By Rush Limbaugh

There's a serious debate in this country as to how best to end the recession. The average recession will last five to 11 months; the average recovery will last six years. Recessions will end on their own if they're left alone. What can make the recession worse is the wrong kind of government intervention.

I believe the wrong kind is precisely what President Barack Obama has proposed. I don't believe his is a "stimulus plan" at all - I don't think it stimulates anything but the Democratic Party. This "porkulus" bill is designed to repair the Democratic Party's power losses from the 1990s forward, and to cement the party's majority power for decades.

Keynesian economists believe government spending on "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects - schools, roads, bridges - is the best way to stimulate our staggering economy. Supply-side economists make an equally persuasive case that tax cuts are the surest and quickest way to create permanent jobs and cause an economy to rebound. That happened under JFK, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. We know that when tax rates are cut in a recession, it brings an economy back.

(Read the rest of Rush's commentary HERE)

Filed under: Rush Limbaugh

Tonight, a stimulating debate on Obama's stimulus package.  Will the president achieve passage of this rescue plan?  And, what do YOU think of the proposal?  That's our "Question of the Day!"  Sound off and tune-in tonight. 

"Do YOU Support the 819 Billion-Dollar Economic Stimulus Package?"

Join us tonight at 9 p.m., ET, as Ben Stein, Paul Begala, Rep. Barney Frank and Rep. Marsh Blackburn talk about the economic stimulus bill that the U.S. House of Representatives passed this evening.    

Then, personal finance experts Jean Chatzky and "The Motley Fools," David & Tom Gardner offer their advice on how to stimulate YOUR finances.   Have a question or comment for them?  CLICK HERE!  And tune-in tonight.  We may use it on the air!

Filed under: Ben Stein • Economy • Larry King Live • Question of the Day

One of the great things about our show is diversity.  Tonight's a perfect example!  We start with former President Jimmy Carter.  We'll talk Pres. Obama, peace in the middle east (or the lack thereof) and all things current.

Then Mickey Rourke!  He's in a movie that's getting a lot of buzz, "The Wrestler."  We'll also ask about his battles behind the scenes and how he's managed to resurrect his career.

And, we're also still reading your comments from Larry's interview with impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich!  We asked for comments and you delivered.  Want to sound off on Larry's interview with the governor? CLICK HERE!

Filed under: Larry King Live • Mickey Rouke

By Steven Rea
The Philadelphia Inquirer

TORONTO - For a few days at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, where Mickey Rourke’s “The Wrestler” stunned audiences and started a bidding war, the onetime pretty boy/movie tough guy could be seen shambling around swanky Yorkville, his 17-year-old miniature Chihuahua, Loki, snuggled in his arms.

There Rourke was, all 52 bruised and battered years of him, his mop of hair streaked blond, his face puffy and battle-scarred from his storied stretch (‘91-’95) on the pro boxing circuit. Open collar, pinstripe suit, fancy shoes — the guy who used to sell as many postcards as James Dean and Marilyn Monroe in European souvenir stalls, taking the noon air with his pooch and his personal assistant/cook/friend and fellow Chihuahua owner, J.P., in tow.

(Read More)

Filed under: Larry King Live

Did you miss Larry's interview with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich?  Here's a quick link with the story...(Here's the Video)

8:00 PM (all times eastern): since the face of the LKL Blog David Theall is in New York today, I'll be doing tonight's live blog.  I'm Michael Watts, an LKL supervising producer based in DC.  I've been reading your comments througout the day.  A lot of smart stuff in there.  It's been especially interesting to me how many Illionois residents have already chimed in.  Please continue adding your comments to this post, or the post below, and keep checking in through the end of the show for updates.

8:55  We're looking for some good questions from you for the governor tonight.  Please put them in and we'll get to as many as we can.

9:07  So the governor is saying one of the reasons he's not participating in the impeachment trial is because he can't call witnesses.  Do you think this is fair?

9:12  When asked about the quotes from the recorded conversations cited by U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick , the governor didn't respond to the specific quotes.  He did say though he is anxious to hear the tapes and hopes they'll be played during the hearings this week.  Don't know about you, but I can't wait to hear those tapes.

9:26  Very interesting.  Governor said he expects to be removed from office in the next few days.

9:35  Not sure what made me think of this, but I wonder if  Sen. Burris is watching tonight?

9:45  I'm enjoying reading your comments, not something I usually get to do.   How do you all feel the governor is doing?  Do you find him convincing?

9:47  Just used one of your questions on air.  Looking for more so keep 'em coming.

9:54  Many of you have asked about the Children's Hospital and Wrigley Field allegations.  Larry planning to ask about that in the next segment if we have time.

10:00  Very interesting show and it's been really fun reading your comments.  Keep the conversation going and we'll be looking at your comments throughout the night.  Thanks for watching and thanks for blogging with us.

Filed under: Uncategorized

On tonight's LKL:  Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich!  It's a primetime, exclusive as Blagojevich sits down with Larry King on the day his impeachment trial begins!  And, he's taking your phone calls!

We want to hear from you! COMMENT HERE and tune in to Larry's live program, 9 p.m., ET.  We just may use your comment on the air!   So sound off!

We'll be live-blogging during the interview and giving you a  behind-the-scenes report on what's happening FROM THE STUDIO with Larry and Blagojevich!  Listen for Larry to use your comment on the air!

Please:
1) Stay on topic.
2) Keep it short
3) No curse words
4) Use a name (no initials or screen names)

Filed under: Larry King Live • Live Blogging • Rod Blagojevich

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Promising to return America to the "moral high ground" in the war on terrorism, President Obama issued three executive orders Thursday to demonstrate a clean break from the Bush administration, including one requiring that the Guantanamo Bay detention facility be closed within a year.

During a signing ceremony at the White House, Obama reaffirmed his inauguration pledge that the United States does not have "to continue with a false choice between our safety and our ideals."

The president said he was issuing the order to close the facility in order to "restore the standards of due process and the core constitutional values that have made this country great even in the midst of war, even in dealing with terrorism."

(READ MORE)

Answer our "Question of the Day" about Guantanamo Bay detainees HERE!

Filed under: Guantanamo Bay • Obama • War on Terror

President Obama issued an executive order to close down Guantanamo Bay detention facilty within a year.   The Pentagon reports 245 detainees/enemy combatants are presently housed at GITMO.

So our "QUESTION OF THE DAY" is:

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THOSE BEING HELD AT GUANTANAMO BAY DETENTION FACILITY?

Sound off and tune-in tonight to "Larry King Live," at 9 p.m., ET.  We just may use your coment on the air!

CLICK HERE to answer our "Question of the Day."

Filed under: Guantanamo Bay • Obama • Question of the Day

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.774203&w=425&h=350&fv=key%3Dae73278a00]

This might be one of the funniest videos to come out of the inauguration – keep an eye out for all the cameos! (one in particular!)

Filed under: Inauguration • Larry King

by CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley

Democrats hold a strong majority in Congress, but with power comes a power struggle, and a potential headache for President Obama.

Just two days into his term, the president is already facing pushback from leaders of his own party.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have made it clear - it's not their job to answer to Obama.

To a certain degree, the president-Congress tension is simply politics at play - something that happens every time a new president comes in.

But this time, the Democrats have even more power than they did before the election, meaning Pelosi and Reid both have huge majorities in their respective houses.

(READ the rest of Crowley's commentary HERE)

Filed under: Congress