Rick, I am a senior citizen and against drugs. However, Michael Phelps is only 23 years old. Lets go back to Marion Berry in Washington.He was an adult n was relected.Clinton didn't inhale. Come on Who among us have not made mistakes at that age?? YOU n I know better. By the way I have been watching you from way back when we both lived in Miami.

Hey Ricky! I heard you are a proponent of tough questions. Well I have a question for you.

How often do you dye your hair?

About the Stimulus:
Liberals and Conservatives seem to think from opposite sides of the brain and therefore will never agree on anything! They just can't help it! So, there will never be a package that everyone can agree on!
Of course my solution to the financial crisis would be to
– require that every person who is employed take a 10% cut in salary (including the executives),
– freeze Social Security to the present level for two years,
– and rein in the Credit Card companies and stop them from indiscriminently distributing credit cards to people, thus making them live beyond their means!

Hi Rick,Ive got 2 questions for you,Why are none of the cable news networks discussing The S.155 bill (suspension of Unemployment tax) or even the subject of suspending the tax, even if its only a temporary suspension? Does anyone realize how important this Bill is to the unemployed in this country?

Suddenly Republicans REMEMBERED being against extensive spending AFTER running the whole nation into the ground? but voted heavenly for Wall street Bailout without any oversite in Place?

Now President Obama has to clean up their mess, and Republicans are trying to stop a Main street Bailout?

Republicans should be ashame, what they have done to this great Nation.

We are one step away of erasing the backbone of our economy, the Middle Class.

Even after Obama announced the closure of Gitmo, the Taliban still behead an innocent hostage????

Rick, how do you explain this?

Why we're bankrupted is strictly greed and bad choices politically and otherwise.My opinion and I want to emphasize MY OPINION is that too many people the last 8 years let people like Limbaugh,Hannity,Colter,O'Rilley, influnce them .As long as the Republicans let these type of people represent the party its on a down hill slide.What a shame!!!!!.The last election should have told them something (change your attitude and change the party) I am patient with stupidity, but not with those who are proud of it.

Just as Rick is doing a story on NACA, I find their website blocked. Guess what CEO's, you can't hide everybody knows who you are and where you are. While their hypocrite buddies (republican senators), delay attempts to fix our economy the greedy, want more. Time to shove all the CEO's on an island and strand them there.

Dear Rick, I have a question regarding "PMI" (private mortgage insurance). If you have a mortgage with less than 20% equity, you are required to carry this (at aprox. $100.00) per month. It's not insurance for me, but I always assumed it was for the banks if someone had to foreclose. Where does that money go? and to whom?

A big thank you to Bruce Marks for heading up a very visible demonstration against the decisions of greedy CEO's. Some of these more egregious CEO's have done more damage to America's infastructure and to American lives than the terrorists, who brought down the twin towers. Because of the catastophic destruction of their selfish decisions they need to be prosecuted as "white collar terrorists" under the breadth of the terrorism laws.
Brian
Lynden, WA

You can only push the people so far!!! And then we bring the fight right to your door!!!!

There is no hiding behind those big gates anymore, we know who you are, we know where you live.

Greed got you there, and Greed will take you down!!

Both Dems and Repub are to blame for this financial mess. Bush was a terrible leader. Dems spent and spent. Barney Frank contributed greatly to the banking debacle. Iraq continues in a spending frenzy. We do need bipartisanship...not the same as usual. Leadership in both parties need to think about people, not special interests, nor reelection, nor special interests.

Rick,
Why are we not hearing about the 100k tax payer dollars spent to host the democratic annual retreat, or how much tax payer money was spent for the GOP annual retreat? My concern is why they had them knowing the state of the economy! They are quick to jump on Wall Street yet fail to show restraint for themselves. Further, where is the report that shows how many reps declined their pay increases for this year? We need a check and balance on them too.

With all the outrage targeting financial corporation CEOs, and with the urgent calls for health care reform, why hasn't anyone addressed the outrageous compensation the health care company CEOs get? Restructuring of health care insurance providers was supposed to lead to more affordable health care coverage; it only lead to executives making multi-millions in compensation and bonuses while health care cost skyrocketed. Someone needs to talk about this as well.

