I disagree that TARP saved the system from collapse. I believe that it was a hatchet where a scapel would have been more effective. I stand by the posts I wrote at the time entitled “Stop the insanity” and I think “Stop the insanity II.”

I understand Thune’s vote for it even if I disagree. I do agree however with the wisdom of Thune to unwind this program ASAP.

However, there is no intellectual honesty or consistency with regard to Johnson/Herseth. Stupid is the best term I can use to describe them. All other words are an attack on their character.

This is just a difference in our political philosophy. I’m guessing you believe that a completely free market will naturally balance itself out if the government gets out of the way. My philosophy sees government regulation as a way to move companies in a direction that can best benefit citizens.

I get the feeling that this is something we’re not likely to ever agree on.

John I will personally pay you to move out of our Country and move to your uptopia of government run worthless companies and private businesses, France?

That’s why I think it’s very important for our government to get involved with health insurance. At the very least, I want to see strong regulations on health insurance companies. But my ideal solution is a strong public option that can fairly compete with insurance companies and for that competition to get them to lower their prices.

In my opinion, the best way for our country to work is a combination of private companies and government regulations that direct those companies to serve the best interests of the people. Most corporations need to be motivated into doing something that may not be super-profitable, but will end up helping people. Republicans seem to live in a fantasy world where letting megacorporations run free with no rules will somehow not bankrupt the country. Try “no rules” on a 5 year old and see what happens.

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/12/06/business/20081206_METRICS_GRAPHIC.html

(I admit, however, that I was originally opposed to TARP. I was wrong. If it weren’t for TARP, things would have gotten much, much worse than they did.)

The stimulus is another thing entirely…

And, I praised TJ at the time and criticized JT at the time.

This was a bad idea at the time and is still a bad idea. It did nothing and is doing nothing. Let’s get the money back. And while we are doing it, let’s cancel the ill-advised, ill-defined, and counter-productive stimulus.

All the stimulus package did is prove that Obama is capable of being more clueless than Bush.

Together these two mistakes are impeding recovery and job opportunities for those unemployed (predominantly lower and middle class Americans).

If I had to say one thing dissapoints me is that The GOP is still leaderless. I don’t see one person who has taken it upon themselves to stand up to Barack Obama. I have not yet seen one person who embodies the passion I see from the average voter.

Maybe the only one is Sarah Palin. I think someone else will emerge in 2010 or 2012 but I don’t think it will be John Thune. He does not seem to be driven by issues. I still like him but he doesn’t seem to feel what the average person is going through. If he would’ve had the understanding he wouldn’t have voted for TARP under Bush. Lets just say I don’t know what John Thunes reason for being elected is other than he was a 100% better than Daschle. I like Thune don’t get me wrong.

Actually I’d say the only person right now is Newt Gingrich.

John voted FOR the TARP and Tim and Steph against.

Were any of you upset with Thune then?

Because he’s the one from SD who made TARP happen, not Johnson.

Or is this Thune’s way of telling us the economy is ok now?

Anyone believe that?

As far as ownership of GM, Chrysler, etc; we need to get out ASAP. It was and continues to be completely inappropriate for the government to have an ownership stake in a private company, particularly when their competitors don’t have the advantage of huge capital infusions from the Fed.