Obama Calls On Congress To Act To Boost Job Growth

[LiberalAndProud]

http://www.rttnews.com/Content/TopStories.aspx?Node=B1&Id=1662032

Citing weak job growth figures for June, President Barack Obama called on Congress to do more to boost the ailing economy.

Obama, in a brief statement in the Rose Garden of the White House, said that there were a number of immediate measures Congress could act on to increase job creation and said the government needs to redouble its efforts.

"Right now, there are over a million construction workers out of work after the housing boom went bust, just as a lot of America needs rebuilding," he said. "We connect the two by investing in rebuilding our roads and our bridges and our railways and our infrastructure."

He added, "We could put back to work right now some of those construction workers that lost their jobs when the housing market went bust."

Congress could use a swift kick in the pants, regardless of what you may think of Obama.

[gateley]

1. Obama should have mentioned the many offerings the Dems have

presented that the Republicans have repeatedly shot down.

Why doesn't he put it all out there?

Our same old complaint -- please, no more Mr. Nice Guy!

[LiberalAndProud]

6. He did mention a few at the link.

It was a short talk, but he was trying to get Congress to do something. Clearly it is their agenda to do nothing, because anything that makes Obama look bad is worth the price. It astounds me how little they value country over their mistaken ideals. They aren't kidding. They would rather our country fail than to succeed under Democratic leadership. Fuck 'em all.

[gateley]

8. I didn't follow the link, so thanks for letting me know. BUT...

(not done telling Obama how to do it right) Needs to get a short phrase to insert into everything he says. And get the message out there.

How many people are aware of this besides wonks? I wouldn't have been aware except for the post here.

I want to pull my hair out sometimes.

[Rex]

2. 'Congress could use a swift kick in the pants, regardless of what you may think of Obama.'

EXACTLY! They are getting off easy imo. What was the last approval rating for Congress? I bet a lot lower then Obama's rating.

[ixion]

3. *sigh* more Kabuki Theater

We need more than rhetoric. Seriously.

[RC]

4. IF these are Living Wage Jobs with benefits...

This would help get the economy going again.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Say pretty please to your friends on the other side of the aisle, I'm sure they will oblige

Wake the fuck up, dude.

[JuniperLea]

7. Obama could follow a script...

Written by the opposition, and they would still oppose.

I expected these items to be reiterated. He's said it all before. How to get Congress to actually listen... and actually act. That is the real issue. But how?

[LiberalAndProud]

11. I honestly don't know.

If the course stays on it's current trajectory, we'll have at least a partial government shutdown sometime in August. Someone here said that will open up new emergency measures for Obama. If that turns out not to be the case, we have to hope that Congress might bow to public pressure to stop the horseshit. I tend to doubt that the ideologues will be moved, given that Rush is part of their daily regimen. They really would rather the country fail than that it should succeed under Democratic leadership.

So, I fear that we may be left in limbo until November 2012, when I hope the electorate has the sense to kick these clowns out on their asses.

Buckle up. We're in for a bumpy ride.

[JuniperLea]

12. "They really would rather the country fail than that it should succeed under Democratic leadership."

That is the saddest bottom line ever! I'm hoping that people wake up and see this for what it is come 11/12.

Yep... bumpy as hell. It's been increasingly so since 11/09.

It would be poetic justice if Rush were to fall. I never thought it likely until the past 48 hours. Murdoch's lost billions in stock value... couldn't happen to a nicer guy. 'Cept maybe Rush.

[girl gone mad]

9. Too little, too late.

The desperation may be starting to sink in over at the White House. Too bad they chose to attack progressives who warned them that they were mishandling the economy, rather than listen to what we were saying.

[Angry Dragon]

10. The republicans promised that the tax cuts would create jobs

It is time for Obama to call them out on that promise

No jobs .......... no tax cuts

I am getting really tired of the games that are played

[LiberalAndProud]

13. Maybe a few more may be interested.

or not.

:kick: anyway

[LiberalAndProud]

14. 1 more time

:kick:

[TwilightGardener]

15. At least half of Congress has no intention of improving the jobs situation.

Or the economy. Why would they help him out? They rub their hands with glee over bad news.

[WinkyDink]

16. And the states will get the road and bridge $$ from where, Mr. President?

[Elwood P Dowd]

17. He says that while behind the scenes he is pushing three fake free trade deals

that will ship hundreds of thousands of job overseas. He wants congress to pass them soon so he can sign them this summer. Public Citizen says the Korean agreement alone will cost us 159,000 middle class jobs. Don't worry DU, Obama is also pushing for congress to include a few dollars to retrain the hundreds of thousands of workers who lose their jobs because of these agreements. Does this man have a fucking clue what he's talking about?

[Fearless]

18. This building crap is just crap...

The reason the building infrastructure thing worked for FDR is because it spurred other growth... Build roads... the auto industry thrives... But this isn't the case today! We have roads (poor or otherwise)... there will be no spurred growth. We need to invest in things like solar energy, wind power, high speed internet, trains between major metropolitan areas, etc. These things that will actually spur growth not just give out jobs until the money runs dry.