classic !

damned if you do and damned if you dont !

my advice is stay as far away as possible when it comes to YOUR job and politics !

So, to hell with department policy.

AnaBanana-1782128

Are you saying that the black DCFD Chief is a RACIST?

Yeah, what the hell, it's only rules and policies. Screw them they don't apply to the loser in the White House, why should they apply to anyone else.

Oh... Obama is the Commander in Chief of the MILITARY. NOT the local Fire Department. Of course if he want's to change jobs, I'm sure the Chief DCFD is more qualified than Obama, so I'm for it!!

Issue of policy, not racism. The firefighters work for the city, not the union. Unfortunately, the union thought they were in charge.... When they show up at an event in uniform, they are representing the Fire Department and the City, not the union. Unfortunately they paid attention to the Union and not where their pay comes from and associated employment policy and protocal. Does this make the Fire Chief wrong for calling this to their attention?

There are unknown questions that need to be know before someone can express a final opinion.

1. Were these people being paid as part of their duty day, or were they all there on their day off?

2. If on duty, approval by their commander would clearly be required.

3. What is the general practice for approval for a firefighters to appear in uniform at political or other non department event? (being asked to go to the White House should be considered an honor by all Americans, however police and fire departments are 'very structured' and I an sure there is a culture of requiring approval for any public appearance made while wearing your uniform.

4. As for discipline, that will depend on the actual facts. Most likely a simple reminder to all firefighters as to what the rules actually are is probably enough to address the issue. Just based on the limited facts presented it does not appear the rules (if there were any) were well known.

No, AnaBanana, not so much. Invite the firefighters, have them sit in the front row. That's an honor.

Standing behind the president that has very few firefighters in his federal budget, while he outright lies about sequestration meaning fires won't be fought - that is political theater that DC employees just don't need to be part of.

Discipline will be up to the Chief DCFD and whatever rules apply as you note.

However, I know a number of DC PD and FD. They ALL note that they need to be very cautious (similar to myself when I was a federal employee) about "appearances" and indicated unless sanctioned it was against department policy to wear their uniforms at ANY event unless previously approved. The only exception was attendance at a funeral of a fallen comrade.

AnaBanana,

President Obama is "The Commander in Chief" of the military. He is not "The Commander in Chief of the country".

Actually, he's the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, NOT civilians. Similarly, military service members are prohibited from appearing at political rallies in their uniforms. And members of Congress cannot just show up at military establishments for photo ops.

More importantly, they were being used a props, nothing more. There are NO FEDERAL dollars that if cut mean their jobs are lost.

The cancer is Obama.

Ellerbe says none of the firefighters are facing termination, but added one of those involved is a woman who is new to the department and still on a probationary period.

So is that a forecast that the woman firefighter will be let go because she stood with two male co-workers to support their President?

Since when was it a questionable activity to support the President of the United States?

AnaB played that racist card without knowing the color of the fire chief in question.

Hilarious.

So If you disagree with the President your a "racist bigot", thanks for that info. I thought I was only an American!

If a firefighter, thinks they can wear their uniform to any event they want, anytime they want without permission from their employer, then they are dumber than a sack of rocks and should be terminated just for that reason alone. Whether or not they want to admit it, when they wear that uniform, they are representatives of their employers.

Let us use something this PC society never wants to use, common sense. If these same people wore their uniforms to a KKK meeting would you think the same? I am pretty sure they would not. If you cannot see how the EMPLOYER has the right and the obligation to review ANYTHING and ANYWHERE that uniform is going to be used, then there is nothing that would convince you.

Most, if not all, uniformed public employees are prohibited from appearing at political events or in political advertisements in their uniforms. If the first responders were being honored for something, that would be perfectly acceptable. To be used a props or appear in support of a politician or policy is against the rules.

Since the request to appear came through the union, rather than through the administrative chain of command, it's easy to follow the common sense logic that they are there as political props.

The greater question is whether or not these first responders would actually be affected by sequestration. My guess is they are merely wallpaper to sway the opinions of those who are uninformed.

Note he picked firefighter in the first place....gee wonder why? usually its cops, oh wait ...bad press....Its a union payback that simple.

If they had been wearing their street clothes in the role of private citizens then there would be no issue with this.

Perhaps a hefty fine levied against the union would curtail this sort of illegitimate activity by uniformed civil servants.

NO they should not have appeared. LA Scooter really had the right idea political pay back to Public Sector Unions.....

The GOP are nothing more than Racist clowns that brought our Nation disgrace !!!

