Pres. Obama's economic plan too little too late?
President Obama is pictured yesterday in a speech about the economy at the Milwaukee Laborfest in which he unveiled plans to spend at least $50 billion to expand and renew roads, railways and airports in a bid to fire up economic growth. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
As Recovery Summer draws to a close and all the polls are suggesting the Democrats are about to suffer a crushing defeat in the midterm elections, President Obama has decided now is the time to roll out a new economic plan.
Some Democrats are worried it's all too little, too late.
The president wants to spend up to $350 billion in new stimulus money to jump-start the shaky economy.
There's a $200 billion tax cut for businesses to buy new equipment in the next year and a $100 billion permanent extension of the business tax credit for research and development.
Plus, there's a $50 billion infrastructure plan to try and create jobs in the long term. This would include rebuilding 150,000 miles of roads, 4,000 miles of rails and 150 miles of airport runways.
But officials acknowledge that no new jobs will actually be created until 2011.
All told, this $350 billion would total nearly half the size of the initial stimulus plan passed when President Obama first took office. And of course at the moment there is no money available to pay for any of this.
It's highly unlikely any of this will get through Congress. They come back from their summer break next week and will be in session for less than a month before heading out of town - again - for the midterm elections.
Meanwhile - Americans aren't feeling much recovery when it comes to the economy
A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll shows 81 percent rate economic conditions as poor, only 18 percent say they're good. About half of the country says conditions have not improved in the last two years.
Here’s my question to you: Is President Obama's latest economic plan too little too late?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Florida church's 9/11 Quran burning a good idea?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
General David Petraeus - the top commander in Afghanistan - is condemning a Florida church's plan to burn Qurans on September 11.
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Petraeus says the burning of Islam's holy books could endanger American troops overseas - and the overall effort in Afghanistan. There are about 120,000 U.S. and NATO troops fighting Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Petraeus says even the rumor that the Quran burning might happen has sparked protests in the Muslim world. Hundreds of Afghans demonstrated yesterday in Kabul, chanting "Death to America" and calling on the U.S. to withdraw its troops. Thousands of Indonesians gathered outside the U.S. embassy in Jakarta over the weekend. Protesters say Quran burning is an insult to Muslims all around the world.
Meanwhile - the pastor of Dove World Outreach Church in Gainesville, Florida, tells CNN his congregation plans to go through with it.
Terry Jones says they've "firmly" made up their minds but are praying about what they're about to do. Jones says the congregation knows this is an offensive action, but says he's offended when Muslims burn the American flag or the Bible. He claims the church's message is not one of hate and not meant for moderate Muslims, but rather a warning to radical Muslims.
Lots of people think this is a bad idea. The U.S. embassy in Kabul says that the U.S. government condemns the "offensive messages" and disrespect against Islam.
And various religious groups are also opposing the Quran burning. The National Association of Evangelicals is calling on the church to cancel the event. And Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu leaders in Gainesville have organized a so-called Gathering for Peace the night before the scheduled burning.
Here’s my question to you: A Florida church is planning to burn Qurans on September 11 as a warning to Muslim extremists. Is this a good idea?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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