Rick what is next for the CEO'S? BULLET PROOF VEST!

It's a no-brainer about a porn star facing a politician as to who is sleazier, the politician wins hands down. The porn star is what she is, she's not hiding it, she's honest and she's making a living. The politician lies for a living, gets payed to BS and cries foul when caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

With oil prices dropping do low how are we still paying $2 a gallon for gas? Something is wrong here when oil was $150 and gas was $4.00 can someone please comment this sure looks like price gauging to me

Republicans would be well advised to stop legislating moral values, and abandon the failed "tax cut" mentality (which is nothing more than a pseudonym for "increase the national debt"), and begin reshaping itself by becoming the party the "for" the American worker, instead of the party of corruption, fiscal irresponsibility, greed, and arrogance.

There will always be big wigs on wall street...why is the American public surprised that we hit a brick wall when most if not all shared the wealth?

Hi Rick i'm a regularl viewer of your program and i'm yet to hear you address our president as President Obama. why not?

I am not sure that if they keep fighting and do not pass stimulus bill, that it would hurt us at all. It seems that our wonderful country and economy is clawing it's way back. Minute steps though they may be. Maybe we can come back in spite of the polititions. They are just looking to be able to say "we saved you"!

Heads up!!!Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it! We are facing the end of our nation and freedom as we know it! With all the focus on our economy, the lack of interest in education by both adults and children, and the necessary "what about me" attitude we all have because of the economy, It is imperative that we also keep a lot of focus on our national security!! Throughout world history, when empires have been busy bickering among themselves, not paying attention to what's happening outside and inside borders, invaders have attacked and taken over those entire empires! If we think that terrorist groups / nations are not planning strategic attacks to "surprise" us at our weakest, then our ignorance will cause our defeat. History repeats itself, and if you don't know it, then you won't recognize it WHEN it happens again. Case in point........ 9-11-2001. I hope and pray that Homeland Security is keeping its post just as it is supposed to.

Rick,
You need to start a real discussion about the rapidly changing terms on existing credit card accounts on folks like me that have had accounts for years. The terms are being changed as we speak on all levels from interest rates (APR) to percentage due each month ( e.g.,5% vs 2 % ) rates to due dates etc....This week alone I got 4 change notices on my accounts and some have no opt out terms. They say in the notices that they need to change the terms due to "difficult times". How will we get out of debt if they keep changing the terms ?

After hearing your conversation with White House spokesman regarding "people the money" and lossing our retirement in the market, let me ask. Where do I apply to weatherize our home? I would love to stimulate the economy, hand me the money and I can buy a car to replace the one with 100k miles, weatherize my home and pay my mortgage. All of which eventually will end up in a bank. So why not give it to the people and lesson their stress? Haven't we suffered enough at the hands of Wall Street.

Rick,
You really should tell Chief Economist Bernstein that he should maybe do his survey's with people who maybe earn a little less than $250,000. if he wants to get the real truth.

re: A-ROD
Let's just refer to him as A-ROID from now on. Is there any real people left anymore?

I hear all this talk about building new roads and infrastructure. I am a laid-off I.T. professional, how is road construction going to put me back to work along with other white collar workers? Should I have to be retrained to sling a hammer?

Hi Rick,
My family and luv your show. You are great in delivering your news unlike Oreilly who is reading fast.

doesn't need to dye his hair., he is pretty young who cares?

What is wrong with all these governors and senators turn out to be crookes.

McCain is so rich he and his ilk just don't get it. The retrograde Republicans who want to block this stimulus and recovery bill are too entrenched in their past privileges which have bankrupted this nation. This bill is a good investment in a better future for the Americans the Republicans neglected - like school children, healthcare workers, green energy workers, and many millions of decent Americans who aren't the rich while guys who have been stealing from us all..

Rick did you get the number from that great
looking madame.u were really enjoying this
interview !I can feel it

Dear Rick,

About the "Stimulus Package",

OK, yes there maybe just be too much pork, but the Repubs know and love what pork tastes like. They've loved it for the past eight years, and the 12 years of Reagan and daddy Bush. Yes, the "What's In It For Me" years! "Greed Is Good"!?

