It's OK to be Republican and continue destroying our nation--40,000 factories gone from 2002 to 2008 and more than 300,000 jobs that went with them. I may be wrong, but wasn't this a time of Republican and Christian right power--Bush and all.
Tax breaks for the rich didn't help the poor or even the middle class.
It's time for the Christian right to become Christians again--not Focus of the Family followers. We are a great nation because we worked together to make our nation great--not because we award the rich again and again.
Under Obama, things are turning around--yes, slowly--but turning around in a positive manner.
Now the Republicans come back into power and already selfishness raises its head.
It's too bad they--and the Christian right--can't show more compassion and understanding. No, they say, we want to stop the healthcare, we have to stop the unemployment benefits, etc. etc. etc.
Think what Jesus would do.
Would he tell the working poor they do not deserve healthcare?
Would he wash only the feet of the rich and powerful?
Would he deny unemployment benefit extensions (especially at this time of year)?
Most importantly of all, would he tell his followers that, yes, they must follow their faith blindly no matter what the consequences?
Honest people know the answers--Republicans and the Christian right, do you?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Obama as Hitler
There I was in the grocery store in a mid size town in Missouri having a conversation with an elderly woman who then--out of nowhere--asked me about Obama. She said with a straight face: "Obama is Hitler."
Huh? I thought. Hitler?
Hitler exterminated mentally ill individuals. Obama has fought hard for their rights.
Hitler wiped out six million Jews. Obama is trying to make Israel safe and he had a Jewish individual on his personal staff.
Hitler killed Gypsies. When France tried to forcefully remove the Gypsy population, Obama protested. (Full disclosure: I do not know how this story ended.)
Hitler exterminated gay people. Obama is fighting as hard as he can for their rights.
Hitler?
No way.
Here we have a president who is trying as hard as he can and yet our nation is so selfish, they continually put their individual problems ahead of everything else.
Healthcare, for example.
She actually believes--because she reads a lot--that Obama'a healthcare plan is not going to allow certain individual to live if their sickness gets worse.
I do not know how this keeps coming up. There are no death clauses in the bill. There is only assistance for those who do not have insurance.
Madam, if an uninsured person gets into an accident--injures himself painting by falling off a ladder, for example--who do you think is going to pay his bill? The hospital by law has to treat him. He can't afford the hospital bill; he has no insurance and, yes, what you said about that is correct--he does have free choice, but I do not believe anyone picked poverty--so his choice has become a place to live, food to eat, electricty and heat for the winter. He can't afford health insurance because he gets paid too little. Now he has a few options--1.) bankruptcy (and you do know the leading cause of bankruptcy is caused by health issues) or 2.) the state will pay it--and that means us--the taxpayers.
Get over it.
Obama may have made mistakes but no one can solve the problems he inherited in tweo years and yet he is solving them.
I support him because he is the hardest working presdident I can recall--and I have lived through years of golf playing, vactationing and napping presidents.
I belong to the United States of America where people are not self centered and not egocentric, a place where selfless acts are rewarded and a place where everyone can be healthy, educated and strong.
Huh? I thought. Hitler?
Hitler exterminated mentally ill individuals. Obama has fought hard for their rights.
Hitler wiped out six million Jews. Obama is trying to make Israel safe and he had a Jewish individual on his personal staff.
Hitler killed Gypsies. When France tried to forcefully remove the Gypsy population, Obama protested. (Full disclosure: I do not know how this story ended.)
Hitler exterminated gay people. Obama is fighting as hard as he can for their rights.
Hitler?
No way.
Here we have a president who is trying as hard as he can and yet our nation is so selfish, they continually put their individual problems ahead of everything else.
Healthcare, for example.
She actually believes--because she reads a lot--that Obama'a healthcare plan is not going to allow certain individual to live if their sickness gets worse.
I do not know how this keeps coming up. There are no death clauses in the bill. There is only assistance for those who do not have insurance.
