Newsvine Q & A: Chuck Todd on U.S. Politics

Thanks for asking Chuck.

I would like to know:

How will the White House deal with the Blue Dog Democrats who do not cooperate with the President in terms of reaching the goals he (Obama) campaigned on?

When will Habeas Corpus be reinstated?

If Bush 43 did authorize torture and was convicted, would President Obama pardon Bush?

Mr. President,

What is your plan for capturing Osama Bin Laden?

Mr. Todd,

"Enforcing contracts" is universally accepted as one of the tenets that determines a country's business viability. Disregarding the constitutional problems with punitive taxes, what kind of message would the breaking of AIG employees contracts send to those interested in doing business in the US, domestic and foreign? Furthermore, on a macro scale how does recouping 165 million dollars actually benefit the economy?

I'd like to know how he is able to tolerate you guys in the press making comments about issues you clearly don't know anything about. Especially people on 1600 Pennsylvania avenue and Pat Robertson. It's really a joke.

Please explain "toxic" assets in the following context by contrasting the following to the current housing crisis:
If I buy a new $10,000.00 auto with 10% down and financing at 6% APR for 60 months and I drive off the lot.....6 months later the open retail market on THAT used car is now $7900.00. Is that asset now TOXIC? Does that asset become more toxic as time passes even though I am reducing the principle? Shouldn't the focus be on keeping people in their homes and not worrying about the perceived value of homes? Why should the government establish a "bad bank" to buy up the banks' mistakes? Why can't we compell them to restructure loans by lowering interest rates and/or extending loan terms to 50 years until the market recovers?

Mr. President,

You say you are not going to raise taxes on the middle class but cap and trade has the potential to be one of the most pervasive taxes in history affecting the cost of nearly everything we buy. If your cap and trade law is passed how much will it raise the cost of living for average Americans and how will it affect the competitiveness of our businesses?

Mr. President,

Housing prices were inflated to unsustainable levels by speculation. Why not let them drop to true market value rather than create artificial support for the inflated prices with the homeowner bailout program? It looks like lower prices and low interest are starting to have a positive effect.

Mr. President,

Why do we have to rush through legislation without reading it? Isn't it more important to get it right than to get it fast? You're driving a ship not a jet ski.

Thanks for asking Chuck. Good luck.

What structural changes do you think are needed in the banking/financial system?

In 5 years time how is it going to be different from how it has been over the last dozen years?

What are you going to do to bring about these changes?

During your campaign you voiced your plan to take care of our veterans. Last night on Nightly News they announced your proposal to have private insurance take care of their medical needs to save the government money. Please tell me there is another side to this story.

Who killed a provision in the stimulus package that would have curtailed bonuses at bailed out companies? Even Sen. Ron Wyden, co-sponsor of the eliminated provision has "no idea" who killed it! Transparency, please!

I would like to know why insurance companys will not pay for alternative health care. We could save so much money preventing sickness than trying to cure it. I am 71 years old and I do not take any medicine. I go to a MD who trys to keep me well instead of making me sick by giving me 10 to 15 pills that have harmful side effects. Our government rewards drs who give the most pills and the most tests. I have to pay $98.00 out of my social security check and $140.00 for a supplement, and $40.00 for drug coverage which pays very little if I had to use it. Everybody always wants to help women who have babies out of wedlock and people on drug and alcohol who get free medical care, food stamps, free housing, but some old person who has worked all their life has to pay through the nose for medical care, when some of them do not draw $900.00 a month, and do not qualify for food stamps or free housing. What is wrong with this picture. I worked until last year at low paying jobs so why can't these same people work. Let them do something for their food stamps and welfare checks. I feel this would help our economy a lot.

I want to know why the US Army can send both parents of small children to war zones at the same time? My son and his wife were both going to be deployed at the same time to Iraq, not in the same unit or to the same area, leaving behind their 2 year old son. I, as his mother, had to sign and agree to a "Family Care Plan" which said that I would take responsibility for the child. While we as a family are willing to do what it takes to assist and support our soldiers in the protection of our country's rights and freedoms, this practice is appalling and many people wonder why it is allowed. I am curious as to the statistics of how many military families experience this situation. I am happy to say that in the end, my son's Iraq orders were cancelled, not because of his child, but his unit didn't have to go. My daughter - in - law served 15 months in Iraq, all of which were in Stop Loss. She was to have been released in JAn 08, went to Iraq in OCt 07, came home in Dec 08. Missed 1/2 of her little boy's life so far. What a sacrifice.

Please, let's stop this practice of taking both parents to a war zone at the same time...

Dear Mr. President,

While it is clear to most descerning adults in this country that wall street NEEDED this bailout to ensure a possible national recovery from thier irresponsible greed, have lawmakers considered the idea that national healthcare coverage would be a truly prudent and long lasting economic stimulus for every single person in the country? How many americans would be able to get out of debt if they werent paying rediculously overpriced medical bills and for equally ovepriced pharmaceutical cost? I hear people chanting anti-socialist reterict stating that medicaid and medicare covers the poor. I argue that they have no problem with the benefits they get from other "socialist" programs; Police forces, Fire and Rescue, Education! Mr. President it is time for common sense to overpower greed. If you want to stimulate the economy in a truly meaningful way it is time to overhaul our healthcare system. Life and good health should not go to the highest bidder that is inhumane.

Since President Obama has now "killed" the budget proposal for veterans to bill their private health insurance companies, and he has also explained the thought behind it, "insurance companies are gettting a free ride"...will he look at what AMVETS wanted to put in its place:

* Billings should be pursued more aggressively for injuries not related to service. A 2008 Government Accountability Office study found that about $1.7 billion in treatment that could have been charged to private insurance never was, nor was it collected by the VA.

AMVETS didn't get a chance to introduce their proposal on Wednesday.

Thank you for all of your hard work, Chuck - I'm so happy you're at the People's House!

Ok, I have one question here. Maybe two:

First one would probably be about the Treasury Secretary mainly. With all the news, speeches, and video, I don't really see where there is a trusted independent accounting of these institutions that are receiving tax dollars. Maybe it's assumed that an army of bookkeepers and accountants are marching into the places of business and going over things to see if they in fact, can find that the institutions really need the money. Moreover, with some of them owing back taxes, Uncle Sam can also track who owes them back now, and get some of the money back, plus interest.

I'm talking of a major audit here, one that say, the IRS can do in certain cases. In other words, a company wants tax dollars to bail them out. Well, company "A" has back taxes, but really needs a loan, so, we give it to them, but cut it by the amount owed us in tax plus interest, back to the Treasury. IE: I want one billion, but I owe 20 million taxes. Treasury gives them one billion minus twenty million (plus interest @ X%); So they get less than nine hundred eighty million dollars counting interest, plus they have to pay the net back plus interest at a future date. Sound fair? And is something like this already happening or going to be happening?

The other thing is discrepancies, If there is shady dealing or an honest mistake found by this army of tax auditors, then are they explained, cataloged, and put before someone to determine if there was any illegality to bring charges, or fines? If it was in the books already about an issue, then coming back saying "oops", would need to be clarified and accepted or rejected with a slap on the wrist. Is any of this in the works now, or in the future?

Fantastic idea. This is from alot of my massage therapy friends who are certainly not politically attuned. So here goes...There is an enormous number of the population that are termed the "Baby Boomers". These people have been affected by the economy the most, we feel, with everything we've worked for all of our lives gone, our homes gone, our small businesses gone, and now we need to go back to school to learn yet another career to be competitive in the "new economy" and rebuild something before we retire in the not-too-distant future. The President keeps focusing on young people, their contributions, their future, but what about us "college-bound new-economy-career Baby Boomers" that need the help funding our education? We try to apply online for scholarships and grants and are told immediately that we don't qualify due to the required age range (under 30) so how are we to pay for this new career's education when we have nothing left?

My question has to do with the Mortgage lenders/servicers that many collectively feel have created to HUGE economic empty housing crises. When mortgage lenders could have excepted properties from buyers who "were APPROVED" and buyers who "offered cash" with no qualifying needed, many lenders just said no. In talking and comparing stories, some of the $ amounts were as low as $20 to $30K short as well as at market price.(due property value dropping)We felt lenders (COUNTRYWIDE was top of list)this measure was done so that they would get INS Mortgage money to pay them the whole LOAN AMOUNT even if the value was no longer there.(just a thought) Because it made no sense to say no creating many empty houses and forclosures that DIDNOT HAVE TO HAPPEN. ? WAS PRESIDENT OBAMA AWARE OF THIS TYPE OF TATIC/PRATICE BEING DONE THAT HELPED CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOUSING CRISES? IT HAPPENED TO MANY WHO WENT INTO FORECLOSURE BECAUSE THE LENDERS "REFUSED".

I would ask President Obama how a "two state solution" in Israel/Palestine could ever be anything but Plessy vs. Ferguson in the Middle East.

Chuck, this might have been asked before but I have never seen an answer. While this might sound naive I would like to know. If all those billions of dollars that were given to the auto industry and banking institutions were to be evenly divided and distributed amongst all registered tax payers of 2007 that the economy would definately be stimulated. People would use this money to pay off their debt, purchase that new car, ect., ect., ect. This money would find its way immediately back into the system, the banks, small business, auto industry and so forth. While also providing a means for those out of work and such a much needed helping hand.

Thank you for the opportunity to at least ask this. I would really love to know that while very simplistic on the face value of this, why it wouldn't work.

Chuck,

Here is one that should have been asked during the campaign but never was.

