The market's up 20% since Obama took office. That's a one year return of 20%. The market was down 20% over the 8 year period GW was in office. That's an annual return of -2.3%.

To the question "How do you think President Obama is doing?"
He is doing as expected. He is a flaming liberal/socialist and he is doing what flaming liberal Socialists do. Reaching into someone else's pocket and spending their hard earned money. It is all they know.

Eman: Classic response - when you run out of ideas, attack the messenger. And you really should take your pastor's advice to heart.

A few points..
Did voting for Ross Perot get Bill Clinton elected? NO! Voting for Bill Clinton got Bill Clinton elected.
"If a third party candidate runs, the chances of them actually winning are less than 1%". The problem with this type of thinking is that it becomes self-fulfilling, i.e. if enough people think that this statement is true, than it becomes true in the next election. However, if enough people vote for the person they actually want to win, then that person has just as much of a chance as anyone else.
My point is, why waste your vote on the lesser of two evils?
Your thinking also illustrates the horse race mentality I mentioned before. It goes like this: candidate A and candidate B are ahead in the polls. I really want candidate C, but if I don't vote for either candidate A or B, I am "wasting my vote". And the other variation: I detest candidate A, so I am voting for candidate B (even though candidate C is my favorite), because candidate B (according to the polls) has a better chance of defeating candidate A, who I detest.
The funny thing is, whoever wins, this voter has wasted their vote on a candidate they don't even like.
Here are some questions for you...
What if the big money is behind BOTH of the major parties (which it is of course)?
Why would you vote for "evil"?
What if the polls are wrong?
The nice thing about being an independent thinker is being able to cast my vote as I see fit, and not be lead by the big money parties and the big money media. That is being truly engaged in the process - voting like a lemming is just giving up.

Eman: I don't understand you. Are you trying to say that janesvillecomments "tossed" his or her vote? If so, you could not be more wrong.
Voting for a (so-called) third party candidate is a vote for change (duh). Voting for Democrats and Republicans is a vote for the status quo (and how's that working out for you?). I would submit that voting for the lesser of two evils is a vote wasted. Voting for the person who you want to put into office is the right thing to do. The nice thing about being an independent thinker and a free person is the ability to vote for the person you actually want to win, rather than the D or R who you assume is one of your only two choices.

STEVE: I truly detest having to tell you this, but tell you I will. You stated "I voted for the winner. I voted for President Obama". I may be way off-base here, but from your words I detect an element of pride, and satisfaction.
PLEASE MARK MY WORDS (for those with less life experience, that means simply "take note"). Having voted for the winner in an election is NOT a good thing unless you voted for the candidate that you actually wanted to win.
ummmmm.....what?!?
Sadly, people tend to vote for a candidate that they feel is likely to win, or WORSE, is the LESSER OF TWO EVILS. This "horse race" mentality ends up electing people that few people REALLY support.
VOTE FOR THE PERSON YOU WANT!!!!!
Enough said.

"Kio, how can you comment when you didn't even vote? Kind of dumb, but you fit right in. It is going to take many years to get out of this mess that has been created here. But if you didn't vote, I don't think you have a right to an opinion! JMO"
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I strongly disagree. Part of a free society is the right to SUSTAIN, and not vote. Those of you who voted Obama should recognize that; as he was the one who sustained over 100 times in the Senate and simply voted "present"!
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All you delusionalists who think one vote matters kind of crack me up. Even if an election DID end with a one vote margin, do you not think it would be recounted 100 times, "mystery votes" would suddenly turn up everywhere (see Minnesota's last Senator race) and then ultimately decided by a court (hence the 2000 Presidential election) anyway?
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The Republicans were really stupid in that election. They nominated the WORSE guy of all the ones running in the primary. Then when he (Mccain) had it wrapped up, and the Democratic primary was still going strong, the conservative Republicans had REAL SHOT to make a difference, and vote Hillary; as she was the most conservative one left of the 3 still in the race! Some of you Democrats should just replace your Obama bumper sticker with a much more practical one saying: "Don't blame me, I voted for Hillary!"

"Having that airhead as VP would have been scary."
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"If Palin had been a halfway decent VP candidate, I believe McCain would have won."
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If VPs counted with the electorate, why did Obama win? Was it because of the sterling intellect of Joe Biden?
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For Zoom: Yes, I have heard of the filibuster. The Reps. have used it but they have not had enough of a minority to prevent Dems from closing debate on any issue they so chose.

