McCain is being such a jerk because he has made a career of it. He is penurious and his values have been formed by a lifelong Republican ethic. He has no appreciation that some of so-called pork projects are scientific in nature and worthy. That's why during the campaign he made such a big deal out of one earmark for studying bear DNA.

McCain is erratic, has temper fits, takes positions before he thinks, and otherwise goes off in tangents. The voters sniffed this out about him and rejected his bid for the presidency.

McCain has been a media darling...actually considered to be very ethical and honest. They failed to see that his staunch positions were driven by lack of insight and fool-hearty bluster. He actually borders on being a buffoon in my book.

David Sirota hyperbolizes the scary, unpleasant state we find ourselves in. With too many such articles bombarding us as opposed to more optimistic analyses coming from the media, we will only get a slower and shallower recovery. Certainly patience and hope are in order as well as resisting the temptation to turn negative. Solutions don't work instantly.

The GOP takes potshots at anything and everything that Obama puts into motion. This undermining is designed to destroy the recovery so that the country will go down the tubes. If Obama is successful, he will be reelected and they can't get back into power. Republicans are vicious, petty, and power-driven, but worse, they are completely wrong in their economic beliefs. Their thinking could easily sow the seeds of revolution.

Nothing will stop the terrorists from the right for misleading voters about Democrats. It is what got them into power and kept them in for twelve long, arduous years in the Congress and eight years in the presidency. They are past masters of the slur, and for a long time it worked until Bush bungled the presidency so badly even the conservatives were put out.

The GOP are trying to clean up their image and the Democrats are delightfully hanging Limbaugh around their necks. It is great fun to watch them duke it out and quibble that Rush is not the leader of the party...while they crawl around begging his forgiveness. Dear old Rush may not be the nominal leader but he illustrates perfectly the viciousness of spirit and heartless worship of the dollar bill which characterizes the party, not to mention his of prevarication.

As for Obama being asked whether he is a socialist...I am not surprised. The Times tries to kowtow to the right, along with the rest of the media. It is sickening, cowardly, and spineless...I could go on and on. I can't forget that The Times allowed itself to be a tool of the Bush Administration for getting us into Iraq. I wouldn't be surprised at anything they do.

Camille, I read a couple of paragraphs in which you made a little sense and then you got to Rush. I had to quit reading and I really wish you would simply go away!!!

If there is anything to complain about in Gibb's remark, it's that it might not be understood by too many Americans. Quite often, people don't pick up on clever quips...not that sarcasm isn't in order. I do not think that the Administration should allow itself to sound defensive when Cheney pops off because that is what the Republicans are after. On the other hand, the sting in witty replies is a perfect retort. However, they should be clear, very funny, and pierce the heart of the matter.

As for the pundits, they are giving the political gambits of the Republicans far too much air time and credence rather than questioning them as political rather than substantive maneuvers.

This article has enlightened me about the AIG flap, shedding light on the favoritism given the monied class by Obama's treasury people. It worries me, however, that Republicans are using the bonus issue to undermine and sabotage the entirety of the Obama Administration, its stimulus package, its budget which includes healthcare reform and energy independence, and Obama's competence as a leader. Rather than one mistake, the Republicans are branding the whole administration a mistake and are gaining traction by stirring up conflict with claims that government spending is fated to be wasted by people at the public money trough. I find myself thoroughly conflicted about the controversy. The House has passed its bonus legislation, but I doubt very seriously that the Senate will follow suit. This story is simply going to go on and on eroding the favorable outcome of Obama initiatives we have waited so long to get. I hope I am entirely wrong about this!!!

Not that Wall Street is to be trusted, but I do feel that Obama will make good decisions based on a rational approach. After all, he has the intelligence, backing, and wherewithal to pick the best people to help him make the proper calls for the economy. Surely, out of this is going to come some regulation on the financial markets and if it doesn't, then I will become concerned that Obama has been had by all those oligarchs Greenwald likes to write about. Moreover, it will be time to confront his failure to protect the American people.

From where I sit, the rising stock market is a good thing and I believe it has happened because of Administration policy. A lot of us small fry have a little stake in the stock market in one way or another...So far, I am pleased with the steps the new president has taken and the resulting optimism which has ensued.