Mr. President,

What law is it the rewards companies for outsourcing jobs? Has it been repealed and if not why not? Democrats have had control of congress for over 2 years.

Please ask the President how he plans to respond to the People's Republic of China, which is appalled at his flagrant spending package. Perhaps he will listen to his foreign investor, since he cannot seem to hear the domestic investors, the citizens of the United States to whom he was sworn to protect and serve.

I saw an article from a Washington, D.C. paper by Margaret Talev and it encouraged the average tax payer that their letters to the administration are actually received, read and responded to. With all the advice the President Obama receives from high-ranking, highly-paid officials, does he ever consider or look at the advice given by the average citizen, the one from the trenches so to speak? My daughter is both an army reservist and a government employee and in January I encouraged her to send a letter with her "money saving ideas" based on the things she witnesses day to day in these organizations. She sent President Obama a letter, VP Biden, Senator Harkin and Senator Grassley. Quite a bit of time has gone by and she's never received an acknowledgement of her letter by anyone. I looked at her letter, it wasn't complaining, it wasn't over the top, it was positive, helpful, do-able and wouldn't cost any jobs. Her money-saving ideas can only be utilized if someone at the top sees them, someone who has the power to see that average people have good solutions. Would you please ask President Obama if he would like a copy of her letter with her government money saving suggestions?

OK Here is my Question

I work for Postal Service (letter Carrier) the price of the stamp is going up again in May we are billions in the hole and they are harressing the HELL out of the working employees (not supervisors) for every minute we spend delievering the MAIL (example 4 minutes in the bathroom instead of 3) so on and so on.Mean while supervisors take 2 and 3 hour lunch breaks to meet someone in a MOTEL,or makeout with someone in there car in the parking lot

the list can go ON and ON.These are people who make $60,000.00 plus a year to answer phones and sexually harrass carriers create HOSTILE work areas and to TOP it ALL OFF the Post Master General GETS a $800,000.00 BONUS. Boy just like Wall Street CEO's.The postal service is going down the TUBES and it's just not because of the drop of mail volune but MISUSE of the POWER (Management).Hell I Can do a better job (pretty much lower the PRICE of the STAMP in 4 YEARS if given the CHANCE. So Please Ask the President to ask the Post Master general (CEO) why he gets a BONUS and his supervisors get payed real good for doing nothing .Not just my opinion and others that I work with

What is the stimulus and economic recovery plan going to do to help people like this:

"Earl Richardson's medications were running out, his feet were swelling and he felt a hard bulge in his stomach.

"His wife told him he couldn't wait any longer. He must see a doctor. It had been almost a year since the 56-year-old lost his tech support job after it was outsourced to India. He had gone without seeing his internist, dermatologist, dentist and optometrist for months because he could not afford costly COBRA health continuation benefits. With diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, Richardson knew the danger he faced but said times were tough."

And a question for you, Chuck Todd: When are your colleagues going to stop obsessing over trivial fluff driven by Politico-Drudge and take your jobs seriously?

I commend you for taking this one step in overcoming the White House press corps failures though. Let's see how you come through. Is this going to translate to what you address in your broadcasts? Or are you going with the fluff-of-the-day?

Chuck,

Re: Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in Iraq

This issue has been bugging me for a long time, and I've yet to hear any forceful response from President Obama. I fully support him, and feel like we've been granted a huge breath of fresh air. However, from what I've been reading, there is enough money being wasted right now, today - let alone what hath been wrought over the last 8 years - to put a substantial dent in the deficit were it to be stopped immediately.

"Mr. President, there have been countless reports of fraud, waste and abuse in Iraq, and claims that these crimes are draining the treasury as fast as, if not faster than, some of the bailouts. When are you going to take a definitive public stand on these outrages, appoint someone that has the integrity and horsepower to investigate and expose to the light this criminal raiding of taxpayer dollars, report back to us what waste is being stopped right now, and what you intend to do to prosecute any crimes that are uncovered and recoup our wasted money?"

I would suggest the Vice President, who would lend enough White House power to accomplish something fairly quickly, to lead the enquiry and demonstrate the committment required to really kick !@# and take names.

We deserve, and should demand, this immediate accounting.

Thanks, Chuck

Honestly Chuck, they don't care about the same things you news folks do. The people I know don't care about whether or not its okay for Obama to keep his sense of humor in every difficult times, whether or not Axelrod and Geithner are agruing, if Dodd or Bernanke was the one who removed the bonus restriction from the bill. The media has largely trumped up one tired imaginary fight over another because the narrative was easy to play too. Its poor journalism and frankly, Chuck, we deserve better than that. We see the same one or two headlines played OVER AND OVER AND OVER ( I LOVE Keith O but his show is based on that premise!) and we wonder who cares about us? Things go on all over the country that aren't about AIG or the octomom but we don't get to hear about it because you all are only covering the one story of the week.

Okay...so the question was what we'd like to ask the president....

We the people, out here in the heartland, want to know what we can do to help aid in the recovery. We've heard about the three legged stool and the big bailout and the push to get lending going. But we want to know "What can I do, here, without big bucks behind me that can help to get things done?"

I am WAY upside down on my mortgage, on a house I just bought a year and a half ago. I have never missed a payment. I have never even been late. My loan isn't owned by Freddy or Fannie. How will your plan help me?

Dear Mr. President,

Would you be willing to work for $1 a year until you reach your goals for reducing the deficit? P.S., I don't agree with everything you've done so far, but I think you're doing a great job and I am very proud to have you as my president.

small businesses nead loans, not tax breaks

Chuck, thanks for asking. As a small business owner who has had to lay off half the work force: Small businesses do not need tax breaks, they need loans. Any small business who is paying taxes in this environment is doing well. They are making a taxable profit in the worst economic times in nearly a century. These people do not need help. Small businesses need loans to keep the doors open until the strorm passes. We have been here for almost 40 years. Thank you.

Credit card companies charge outrageous interest rates.

Reasonable, ethical interest rates would free up money to help people pay their mortgages, buy food, get health care, etc.

What will you do to cap credit card interest rates?

When you campaigned you said that you would provide students with the option to have their college tuition paid for if they committed to a certain number of years of community service. When will this be implemented and how will it be implemented? Through the Dept of Education. This would be a wonderful grant funded position funded by Perkins grants for community colleges. Or possibly you could get the Gates Foundation to fund these positions.

2. Once the recession/depression is resolved, what is the plan to reduce the national debt?

Thanks for asking Chuck.

Has there been any suggestion of putting the AIG bonus money in escrow accounts for the intended recipients - to start to be distributed as the economy recovers?

It would help me to think that they were earning it (well, sort of) - and might give them incentive to help fix what they helped break.

Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Todd. Here is a question I wish I would have been able to ask President Obama during the campaign or transition.

Mr. President, presuming that more Federal spending is necessary to combat the ongoing economic crisis, would you support plans to use the Federal government’s market power place to sway policy—for instance, instead of simply bailing out a failing automotive company, pay them now for 100,000 electric cars to be delivered in 5 or 10 years, or instead of paying a failing bank directly, creating a program to repay specific loans amounts for specific individuals?

Chuck: Iowa Supreme Court is ready to decide within days if they will uphold a decision by a lower court that overturned one man- one woman marriage. It allowed my partner and I after being together 30 years to actually marry in Iowa (we had a 24hr window)... now that hinges on the Iowa Supreme Court. My Question is: President Obama, you said you would like to see DOMA (defense of marriage act) overturned. When can we expect that and are you still on to do that? If you did it would allow states that marry same sex couples to be recognized in other states. Mark Kassis, Ames, Iowa

I don't have a question but a comment for the President.

I was born in Iran, and I need to let the President know that Iranians love to haggle. Even if you give them the lowest price that they have ever seen, they would still haggle with you. Just FYI.

Chuck, maybe you can turn this comment into a question.

My son has type 1 diabetes and can't afford health coverage or the durable medical equipment he needs. I help him, but there are so many who don't have someone to help. What can you do and how soon can you arrange help for those who are screened out by underwriting and have minimal financial resources? The state program under which he is covered pays only a fraction of his durable medical equipment.

I'm retired. My spouse will reach age 62 in January. What changes to Social Security are you intending to implement that may affect her decissions concerning retirement?

Chuck: Those of us between 60 and 64 years of age who do not have employer-provided health care are denied individual health care coverage because of even a minor medical condition. If we are lucky enough to be approved because we are in absolutely perfect health, the premiums are outrageous and we cannot afford them. Our only hope is to live in perfect health until age 65 when Medicare kicks in.

Why can't those of us between 60 and 64 who cannot afford to buy private health care be allowed to buy into Medicare until age 65 when we qualify because of age?

Thanks for your help in taking these sort of issues directly to the President.

Mr President: Are you in agreement with the Remdition policies of former

President Bush--what will you do with inmates at Bangram AFB in

Afghanstan

Hello Chuck, Thanks for this opportunity. I am a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the State of California, in Oakland CA. I support persons with disabilities to get into the work force. Due to our State budget problems we now have a mandatory two day furlough per month to save money. And I may be laid off in the new fiscal year. So myself and my colleagues are "sacrificing", granted it is a State problem.

So I am wondering if Federal employees have "sacraficed" and also do Federal employees including elected officials pay a portion of their medical insurance like I do. If they don't, they could like most Americans with medical insurance and this would save money for our federal budget and would be the fair thing to do.