Madam, if an uninsured person gets into an accident--injures himself painting by falling off a ladder, for example--who do you think is going to pay his bill? The hospital by law has to treat him. He can't afford the hospital bill; he has no insurance and, yes, what you said about that is correct--he does have free choice, but I do not believe anyone picked poverty--so his choice has become a place to live, food to eat, electricty and heat for the winter. He can't afford health insurance because he gets paid too little. Now he has a few options--1.) bankruptcy (and you do know the leading cause of bankruptcy is caused by health issues) or 2.) the state will pay it--and that means us--the taxpayers.
Get over it.
Obama may have made mistakes but no one can solve the problems he inherited in tweo years and yet he is solving them.
I support him because he is the hardest working presdident I can recall--and I have lived through years of golf playing, vactationing and napping presidents.
I belong to the United States of America where people are not self centered and not egocentric, a place where selfless acts are rewarded and a place where everyone can be healthy, educated and strong.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
WHY I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT
This is why I continue to support President Obama:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20101123/bs_ac/6824768_obamas_economic_efforts_are_working_1
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20101123/bs_ac/6824768_obamas_economic_efforts_are_working_1
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY--Why Christianiity is a failing religion
On the syndicated radio show, FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, I heard the news reporter say: "After the Democratic Party got spanked during the recent election, it now seeks revenge." Then he said they will OK abortions on military bases (a woman's right between her and her God), repeal the don't tell rule (remember: the best forces in all of our wars were made from individuals we treated very badly. The Buffalo Soldiers, for example, were all African-American) and the tax on rich people (which should be repealed).
Why do we tax rich people differently from everyone else?
I don't know and I don't care, but I do feel very strongly that everyone should carry their own load--and pay the taxes they owe. We don't need tax breaks for rich people.
Right Wing Christianity is failing because it has become paranoid and selfish. Why care about the poor--as Jesus did? That's not important. What is important is to care about the rich and how to become rich so we can care about more rich people--and give them welfare in the name of grants and tax breaks, etc., etc., etc.
Take the health care problem. That's not a problem for rich people. It's a problem for everyone else, yet there we are yelling about how unfair it is.
Unfair?
How can anything that protects our people and makes us healthier--thus stronger--be unfair? Only selfish people would not want everyone to have a right to be healthy.
I have no problem paying higher taxes to help everyone become healthier. A healthier America. Now that's a good idea.
Yes, I said it.
Right now the Christain right as pictured on FOCUS ON THE FAMILY is selfish and does not care to make our nation stronger--they only wish--in my opinion--to make the rich richer.
No. This is not what Jesus wanted. Did ne not say the meek will inherit the earth? Did he not fight for the rights of the poor? Did he not demand justice for the downtrodden?
Enough said.
Why do we tax rich people differently from everyone else?
I don't know and I don't care, but I do feel very strongly that everyone should carry their own load--and pay the taxes they owe. We don't need tax breaks for rich people.
Right Wing Christianity is failing because it has become paranoid and selfish. Why care about the poor--as Jesus did? That's not important. What is important is to care about the rich and how to become rich so we can care about more rich people--and give them welfare in the name of grants and tax breaks, etc., etc., etc.
Take the health care problem. That's not a problem for rich people. It's a problem for everyone else, yet there we are yelling about how unfair it is.
Unfair?
How can anything that protects our people and makes us healthier--thus stronger--be unfair? Only selfish people would not want everyone to have a right to be healthy.
I have no problem paying higher taxes to help everyone become healthier. A healthier America. Now that's a good idea.
Yes, I said it.
Right now the Christain right as pictured on FOCUS ON THE FAMILY is selfish and does not care to make our nation stronger--they only wish--in my opinion--to make the rich richer.
No. This is not what Jesus wanted. Did ne not say the meek will inherit the earth? Did he not fight for the rights of the poor? Did he not demand justice for the downtrodden?
Enough said.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Patience?
Over a decade to get out of Viet Nam.
World War 11--We fought for more than four years.
The latest Iraqi conflict--Are we mnot nearing record duration?
The Great Depression went on for over a decade.
We have to give our leadership a chance. The problem here is one word: selfishness.
We are selfish. We want cheap oil, cheap food, cheap goods--and we don't care about our impact on the rest of the world. We cannot stand in line without complaining--and there may only be two people ahead of us. And we do not want to offer a helping hand to the poor among us--the poor faraway, no problem--but nearby--how disgusting that our tax dollars help.
