it in 2009  No, the timeline is set for 2014.  That's a fact.
Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Act   OK
Overhauled the credit card industry, making it more consumer friendly  Not sure what this means Really?  What was so confusing?  http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/obama-signs-credit-card-law-1282.php

The law limits when credit card interest rates can be increased on existing balances and allows consumers whose interest rates have been increased to reduce their annual percentage rates (APRs) to previous levels if they've been good and paid their bills on time for six months.

Created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  No effect  Bullshit.  Provide a link if you want to make that claim.
Extended Bush tax cuts for 99% of Americans  Thank you GWB  Obama is the one who extended the tax cuts.  He wasn't required to do so.
Cut future spending by over a trillion dollars over the next ten years LOL  Actually it's closer to 1.5 trillion.  http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/budget/news/2013/01/08/49137/the-deficit-reduction-we-have-achieved-so-far/
Appointed two pro-choice women to the Supreme Court  All appointments should be based on the record of following the constitution, not views on abortion, but whatever  They were based on their record of following the Constitution.  I just think it's good that we have two pro-choice justices on the Supreme Court to help protect women's rights.
Issued executive orders for gun reform  OK
Signed a jobs bill for veterans   OK
Expanded tax breaks for small businesses 18 times in his first term  Most of these were extensions from previous administrations, and others have already expired.  They didn't have to be extended.  Facts are facts.
Signed a free trade agreement with South Korea and a couple other countries  OK
Saved the auto industry  It would be more robust now if he had let them go through reorganization using existing laws. Screwed most bond holders.  Hindsight is 20/20.  No one other than the government had the capital to support GM in a traditional bankruptcy.  The entire financial sector was on the brink of collapse as well.
Helped bring the country out of its worst recession since the Great Depression  Still suffering  We're not losing 800,000 jobs a month like we were during the peak of the recession.  The housing market has stabilized, the stock market is nearing record highs, and the unemployment rate is steady. 
Signed Dodd Frank into law  Doesn't work, same crap still going on  At least someone has made an effort to reform Wall Street.  Dodd Frank has its flaws, but progress is being made.
Became the first US President to support gay marriage  He was against it before he was for it. Glad he saw the light (for votes).  He changed his mind, and if anything, he most likely initially opposed gay marriage in order to win the '08 election.  African-American voters are very anti-gay marriage.
Recently endorsed immigration reform   LOL, wut?  Seriously, you haven't heard about the proposed immigration reform?  http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_22530822/poll-shows-growing-support-obamas-immigration-reforms

[felix rex]

In this thread, we look into the mind of a racist, and witness the denial of said racism.

Yes. It is disturbing.

[EMAWmeister]

Without reading the whole thread, has bigwillie20 even tried to eloquently state his position or are we still at the indefensible ramblings of a racist part?

[OregonSmock]

Without reading the whole thread, has bigwillie20 even tried to eloquently state his position or are we still at the indefensible ramblings of a racist part?

Still at the indefensible ramblings of an angry racist part.

[sonofdaxjones]

Labor Force Participation is at or near record lows, underemployment is still very high, job growth is not keeping up with population growth.

One thing I do enjoy about the times we live in:  During the previous administration every single problem this country had was laid at the feet of the Executive Branch.   Under the current administration, all issues this country faces are either 1.  Caused by the previous administration.  2.  Caused by another branch of government. 3.  Becaue of another political party.   The current administration owns nothing nearly 5 years into their tenure.

It's even more interesting in light of the fact that Democrats controlled Congress from 2006 to 2010, and the acceleration of the bad during that time, far outweighed the good.

Given the current administrations extensive acceleration of the previous administrations quest for executive powers . . . it's not going too far out on a limb to say that this administration is the cause of the "new normal" unemployment rate of 8%, record numbers of disenfranchised workers/jobs seekers and near all time lows in labor force participation. 

[OregonSmock]

Labor Force Participation is at or near record lows, underemployment is still very high, job growth is not keeping up with population growth.

One thing I do enjoy about the times we live in:  During the previous administration every single problem this country had was laid at the feet of the Executive Branch.   Under the current administration, all issues this country faces are either 1.  Caused by the previous administration.  2.  Caused by another branch of government. 3.  Becaue of another political party.   The current administration owns nothing nearly 5 years into their tenure.