Best to you,

Rosemary Weimer

Someone needs to address the issue of usury laws. Apparently in Bush's bankruptcy laws, the maximum interest allowed was abolished. Now people are receiving notifications from their credit card companies that their interest rates are increasing from around 9% to 23.99% AND MORE! And this increase is not based on default or late payments, but on the "chance" that these cardholders MIGHT default. This should be illegal. What can the President do about this?

I am Native American, so here is a question that has zero chance of getting asked. What would you do if there were a country with a dictator who received billions in economic aid due to treaty obligations? Had corrupt gambling operations which raked in billions more. And they had no transparency in government and no freedom of the press?

It would be front page news in this economic crisis. The Abramoff scandal was the tip of the iceberg. Unemployment in the US is approaching 10 percent, in Indian country it is twice that. And yet not a peep from the national mainstream press about the corruption, the disenrollment, the arrests and banishment of community activists who are trying to do something about all this.

Mr. President, are you going to direct the US Attorneys to vigorously pursue the prosecution of tribal leaders and private investors who are siphoning off billions in much needed revenue from Indian Country gaming operations? And will you support the establishment of a free and independent Indian press so these kinds of problems can get a proper airing before they happen again?

Remember, Barack Obama is not only the first African American president, he is the first president who is a member of an indigenous tribe, the Luo of Kenya. President Obama has more Luo tribal blood (one half) than 80 percent of the enrolled Cherokee have Cherokee tribal blood.

I know it has zero chance of being asked, but someday, sometime, someone will hear us. Maybe the first tribal president should be given a chance to answer those questions and help us get FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN INDIAN COUNTRY!!

How does the President regard our space programs, specifically NASA? How does he plan to expand NASA's programs and funding, if at all? Does he feel their funding will drop, rise, or remain the same in light of our country's financial issues? Were President Bush's aspirations for a manned flight to the Moon by 2020 still a priority for NASA and the Obama administration? What about Mars? And beyond?

Let's hope he's familiar with the Prime Directive...

Mr. President--

Many of the financial companies needing government/taxpayer help have been called "too big to fail". And yet many of those banks and financial institutions have merged as a result of buyouts and efforts to save those companies. How will we deal with financial institutions that are even bigger--what will happen if those become wholly insolvent? Some of the banking success stories have come from smaller regional or local banks that knew their clients and didn't swap loans and look at customers as a number--shouldn't we be striving for smaller banks, not bigger ones?

With the recent bills passed costing hundreds of billions of dollars running up the national debt even further, it is painfully obvious that one of these days we will have to start paying down the deficit through taxes.Your administration knows better than anyone that the more money you have, the easier it is to find loop holes.

What will you do to make our taxing system more efficient and hold citizens accountable for their equal share?

Thanks!

I have a question regarding Obama's energy policy. I live in southern California and want to install photovoltaic solar on my home. While the state rebates are good here, the federal support for PV systems has always lagged way behind, only covering a portion of a system much smaller than most people would want to install, while California's rebate system allows a resident to size the system to the amount of energy the home actually uses. Is there a change coming in the federal rebate structure? An increase in support of this clean energy would boost the number of green jobs in our depressed economy here in the Coachella Valley and provide support to an overwhelmed electric grid. We have well over 300 days of sunshine here, and would like to use that to help ourselves and others. And we're interested in installing a vertical axis windmill as well, but the current rebate would be very minimal if present at all since we first want to do solar. Is there an improvement to these programs coming?? We have many neighbors who are asking these same questions as well. Thanks.

I am concerned about the risk of the not so new "toxic debt" plan.  The upside is contingent on so many variables. And while the upside would be significant if the plan succeeds and Wall Street would be very happy, the current amount of money involved may not be enough and failure would mean long term devastation.  Why don't just buy the bad mortgages like FDR did?  If we make a profit, "YEAH". If we lose, we lose only a percentage of the debt, not exponentially more that the cost.

The President 's Making Home Affordable Refinance plan requires that the homeowner's loan be guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. What about all the other home owners who have sub-prime loans; would like to refinance, but the loan is "underwater"; and their mortgage is not guaranteed Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac?

What are the odds that a resurgent, religious right faction in the Israeli military could pose a nuclear-armed threat to Mideast security?

Hi Chuck,

Please ask President Obama, why are you refusing to allow charges to be brought against Dick Cheney and the others responsible for committing war crimes?

This is fundamental to your integrity and the integrity of this country. Not to mention the rule of law.

Thank you.

WHEN are you going to prosecute Bush, Cheney, et al., for their war crimes?

war crimes: Bush and Cheney

the questions is not if, but WHEN will you stop blocking the prosecution of war crimes for torture. Are you just waiting for a convenient time as Jonathon Turley suggests? You took an oath.

Has there been any suggestion of putting the AIG bonus money in escrow accounts for the intended recipients - to start to be distributed as the economy recovers?

It would help me to think that they were earning it (well, sort of) - and might give them incentive to help fix what they helped break.

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for doing this. I have a question regarding the economy that I think most of the media, and the administration, seem to have ignored during the first two months of Obama's presidency. Here goes...

Mr. President, you talked quite a bit on the campaign trail about a renewed call for service and participation from ordinary citizens. However, that call has been acutely absent from your administration since taking office. At the same time, many Americans feel helpless as to their own personal economic situation, let alone that of the nation as a whole. Given the current state of the economy, what can ordinary citizens be expected to do in order to participate in turning the economy around?

Allow Americans to Directly Invest in Our Country . . . AGAIN by Re-Invigorating the U S Savings Bond Program!

In the past . . . during previous wars . . . there were bond drives to fund those wars and to fund the national defense. This was the basis for U S Savings Bonds. When I was a young child and young man . . . I participated in payroll savings plans to invest directly in our government through U S Savings Bonds. At that time, the interest rate made this investment worthwhile (5 - 7 %). . . and it made it easy for ALL AMERICANS . . . AT ALL INCOME LEVELS . . . TO INVEST WITHOUT A MIDDLE MAN .

I would love the opportunity to invest directly in our government, reduce the defecit, fund the initiatives to bolster social security, medicare, education, infrastructure, energy and to ultimately rebuild our nation's economic system . . . and I would like the government to provide me with that opportunity once again by re-invigorating the Savings bond program so we don't have to sell our debt to over seas investors.

I am retired USAF officer w 4 grown children in OH. 10 of my grandchildren are under 14. Any guidance or hope to offer them about their future? What I want to tell them is get as much as you can, any way you can because if you don't, those that live that way will be in charge. They will be too big to fail and you won't like what they do. I won't say that but wondered if you had a more positive message.

Why, specifically, will President Obama not allow President Bush and Vice President Cheney be charged specifically with war crimes. They violated the Geneva Convention, and by President Obama not allowing prosecution - isn't he also violating the Geneva Convention?

chuck;

the administration reported on the bonuses to aig last week when they were aware of them weeks if not months before. since they knew, why did geithner, senator dodd, almost the entire house AND the president think it was necessary to lie to the american people? that's right, chuck, they lied. why?

My question would be based on Jonathan Turley (Consitutional expert) on WHY Obama is "dialoguing" with Cheney on the merits of Bush/Cheney Torture policy vs. prosecuting the previous administration for WAR Crimes??? As Mr. Turley said, "We don't need a truth commission", we need to prosecute crimes. President Obama took an oath to do that.

Can you ask him why he does not view this as a duty?

We are in the final stages of developing a hardwood pellet manufacturing plant to make wood pellets for wood pellet stoves by Sept 2009 in Maine using biowaste wood chips & saw dust. This small business will create 25+ jobs and reduced the use of foreign oil. We have large & small buyers for the wood pellets already jumping to be first in line (they are in high demand) BUT we are having trouble getting the necessary funding. How or will the economic stimlus program help us and if yes..where do we look ? Designated local banks ?

We are in the final stages of developing a hardwood pellet manufacturing plant to make wood pellets for wood pellet stoves by Sept 2009 in Maine using biowaste wood chips & saw dust. This small business will create 25+ jobs and reduced the use of foreign oil. We have large & small buyers for the wood pellets already jumping to be first in line (they are in high demand) BUT we are having trouble getting the necessary funding. How or will the economic stimlus program help us and if yes..where do we look ? Designated local banks ?

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I have heard that you are blocking efforts to prosecute members of the Bush administration for war crimes. Is this true and, if so, why?

Question to President Obama:

What was the basis of your decision to appoint William Donaldson to your Economic Recovery Advisory Board given the fact that he was appointed by his fellow Yale Skull & Bones member, George W. Bush, to head the SEC during the critical period when he should have been regulating the meteoric rise of his fellow Skull & Bones cronies such as the #1 & 2 hedge fund managers Edward S. Lampert and Steven Schartzman, not to mention actively ignoring the Madoff whistleblowers? Isn't Mr. Donaldson the epitome of a crony guarding the financial house?

Note to Chuck: Please look into the facts presented above. Can it really be just a coincidence that so many Skull & Bones members suddenly became unimaginably rich under William Donaldson's term?

Mr. President,

The Bush administration refused to join the International Criminal Court, withdrawing in 2002 from the Rome Statute which had previously been signed by Bill Clinton. You seem to support it; when it issued an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir, a spokesman for your National Security Advisor stated: “We support the ICC in its pursuit of those who've perpetrated war crimes. We see no reason to support deferral at this time." Will you support US membership in the ICC, and if so, will you commit to not interfere with any potential investigations of US war criminals?