The democrats are already making fun of "Cuban" Rubio. Guess its okay to do that BUT do not make fun of Obama or you will be labeled a racist. Love the double standard.

Screw the CHAIN OF COMMAND.

Just get the union on the phone.

Props are needed.

I wonder if they were on the clock.

I wish he would stop using people as a backdrop whenever he makes a speech. Especially children.

It seems the allegiance of the PUBLIC UNION members in the District of Columbia FIre and EMS is to their benefactor president and union rep and not to the people they swore to serve - the DC residents who actually pay their exhorbidant salaries and lifetime benefits. I’ll bet some even got paid overtime to act as props.

I sure hope there were no local emergencies while they were getting their makeup applied or posing with the president as he read off his teleprompter. Of course if there were an emergency, I’m sure Mr.Obama would assure them all that the the theatrics involved in warning of the "catastrophic" effects of the sequester he designed was infinitely more important, even if their supervisors or someone in a burning inferno might disagree. It’ll be interesting to see if any of them are actually disciplined for their insubordination. If they are I guess the president can always pardon them. On the other hand he got what he wanted from them. Why bother?

I didn’t witness the spectacle live as I was working. Unlike PUBLIC UNION employees, if I as a PRIVATE SECTOR employee don’t work I don’t get paid. If I don’t get paid I can’t pay federal taxes. That’s a fact I’m sure Mr. Obama would find even more catastrophic than the sequester.

The press photo is interesting however. I can’t help but notice there are no latinos in the picture but there are two and a half blacks, including the president prominently featured. Did someone screw up the optics?

Just goes to show you what depths to which the man will stoop to push his personal agenda. He has used everything from children to troops to push his agenda of demeaning the Republican Party. Unfortunately we are stuck with him for another 47 months. Just think about that, all you people who voted for the silly jackass.

Oh, yeah, quick! Someone pull the race card on him for making all the destructive comments he has made about Senator Marco Rubio. I guess the only minority group in this country is the half-blacks.

This reminds me of an old Sci-Fi movie I just saw. you want to yell at your T V " Don't go in there! It's going to get you!" But no one listens. They just keep marching to their doom.

This argument is comical. This kind of photo-op is common political practice - for both sides. Does anyone think it influenced people? Certainly nothing for anyone to get their undies in a bunch over.

So, this is NOT noteworthy news.

Mr. "Drama" Obama ALWAYS has someone as a prop in the background. The folks his "staff" picks are the ones Mr. "Drama" Obama always says that the legislation he is pushing for passage or for denial will either hurt or help them. Maybe the "props" are in the background to divert America's attention away from the SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM (him at the microphone).

Yep, do away with all the props. We have enough at Mr. "Drama" Obama's photo-ops in the way of teleprompters. Heck, he cannot give a speech to kindergarten kids without the teleprompter.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AnaBanana-1782128.....Way to go BANANA.....first poster and used the word "racist". Now that is the way to win your argument. Just showing your true "colors".

This is total bullsh!t. What's wrong with standing up for your president if you believe he is good for the country?

There is always a bunch of cry babies willing to throw some dirt on our president.

Good ol' Dubya sure had his fair share of photo ops with plenty of firefighters. Any one here remember 9/11/01? Oh, but I forget when it's a socialist, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 signing, (privatized profit, socialized losses) conservative president then that is acceptable. What the heck? "Mission Accomplished."

Anna like ALL lefty's can't wait to scream racism!!

Very strange coming for the left the party that fought FOR SLAVERY!!

tjohn_missouri:

I think most Americans would agree that 9/11 was a real catastrophe, not one ginned up by a pathetic president who is so obviously incapable of leading the nation. I would also assert that president Bush informed the commander of those NYFD firefighters where they would be and that all those standing with him were proud to do so.

Your attempt at equating President Obamas theater with President Bush rallying the nation at ground zero demonstrates how truly blind obama worshipers like you are, and what a pathetic president he truly is.

These firefighter were there on behalf of the union, not the department and as such had no business being in uniform. Anyone who wears a uniform knows that you are not supposed to wear your uniform to participate in any political event unless it is officially sanctioned by you command. The appearance of the firefighters was requested of the firefighters union by the Obama camp. It was completely improper for them to appear in uniform under these circumstances. Had Obama wanted the DC firefighter represented as part of some function the request should have gone the the fire department chain of command, not through the union.

