What could Obama do to stimulate the economy

[pnwmom]

that wouldn't require Republican approval?

He was able to release some oil before, but obviously there's a limit to that. Is there more he can do with Treasuries? Anything else?

[Yupster]

1. Start another war?

A big one this time.

[pnwmom]

2. That would just make us hit a new debt ceiling even faster.

In previous wars, the Government always raised taxes AND debt ceilings. Bush never raised the taxes to pay for the wars we have; and he got the debt ceiling raised 7 times. That won't be possible for Obama, though.

[jaysunb]

3. Do you seriously believe people on DU want to

have a serious or constructive conversation filled with ideas and positive exchanges on what WE could do to help our country ?

Get over yourself !

:evilgrin: :rofl: :hi:

[pnwmom]

10. Yeah, that would be insane, wouldn't it?

Griping gets so much more accomplished.

:hi:

[madokie]

17. These last few days I'm beginning to wonder if we've been overrun by republicons

I mean every post that tries to even suggest the problems Obama faces is shot down by so many that I'm not even sure I want to continue reading this bullshit. DU is definitely needing to get a grip or there won't be anyone worth reading left. A little constructive criticism is one thing but this place has jumped the shark here lately. The fact of the matter is there isn't much he can do with out some support from us out here. He's not getting that support here thats for sure.

Go ahead and flame away I've got my asbestos undies on.

[Deep13]

4. In one respect it's too late. He had to do it during his 1st two years.

Now the best he can do is prevent it from getting worse. One thing that might help, though, is to stop adopting the R's mentality. Reject deficit and debt reduction as something that will help the economy, because they won't, and at least publicly advocate increased spending. At the very least it will put him in a better negotiating position than giving up ahead of time, which is what he in fact has done. Simply put, go on the offensive instead of simply trying to mitigate the damage the Rs are causing.

[jaysunb]

6. When did this become a requirement ....

He had to do it during his 1st two years

I've lived through 13 Presidents so this is news to me. But then again,this is the first one to be polled daily or to have the next election season begin the after he was ELECTED, not even inaugurated.

:shrug:

[madokie]

19. I've lived through 12 and thats news to me too

[Deep13]

22. I guess you did not see the 2010 election results. nt

[laser_red]

5. Bring the money home

stop the wars on the people of,

Libya
Afghanistan
Yemen
Columbia
Pakistan

etc

[pnwmom]

8. I agree he should do that. But I'm talking about ways he could stimulate

the economy. By law, he couldn't just take that money and put it into a jobs program, or build up our infrastructure, or whatever. And the Rethugs seem determined to stop him from doing anything to help the economy.

I'm just wondering if there are measures he could take on his own.

[laser_red]

18. the servicemem would spend money in the US ...

paying state and local taxes
buying local products

everybody wins

[21st Century FDR]

20. He needs to do what FDR did

A massive public works program to bring the infrastructure of this country into the 21st century.

Roads. Bridges. High Speed Rail. Broadband Internet. Green Energy. etc.

And if the Repukes want to bitch and whine about it, just remind them that plenty of private sector jobs come along with it, because the materials and equipment to do such projects have to be made somewhere, and it damn well better not be China.

[Bonobo]

7. He could push through lots of common sense bills if he "worked it"

Make work projects or low cost loans or even rebates earmarked so that they could only be used for mortgage, rent or home improvements would save people from losing homes and act as stimulants.

He could get them done by going directly to the people through strong advocacy as many presidents have done in the past. It is an effective way of pressuring the congress to follow the will of the people.

If he advocated as strongly for such things as strongly as he intends to campaign with his 2 billion dollar 2012 campaign, he could get it done.

[pnwmom]

9. I don't think so. No President has ever been up against the crazies

that we're up against now.

I never remember a party in the past that was willing to ruin the whole country in order to prevent any credit from going to the sitting President. But that's what Obama is facing.

[Bonobo]

11. But how many real crazies are there?

I suspect much fewer than it appears but their voices have been magnified by the media.

It is vital that our party and president show that they are small in number and non-representative of the country at large.

This can only be done by the POTUS. He needs to find his mojo or whatever...if, that is, he has the goals I am describing.

[jaysunb]

12. Agreed...mostly, but,

I've always thought he could get together w/ some of the super wealthy and create a government/private sector project like, coast to coast high speed rail system, and maybe the same w/ wind & solar energy.

These projects may not be shovel ready at announcement time, but the perception that money is getting ready to made will be too much for the fat cats that are holding on to it right now.

And as dumb as it may sound, I believe Obama could partner w/ some blue state governors and private sector groups to create make work jobs throughout the country. It would not only shame a lot of folks out into the open, but the response would be a lot like Roosevelt's WPA and other initiatives.

:shrug:

[Edweird]

24. I know right? FDR only faced a coup and certain assassination while Obama is up against

astroturf with lipton tea bags hanging from revolutionary war period headgear. Those angry seniors are terrifying I tells ya.

[pansypoo53219]

13. kill the bush tax cuts.

rescind his agreement to extend them.

[SoutherDem]

15. but wouldn't that take the Republicans?

[SoutherDem]

14. Nothing before January 2013, but...

If he were re-elected with a real democratic majority, then he could be the progressive he says he is. It seems the 2nd term is when Presidents make a real mark. If he doesn't, then possible we will get a real progressive Democrat in 2016 by then if America still stands, and we haven't had a "French Revolution" of our own (poor overturning the rich).

[unkachuck]

16. cancel....

....large pentagon weapon systems and take the money allocated and hire ten of thousands of civilians to landscape the hundreds of military bases we have in the US....every base should be a beautiful garden showpiece....every base should be in the Guinness Book of World Records as a unique thing of military gardening beauty....

....the sooner we put money in peoples' pockets, the sooner this depression will end....

[MannyGoldstein]

21. Like FDR, use the bully pulpit

Teach people about what we need to do, so they'll force their elected representatives to do it.

Like how the Lend-Lease Act was passed.

[Cereal Kyller]

23. Put Repukes in a stoning pit and charge us five dollars a rock

That'd be $1,280 from me alone. }(