Hey Chuck,

The growth in the economy over the last, oh, say 10-15 years, has been paralleled by a growth in personal credit card debt, which makes it look to the untrained eye that the middle class faked a chunk of the economic growth by cavalierly putting it on plastic like the next round of drinks. "This one's on me!" At the same time, the banks who (pardon me while I change metaphors) put a giant juicy worm on the line by offering outrageously high credit lines to people who can't afford it, and have set the hook with interest rates jacked up to as much as 29%, making it less and less possible to make payments and pay down this debt.

While I understand completely the desire to help students pay student loan debt, and homeowners restructure their mortgages, I don't hear anywhere near the same public outrage at the banks who, with one hand, are getting TAXPAYER MONEY from the bailout, and with the other hand, getting taxpayer money in usurous finance charges and late fees. Will Obama work to put a cap on interest rates for credit card debt for companies getting bailout money? Will he work to restrict the obscene credit offers made to people who can't afford it? Last I checked, usury was a "bad thing". Is it not still?

thanks - Laurie Feinswog

If I were to ask my friends what's on their minds, I'm confident it would be something like this: "Why are you [President Obama] retaining Tim Geithner?" Actually, I'd love an answer on that myself. In fact, I'd still love to know why the President hired a Wall-Street insider in the first place.

Today I saw Jonathan Turley make an excellent point on the Rachel Maddow show. Dick Cheney and George W. Bush have unequivocally committed war crimes in their support and continuance of torture as a method for reducing the effect of terrorism in the world. Or at least that's their excuse. I would like to ask Obama why he has not held them responsible for these heinous and unacceptable war crimes, especially in light of his recent comments about Dick Cheney on 60 minutes. Thank you.

Mr. Todd,

My question to President Obama would be:

Mr President, why have you not directed Attorney General Eric Holder to assign a special prosecutor to investigate alleged torture and domestic spying and any other criminal activities by President Bush's Adiministration?

Do you believe you have a constitutional duty to do this?

Are you planning on upholding your constitutional obligation to do this?

When can the people of this nation expect this very important action to begin.

These are heinous and unpatriotic acts that should not be tolerated. There are questionably many more constitutionally questionable policies or acts that need to be investigated, but these are the two I cannot believe you have not acted on.

Mr. President,

Why are you standing in the way of appointing a special prosecutor to investigate the probable war crimes of the Bush administration? Did you not take an oath to uphold the law? You need to do this because it's the only right thing to do. Maybe you don't want to dwell in the past, but the law is simply the law. Ignoring the crimes of the Bush administration is tacit complicity and the world is watching.

Julie Ross & David Zimmerman

When will President Obama address the student loan situation in this country as he has the housing/mortgage crisis? Like many, I borrowed money to pay my college tuition. I was encouraged by my financial aid office to take out private loans at adjustable interest rates (sound familiar?) to supplement government loans and grants. When I graduated from college, my loans totalled $64, 000. Six years later, because of the market's increased interest rates, I now owe almost $90, 000 and that's AFTER I've been making regular payments since graduating. I can't buy a home or get a car loan because my debt to income ratio is too large. I'd ask President Obama to prevent unscrupulous lenders from misleading students and encouraging them to take on more debt to pay for school than they will ever be able to repay; if we can afford bailout money for the banks, can't we put more money into education? Thanks!

Mr. Todd,

My question to President Obama would be:

Mr President, why have you not directed Attorney General Eric Holder to assign a special prosecutor to investigate alleged torture and domestic spying and any other criminal activities by President Bush's Adiministration?

Do you believe you have a constitutional duty to do this?

Are you planning on upholding your constitutional obligation to do this?

When can the people of this nation expect this very important action to begin.

These are heinous and unpatriotic acts that should not be tolerated. There are questionably many more constitutionally questionable policies or acts that need to be investigated, but these are the two I cannot understand why you have not acted on this.

Thanks for asking:

Ask President Obama: Can bad mortgages Primary Residencebe be treated different from Secondary (investment) mortgages. These are the main part of the mortgage mess that can use the most help. For example if your troubled mortgage is from your Primary Residence these should be allowed to refinance at t fixed current lower interest rate and for the Current market Price...not the inflated price they paid. By doing these you are TRULLY helping a REAL home owner and not a speculator or FLIPPER

Why has there not been a special proscutor appointed to deal with the war criminal (tortures and detainings) issues from the past adminisitration? Isn't it better that we recognize and punish wrong doings with our own then wait for them to arrested and dealt with in foreign countries? I know it is an unpopular thing to have to face, but breaking the law and not honoring our constiuttion, (as in the previous administration) the foundation of the U.S. government is unacceptable behavior and should not be exonerated .

Please ask President Obama:\

Why not bring back the ability to deduct the interest rate you pay on your Credit Cards and your Car Loan in your income tax as we used to be able to until Ronald Reagan remove this?

Since there is so much credit card debt out there, and with the car companies are tanking...these deductions will help the tax payer...pretty quickly

Please ask President Obama...

If your job is to protect and defend the constitution, why then aren't you pursuing Vice President Cheney for war crimes - many legal minds see this as a clear cut case and your administration seems to be blocking this effort.

BTW Chuck - I worked on Obama's campaign for nearly 2 years, was a precinct captain and maxed out my personal donations.....this is really important to many of us who worked hard to get the President elected. Its a matter of principle and I believe a matter of national security since it would telegraph to the world that we say what we mean and mean what we say when it comes to us being a nation of laws rather than a nation of ideology.

Bailout money to banks to trickle to businesses to trickle to hirees. This is another trickle down theory. You promised trickle up during your campaign. How about programs akin to CCC and WPA; hire people directly instead of government to businesses, banks, and insurance consortiums in the same old trickle down approach? Eccles said deficit spending was good during a recession/depression but not trickle down in direction.

Q2 When will your law degree and experience teaching constitutional law finally take precedence over political expediency; in other words, when will those who tortured be brought to justice so our nation does not look like it condones the acts of war criminals?

Dr. Anderson

Q1 Bailout money to banks to trickle to businesses to trickle to hirees. This is another trickle down theory. You promised trickle up during your campaign. How about programs akin to CCC and WPA; hire people directly instead of government to businesses, banks, and insurance consortiums in the same old trickle down approach? Eccles said deficit spending was good during a recession/depression but not trickle down in direction.

Q2 When will your law degree and experience teaching constitutional law finally take precedence over political expediency; in other words, when will those who tortured be brought to justice so our nation does not look like it condones the acts of war criminals?

Dr. Anderson

This is from the Blue Mug coffee and networking, morning idea validation, working group.

Is any consideration being given the initial cost, maintenance cost and disaster survivabilty of distributed, residential and regional power generation vs centralized mega power plant generation, long haul transmission over a huge and vulnerable grid?

There are merits to both, but shouldn't we be shifting to a more individually empowering approach for our future?

My friends and co-workers would like to ask the following question of President Obama.

"I believe the following question is not one of left or right, red state or blue. I would like to know why still, even after the Red Cross has confirmed that we used tourture on captives under our care you refuse to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate any crimes commited by the past administration. If you say we are a nation of laws, how can we not follow our obligations to international law?"

Mr. President: Please explain to average Americans why they should support a bailout of our nation's banks with their tax dollars when many of those same banks are gouging them with 32 percent interest on their credit card balances because they were three days late on their monthly payment?

3/23/09 9:40pm

Dear Mr. Todd,

Here is my question for President Obama:

“The New York MTA recently announced a fare increase for NY City Subway and Bus riders. In the Omnibus Spending act, over $2.5 million dollars was earmarked to build a Ferry Terminal Building in Glen Cove, NY. The cost of this Ferry Terminal Building will be $32 million dollars and it may help 200 very wealthy commuters. (Or $160,000 each.) No Ferry company has announced that it would be willing to actually operate a Ferry Service from Glen Cove to Wall Street. Wouldn’t it have been a better use of money to help the MTA rather than to waste our hard earned money on a Ferry Terminal Building?”

(1,700 of my neighbors have signed a petition in opposition to this proposed development.)

Thanks for reading this.

Pat Tracy

Mr. President:

Are you going to appoint a special prosecutor on war crimes committed by the Bush administration, and if not, Why Not?

Thanks for this opportunity, Chuck

Here's my question for President Obama:

Fundamental to our society, economy, political system is the presumption that most people are honest. The foundation of our "home" is broken. People don't trust bankers, investment firms, our political leaders, and even the clergy. Selfishness and greed are at the heart of the problem. Mr. President, what are you going to do to let we, the people, follow the money? We need complete visibility and transparency (on the internet) for every dollar that flows to the benefit of every elected official in any form in every way from all sources. We must also have full reporting of every dollar being spent (and proposed to be spent) by our government, including all "earmarks" however they're disguised.

There is a broad and growing populist anger and disgust -- a complete distrust of our system and our leaders. What I'm describing will require a strong will to say "no" to cozy players, offending many insiders, for the greater good. You cannot fix any of the many problems you face (we all face), Mr. President, until you build a crystal clear pipeline through which we can see all of the money moving into and out of Washington. That's the only way you can succeed -- by healing public confidence in the integrity of the system. Will you give us that lens?

Thank you for listening.

Joe Wleklinski, Elmhurst, IL

President Obama,

What are the benchmarks to determine if the stimulus and bailout funds are having their desired effects? If this is not known how will we know to stop injecting more funds / trying other ways of turning the economy around? If these are in development who is developing them and when may we expect to see them.

Thank you.

Mr. President can you please explain to us how our economy failed? Who is responsible for stock and bank deregulation. Why was this allowed?