I think most Americans would agree that 9/11 was a real catastrophe

timothy, the economy and lower standard of living left by the Bush administration was the true catastrophe! It's a disaster that has ruined many more Americans than 9/11. The obstructionism of the last 4 years by the Republicans/conservatives, along with their fairy tale "trickle down economics," rates right up there with it. Since the conservatives will burn down the entire nation and have been willing to see the financial well being of the American people stay in ruin (where are the jobs the conservatives promised during the 2010 mid-terms?) what's the difference when president Obama tries to rally a nation to achieve economic recovery/stability? Oh no, that's not what you want to see, is it? For you it's like waging war in Iraq. Untruths, distortions, lies and ignoring the obvious.

tjohn, the unemployment rate was good under Bush until the last year of his tenure. The housing debacle caused by Barney Frank and friends did not help matters around 2006-2007.

The standard of living in the US is much worse today. Record number of people on food stamps, record number of kids living in poverty. High unemployment continues, housing market is still a mess, gas prices continue to rise, the Middle East is a joke.

Jo Ann, spoken like a true conservative. "It's all Barney Frank's fault." My bad. Predatory lending, credit default swaps, lack of regulation and a boat load of other outrageously bad, greed based behavior didn't play any part in the collapse of the economy now did it? The conservatives are raising nine kinds of hell about Obama's debt but they weren't screaming then as they are now! Why? Not when the Dubya administration cut taxes, handed out $600 checks from the treasury (twice), put 2 wars, nation building in Iraq and Afghanistan, Medicare Part D, and almost a trillion dollars in socialist taxpayer funded bailouts of Wall Street and banks (privatized profit and socialized losses) on a credit card. Why is that? It's okay if Dick Cheney wants to declare "deficits don't matter," but let Barney Frank enact legislation, or elect Obama for a second term and now it's all the Democrats fault. Jo Ann, please, go peddle that line of horse hockey to the Palin/Bachmann/Akin worshipers of your party's base. The American people are not buying into the warped, twisted, hate-filled, ugly tone ('that makes her a slut!'), logic/agenda the conservatives continue to spew.

Hey tjohn__missouri, The debt Clock is hanging on the wall in the Reagan Library for all to see, Republicans can't hide the truth, the writing on the wall !!!

tjohn:

I realize that facts don't matter to liberals like you but George Bush warned of the impending housing bubble collapse and tried to enact legislation to prevent it but Barney Frank and his liberal buddies swore everything was just fine. Guess he and they were wrong eh?

Funny how you bemoan the predatory lending and credit default swaps of those greedy 1 percenters but your messiah hasn’t prosecuted any of them. In fact your messiah hauled in $20 million from those same financial, insurance and real estate industries during the 2012 campaign. Think there’s a connection? Maybe its all a coincidence but then maybe you should review the resume of his Treasury Secretary designee, Jack Lew:

“Before joining the Obama administration, Lew worked at Citibank, and in 2007 he took over the bank’s Alternative Assets program—which lost most of its assets as it bet on the downfall of the housing market. In 2009 Lew left Citi to join the Obama administration after pocketing a $940,000 bonus, just as Citi was receiving a $45 billion bailout and Treasury Secretary Geithner was administering a stress test to the bank”

Then there’s that $56,000 in cash Lew stashed in a tax free Cayman Island account. The same Cayman Island accounts that you libbies trashed Romney over. Talk about hypocrisy! I guess one could argue that Lew is just upholding the Obama standard set by his former treasury secretary, tax cheat Timmy Geithner who somehow forgot to pay $34,000 in federal taxes. Why isn’t he in jail?

There are less people working now than when George Bush left office. After more than four years of of TRILLION dollar deficits the unemployment rate is higher than when Obama entered office, as are gas prices, food prices, taxes and spending. Conversely there are more people on food stamps and other forms of government assistance than anytime in our history. Somehow I think that is how people like you and Obama measure success. Yes I remember now, Obama loves the poor and unfortunate. So much so that he created millions more of them

....but your messiah hasn’t prosecuted any of them.

timothy, the Dubya administration and the conservative controlled House hasn't pursued any criminal charges/indictments either. What's your point? That the conservatives are just as terrible as the libbies?? (Messiah, huh?? Sounds like a Rush Ditto-head.)

The same Cayman Island accounts that you libbies trashed Romney over

The conservatives support these off-shore accounts. It was acceptable (and defended by conservatives) for Romney during the campaign but now you blast Lew for it. Now that's true hypocrisy!!