Why do the Repubs not take reponsibility for this mess?

Granted, some stupid Dems helped!

All in all, they did not care about us, Joe and Josephine six-pack! We got sucked-in!

Oh yeah! How do we buy American when everything American is out-sourced? And the most PRESTIGIOUS STATUS SYMBOL crap is foreign?

Yes, I'm a true-blue American because I can afford all this crap that I really don't need!

GREED IS GOOD!

Let's remember that WE ALL helped to get us into this economic mess and we must all work together to get us out. I support the president, I support the "plan" but I DO NOT support mob demonstrations. We need to work together - fat cats and all!! Please do not destroy our country by acting out of rage rather than reason. The creative ideas to help out those who are losing their homes were lost in the anger and excitement of getting even.
A Grandmother who Cares

About the “Stimulus Package”

I wonder what kind of stimulus we would get by just paying off $700billion dollars in mortgages payments of hard working Americans with good credit that didn't over extend themselves.

Banks still get the money of course; after it was forced through the hands of the people; and the people get $1,500.00 – $2,200 / month they can now spend in the economy; mass micro stimulus from the ground up. – Call it a mortgage stimulus package and set the qualifying parameters to match the $700billion you've budgeted.

-And the banks still get their money but let's add some strings to that money. Like no outrageous variable interests rates or overly high interests rates, Allow and assist in refinancing of 'bad loans'.

Image; you goto work everyday, you work hard and you buy a home you think costs way to much for what it is, an entry level starter home, but the interest rate is good so you can make the payments. But you only qualified for a variable interest rate, oh well you say to yourself; what does that mean anyways, I can go to work, pay my bills and now I have a home.

Now image that you're interest rate goes up on you and squeezes all of your extra cash just to make your payments on time. You stop going out to dinner on friday nights because you can't afford to anymore, you stop buying DVDs at BestBuy and you make that car run a little longer then you'd like. You don't buy a new dishwasher vacuum cleaner, or washer and dryer.

It's not really a credit problem, it's a debt to equity issue that you are sticking to your guns about because your responsible about your personal finances.

Now image after 4years of no frills or thrills because you got squeezed by your bank; Somebody comes along and says guess what; You qualify for the Mortgage Bail Out Program. Your entire mortgage will be paid off. Why not?

Now you've got $1,600.00 a month to re due your bathroom and modernize your kitchen and go on vacation! 4years of deprived spending can be reversed; Mass Micro stimulus. I bet you'll see an immediate response.

Rick,

The US government can justify the bailout and its enormous size if they point out to the American people that:

The war in Iraq over the last 6 years cost $10B per month or $120B per year or $720B. This fund should have been spent in the USA for infrastructure, manufacturing reconstruction, energy conversion, and environmental concerns. We won't get if back from Iraq, Afganistan, Kuwait, Somalia, Bosnia, Granada, Viet Nam, Korea(North or South), China, Japan, and Europe. None of these countries have nor ever will make any recompense to us for our expenses or lives spent defending them from aggressors. We will have to do it on our own. Somehow our government has to get together and agree to do it and fund it, even if they just print up the money. The problem is getting the money to the common man in the form of either rebates or paycheck. A combination of FDR and Andy Jackson would do it. A rebate for immediate aid and a paycheck for the long term. Why do we have to have a casino going into a steel mill? Why not a steel mill shipping steel and/or composites to our new auto factories? Why not a wind farm on the plains. Why not solar panels in the desert? Why not a change in our health care system? The US government is the only legislative body that can stand up to the PACs, lobbyists, embedded interests, etc. We need a group with the gumption and chutzpah to do it. We should give the present group the next two years to make these changes or we put together another group.

We can if we get our team together.

Phil

Why not use the SBA adminstration for what it was set up for.
.
Giving loans direct and gauranteeing loans indirecty through banks.
.
Money direct to individual that need it. Duh?
.
The Small Business Adminstrative was set up to help Individuals and Small business. The objectives were to allow small business obtain loans to enhance their business. They are now helping individuals obtain loans for homes destroyed during Hurrican Ike.