How does selling the "toxic assets" or "legacy assets" package differ from the bundle of bad loans wrapped up into investment instruments that AIG developed and sold and which got us into this mess to a large degree? Is it just a matter of the guarantee by the the government? Thank you.

Where's my relief? I'm upsidedown on my home in Chicago that I purchased in 2006, 115% loan to value, yet I've never missed a payment or even been late. I can't get any mortgage company to even discuss refinancing so that I can at least lower my interest rate.

I'm 53 and my long term savings are worth about 50% of their original value and I fear I don't have enough time to rebuild my savings before a decent retirement age. I'll probably have to work until I'm 70 years old.

I am the backbone of this country, and I'm getting killed on multiple fronts with nowhere to turn. My single financial blessing is that i do have a good job and I'm not worried about getting laid off.

What kind of help can Americans like me expect?

Enough of the daily tv appearances. When are you going to start governing, not running for the next election. We need leadership and good governance not politics as usual. The economy is job one, two and three and just because you can multi-task does not mean that you are getting the job done for the biggest problem devastating this country.

Madison, WI

Mr. President:

Although you have attempte to provide relief for homeowners who are current on their mortgages, the banks are all indicating they do not yet have enough guidelines to implement these loan modifications. What more is the treasury going to do to get these banks to modify the loans for the non-delinquent homeowners - who if not helped may soon join the ranks of the delinquent ones.

Mr. Todd Here is my question for President Obama:

I work as a Nurse providing health care to undeserved children in inner city Oakland, California. My hospital struggles to keep its doors open every day, as we pledge to provide care to all children.

In California, as you know our State's budget is lacking billions of dollars. Deep cuts are being felt all across the state. My question to you Mr. President, is why do the children always seem to take these cuts first? School budgets and spending on children's health care are almost always at the top of the list to be cut. Are these children not our future leaders, and the voters of tomorrow? How can these young minds and bodies not be worth cultivating, and investing in? How will you protect them from future budget cuts?

Thank you.

Erin,

San Francisco

My question to the President would be:

Dear Mr. President,

Can you please provide a comprehensive list to the voters of this country which lawmakers, regardless of party affiliation, are on record of voting NO to any form of healthcare for the children of our nation.

I think this would be a good starting point for the discussion of affordable healthcare for all citizens of the United States of America.

Thank you.

Kathy

Chadds Ford, PA

Mr. President,

Why does the COBRA Continuation Coverage Assistance Under The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act only apply to people who lost their jobs and health insurance after September 1, 2008? What about all those people who have had to pay the huge COBRA premiums since before last September, during a time when they can least afford it? Many of these people are forced to choose between their health insurance, their rent or their groceries.

Health Care.

The new budget asked for $400 hundred or more billion to start the process of universal coverage. My question is this. If the average family spends $12,000 and single person spends $6,000 for coverage, the total spent by everyone is in the area of $1,350,000,000,000 per year. (6,000+12,000)/2 times 150,000,000(U.S Population covered ?)PER YEAR. If all this went into one fund, I cannot believe that everyone in the US could not be covered. Why not have a single payer system, eliminate the profit and cover every one. We pay taxes for the police, fire, army. There is no profit in these systems, just taxes to cover the cost. Eliminate the medical insurance, substitute a tax (probably) will be cheaper. John MaCCain complained that your health would be between you and the government. His plan is between you and private for profit companies. I'll take the government.

I would like to know why illegal aliens have a right to receive Social Security? The rest of us have paid into SS all our working lives and it does not seem right to just give it to people who really have no right to be here.

I don't care about our economy... people are working on it. I don't care about mortages, housing crises, bank failures or bailouts... people are working on it. I don't care about healthcare... people are working on it. I don't care about any of the 'in the news, in the front of everyone's minds' crises because people are working on them. There are enough people already asking those questions and so what difference would another question about those things make?

What I want to ask the President AND HEAR HIM ANSWER about is this...

How he will repair the damage done to the US Constitution by the Bush Administration. I don't care about his desire to only 'look forward' because he is trying to build a house on a damaged foundation and such as house cannot stand no matter how inconvenient it is that the foundation is damaged and it wasn't your doing. I want to know why he is not actively and agreesively appointing Special Prosecutors to investigate and charge everyone in the previous administration who broke the law, was corrupt, violated their very oaths to 'preserve, protect and defend THE CONSTITUTION (not the nation, The Constitution'. I want to know what kind of precedents is he allowing to be created by letting an administration leave office and bear no responsibility or penalty for their actions and decisions. I want to know how a teacher of Constitutional Law can allow the Constitution itself to remain damaged and the damage not be addressed because it is inconvenient or would be difficult. HIS OWN oath of office obligated HIM 'to preserve, protect and defend THE CONSTITUTION'... in fact, the ONLY two things a president specifically swears to do in his oath of office are to "FAITHFULLY execute the Office of President' and to 'PRESERVE, PROTECT and DEFEND The Consitution'. By the very oath he is obligated to take by the Constitution itself, doesn't that make addressing the damage done by the Bush Administration TO The Constitution his highest Constitutional obligation AS President? I want to know why he doesn't have any interest in preserving, protecting or defending The Constitution and investigating and indicting those who committed crimes against and violations of The Constitution.

THAT is what I want the President to be asked about and what I want to hear him address.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Chuck,

I have wondered why, in all the discussions revolving around the budget, no one has brought up the idea of decreasing the defense and military budget, including the cost of new defense technology. I have seen analysis that has all military and defense spending as a percentage of the 2009 budget at 54%. It would seem to me that the new budget should take into consideration our priorities- such as health care, education, infrastructure rebuilding - and start balancing the need for defense with the need for what makes a nation great. Which is not solely military might. I have to believe that there is an amazing amount of waste in all that we spend on our defense that could be allocated elsewhere.

Thanks Chuck.

My wife and I have always done the right thing. We bought a house for less than we could afford. We have not borrowed against it, in fact we pay extra each month. And we have never considered anything but a fixed loan. I am upset that money I am paying in taxes is going to people that got into a loan they could not afford. I would like to ask, why can't the government recoup some of the money by getting a fixed percentage when the home is sold? I see the government giving money out but not getting any back.

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for doing this, its a great idea.

One item that myself, friends and family, have been obsessing about, for years, is the Bush policy on torture. It was obvious, from the beginning, that not only was this a very bad policy, that would make us many more enemies, but it was also in violation of US and international law. I would like to ask President Obama that since he swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, he cannot pick and choose which laws he decides to enforce. Bush/Cheney, and company violated US law; President Obama is blocking an investigation into their war crimes; blocking this investigation makes him culpable to their crimes. When is he going to uphold the law and prosecute these criminals?

Thank you.

I work in the financial industry, as a customer contact representative, and I make about 35k a year. We see our jobs go overseas all the time. They can hire 4 or 5 people over there for what they have to pay one of us here.

Have you thought of incenting corporations to keep jobs here, maybe by reversing some of the tax breaks that started the trend?

Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the conversation.

After all the abuse of taxpayer funds and no increase in lending, why is the united states the only nation in the world giving away these funds without explicit conditions?

Thanks for asking Chuck. I'd like to hear about efforts to decrease world tension, specifically with Russia. NATO was set up to protect Europe against Russia duiring the cold war. There's no more cold war. Russia is supposedly an ally. Why are we ringing Russia with missiles and why does NATO still exist? Why do we allow the con job to continue from Saakashvilli's paid American stooge Randy Scheunemann that Russia was the aggressor in South Osettia when Russia only invaded to stop Saakashvilli's genocide against the Russians living there? Why do we need to keep Russia looking like the 'bad guy'? What is the future for NATO and our relationship with Russia?

If you'd like to see a video of a South Osetian girl living in the US who was in Georgia visiting relatives when Saakashvilli launched his genocide, and her gratitude to the Russians when they came to save them, it's on the 'Russia' page on my web site at . Thank you.

Hi,

I would like to know if the president will publish (hopefully on his website) a detailed outline for his education plan. We know from his recent speech, the vague points of his ed. plan but myself and other educators would like to know specifics.

Thank you

Thank you for this opportunity. I am an enrolled Blackfeet Indian (isn't it downright predjudicial that Hispanics or Asians or African Americans don't have to provide proof of a pedigree or blood quantum, to be considered Hispanic or Asian or African American?), and I have a question for you...one that never gets asked, one that awakens centuries of post-colonial guilt, a question that could be the beginnings of a sincere commitment to better the third world conditions of America's First Peoples...we don't have a voice Chuck...we've never had a voice...no NAACP, no ACLU...we've been indoctrinated into the belief that we have no worth...we are trained from birth to not look people in the eyes...we've been starved, poisoned, massacred, raped, and had generations of our children stolen from us and either placed in military style boarding schools, tb sanitariums, or outright adopted out to non-American Indian families at rates 70% higher than non-Indian families, we've withstood the Eugenics policies of the 1960's and 1970's....yet we still have no voice...Will you speak for us, Chuck? (will you read the previous to Pres. Obama?)