Before joining the Obama administration, Lew worked at Citibank

Just like Henry Paulson who was chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs from 1996-2006!

Paulson was nominated on May 30, 2006, by U.S. President George W. Bush to succeed John Snow as the Treasury Secretary. On June 28, 2006, he was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve in the position. Paulson was sworn in at a ceremony held at the Treasury Department on the morning of July 10, 2006.

Paulson identified the wide gap between the richest and poorest Americans as an issue on his list of the country's four major long-term economic issues to be addressed, highlighting the issue in one of his first public appearances as Secretary of Treasury.

but Barney Frank and his liberal buddies swore everything was just fine. Guess he and they were wrong eh?

In April 2007, he (Paulson) delivered an upbeat assessment of the economy, saying growth was healthy and the housing market was nearing a turnaround. "All the signs I look at" show "the housing market is at or near the bottom," Paulson said in a speech to a business group in New York. The U.S. economy is "very healthy" and "robust," Paulson said.

In August 2007, Secretary Paulson explained that U.S. subprime mortgage fallout remained largely contained due to the strongest global economy in decades.

On March 26, 2008, Secretary Paulson said in remarks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “As we work our way through this turbulence, our highest priority is limiting its impact on the real economy. We must maintain stable, orderly and liquid financial markets and our banks must continue to play their vital role of supporting the economy by making credit available to consumers and businesses. And we must of course focus on housing, which precipitated the turmoil in the capital markets, and is today the biggest downside risk to our economy. We must work to limit the impact of the housing downturn on the real economy without impeding the completion of the necessary housing correction. I will address each of these in turn. Regulators and policy makers are vigilant; we are not taking anything for granted.”

In May 2008, The Wall Street Journal wrote that Paulson said U.S. financial markets are emerging from the credit crunch that many economists believe has pushed the country to the brink of recession. "I do believe that the worst is likely to be behind us," Paulson told the newspaper in an interview.

On July 20, 2008, after the failure of Indymac Bank, Paulson reassured the public by saying, “it's a safe banking system, a sound banking system. Our regulators are on top of it. This is a very manageable situation.”

On November 18, in testimony before the United States House Committee on Financial Services, Secretary Paulson told lawmakers, “There is no playbook for responding to turmoil we have never faced. We adjusted our strategy to reflect the facts of a severe market crisis always keeping focused on Congress's goal and our goal – to stabilize the financial system that is integral to the everyday lives of all Americans.”

On November 20, 2008, during remarks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Secretary Paulson said, “We are working through a severe financial crisis caused by many factors, including government inaction and mistaken actions, outdated U.S. and global financial regulatory systems, and by the excessive risk-taking of financial institutions. This combination of factors led to a critical stage this fall when the entire U.S. financial system was at risk. This should never happen again. The United States must lead global financial reform efforts, and we must start by getting our own house in order.”

In 2009 Lew left Citi to join the Obama administration after pocketing a $940,000 bonus, just as Citi was receiving a $45 billion bailout and Treasury Secretary Geithner was administering a stress test to the bank”

The Goldman Sachs benefit from the AIG bailout was recently estimated as US$12.9 billion and GS was the largest recipient of the public funds from AIG. Creating the collateralized debt obligations (CDO's) forming the basis of the current crisis was an active part of Goldman Sach's business during Paulson's tenure as CEO. Opponents argued that Paulson remained a Wall Street insider who maintained close friendships with higher-ups of the bailout beneficiaries. If passed into law as originally written, the proposed bill would have given the United States Treasury Secretary unprecedented powers over the economic and financial life of the U.S. Section 8 of Paulson’s original plan stated: "Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency." Some time after the passage of a rewritten bill, the press reported that the Treasury was now proposing to use these funds ($700 billion) in ways other than what was originally intended in the bill.

There are less people working now than when George Bush left office.

When Bush left office the workforce was losing 800,000 jobs a month. Go ahead, try to place blame for that on Obama. Realists know the cause. Republicans just want to falsely lay blame (just like invading Iraq) in hopes some of the American people will buy into it. (But they aren't.)

Again, the conservatives and their supporters like to deny, distort, and lie about their own records like Paul Ryan saying he's a fiscal hawk (even though his record clearly shows that he voted for everyone of the debt accruing, deficit spending bills that brought about the economic collapse, massive debt and socialist TARP). Nobody is blameless. But to attempt to put all the blame on Obama is plain wrong and a lie!

tjohn:

All the Too Big To Fail banks have benefitted from the bailout while the community banks were largely ignored. Why do you think that is? Just look at the revolving door of overpaid execs from Goldman Sachs, Citibank, Chase... You blame Bush for hiring hem but don't you realize Obama is doing the exact same thing?