I once obtained a maximum SBA loan, Great Results!

About the Bail Out!
Isn't the bail out supposed to be used to help our economy? Our president, is "trying to help the nation"; if this is true, why is he spending all the money required to run a campaing to convince us that his stimulus package is the right thing to do? His campaing is costing tax payer money. He's cutting several of what he called
"unecessary programs" budgets. So how are we supposed to see his ideas if he's doing just the opposite?
By using all the money required to run such campaing isn't like the auto maker CEO's flying corporate jets to the Pentagon to request "Bail out" money? With all the media coverage of what's going on with the bail out, there should be more than enough information for the people to support (or not) this bail out.

I hope someone will see this and I can hear an answer. My comment is about stimulus and more specifically regarding education. I am a 39 year old recently unemployed single male. I've worked in the electronics manufacturing industry for the past ten years. I do not have a degree, but what I'm now noticing is that even at my age I will need to upgrade my skill set in order to even apply for some of the jobs that are available. My question is, are thier any provisions in the education portion to help older workers who will need some type of program or funding for older workers who will need an upgrade in thier skill set. I hear the president speak much about educations esp. for young people, I'm sure I'm not the only older worker that finds him or her self in this perdicament. I just would like for someone to bring a spot light to this situation because I'm sure that there are many of us out there who will need some type of vocational training in other areas than what we've spent several years building experience.

I want to be the First to recomend Obama to be in the Mount Rushmore. Obama To Mount Rushmore!!!

Rick, you got the best news show on tv. anderson is dull, wolf is boring, brown is pitiful(that nose twang turns me off). king ask two many dumb questions. you ask honest questions and do not try to make the news. you are the best, keep up the good work. wayne

Call it a mortgage stimulus package!

Why give the money to the Banks to lend to people who needs it and put them into more dept paying off interests!

Why not form an internal Government run "Mortgage Loan Program " where the people who needs the money could apply directly to get the loan without the interest repayment strings attached.

That is where the money should be put...at the hands of the people who is in need and not to the banks who's main goal is to earn more of what they loan!

Why lend us a few dollars which are called STIMULUS. It is not a STIMULUS but a loan which has to paid back on your tax return. It has to be disclose on your tax return forms, then deducted from your return. If the government is going to give us a loan, we call it that, don't cover it.

In 1978 the government had a program that financed my home and recieved the interest for almost 30 years. This program was through The Farmers Home Administration. They adjusted my payments to fit my income. Why can't they do that again. My home in 1978 was a forclosure. Without this program friends, relatives, and myself would have never been able to have a home. Can the government not get a clue? Can't Obama reinstate this program?

why give 2banks that will not loan money to people w/out a job,how can a person that use to put bumpers on car, build a bridge ,solar panel,or wind genarator.by the time they finish training, the money will be gone.

When the Dionne quintuplets were born, their father was about to sell them to be displayed. The state (Canada) took the children into protective custody. Nadya Suleman is displaying her octuplets and asking for money. She doesn't seem psychologically stable, and is unemployed. She already has three disabled children; extreme prematurity puts the octuplets at risk of ongoing problems. Shouldn't the state take the octuplets into protective custody?

Hi Rick..Am I the only person who noticed and was upset by the woman on camera next to the lady Obama kissed yesterday (Feb 4) ..She never took her eyes off him and can be seen "wording" "I love you, Barack" She was soooo serious I would be concerned about stalking...

Keep up the good work, Rick...I just started watching you and am now recording every show so I don't miss one...

Hi Again Rick...I emailed u a while back( in mid Decemer I think) about a shooting of a young black athlete (in Atlanta I think) who was pulled over by a cop...and was found to have been shot..But he was found holding a shot gun on his chest ...Did I dream this?? you even tried to interview his parents on line but didn't get very far..they were unresponsive...This is really bugging me..Thanks!!!

Why cant these politians, including Steele clean up their acts, before they put themselves out there on the national stage. I am sure the News media will have him out there wasting our time , trying to justify his misdeeds, by blaming our president.