Obama: "No Such Thing as Shovel-Ready Projects"

CBS News ^ | October 13, 2010 | Stephanie Condon

[2ndDivisionVet]

With unemployment hovering near 10 percent nearly two years after President Obama signed his economic stimulus package, Mr. Obama is acknowledging that, despite his campaign promises, "there's no such thing as shovel-ready projects."

The president gave that remark in an hour-long interview with the New York Times.

Mr. Obama also told the Times that he should have "let the Republicans insist on the tax cuts" in the stimulus, rather than including them himself, so the package would have seemed more like a compromise. The stimulus package, which the Congressional Budget Office said this year will cost $862 billion, included $236 billion in tax cuts. Nevertheless, the president said in the interview that he comes across as "the same old tax-and-spend Democrat."

When the president campaigned for the stimulus package at the start of his presidency, he and others in his administration repeatedly insisted the investments would go to "shovel-ready" projects -- projects that would put people to work right away. As recently as August, however, local governments were still facing delays spending the money they were allocated from the stimulus, CBS News Correspondent Nancy Cordes reported.

While Republicans have cast the stimulus, and most of Mr. Obama's other policies, as failed initiatives, the president told the Times he expects more cooperation from Republicans after the midterms.

"It may be that regardless of what happens after this election, they feel more responsible, either because they didn't do as well as they anticipated, and so the strategy of just saying no to everything and sitting on the sidelines and throwing bombs didn't work for them," he said. "Or they did reasonably well, in which case the American people are going to be looking to them to offer serious proposals and work with me in a serious way."

[2ndDivisionVet]

Well, that's it then. We're taking back the Senate.

[cripplecreek]

That’s a torch and pitchfork ready project.

[JohnBovenmyer]

I liked Rush’s comments that with his Medicare Advantage cuts Obama is treating seniors as shovel ready projects! Gov. Lamb must be proud of him.

[Myrddin]

I want the money back that was spent on all those "shovel ready" projects. That includes the money illegally diverted into leftist political organizations. All of it. Even if it bankrupts the parties that took it illegally. They won't have need of the money in prison.

[therightliveswithus]

Just two years too late.

[Nachum]

The list, ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[Responsibility2nd]

Shovel ready???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kevslisababy]

Trying to follow his arguements anymore just makes my head spin. I cannot believe there are too many left in this country who think that he doesn’t have a problem with reality and the truth. There are just tooooo many instances.

[Dragonspirit]

Obama lies so much.

He promised to work for Campaign Finance Reform, and then opted out of federal matching funds for his election because he could get more money that way.

He promised “shovel ready projects”, and now admits that there is no such beast.

LIES. LIES. LIES.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I don’t think he ever gave up coke.

[SandRat]

[2ndDivisionVet]

Mm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

Yes!
Mmm, mmm, mm
Barack Hussein Obama

[Steely Tom]

The thing is, there's really no substitute for competence in a President. That's what I really meant to say. That stuff about "shovel-ready projects," why, I don't know who came up with that, I don't know what I was thinking back there. I must have been tired. I must have been... I don't know. Anyway, that's not what I meant to say. What I meant to say was this: "there's really no substitute for competence in a President." That "shovel-ready project" stuff, just forget that, I don't know what was up with that. "Compentence in a President" is what I'm talking about.

[WAW]

AMEN.

[Spok]

He arrogantly as much as admits that he lied. He has a hard-core base that really doesn’t care what he does, and the MSM refuses to report it or criticize him. His open duplicitly is truly phenomenol.

[elpadre]

the first Stimulus was destined for the national infrastructure - Interstate Highway system and more.

Why wasn't it used as promised.

There is plenty of Stimulus money remaining from the first to do much of the work needed. Why is Obama holding it back?

Is it to be used for the 2012 election?

Don't answer - we know!

[alecqss]

Another empty slogan going down in flames.

[alecqss]

I want the money back that was spent on all those "shovel ready" projects.

You'll get change.

[ontap]

so the strategy of just saying no to everything and sitting on the sidelines and throwing bombs didn't work for them

He didn't want the republicans to help because he thought this idiocy was going to prove him to be the second coming and he didn't want them to get any of the credit!!

[rightistight]

What a loser