Certainly Obama inherited a mess. You forget that Bush inherited a mess too. Maybe you have forgotten the Clinton Tech bubble that popped as he was leaving office. The economy was sliding into a recession. Nine months into his term Bin Laden’s fanatics obliterated the world trade center which paralyzed the country for months. Bush had to build a counter terrorism pretty much from scratch because Clinton had let them atrophy. But guess what , the economy still GREW under Bush.

I have my gripes about some of the things Bush did and the easy credit the Fed provided under Greenspan. But one thing Bush never did was blame Clinton for what he inherited. You may forget that Bush had to contend with a democrat Senate and House during his last two years of office. Leaders lead and unite, community agitators agitate and divide. Agitators conduct serial photo ops with kids, cops, fireman... and then blame someone else for four years of no leadership and the resulting 7.9 % unemployment, trillion dollar deficits, chaos in the middle east...

WTF people....they stood with him...so what...why must the haters all make a conspiracy out of everything political...maybe, just maybe he asked...they said yes...maybe they didn't ok it with their boss...I wouldn't have either if given the chance...no wonder everything in this country is so misguided and confusing...no one will take it for what it is...just something that happened...

Who cares?

Nope, just a regular d$%bag. They come in red, blue and every other color there is.

Nope... He's a black Democrat. But HE is the boss of the DCFD... NOT, I say again NOT Obama.

"NOT, I say again NOT Obama." (In the voice of Foghorn Leghorn)

Actually they are employees of the citizens of the city of Washington D.C. Unless it is a volunteer dept. or it is federally funded or subsidized, that would open a whole different can of worms.

This isn't the wild, wild West. Please drag yourself into the 21st Century.

tryreality, sounds like you haven't walked the streets of Chicago lately. Now there's a liberal model city for you. The murder capitol of the world and Obama's home town.

Lanikai Ron,

Get your facts straight. Murder capital is in the deep south. Not Chicago. Check out the stats of New Orleans. Five times as bad as Chicago. Come armed with facts next time not fiction. In fact the murder capital of the world isn't even in the country.

PLEASE tell me difference between New Orleans and Chicago besides geographical locations.

Both predominantly black and both Democrat.

Barry, you introduced the sequester idea. You signed it into law and threatened to veto any legislation that would have eliminated those same cuts. It's your baby Mr. Obama. Own it.

As for the female firefighter who decided during her probationary period to use her position as a public employee to advance a political agenda, she better get back to work on that resume. That's day one academy stuff right there.

Something else about the deep south Ana, of the 10 states leading the increase in manufacturing jobs, most of them are in the deep south. Nine out of ten of them are right to work states. Obama says he's increased manufacturing jobs by 500,000. He fails to tell you that those jobs have been created in states that are business friendly and mostly Red. I know Ana, how dare any state be business friendly. Gotta go now, have to cash my paycheck. Yep I said paycheck. Some of us aren't sitting sitting around waiting for our government checks. Hard to believe, isn't it?

AnaBanana- You may want to get YOUR facts straight before calling out others. New Orleans is the per capita rate murder capital of the US, with 57.6/100,000. Chicago comes in at 16th, with 15.9... certainly not 5 times less than New Orleans. But if we look at raw numbers, Chicago had almost 2 1/2 times as many actual murders as New Orleans (430:200). And I agree with XDm, the top 10 in per capita rate are ALL Democrat-run hellholes. By the way, only 2 of those 10 are in the deep South, New Orleans and Atlanta.

The Republicans on the whole are like Rush Limbaugh and hates the democracy we have here. Rush says hes ashamed of our country WELL WE ARE ASHAMED OF RUSH so he should move to some country like North Korea . We don't need him here in a dempcracy.He is no patriot but a bigotted dope head why people would even listen to such a fool .

Back to school Clayton-548726 The USA is not a democracy it is a REPUBLIC. There is a huge difference. I am proud of anyone who works hard and has success, Rush included. I would have to say your parents and grandparents and great grandparents would be ashamed of your comments. You should re-evaluated your life, you have real issues. Do something to better your life. Look at yourself in the mirror. Find some help, talk with your minister to find some hope in your life. I wish you luck.