The question for President Barack Obama is this: Our greatest hope in an entire century, and beyond, is placed in you. Throughout this nation from the Pequot to the Navajo, from the Apache to the Tohona O'dham, from the Athabaskan to the Inuit, from the Sioux to the Cheyenne, from the Assiniboine to the Swinomish (and of-course the Blackfeet), and the many, many more tribes...we CRY out to you Mr. Obama...will you help us? Will you help us? WILL YOU HELP US???? We have no NAACP, no ACLU, no Martin Luther King Jr. ...we have no-one! We have never asked much from a country that has never cared enough to honor it's word. Will you be our Honorable Martin Luther King Jr.? Our children's blood cries out to you President Obama, they are being massacred still. You were elected sir, for such a time as this. Consider where the African American people would be today, if not for the many heroes who took a stand...who said No More. President Obama, we the American Indian people...good people...HAVE A DREAM...a dream where we can feed our children, a dream where our children's life expectancy is equal to your children's, a dream where we have clean water to drink, a dream where someone will finally take a stand for us and institute a viable program of higher education...another forgotten treaty right, like our non-existent healthcare. We have a dream President Obama that you are that man, a man of honor, a man that will come to Pine Ridge, SD...Browning, MT....Shiprock... Lame Deer...Rosebud...a man who will see the truth of what MOST reservations REALLY look like? A man who will say NO MORE! Will you be this man? Will you defend the defenseless? WILL YOU HELP US?

My wife has been a highly qualified (Bachelor's in her field and a Master's in Education) 8th grade science teacher in Chandler, AZ for the past year and the year previous she taught in West Phoenix. She was told today that they are RIF-ing (Reduction in Force) all 1st year teachers. Essentially that means they are not going to re-up their contracts. It has also been reported that in many other districts they are RIF-ing 2nd and 3rd year teachers. I was under the understanding that a big chunk of the stimulus money was going to be provided to states to help them keep teachers and not have to do these reductions. Now Phoenix metro schools are looking down the barrel of 40+ student classrooms and tenured teachers teaching subjects that they have no background in. Could you PLEASE have your group research this, formulate a question, and bring it up to President Obama so that there can be a spotlight put on it.

Thanks

Forgot the rules - no linking to outside stuff, sorry you can't see the youtube video of the girl from South Osetia. Anyway, I'd like to know what President Obama has in mind to do with this stress-filled inherited US/ Russia relationship. The only message Obama got from Medvedev on his election was something like - "if you put missiles in Poland we'll put them on our European border". Thanks again.

Hello, I am wondering if there were a way to get money instantly into the economy in a very common sense way with having everyone pay half their rent and mortgages and then have the government pay back the banks and landlords. This would get money into the peoples hands immediately and they need this now, not having to wait for some tax or other process to go through. The people would definitely appreciate the relief. Thank you for maybe considering this option. If it helps Americans and our new president accomplish some good changes I think this might be an answer.

I would like to know how America will transition from the stimulus jobs to non-stimulus jobs after the government money is used up. I need a lesson on how this will work so we don't end up in the same mess again. Thanks, Todd for asking for input.

Please ask the following:

Mr Obama, when will you appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for breaking American law by promoting torture, kidnapping, spying on American without warrants and other well documented crimes during the last 8 years?

Dear Mr. Todd,

Please ask the President why he insists on blocking investigation into known war crimes by officials of the former administration?

Mr President: Do you think the United States will ever again be at peace?

"Can I have a cookie?"

Chuck, thank you for this opportunity. My questions for President Obama are:

Are you going to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate war crimes by the Bush administration? If not, why?

I am retired receiving a Social Security benefit. The so-called “tax on Social Security” is in reality a surcharge tax on other gross income. How come this “tax” is treated as income by the IRS and not directly redeposited into the Social Security trust fund? This revenue is, after all, recovered SS benefits from more affluent seniors, based on their ability to pay. Redepositing this revenue directly into the trust fund would immeasurably strengthen it, benefiting all seniors. Why are seniors being ripped off in this manor?

Please tell us what technologies/processes your science advisors are most excited about? What sort of breakthrough technologies can we expect in 2009-2010? What are the top 3 science stories we should pay attention to in 2009-2010?

Mr. President,

Why have your policies so far ignored the endless supply of clean energy we could obtain from nuclear fission? The scientific problems have been solved, why haven't the political problems?

Universal Healthcare - as a small business owner, how long can we allow health insurance companies to increase premiums by 15 to 20% on an ANNUAL basis? At the 15% rate, premiums double every 5 years. How long are we going to allow such poorly explained, massive rate hikes from the insurance companies?? At what point do you plan on protecting small business owners and, more broadly speaking, Americans, from these rate hikes?

Mr. President;

I would like to know why you have not appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the war crimes committed by Bush and Cheney? Did you not take an oath before all of us and God to uphold the law? Torture is against the law. Why aren't we arresting these people?

Thank you,

Lisa Moore

What are you going to do Mr. President about the tyranny of the student loan trap? Many in our country are now no more than indentured servants to such companies as Sally May and ACS. These are people who have fallen upon unfortunate circumstances or now have serious illness. Yet, they are treated like dirt or rip off artists. So called relief is no more than a sham. Interest on their loans pile up their debt to impossible levels to ever pay off. Our country needs to do better for those who only sin was trying to pay for an education.

Chuck, thank you for this opportunity. My questions for President Obama are:

1) "If the rule of law means anything, it must mean at least this: Those who act or are in positions of authority in our government are subject to the same laws as everyone else. This has been the American tradition, the crown jewel of a free society, a government of laws, not of men...Some take the position that we should forgive and forget or "look forward," as President Obama ambiguously suggested. But "looking forward" without prosecution of past crimes brings the unsettling question of why prosecute future crimes of the same nature? After all, all criminal prosecutions are prosecutions for past acts, not future ones. And, make no mistake, these are real crimes: criminal prisoner abuse, criminal violations of the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act involving illegal wiretaps, as well as grave violations of numerous treaties and conventions, which are war crimes as defined by federal statute."

Mr President, why have you not directed Attorney General Eric Holder to assign a special prosecutor to investigate alleged torture and domestic spying and any other criminal activities by President Bush's Adiministration? Why are you putting roadblocks in the way of investigating these war crimes?

I'd like to know if the administration's plans for financial regulation include any measures to reform the rating agencies, which have failed us so badly recently.

Thanks for asking for our questions.

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Will Obama ever address the fractional reserve system and the idea that our money is now debt based rather than credit based in regards to this banking crisis?

If these big car company are getting all these money, why can't we the customer who was misled by their greedy sales agent to buy the car with a baloon payment(15.95%), refinance our loan. The monthly payment is very high. If I can save a few hundred dollars a month, that same few hundred will go back to some other businesses and keep our economy going. It may extend the loan for another year or so, but that is exactly what the president have in mind. I think that there are hundred of people like myself out there, we will all appreciate what the government is doing for the big boys to save their company i think it should also help the little guy. Good luck

I noticed noone asked about the gay marriage debate that is still going on in California and that many people are still fighting for today. I like to hear our president's views on the current debate going on in California's courts about the possible revoking of the Prop 8 decision and what his plans are for gay citizen's equality?

Mr. Barack Hussein Obama,

I voted for you mostly because of your international life experiences, the way you literally incarnate both Africa and Europe, Christendom and the world of Islam, and your clearly articulated understanding of America's complicity in the problems of the world. And yet....you speak of the need to keep jobs "at home", and the need to "compete" on the world market, and the need to stay "number one". But, regarding the goal of "keeping jobs at home": doesn't that imply that any jobs we either "keep" here or "bring back" here from another country will mean that some other people, somewhere else in the world, will lose THEIR jobs? And, in a world so small and interdependent, won't any job loss we cause somewhere else on the globe ultimately, in some way, come back to haunt us (in the form of illegal immigration, political destabilization, poverty-related epidemics....etc. etc.)? How would you propose to take a truly world-wide view of the problems facing us? Is not America's fate truly bound to the fate of the whole world? From the perspective of human solidarity, of "we sink or swim together", how do you propose we achieve not only sustainable prosperity for the people of our own nation, but also for the people of every nation? And even more specifically, how do you propose to bring a sense of human solidarity to our relationship with Mexico, and to the problem of the border--a border across which, thanks to NAFTA, capital is free to pass at the speed of light, whereas the other side of the capitalist equation, human labor, fails to enjoy the same freedom of movement? And, most generally, how do you see yourself living out the international human reality you both genetically and personally embody?

I read somewhere in this blog that you are going to throw out the right and left wing questions. Who decides what's right and left? I think it would be better just to ask the questions that get the most votes providing the voting process is protected against freeping.

Now that we have clear evidence of war crimes (a public confession from the former vice president, "torture memos," testimony of former administration officials), I would like to know whether the president intends to allow an investigation and potential prosecution to go forward against the former administration. If not, how can we possibly regain credibility around the world and return to the rule of law in our own country?

Does Mr Obama plan to continue the War on Drugs as it has been run? Does this administration plan on continuing these vast expenditures at a time of economic ruin and also when countries like mexico are still being destabilized by Americas need for illicit drugs?

President Obama has indicated that he wants more accountability for teachers in our schools. I'm curious how he plans to enforce a policy to hold students more accountable for their classwork, homework, tests, and overall grades. The teachers can only do so much in a school day.

How will we make children understand how important their education is to their futures? The teachers cannot follow the kids home, make them sit down to do their homework, and make them study for an exam. How will we help those students who don't have a parent, parents, or guardian who cares whether they receive a good education and go to college?

My mother is a teacher in a very poor school district and is very passionate about her job, but that doesn't stop her frustration sometimes with students who come into her classroom everyday with nothing but the intention of wasting time and creating enough disruption to hinder others' learning too.

Dententions, etc. are not a sufficient deterrent, and she often feels abandoned by administration who either can't or don't want to do anything about it. How can we get our education system to where it needs to be with such challenges that at times seem so insurmountable?