I love President Obama, and I would definitely vote for him again. I knew it would take years to clean up the messes that Bush left us with, and he said as much on Inauguration Day. I knew he had no magic wand in his hand. As far as his promises, I never took them too seriously. After all, he is a politician. But I did and still do like most of the things he believes in.

What has surprised me is the audacity of the Republicans to absolutely refuse to work with the president to solve the nation's problems. These are mostly the same people who never failed to support the policies of the most evil and incompetent president in my lifetime.

So in the end, just as I blame the Republicans for creating the mess Obama inherited, I also blame them for trying to keep us there.

Steve, anyone who voted Republican or Democratic voted for the wrong man.

McCain had far more political experience and his military experience showed he had character, but his choice of Palin was an extreme lapse in judgement. Having that airhead as VP would have been scary.

Obama had so little political experience it was difficult to believe the Democrats were serious about supporting him. As he was an Illinois politician, we all know he has no character. His only saving grace was that he wasn't Billary. If Palin had been a halfway decent VP candidate, I believe McCain would have won.

Obama has caved in on international issues, spent money like a drunken Senator (of either party), and scared a lot of people with his sweeping "reforms". Obama's only success has been in helping the Republican and Democratic party faithfuls stay the course on their lemming-like march to the cliffs. The difference between the parties is like the same difference between the worm-infested dead animal pit on a family farm and the rat-infested trash bin in a city alley.

I voted independent.

Not sure the economy would be different if McCain got in. Being he is not really a conservative in policy or spending the government outlays under him would likely be close to what we see now.

I do enjoy reading those that say too early to evaluate and hole too deep to dig out from so early.

As a voter and American, it is your responsibility to expect results from those you hire. Evaluating after a day or week might be early, unless the evaluation is over direct actions from that period; that said, evaluating results after a year is easy; unless you don’t want to face the truth.

The hole was so big from the previous 8 years and blah, blah, blah. Be specific about the hole you think is too big; economy, legislation, or policies. The economic issue is one that lies at the feet of both parties and business practices derived by the policies and laws passed by members of both parties. Legislation is started in congress, requiring action by both houses and then signed by the Pres; voting for and signing at the end carry the same level of approval and carries the same level of responsibility for success or failure. That leaves policy…if you want to point out what specific policy, created by the last Pres, which got us to the hole too big I would like to read it.

Kio, how can you comment when you didn't even vote? Kind of dumb, but you fit right in. It is going to take many years to get out of this mess that has been created here. But if you didn't vote, I don't think you have a right to an opinion! JMO

I did not vote. BOTH candidates were AWFUL, and pretty much clueless to the state of the economy. That was shown when you had the wall street collapse during the campaign. NEITHER had a clue what to do, or say. They took time off, went to their economic advisers, and came out BOTH supporting the banks TARP (which of course the economic advisers are ALL ex-bankers). That is what you get when you have two senators running. Guys with ZERO executive experience, and just inside political HACKS!
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The real funny part to me was seeing all the "Obama mania". As I am one who is as big of a cynic as they come, and totally LOVE HYPE; as it's a great thing to go against, no matter what pursuit you are doing in life. I mean, I knew the economy was going to fall apart no matter who took office, and all the Obama mania would be very short lived. While all the people who bought into the hype would be sadly disappointed; as the economy continued to melt down.
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My favorite saying to the disgruntled independents who got suckered into Obama mania is: "HOW IS THAT HOPE AND CHANGE WORKING OUT FOR YA???". lol

Yes he was definately the right choice. Wait until the end of the term if you want to evaluate his performance.Niether party could have sent a candidate to fix the Nations economic downfall over the last ten years. Yes, thats right, that includes President's from both parties.

Obama gave us the political version of the bait and switch. He said he'd work for bipartisanship, then he excluded Republicans. He promised transparency, then he conducted business behind closed doors. He promised a reduction in earmarks but the damn things have exploded. He said that debates about health care would be on C-Span yet there haven't been any at all. He said he would close Gitmo, yet it is still in operation with no end in sight. I could go on and on. And in all the things he's failed to do he blames the party of "no" which had no way to stop anything he wanted to do until that election in Mass. last month. Yes Steve, the wrong person is president.

