As first tax rebates show up in checking accounts, many Americans eye groceries, not fancy TVs

Contrary to what President Bush says, this country is in a recession. Instead of blaming Congress, President Bush needs to propose legislation that would help defray the housing problem, cost of gasoline, home heating, groceries, etc. Playing the blame game is tired & old, it doesn't solve anything.

In additon, with the increase in the cost of gasoline, home heating & groceries, all $600 will pay for is gas & groceries if that. Besides, why would some one spend $600 for merchandise they don't need. I'm a single person, I use to pay $60 per week for groceries, now I pay $110+ per week for groceries. My "stimulus check" is going into my checking account to pay for groceries & gas for my car. Besides, when we filed our 2008 income taxes, is the $600 considered Capital Gains & therefore, taxable?

Obama 'outraged' by Wright's remarks

Barack Obama's outraged at Rev. Wright's remarks is not believable. He was a parisher in the Trinity Church for 20 years, he could not have been sleeping during all of Rev. Wright's sermons. In addition, Barack Obama referred to Rev. Wright as someone that he considered part of his family like a dad or an uncle. He had Rev. Wright marry him & Michele and baptised his children. How many parishers consider their ministers/priests as part of their family? Rev. Wright is correct, Barack Obama is disassociating himself from Rev. Wright for political reasons.

Federal government Stimulus check

People need to understand the federal government's stimulus check is not free money. The stimulus check is your money that you paid in taxes during the 2007 tax year. In addition, my tax preparer informed me that even though taxes will not be taken from the check when you receive it, you will have to claim the entire amount when you file your income tax for the 2008 tax year because it's considered Capital Gains. Therefore, if you're going to spend the check, be sure to save some for your income tax.

California's budget deficit

It is time for the Governor & the State Legislature to get serious about California's deficit since the budget expires June 30, 2008. However, we Californians (38 million of us) need to make some hard choices. If we want the State government to provide services from A through Z, we need to be willing to pay for the services even if that means increasing our taxes. There is no such thing as a free lunch. If we're not willing to increase our taxes, we should be willing to wait longer for the services to be provided to us & not complain if the State reduces some services especially now when the State has a $18 Billion deficit.

Note: We either pay up front with an increase in our taxes or we pay on the back end with a reduction in services. Either way we pay.

democrat fumble

It is time for the democrat party to have a nominee for the general election. Since neither Clinton or Obama can reach the magic 2025 delegate count, one of these two candidates needs to withdraw from the contest. All the slinging of mud against each other is only going to help John McClain win the election in November which is not necessarily bad for this country. At least, McCain is not a hypocrit when he indicates he's supporting the surge-he has something to lose- two of his sons are serving in the military in Iraq. The two candidates need to stop fighting about whether to count Michigan & Florida's delegates. In addition, telling the voters how horrible President Bush is for the last eight years is not what the voters what to hear, the voters know that. Voters including me want to know what a Clinton, Obama or McCain presidency will do for us--I want to know what the candidates' plans are to solve the medicare & social security insolvency, the trade deficient, federal deficient, Iraq war, global warming, bank insolvency, etc. not fluff. I'm tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. Telling the voters that you want change in Washington D.C. is not good enough.