So clayton, how did you feel when ms. obama said for the first time her a$$ was proud to be an American. You libs forget crap like that and then cherry pick a few words out of several minutes of why rush said that. YOU DA

hURRAH for the Municipalites, states and Fire departments NOT paid by BIZZARROBAMA who are taking his Bobble heads to task.. What is next for the Chicken Little after Woodward to day in the WASH POST accused the INEPT of LYIG about CUTS???.. it seems that the WEASEL or CLOWN IN CHARGE is finally Overplaying all of his lies and EVEN MSM is waking up to FACTS!

~~~

Here is the left's love !
The <b>perfect</b> poster child for the policies of the left and Obama is Detroit.

<b>Nearly Half Property Owners In Detroit Failed To Pay Their Property Taxes Last Year</b>

#comment-809528707

Democratic government, unions (especially public sector unions) and the left have combined to DECIMATE [as in nuclear bomb] a once great American manufacturing mecca with their leftist “utopia” tsunami of failed BS !

~~~

Because they purported to REPRESENT the DCFD in uniform. They had neither the authority nor permission to do so.

Hey Chief, I think that you have forgotten your protocol. If you really are a retired chief then you of all people should know protocol. You would never let your subordinates run over you like this, would you?

The description of "uniformed personnel" should be changed to UNINFORMED PERSONNEL. The guy that they are standing behind created and signed SEQUESTRATION.

Sequestration was created and agreed on by both sides. It was hoped by congress that if sequestration passed, congress would be forced to work together on the budget. Now with only a week until sequestration begins, congress is on vacation, pointing fingers. Put the blame where it belongs: not only with the president, but with the democrats AND republicans in Congress who are screwing us. Especially in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Nothing new here Sadden. After voting for Obama in'08, I was called a racist bigot by many of these empty headed liberals when I spoke out against Obama's policies that I had a problem with. As long as you get in line with them with their noses up Obama's okole, you're one of them. If you dare to have a contrary opinion than theirs, they pull out the slander and namecalling. Can't have an intelligent conversation with most of these clowns.

Did you notice the hypocricy when Obama went golfing with Tiger? Tiger moved from his home state of California to Florida to avoid having to pay state income taxes. I thought Obama didn't like those nasty rich folks that don't open their wallets so the slugs of our society can keep theirs in their pockets.

You guys forgot your tinfoil hats.

You're completely unable to explain with credible evidentiary support exactly how the President is "destroying" the country. You just spout Faux News propaganda, without understanding it.

I defy you to provide credible evidence.

And where was your indignation when Dubya Shrub came into office with the biggest surplus in history, and then started TWO unfunded wars based on lies he told to the American public, gave tax breaks and subsidies to the wealthiest corporations and individuals, and left office with the largest deficit in history, the lowest stock market in history, the highest unemployment in history, and the biggest housing bust since the 1930s?

You only applaud freedom of speech when it agrees with your speech.

If you don't like my country, then get out. I hear Afghanistan is nice this time of year. Delta is ready when you are.

How can you claim to love America when you clearly hate the average American?

You sir, are far from average. I salute you for being the true fringe kook. Evidence? Here is a little. 16+ Trillion debt with no effort made to address it from the administration. Continued expansion of entitlements, knowing they are doomed to failure unless reformed. Affordable health care merely adds to the problem.

I wont re-hash your MSNBC critique of Bush. He did much that I considered less than conservative, such as 1 Trillion prescription drug benefit. As for two unfunded wars, Afghanistan was in response to 9-11 (remember?) There was well over 85% of congress and the people behind that adventure.

Obama has carried much of Bushes policies regarding security and until recently tax cuts. Why do you suppose that is? Maybe because they work? Na, I didn't think you would agree.

Now there's an intelligent comment from one with his nose up Obama's okole. Bush was no hero of mine, but your Democrat buddies in DC were a huge part of all of those bad things you are wringing your sweaty hands over. Democrats played the major role with regard to the policies put in place that caused the housing bust. Democrats including both Clintons were calling for action in Iraq before Bush even knew where the closest bathroom to the Oval Office was. Obama has foisted the largest tax increases in history on the American people. Obama increased our federal deficit more than Bush did in just half the time. Perhaps you should wean yourself off of MSNBC for awhile. I voted for Obama, but in short order, he proceeded to split this nation down lines of race and class like no other President in my 44-years of voting. Obama's policies require more and more of everybody's money in order to be successful. And you thought only the rich were going to pay higheer taxes. I know nothing about you. I was a Democrat back when Kennedy said, "Don't ask what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." If John Kennedy were alive today, he'd be a Republican.