Mr. President:

Do you feel as I do, that a root problem in our government and the relationship with our corporations, is how our political campaigns are funded?

Chuck, please ask the following:

Regarding the administration's energy plan and as a first step, help relieve our dependence on foreign oil, would the President consider mandating that all government vehicles run on natural gas. Natural gas is home grown and would show the American public that we are doing something that's immediate and necessary to assist us in keeping our dollars in the US and not enriching our overseas suppliers.

What is going to be done about helping home owners who are underwater with their mortgages but who are making the sacrifices necessary to keep their mortgages current? All of the current help is being given to people who have lost their jobs or who bought a bigger house than they should have but nothing is being done to help those stuck with 7%+ interest rates that they can't refinance because they are underwater. How about a little help for the people who think keeping their mortgage payments current is priority number one?

Please explain the bank plan in simple, non-economics major's terms. Tell us the risks as well as the rewards and why you think one outweighs the other. Please don't use any acronyms or the word leverage. Finally, why do you think this is better than simple nationalization.

Pres. Obama, as a parent of a child with autism, and speaking for ALL such parents and children who are struggling with this lifelong challenge, does your first budget include the PROMISED funds to FULLY fund the Combatting autism Act?

Getting past the current "bread & circus" treatment for AIG bonuses, is'nt the real issue the lack of regulation on the finance industry - stemming from the Reagan era?

(Chuck - please do use my name! - Mineola, NY)

I want to know why there are hundreds of school districts in Massachusetts that are not receiving even a single penny from the Federal Education stimulus money given to the state? Thus, these districts are having to layoff hundreds of very good teachers, me most likely included. I'm sure Massachusetts isn't the only state in this predicament. This stimulus money was lauded as a way to keep good teachers employed......fails to do that in my opnion.

Now that some structure has been established concerning the process to aid struggling homeowners is positions where they may lose their homes due to extreme circumstance, but also poor choice; will there be assistance to those who manage to make the tough financial decisions and pull through on keeping their mortgages current?

My family is a single income family of three, my hours have been reduced to survive this current economic environment; we have made sacrifics to stay afloat. What is most concerning to us is that even though we are able to pay our mortgage, we still are 50K underwater in our loan to value ratio.

It seems as though those who made poor financial choices stand to get out from under this burden, and profit from it. If my tax dollars are funding this type of program, what type of relief can I expect in my situation; in regard to the 10 or 20 additional years that it will take my current investment to recover to the point of break-even?

Has the President ever considered "bailing out" average Americans who have lost 40%-60% of their 401Ks value? It seems to me and my neighbors that if you really want to stimulate the economy, making the American 401K holders financially whole would change the way they view the economy and start a spending shift that would then encourage the stock market and end the recession. I know it sounds too simple but one major reason for the continued economic slide is psychological. If the average American feels things are getting better, it will get better. Besides, the cost to restore 401Ks would be much less costly than some of the current "bail-outs" and more effective in a short period of time.

Chuck: My question: I own a small business with 15 employees and provide health insurance to my employees. I used an SBA Loan to purchase the business 10 years ago, and it is paid off. I have asked the SBA and my Bank for a new loan because of the current economic environment, but no luck. The Stimulus bill has provisions for the SBA to guarantee special loans to small business, and the SBA was supposed to put out the guidelines 3 weeks after the bill was signed. But it still has not communicated to the banks and I'm afraid I will have shut the business down. Why aren't small business owners being helped!!!!! Thanks for asking the question.

How about tax relief for Seniors and Disabled making less than $50,000 per year? It is extremely difficult having to pay taxes on a $16,000 widows pension even with Social Security Disability of $8000. This was one of the campaign promises and the reason I voted for him. Stop bailing out the rich and start making good on promises to those who need it most. While your at it do something about that joke called medicare part D and medicare in general. I have to pay about 200 per month for supplemental insurance just to cover the deductibles and copays plus the money medicare deducts. Doesn't leave a whole lot to live on.

I have an idea for the president that everyone seems to think might be a good question to ask that might help out the economy and create alot more jobs. I think the money that is given to all these banks and bailouts need to be more focused on the school systems. There hurting so much. I have family that works in the school systems and the funds are extemely low for them and the budgets are broke. I have seen at one point where I live, they had to stop the pre-K busses from running at one point because of no funding, and the children missed out on school last year. I think the president needs to focus more in this issue. Children are our fufture and if the school systems fail then where will America be in the near future?

I would like to know why there is no help for those that have been laid off in the last year. The jobs that are being lost now are good paying $100-$150K jobs and unemployment compensation in inadequate to even pay mortgages much less keep a family going. Why aren't we looking at income averaging so that these people can get back taxes that they've paid in previous years? Why aren't we giving them 100% tax cuts for the next year to recover from their unemployment?

So if this administration is supposed to make us feel safe, then why is it trying to scare us into allowing them to initiate the seizure of non-bank financial companies, such as large insurers, investment firms and hedge funds? It's free enterprise, not communisism that Americans want....

First of all I think that you are very thoughtful and considerate of us normal working American families by wanting to know what we feel and think about these issues. My question is since we are the ones footing the bill on all these bailouts and stimulus packages what would be wrong with giving us as stimulus by letting us go 4-6 weeks without paying any federal taxes.Now I do understand the importance of paying taxes but this is a short time frame and I think it would give a little "jolt" to the economy some people would pay up on their debt and bills others would put that extra in the bank andsome would even spend it at stores. Do you that would help out or would it be a waste of time?

Mr. President,

What are your goals for assistance for low-income familes? I am a single mother with a toddler. I make less than $25k a year, which, is not as less as some familes, but it still isn't enough to get out of the "ghetto", pay for daycare, or put food on my table every night. (I make too much to qualify for food stamps, or daycare assistance, or medicaid, but not enough to provide these things for myself). The only affordable housing for my budget is in areas that are known for people getting shot on a day to day basis. What is going to be done about this?

Mr. Presiden

I like most Americans want to know how the stimulus will help me, the typical middle class citizen that has seen his retirement funds nose dive and wonders if there will be anything left for me to retire on?

Part of your program to increase revenue is to allow the so-called tax breaks on the "wealthy" to expire. Considering that these individuals, as well as those who hardly qualify as "wealthy," have been subject to the higher, burdensome alternative minimum tax, how can raising the regular income tax rates on these individuals help increase revenue? The alternative minimum tax already exacts thousands of dollars per person from those subject to it.

Chuck, let's start with the earmarks.He ran on a platform to end them,then he signs a bill with them in.I don't want to here the excuse that it is last years business.Just start doing what you said you were going to do.I voted for this guy based on what he said,now it's time to back up your words.Iraq is another issue,just get out and let them run their own country.It's been a black hole from day one.We don't need to continue dumping billions into that country.I'm sure we could use the billions in the US.

Sir:

As a disclaimer, I voted for you, my wife voted for you, we pushed you on our family and friends who voted for you and we support you 100 per cent, so far.

Yet the government has distributed billions to AIG, GM, Citibank and others and iis now planning to give trillions to the banking industry. My question is twofold:

1. As an over 60 man with no health insurance, when do I get my billion? I'm not greedy. I'll settle for ten cents on the dollar. $100 million is fine for me. And.

2. When did America stop being the land of opportunity and become the land of avarice?

Thank you.

Could you directly ask the President when will our (we as Americans) Attorney General take the necessary steps to proceed with war crime investigations against the previous administration. If he skirts the issue ask him "when will he answer" to the American people. We want to Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney to be held accountable period. The President and his staff have an obligation to protect the American people and Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney violated acts that would be considered treason by any other. Yes, this may be touchy but the truth should be told and the people involved should be held responsible.

One thing we have been talking about at work is the Cap and Trade system. Why is the Obama administration wanting to depend on the same Wall Street firms that messed up the mortgage market? Why not just go with a straight Carbon Tax? That way it would alleviate the possibility of corruption and be a lot simpler.

When the nation is in such a financial crisis and education budgets are being squeezed, why are we providing education to non-residents and/or illegal aliens at our taxpayers' expense rather than shifting that money into making sure our own residents of the USA receive the highest educational value possible?

I would like to know if anything is going to happen to the TVA bonuses?

With all these businesses that are now being run by the government does president Obama feel like we are heading towards a Socalist government?

Subject: $7,500 vs $8,000 house tax credit

Three questions I would like to know, "Why do first-time homebuyers have to pay the $7,500 loan back when the others don't for the $8,000?", "There's an overlap of the time frame between the two, meaning, the $7,500 tax credit is for first-time home buyers between April 8, 2008 through July 1, 2009 and the $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers between Jan through Dec 2009. Why is there an overlap?" and most importantly "Is it at all possible for the first-time home buyers not pay the $7,500 back?"

Thank you.

Hi Chuck,

Regarding Tim Geithner's plan unveiled yesterday (I believe), whereby the Government would partner with the private sector to buy up the 'toxic assets' currently on a lot of banks' balance sheets:

Question #1 is: won't this (the purchase of these assets) in itself generate more lending? (entirely possible, if the loans are made based current market value, with adequate downpayments). Or are we assuming the portion of the private sector that would get on board with this have cash to buy these assets?

Secondly, one concern I heard mentioned on the news shows was that the government would probably pay too much money for these assets. Totally possible if the due diligence is not performed. If you think about it, there are innumerable homes in this 'boat', located all over the country. It would be difficult to come up with a price based on some internet research.