It's even more interesting in light of the fact that Democrats controlled Congress from 2006 to 2010, and the acceleration of the bad during that time, far outweighed the good.

Given the current administrations extensive acceleration of the previous administrations quest for executive powers . . . it's not going too far out on a limb to say that this administration is the cause of the "new normal" unemployment rate of 8%, record numbers of disenfranchised workers/jobs seekers and near all time lows in labor force participation.

You try to pretend like you're this libertarian voice of hope and freedom, but you're really just anti-Obama.  It's as transparent as the skin of Manti Teo's fake girlfriend.  There are a number of reasons for the drop in the labor force participation rate, but it's a waste of time to get into it with you because you'll just accuse me of defending Obama and the Democrats, when in reality, the economy is complex and life in the United States is different today than it was back when all of you baby boomers started working.

[3maw]

good heavens beems doing work, citations and all.

i don't think some realize all of the factors that go into unemployment rate. it's nice to say that unemployment is rising/at record highs, but it's also nice to say that's not considering non-work-necessity citizens(ie handicapped or privileged), 'illegal' type work, some reports even dare to include students... small examples of how some reports are misleading.

or the fact that while the current rate around 8% is high, having unemployment in a country is a necessity. and one reason it's so high is because of structural changes, in manufacturing, design, etc. we're at a point where there's a threshold of workers who are too "invested" or too, old, if  you will, to be retrained for work, and a younger, more appropriately trained generation is busting through, hence why engineering, math, and sciences related degrees are selling right now.

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

Only Beems would enter a thread to talk up how influential and effective the Pres is, then 180 and say he has no control over the economy.  What a goon.

Also, LOL at the apologists, "the economy just got really complicated in 2009, there's nothing anyone could do". The economy has, and always will be too complex for them, at least until a republican is pres again.
 

[sonofdaxjones]

Hey everybody, the economy is complex.

[EllRobersonisInnocent]

Only Beems would enter a thread to talk up how influential and effective the Pres is, then 180 and say he has no control over the economy.  What a goon.

Also, LOL at the apologists, "the economy just got really complicated in 2009, there's nothing anyone could do". The economy has, and always will be too complex for them, at least until a republican is pres again.

Might be a while bud

[EllRobersonisInnocent]

Hey everybody, the economy is complex.

Supply and Demand, what else is there to know? 

[michigancat]

I just want to know wtf a "nog" is.

[3maw]

I just want to know wtf a "nog" is.

christ, people. 

What the hell is a "nog"?

the second part of a two part slur, directed at black people, with the first part having an i instead of an o.

kind of like if i said, mig mog.

[OregonSmock]

Hey everybody, the economy is complex.

Okay, here's what's going on with the LFPR.  The number of unemployed workers who are discouraged by their job search and drop out of the labor force has basically doubled since the start of the recession.  Another important factor is an aging population.  The baby boomers are aging, and as a result, the population is getting older and more people are retiring. 





The aging of the population accounts for about half the decline in the LFPR over the past several years.  This graph shows the current trend in LFPR by age group:





There has also been a fundamental change in the labor markets that will probably never change because of globalization and the outsourcing of certain industries.   


   

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

Fyi bmw,

The old people are retiring talking point was destroyed in a thread a couple of months ago.

The manufactured excuses for Obama's failures are cute though.  Keep em coming, skwawk.  BaaaaKaaaw

[OregonSmock]

The aging population data is empirical information.  It's not disputable.

[sonofdaxjones]

Actually the 55 and above age bracket is the only think keeping Labor Force Participation from shattering all time record lows.

[OregonSmock]

Actually the 55 and above age bracket is the only think keeping Labor Force Participation from shattering all time record lows.

A higher percentage of the population belongs to the baby boomers, so there are more people retiring even as the workforce ages. 

[sonofdaxjones]

Actually the 55 and above age bracket is the only think keeping Labor Force Participation from shattering all time record lows.

A higher percentage of the population belongs to the baby boomers, so there are more people retiring even as the workforce ages.

