Wednesday, July 22, 2009

20 questions for the President that should be asked, but won't

These won't be asked as long as the media continues it's love affair with the President. [Link]
President Obama is scheduled to hold a press conference tomorrow (Wednesday) evening at 8 PM EDT.
I hope the questions are better than the one asked by Jeff Zeleny of the New York Times at the President’s 100-day press conference on April 30th:
During these first 100 days, what has surprised you the most about this office, enchanted you the most about serving in this office, humbled you the most and troubled you the most?
In case any members of the White House press corps are looking for more rigorous questions focused on economic policy, I offer the following for your consideration.
Economy
  1. The U.S. economy has lost 2.64 million jobs since you took office.  The unemployment rate is 9.5% and rising.  The good scenario is one in which the unemployment rate begins to decline early next year.  The Vice President said your Administration misread the economy.  You said you had incomplete information when proposing the stimulus.   Yet you have said you would not change anything about the stimulus if you could.  If the facts have changed, why doesn’t it make sense to change your policy?
  2. Last month’s jobs report was the first since you took office that was worse than the prior month.  Do you think the economy is getting stronger or weaker right now?  If the next jobs report gets still worse, will you re-evaluate the need for a change in fiscal policy?
  3. Do you maintain your promise not to allow taxes to be raised on people earning less than $250,000 per year?  Will you insist that health care legislation conform with this commitment?
  4. Chrysler and GM have exited bankruptcy.  Are U.S. taxpayers done subsidizing these firms?  What is your exit strategy from taxpayers owning much of GM and Chrysler?
  5. You proposed spending money from the TARP to prevent foreclosures, help small businesses, and to buy toxic assets from banks.  In June CBO said they had found no evidence that any money has been spent for any of these programs.  How many foreclosures have been prevented, how many small businesses have received loans from, and how many toxic assets have been purchased?

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