Isn't it wondeerful how liberals can just re-wright history on the fly? Bushes deficit was NOT the largest in History or even close but Obama now has that honor. he almost tripled the deficit in 4 years from what Bush had. The last time our country was in as bad a shape as now was the great depression. We still aren't out of the woods on that one yet. Turning the country to sociallism isn't exactly what I call being a Patriot. Socialism is a proven worldwide failure in taking care of people. The only people that benefit from socialism are the ones in charge. There has never been a Democrat in power that the country ultimately grew and made more people self suffiecent. The Democrats are the party of slavery and when slaverly ended they create social programs that in turn kept the minorites in slavery to the governement. The last Democratic president that would have made a difference form other Liberals was John Kennedy andhe was killed for it. he was a conservative and should have been a Republican except for the family he would have been. He deffied the Liberals when he said "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country". 180 degrees from the typical Liberal agenda. Johnson's "Great Society" has spent over 1 trillion dollars and yet there are mor people living in poverty now than ever before. Now that program is working well. someone is geetting rich but it isn't the poor. I could go on and on about why Liberals are bad for America but then Liberals are so open minded that it would just go in one ear and out the other, notihng in between to stop it.

I would like to comment on that whole 'Bush surplus' thing. The actual surplus was just a government 'projection' for the future based on 'the assumption' that the economy and taxes received would continue at the same level that was occurring at the end of the internet boom.

There never was a giant pot full of excess money at the start of the Bush Administration. It was only a 'theoretical' pot of money, based on 'assumptions' that did not occur. The internet boom was starting to slow toward the end of the Clinton Administration, and 9/11, and the associated impact on the economy finished off any hope for having the projected surplus.

There were many questionable political actions taken by both houses of Congress and signed into law by the President starting with certain easing of home purchase rules that were signed into law by the Clinton Administration and continued by Congress and the Bush Administration.

Some of the trillions in projected debt could be wiped out if jobs and the economy really turned around.

Ihateliberals this one is for you. Bush's 2009 deficit that he signed off on and Obama inherited was $1.6trillion and is the largest deficit in history, you are forgetting that Bush borrowed $700 billion to pay for his bailout of the banks.

John Kennedy, you would consider him a socialist by your standards, since he had a 90% top tier income tax rate on individuals while he governed. Bad example.

If you vote for Republicans in hopes of balancing the budget look somewhere else.

Republicans governed the WH for 20 years between 1981 and 2009 and signed off on 20 deficit ridden budgets during their tenures. Voting for a Republican President in hopes of balancing the budget is the equivalent of placing a large wager on the Generals against the Harlem Globetrotters because the Generals are "due for a win" after losing the last 5,000 games to the Harlem Globetrotters.

I actually was honestly shocked the Republicans want to make the debt an issue when their party has been so piss poor at balancing the budget.

You guys even had a majority in the House, the Senate, and the White House, between 2003 and 2007, and a decent economy to boot (unlike Obama) and didn't balance the budget ONCE.

If American's liked how Republicans govern from the White House, Bush wouldn't be considered a complete failure of a President, and McCain or Romney should of won. Y

Also for the record, Obama isn't a socialist, he would be a moderate Republican 30 years ago. Bernie Sanders on the other hand is a socialist. Seeing how you got your panties in a bunch over Obama, Im willing to wager that you'd blow your brains out if Bernie Sanders ever got to be President, then you would truly know what a hardcore leftist American politician is. Bernie is very often to the left of Obama, as hard as that is for you to believe. He just seems far to the left, because the Republican party has swung so far to the right, but infact Obama is actually much closer to the middle than you are.

I know you got this on drudgereport, you drudgies are very factually challenged individuals and live in your own personal bubble. Was probably a bad idea for drudge to link you guys to a site with some people with an opposing point of view from the drudgies.

2009 deficit also includes the stimulus package added by Obama after he was elected. That alone added another 800 billion and stimulated nothing but paid back Obama campaign supporters. If the head of the UNion knew and approved their appearance you would think he would also know what calls to make to be sure it was OK.

David-3368606---As long as they are in their uniforms it makes a big difference. When they have their uniforms on they represent the departments and cities they come from. They should have worn regular attire.

a "sin" lol!!!!

Yep it says in the bible that appearing with the black president is a sin doesn't it.. Yes it is a sin if you happen to be a bible thumping republican !!

Do you think the dope smoking, flag burning radicals of the 60's became conservatives? I'll bet most of them are the democrats/socialists/liberals of today.