Why not stimulate the economy, and get an appraisal done for each home? The appraiser can be hired to determine current 'market value', and doesn't even need to know that the appraisal is to be used to determine pricing for this buy up. Better yet, hire 2 appraisers per house, and tell them their work will be compared to the other's work, same house, same time frame. This could go a long way towards ensuring honesty, accuracy, and a 'non-biased' opinion of value on the part of the appraiser.

Seriously, as a Certified Appraiser myself, if I got a call from a bank that said, we have 5 'market value' jobs for you, but we are only going to pay $250 - $300 per appraisal, I'd accept those jobs in a heartbeat. Times are tough.

One other comment (I can't remember this entirely..) someone said that the only 'private sector' people or companies which can participate in the partnership are those who already own some huge amount of properties? Again, I don't exactly remember, but the gist of it is that the everyday common person won't have a chance to invest in these assets, only huge entities who already own hundreds of thousands of dollars in real estate can participate. I think that is wrong, perhaps because I don't have enough info. I don't see why they would limit who is on board based on current assets. If I had a partnership which qualified to buy 5 houses, why not allow me to get in and buy up a home (or homes) at or below current market value? It's a great time to buy real estate.

Thanks for your time, continue the good work!

The big question is what is going to be done to help the small business owner. I work for a small business that is affected by the housing crisis. I frequent small businesses affected by the downturn in the economy.....everyone is nervous and feeling the pinch. What is the plan for the REAL backbone of the economy, Main Street and the small business owners???

Ask President Obama if we should expect 4 years of appearances on the Tonight Show, NCAA brackets and soft appearances on 60 Minutes; or if eventually he'll get around to tackling the bigger issues facing our country like immigration, tax reform, health care, the bailout, Iraq, North Korea, Iran, education? Its seems like there is plenty to be done in Washington that can't be done while he is cracking jokes with Jay Leno.

When is the U.S. government going to admit and give details on the past, and continuing visitation of extraterrestrials to our planet?
It's so obvious that they are here, and the political denial is only a slap-in-the-face to the public (and other world populations and governments) of the fact that they exist.
One of these days the perverbial "Landing on the White House Lawn" will take place, and it will only create more confusion and hestaria for the public masses.
Mr. President...you have the outstanding ability for communication with the people.
Why shouldn't you be the one?
To all of you reading this, who think this is just another 'crackpot', please keep an open mind. If you ever saw 'what I saw' you would think MUCH differently. It is just egotistic to think that we are all alone in this universe.

Mr. President

My family and friends want to know why these large greedy corporations are getting the bailout money when it clearly shows they have no intention of wanting to use it the right way. We have a solution. If the people get the bailout out money (it is our tax money) we can get ourselves out of debt. With that money the people can pay off their credit card debts, loans, mortgages, etc. then that money goes back into the banks, then we can invest in wall street, bonds, bills, etc.- then wall street will improve, then we can build up on our homes- the construction companies will grow again, as well as plumbing and electric and masonaries. With people paying off their car loans, the automotive industry will pick up because then the people can use that car to trade in to buy another one. The colleges will gain more students again. The demand for teachers will be greater and everyone will benefit including the retail stores.

Listen to the people Mr. President. It's not the CEO's of these Corporations that will save America. It's the people. The economy is struggling, because we are struggling.

Hi Mr. Todd,

Thanks for asking us for feedback.

I guess I want to know how the president is going to get the banks lending again, when most of the people the banks have to lend to are normal americans.....who due to the national mess and the economy alot of americans have gone through foreclosure and bankrupcy. Which means that you can't get a loan, you can't buy a home, you basically have to live a cash life. For those of us that were caught up in the national morgage crisis, this is the only thing we can do. So I don't see how President Obama can possibly get banks lending again, when we can't get a loan anyway.

thanks again for asking.....Renee'

Mr President:

Last Fall, former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson received approval from the US Congress for the $700B TARP program, justifying it to both congress and the American people as necessary to purchase and remove the so-called "toxic assets" from the financial system in order to return stability and liquidity to the market. Within weeks, however, Treasury abandoned this effort and redirected those funds, without additional Congressional approval, towards consumer stimulus programs and purchasing equity in large financial institutions. Now yesterday, Treasury Secretary Geithner announced programs under which the federal government could purchase up to $2T in toxic assets. If, as Secretary Geithner suggests, toxic assets remain the linchpin to the financial crisis, where is the accountability of Treasury and other executive branch departments to Congress, and their and Congress' accountability to the American people? Why should the American people believe any executive branch request for funding, whether it be for stimulus purposes or for addressing the financial crisis directly, will in fact be used for the purpose justifying the request?

Thank you for an opportunity to ask the president a question. I have struggled for years to pay my mortgage, raise my son, and pay my bills on time. I've worked two jobs (and I'm working two jobs again now)-- and now I've taken a 38% pay cut as my employer founders in this battered economy. What my neighbors and I see is that there seems to be no help for us people in the middle who get up and go to work every day... so here's my question:

Mr President, why not set the mortgage rate and the credit card rate at 4.5% for EVERYBODY, regardless of their current credit standing, and let the hardworking people get some real help? If you mandate this rate, the economy would explode with home building, people would instantly have credit access at reasonable rates, you'd bypass the crippling choke-hold the credit, mortgage and banking industry have on Americans, and those poeple that truly cannot afford the homes they have right now, would sort themselves out. We need some help here in the middle Mr. President. Force the industries that caused this to do the belt tightening.

When and in what form will the average American actually SEE some change in their paycheck, or income tax return, or retirement fund? What do we look for? When do we start looking?

Why not eliminate the payroll tax, except social security, medicare, medicaid, to increase employees' paychecks. This would encourage spending more money thus creating jobs. Second, redo the tax codes to have a sales tax (10%) rather than a personal income tax. Those who make more money usually buy more expensive items and those who make less are more frugal. Example: A person making$100,000/year will buy a Lexus compared to a person making $24,000/year probably would buy a Kia, thus richer people pay more taxes through sales tax. Thank you for this chance to voice an opinion, if you want more details call me at 224-805-7976.

Hi Chuck,

To add a little levity, ask him how his girls feel about his pre-empting "IDOL"?

hello ,

my question is " now that min wage has taken hold , an now prices are screaming on every product , how will this action be taimed " ? it is showing no end an has failed to allow us to compete on the world market . thanks for the intrest .

Is it true that the top twenty banks were forced by the treasury dept to take bailout money to avoid a run on banks that were worse off (Citi etc...) not allowed to pay it back immediately and is that fair to the employees who are now the subject of public rage (AIG not withstanding) and 90% tax on their bonuses, even if their were not involved in the decision making of accpeting the terms of the bailout?

I would like to know since 60% of all forclosures contain renters in the home what does he plan to do to protect the renters from last minute notices to move. I personally have been through this 5 times in 2 years. I have lost thousands of dollars in deposits and moving expenses, while destroying my credit by skipping payments on my loans just to keep a roof over my family's head due to last minute notices. So far I have no recoarse to recover my losses and no credit to buy a home. What is he gonna do for the thousands of people across america that have gone through this same thing?

My question for your interview is: Geither is expected to ask lawmakers to create an oversite authority for the financial service industry. There had been an oversight = regulatory system in place for loans and other financial instruments that Geither and other cronies of the Bush regime had dismantled for the benefit of the wealthy. If Obama is indeed for "change" why did he appoint one of Bush's proven incompetents and toady for the wealthy upper 1% ?

With the current state of the economy and so many people who are losing or have lost their homes, I have an idea to help those who need the help the most and that doesn't mean the banks.

Wouldn't it be more pragmatic to have the government take over the loans on foresclosures that have occured in the past year or two and any in the next year or so? The governement could then take the $25,000 you are talking about giving the banks to encourage them to make new loans and apply it to these home loans to give these people a chance to keep their homes. The money would still go back into the economy and some people might actually gain a little faith in their government again.

The banks are already getting all the money they can from customers by charging fees in every instance they can and holding any customer funds as long as they can. They don't need anymore of a bail-out than did AIG.

Here's a question, Mr. Todd, that is, if it hasn't been asked a hundred times before...You may re-word it if you choose to use it.

Okay, Mr Obama. How is your stimulus going to help the average American Citizen? First, the mortgage help to forestall foreclosures. What about those people who only rent, but still are having a hard time making their housing payments? And what about those who were approved for a mortgage, only to lose it because they became unemployed? The plan doesn't help them. Second, the "working tax credit" that every "working" American will receive, to the tune of about $400 per year. How does that help those who are unemployed? And how is a miserly $400 over the course of a whole year, about $7.70 a week, really going to help anyone? Don't you realize that it is the Average, Middle Class American who truly drives this economy, and if they are not personally being helped, then how can they help drive the economy? Bailout banks and automakers all you want, but if America cannot afford to buy their products, they will not make money, until the government gives it to them. A vicious circle, once again. Any comments?

Hi Chuck

I would like to know what the administration's plans are to assist graduates that have large school loan debts and can't find a job that pays them enough to make them loan payments. Case in point, my daughter graduated from law school in 2007. She has a job with the Att. Gen. office in Mo., but she only makes enough to pay rent, car note, and necessities. She now has to start paying $800.00 monthly in school loans and has no idea how she can meet all of her obligations. Is there any help out there?

momof7

Chuck:

Here are two questions you can ask the President:

(1) Given the recent proposal in Congress to impose a 90% income tax on the AIG bonus recipients, wouldn't it make more sense to impose a 90% corporate income tax on the recipients of income from the Credit Default Swaps that AIG is paying out to the big banks? This would seem to be a good r