55 and above work force participation has actually grown significantly, writing it off as simply retiree's is, dare I say, fool's gold.

[OregonSmock]

Actually the 55 and above age bracket is the only think keeping Labor Force Participation from shattering all time record lows.

A higher percentage of the population belongs to the baby boomers, so there are more people retiring even as the workforce ages.

55 and above work force participation has actually grown significantly, writing it off as simply retiree's is, dare I say, fool's gold.

I'm not writing anything off simply due to retirees.  The empirical data shows that about 1.0% of the decrease in LFPR over the past several years can be attributed to more of the labor force retiring.  Go back and look at the graphs I posted about five posts ago.  They show exactly what we're talking about. 

[sonofdaxjones]

Actually the 55 and above age bracket is the only think keeping Labor Force Participation from shattering all time record lows.

A higher percentage of the population belongs to the baby boomers, so there are more people retiring even as the workforce ages.

55 and above work force participation has actually grown significantly, writing it off as simply retiree's is, dare I say, fool's gold.

I'm not writing anything off simply due to retirees.  The empirical data shows that about 1.0% of the decrease in LFPR over the past several years can be attributed to more of the labor force retiring.  Go back and look at the graphs I posted about five posts ago.  They show exactly what we're talking about.

That's only about 1/3 of the nearly 3 point drop over the last decade, only about 1/2 of the drop since Obama took office, and as I said, if it weren't for increased Labor Force Particpation by those 55 and above, the decline would be even more significant.

[OregonSmock]

Actually the 55 and above age bracket is the only think keeping Labor Force Participation from shattering all time record lows.

A higher percentage of the population belongs to the baby boomers, so there are more people retiring even as the workforce ages.

55 and above work force participation has actually grown significantly, writing it off as simply retiree's is, dare I say, fool's gold.

I'm not writing anything off simply due to retirees.  The empirical data shows that about 1.0% of the decrease in LFPR over the past several years can be attributed to more of the labor force retiring.  Go back and look at the graphs I posted about five posts ago.  They show exactly what we're talking about.

That's only about 1/3 of the nearly 3 point drop over the last decade, only about 1/2 of the drop since Obama took office, and as I said, if it weren't for increased Labor Force Particpation by those 55 and above, the decline would be even more significant.

You're basically agreeing with everything I've said.  What's your point?  The baby boomers make up a larger percentage of the labor force and the participation rate is dropping due to more people retiring.  There is also a higher percentage of older workers because again, the baby boomers make up a higher percentage of the workforce.  We actually need more to retire so that young people out of college have more jobs available.

[sonofdaxjones]

You just don't seem to get the fact that it's the baby boomers re-entering the workforce that's keeping the labor particpation rate from shattering all time record lows.

You also don't seem to get that half or more of the people that the government by decree has moved out of labor force participation (thus absolving themselves of having to count them in the unemployment numbers) are NOT baby boomers.

[Rage Against the McKee]

This is a pretty great time to be young with a degree, really.

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

Actually the 55 and above age bracket is the only think keeping Labor Force Participation from shattering all time record lows.

A higher percentage of the population belongs to the baby boomers, so there are more people retiring even as the workforce ages.

55 and above work force participation has actually grown significantly, writing it off as simply retiree's is, dare I say, fool's gold.

I'm not writing anything off simply due to retirees.  The empirical data shows that about 1.0% of the decrease in LFPR over the past several years can be attributed to more of the labor force retiring.  Go back and look at the graphs I posted about five posts ago.  They show exactly what we're talking about.

That's only about 1/3 of the nearly 3 point drop over the last decade, only about 1/2 of the drop since Obama took office, and as I said, if it weren't for increased Labor Force Particpation by those 55 and above, the decline would be even more significant.

You're basically agreeing with everything I've said.  What's your point?  The baby boomers make up a larger percentage of the labor force and the participation rate is dropping due to more people retiring.  There is also a higher percentage of older workers because again, the baby boomers make up a higher percentage of the workforce.  We actually need more to retire so that young people out of college have more jobs available.

Only about a quarter of the workforce decrease is due to retirement. The numbers are really horrible beems, and it isn't getting better.
http://danielamerman.com/articles/2012/WorkC.html