I liked Obama the person. However, I thought ,politically, that he was inexperienced and self serving before the election and I don't see any difference since. Remember when he thought the problems in Iran were Bush's fault? How's that going? He has his agenda and everyone else has to follow suite. He's the far lefts version of GWB. He should have taken a lesson from Clinton and moved to the center. He would have already had a health care plan and a workable jobs plan. Instead, he ran to the left and polarized the country. He's spent billions of dollars with no results and is essentially sealing his own parties fate. His naivety will be his downfall. We don't have time for a learning curve.

look obama told you this would take one or two or three terms to solve all the problems. remember a republican put us in this situation in a two term presidency now you want a democrate to solve it in less then a term are you kidding. dont tell me that the color of his skin is not clouding your minds. i think his efforts are great, he may not be perfect but his heart is in the right place. give him a chance. or put a republican in and see what happens, its simple the republicans have all the wealth in this country.i would rather have a real person in office then a fake president who rapes our country of money and rights. go obama

How do I think Obama is doing? You gotta be kidding! If you don't see what's going on, your brain is not operating!!! He spends money like a drunken sailor, NOONE can dispute THAT! The first thing he did as president, was sign a bill, "behind closed doors", for us to kill babies overseas. He bows down to middle Easterners and I'm sure there were others, LOL. He has done NOTHING to help the economy except his foolish stimulus which COSTS us money! He knows nothing about economics. This country should be rolling by now. The list goes on and on and on.

I didn't think either one was the answer, but was leaning toward McCain UNTIL the Palin debacle.

Obama is doing a good job of pointing out the hyperbole and hypocrisy of the Republicans.

Am I better off than I was a year ago? Not really, Im still stuck with stagnant wages but I do still have a good job... I'd call it a draw. Am I better off now than I was ten years ago? Absolutely not! Ten years ago I had a pocketful of money and the economy was thriving. In fact I remember a surplus in the government budget. Did I vote for the right President? Yes, considering the options. It was Obama or Clinton (had she won the primaries)for me. Does that make me a democrat? Possibly, but I'd rather consider myself an independent. Once this country rids itself of a two party system (yes, I know there are hundreds of parties out there, but they are not allowed to be heard because of the DNC and the RNC) the bickering will end and the "bipartison" politics will no longer be a force. Only then will America be what it once was. A free democracy that is led by the people and for the people.

Yes I did, yes I would. Yes, I am better off than I was a year ago. A year ago I was in a dead end job, I now have a stimulus paid job, that now has the funding to go beyond that stimulus. Also, my wife will have 2 years of teaching experience because of the stimulus money. Individuals in society today need instant gratification and it's pathetic. Its been 1 year. We gave G.W. Bush 8 years... How about we evaluate Obama in 4 years when his term is up. Also, for those of you who are saying that Obama should not be able to blame out past President, it's nonsense. We take history class in high school to learn from our strengths and our mistakes. He has every right to place blame on past presidents. He also has 4 years to try and fix it.

On the other hand, I feel that the dems are way to caring towards the republicans. When G.W was in office no major legislation passed with more than what, 55 votes in the senate? The dems are being too accommodating to the republicans wants. We need to push health care reform through. I would like to see more of a backbone by the dems.

well, oldtimer, "there you go, assumin again" as ronnie reagan's used to say. You're wrong.

mark, I assume you are a goverment worker

"There are currently more than 60 political nominees being held up by the Republican minority in the Senate -- at this point in the Bush Administration, only four nominees were still in limbo."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/09...

PBRMan said: "The house and senate have had the majority for a while, and they still can't get anything done without blaming the GOP, and they don't even need their vote...."

See my comments below to BunBun. A 60 vote majority, not 51, is now required in the Senate to get legislation passed. The obstruction started in 2006, when Republicans became the minorty in the Senate.

really not the point though, facts. Oh, wait, why would I expect a conservative to address the point at hand? The point is not whether Jimmy Carter was or wasn't a good president. The point is that the neocons want no blame to attach any longer to bush, but that when the shoe was on the other foot, it was a neocon doing the look-back blaming. Yes, by the way, I do remember the Carter administration. In fact, I remember, quite vividly, the Eisnehower administration.

BunBun said: "Republicans do not have the ability to block anything in either the House or the Senate so the "bad policy" and bureaucracy is all coming from his own party. If He can not implement policy with the magic wand of the majority of the Congress then he lacks the ability to lead."