Actually, contrary to popular belief, ESSENTIAL personnel are EXCLUDED from the effects, if any, of sequestration.

Essential personnel include Police, Fire / EMS, high security clearance guard forces to name a few.

Unfortunately there are a great many people that buy into the fear factor spouted by the C-I-C whose job it SHOULD be to calm the people..... NOT make them fearful. But Community Organizers don;t understand that.

I don't know about that. I'm a federal correctional officer and a high security federal prison and we've been told that if the sequestor happens we will be furloughed. Correctional officers are considered essential and we're getting unpaid time off. Where are you getting your info from? Obama is an idiot but so is every politician in DC, I can't stand any of them.

The firefighters can be seen with whomever they want, in "civilian" clothing. They just can't purport to represent the DCFD in UNIFORM without going through proper channels.

What is so difficult to understand about that?

Who said they were paid I'm sure they were proud to have appeared with Obama.?? The election is over Obama Won You are an idiot Mike. He is the commander in cheif and not an imposter you fool. Go ask the Generals who their commander is.

Yeah... let anyone decide what they want to do when they want to do it right?

There are rules in place for a reason.

Obama is NOT Chief DCFD. PERIOD.

Those individuals, IN UNIFORM, purported to represent DCFD. There is one person with the authority to do that and it's NOT Obama, regardless of how much that annoys you.

Do you know that over 50% of all food stamp recipients are white? Actually the exact number is 63%. So i guess he is using all of us dumb whites. Maybe we should apply for the sag card as we already collect over 6/10 of the U.S. food stamp distribution. Point is.... What does food stamps have to do with anything other than being another poorly managed government program that (by the way) is used mostly by 63% of us (whites).

No worker of any organization shall in no way represent an organization without its full approval. While it is an Honor to support the president (NOT BLACK ONES) you can understand the reasoning of the Chief.

The political arena has never been so tense and dysfunctional. I believe that most whites will tolerate black people but not a black president. The Republicans made it clear that the primary goal is not help the country but to make sure the president fail and that my friend is a shame. So for all of the reading above about bush's surplus and Obama's deficit i say stop listening and start reading. Our problem is congress not any of our presidents.

I voted for Bush once and Obama once and i finally realize that it really doesn't matter. Get rid of figure heads that ultimately have no power and let us deal directly with our countries real problem. "CONGRESS"

Blacks make up 12 of the population but 36% of the welfare cases. Get your facts straight.

Here it is:
The racial breakdown of food stamp recipients is as follows:

41% white
36% African-American
18% Hispanic
3% Asian
2% Native American
1% unknown race or ethnicity

Southern Sam is 100% correct.

What I believe that Southern Sam meant by the statement that "Firefighters Have Nothing To Do with Sequestration" is that the Majority of the Firefighters in the USA are NOT Funded by the Federal Government.

Most Fire Departments budgets are received from local taxes/impact fee's paid by Home Owners and Business Taxes.

Just a hint to also let you know that the old line of telling a FF or Cop "I pay your salary!" in many cases unless you own property or a business in that district...Well you probably don't pay their salary as you pay no property tax. Never Tell a cop that in any case... It does not matter to them if you have violated the law.

Yes it is True...Obama the "Chicago Community Organizer" is using anyone and everyone that he can (as he always does) to pull on the heart strings of voters that can be fooled by his lies! Great at reading teleprompted speeches, and divide and conquer to win his way. Mobsters have used those tactics since Al Capone. he was so good at doing what BO is that they had to arrest Al on tax evasion because they couldn't nail him any other way. Good ol Chicago poly-Tic's!

Fact: Any time you are in uniform as a public safety employee, you are representing that Department.

Isn't that exactly how you viewed them when you saw them in uniform? Absolutely it is and in this case that is exactly how it was supposed to appear... as ON DUTY Fire/Rescue Personnel behind the same President that is on audio/video stating he wanted the Sequestration not long ago.

Obama was also reported by others to have said that he doesn't have to compromise or give anything on the budget because he is the President. What arrogance!

The only real job the President is supposed to do is to "Keep Us All Free" by Protecting the US Constitution and Part of doing that is to Work with Congress to Balance the Budget. Not Trump them in a power hungry ego play! Even though Chief Ellerbe is right on this policy, both he and Obama have the "Love to Feel In Charge" bug. Always have and always will is my bet.

Personally I liked "Scare Tactics" much better when Shannon Daugherty was hosting it...Not Obama.