That's not true in the Senate. You must not be familiar with their filibuster rule. When anyone invokes a filibuster, a 60 vote majority (not 51 votes) is required to move a bill out of debate (vote of cloture) and to a vote. Republicans have invoked the filibuster at record pace, and more times than in the 50's and 60's combined. They have even evoked the filibuster on legislation that eventually passes with 80 or 90 votes! They are clearly trying to obstruct and delay. If not for that single rule in the Senate, health care reform would have been passed with a 51 vote majority, and Congress would have moved on to other legislation long ago. The founding fathers never intended to require a 60 vote majority in the Senate.

markr: three more years will be enough it was for Carter. Do even recall the Carter years? I do standing in the rain with all of the other people that were out of work in Rock County. At the old unemployment center on Parker Drive. Just to show that you looked for work so you could keep getting your benifits. Carter gutted the military and proceeded to ruin the country.Check and see what unemployment was under Carter and interest rates. And lets not forget the gas lines. Carter was another one who made promises beyond what he could deliver. Barry speaks better and has more worse ideas than Jimmy did.

Sorry oldtimer, but SIX years into his presidency, ronald reagan said (in that horse-whynnie-ing manner he had), "We-e-el-l-l-l, I'm still trying to clean up the mess that the last fella left for me," referring to Carter. reagan set the standard for blaming his predecessor, placing the blame for the slow-recovering economy, still-high unemployment, and lowered average incomes all at the feet of Jimmy Carter, and this after reagan had been president for 4, 5, and 6 years. So by the standard set by reagan and the republicans, Obama still has 5 years left to blame the woes on bush, unless, as you seem to think, the republicans get a pass on this sort of thing.

The "little woman" was right. I don't always agree with her.

So, how's that 'hope and change' workin for ya? obamma is a socialist and an empty suit. he has never run anything and he's taking this country down the wrong path and it's clear that even the 'middle of the roaders' are seeing his incompetentcy. It's time for the people in this country to stop looking for the government to save them from themselves and take responsibility for our own actions. Always remember 'actions speak louder than words', so forget what this bunch says and watch what they do. I hope that this country will get back to individual freedom and prosperity of each of us. That will never come to any of us if we expect it to come from the government.

nannybeachbum: Pipe down...never you people voted for this disaster and now let me ask you are you better off than you were a year ago? Because a lot of people are not. Promises were made and billions of dollars spent on what? Nothing so far as far a jobs,health care,openness and yet Barry just keeps spending money and be it borrowed money at that. Democrats have the White House and both houses of congress. And they were the majority in congress Bush's last couple of years. And yet with these majorities they still do nothing. If these were employees of any company they would be fired. Democrats can bi--h all they want but as Barry told them we are still the majority. Its funny you want Republicans to pipe down but you liberal socialist nuts could not keep you gums flapping fast enough when GW was in the White House. So go curl up by your dish darn ankle biting socialist liberal

"Give him his full term and THEN you can have an opinion. But until then? Everyone needs to just pipe down."
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It does not work that way, if I think that the mighty O's policies are destructive to this country I will continue to give my opinion - just as you will whenever the pendulum swings the other way.
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Republicans do not have the ability to block anything in either the House or the Senate so the "bad policy" and bureaucracy is all coming from his own party. If He can not implement policy with the magic wand of the majority of the Congress then he lacks the ability to lead.

Badgerlvr: You just nailed it right on the head! In the past, electors had to choose the lesser of two evils. Haven't seen a "qualified" candidate in a long time.
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We have seen what Me, Me, Me corporate America has done to this country. Scares me!

Maybe our problem is looking for help from Washington. Maybe we need to start here at home. What have we done today to be healthier, to be more environmentally friendly, to stimulate the economy, to help one another? Perhaps as a nation we need to stop bailing out banks and tracking down terrorists, and start fighting our real enemies: poverty, drug and alcohol addiction, hunger, natural disasters and diseases. We need to invest in ourselves and our ideals as a nation. Because I truly believe you cannot fight a dangerous idea, like terrorism, with guns, bombs or drones; you fight a bad philosophy with a better one! (By the way, this is Ms. JohnWicket because I think we only get one comment access pre email address and JW and I are not always in agreement.)

I voted for him the first time and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I worked for the campaign, even.
8 years of crazy, doesn't get fixed overnight.
People should realize this. He has no magic wand (although he NEEDS one AND a superhero cape, if you ask me) and he has a pile of bureaucracy and bad policy to deal with.
Give him his full term and THEN you can have an opinion. But until then? Everyone needs to just pipe down.

My question is who would even want this job? No matter who is President they are never going to be popular to to a degree.As far as a choice,I haven't seen any change!!!!! at least for the good,have you?

Does it really matter "who" becomes President in 2012? After the recent Supreme Court decision, corporate America will decide who our next disaster will be.

Kara: Its been a year and billions of dollars that were supposed to fix everything. Yet here we are is anyone better off than they were a year ago? Sooner or later Barry and the rest of the liberal socialists are going to have to step up and take responsibilty...opps forgot liberals never do that theres always someone else to blame. And now Harry Reid just pushed the Republicans out the door again on a jobs bill. As long as Reid and Pelosi are running things I don't think Barry could pass gas.

This is the first president that has ever caused me such serious concern for the future of this country. I fully expect some very bad things in the coming years, which have been made much more likely by the actions of this administration. Examples: another major terrorist attack, increased conflicts in the Middle East, rampant inflation, more unemployment.
And yes, McCain/Palin would have been better. Think about it.

I did not vote for him, but I didn't care for my choices either. I thought both sides were weak and I didn't trust either. Hopefully 2012 will have better choices of leadership.

I am a minority in Rock County and voted for the Navy Pilot. Could he have done any better? Dont know but he was outspent and at the end of the day, Obama told people like Steve what they wanted to hear.

Obama has not only not done a thing but he has broken several promises.

The way to fix the economy is to not raise taxes on those that make alot of money, but to set a base tax of 10% accross the board. You make $5k a year? Pay $500. You make $5M per year? Pay $500K. No loopholes, no offshore, no multiple tax shelters etc. Obviously do the same for corporations. The savings in taxes would be used to hire people. People would have more money to buy stuff.

The only ones that would loose would be the Government since they would shrink due to less IRS agents. While we are at it we can get rid of a few layers of local government while we are at it.

Just sayin....

Before you second guess yourself, Steve. Think long and hard about this: John McCain and Sarah Palin as leaders of the free world??.....................Have you stopped shaking yet?

kara, not too classy when you point fingers, every president could say the same thing but they dont.

Didn't.
Won't.
All Presidents always inherit messes from the previous administration. Most of them resolve them. This one can't resolve anything. He talks like he knows what he is doing but take the telepromtor away and he's just a windbag.

kara - it is funny when things are messed up, it is the fault of the previous President, and when the current President can't fix it, it is because of bi-partisan bickering of a house and senate with a Democratic majority. Who is to blame again?

He not only wants to be preident he wants to rule the world. He made a bad choice in his staff appointments. He wanted to pat himself on the back if the health care had passed, he didnt care what was in it, and he says one thing and does something else, I hope we kick them all out of office. Go independent.

Obama inherited the mess from bush. Its tough to start a new job, but to have to start one cleaning up after the previous person is the pits.

I did not vote for Barry I saw tight through his bullcrap and lies. What really burns me is that a lot of things he was going to change. He found out were really working. He is a socialist through and through and Reid and Pelosi are even farther left than he is. I don't think people got what they thought they were going to get with Barry and idiots running the country. Come November its only going to get worse for the liberal socialists and thier bury America agenda.

Did not vote for him and won't in 2012.If he focused on jobs and the economy FIRST then tried to accomplish Health Care etc. his legacy may have been percieved differently ,IMO.Letting Pelosi and Reid champion his efforts behind closed doors hurt him bad.

Steve: No, but I don't know if McCain would have been any better. The comparison of Obama to Carter is valid at this point in the administration. At least Carter had the Camp David Accords. Let's hope Obama improves quickly.

Jeb Bush 2012!

+1 to the comment about voting with your head. 3 more years of long waiting and listening to lies.

Steve:

yes.

Wrong man at the wrong time. It took a Carter to make a Reagan, it takes an Obama to make a….?

Oh my God what did they take from Carter to make a Reagan?? A turd?? Ronald Reagan may be liked by you pubs but he is to this day one of the worst ever when it comes to fiscal control.

Steve- your problem is you let your heart make your decision for President, and not your head. A leader doesn't blame others for the mess he is in, he takes charge and just fixes it. He is beginning to find that the same things he blasted G.W. for, are the same things he can't fix himself. I can't get over how a unemployed Mother from Alaska can really threaten and put a Democratic party on notice. They are really worried about her. The house and senate have had the majority for a while, and they still can't get anything done without blaming the GOP, and they don't even need their vote....I am glad I didn't vote for this socialist.

I have traveled extensively. I have seen first hand what socialism did to the poor people of eastern Europe. I have seen neglected homes, neglected roads, neglected infrastructure. Neglected and "used" people. I have seen socialism. I have seen obama. I saw him before the election, I see him now. I'm very sorry for our country that others couldn't see before the election what he was. I hope they can see him now. He is a socialist through and through. Long live Capitalism !