This is a sad state of affairs.
We lack patience because we are selfish--and as selfish individuals, we want an immedioate fix when an immediate fix doesn't always happen.
Yes, our nation has problems, but lacking patience and acting as selfish individuals--this is not going to make all of our problems go away.
World War 11--We fought for more than four years.
The latest Iraqi conflict--Are we mnot nearing record duration?
The Great Depression went on for over a decade.
We have to give our leadership a chance. The problem here is one word: selfishness.
We are selfish. We want cheap oil, cheap food, cheap goods--and we don't care about our impact on the rest of the world. We cannot stand in line without complaining--and there may only be two people ahead of us. And we do not want to offer a helping hand to the poor among us--the poor faraway, no problem--but nearby--how disgusting that our tax dollars help.
This is a sad state of affairs.
We lack patience because we are selfish--and as selfish individuals, we want an immedioate fix when an immediate fix doesn't always happen.
Yes, our nation has problems, but lacking patience and acting as selfish individuals--this is not going to make all of our problems go away.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tax Cuts
Did you know that the Obama Administration has lowered our taxes by as much as 800 dollars for a married couple and 400 dollars for a single individual?
And it's a tax cut that benefits everyone--not just the rich.
Why isn't anyone in the Tea Party talking about this? Why isn't our idiot commentators on Fox?
Let's let the secret out of the bag--the Obama tax cut is on its second year.
And it's a tax cut that benefits everyone--not just the rich.
Why isn't anyone in the Tea Party talking about this? Why isn't our idiot commentators on Fox?
Let's let the secret out of the bag--the Obama tax cut is on its second year.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Why Obama is ON THE JOB!
David Kolb: Tea partiers not the only ones hoping for some change
Published: Wednesday, October 06, 2010, 6:36 AM Updated: Wednesday, October 06, 2010, 9:52 AM
David Kolb | The Muskegon Chronicle
Follow Share this story
David Kolb
“How’s that ‘hopey-changey’ thing working out for ya?”
I hear this a lot from tea party types giddy with the prospect of stuffing Congress with their roster of half-wits and dingbats.
Even if you have to parse a Sarah Palin tweet to understand its meaning, what the ex-half-term governor of Alaska is suggesting is that the “change” and “hope” embodied by the Democrats in the last presidential campaign is nothing but smoke and mirrors, a bunch of garbage, really.
Health insurance reform, heading off a second Great Depression, financial and banking reform?
Pfffft, according to the Obama haters.
Cardholders Bill of Rights, ending predatory credit card practices?
Who cares.
The Student Aid & Fiscal Responsibility Act, the biggest investment in college aid in history, a bill that expanded access to student loans and reduced the federal deficit by ending wasteful student loan subsidies to banks?
So what.
What about the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which mandates equal pay for equal work, and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act to protect citizens with different sexual orientations?
Yawn.
The rescue of SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan, from the oblivion to which it would have been consigned under the Republicans? A program that expanded health coverage to 4 million low-income children and preserved it for another 7 million?
Big deal.
How about the HIRE Act, then, which created 300,000 jobs with tax incentives for businesses hiring unemployed Americans, which spurred small business investment and spending on rebuilding infrastructure?
Or the Cash for Clunkers program that, while it lasted until the money ran out in a matter of days, saw nearly three-quarters of a million new vehicles sold, revitalizing a moribund U.S. auto industry?
Aw, nothing but socialism.
Well, what about saving the U.S. auto industry, which the GOP would have flushed down the proverbial toilet?
Excuse me, I wasn’t listening.
These aren’t accomplishments, the tea party Republicans contend, but rather clever ruses aimed at bankrupting and destroying America.
Such as the stimulus bill, which garnered not even a single GOP vote.
Republicans preferred the nauseating free-fall of the economy we were enjoying in late 2008 since it furthered their goal of “breaking” President Obama.
They did their best to kill the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and after it passed, they reviled it as a failure rife with fraud. In this week’s Time Magazine more of the truth emerges from underneath a landfill of Republican lies:
“People of good faith can disagree over whether President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package is creating enough jobs, piling on too much debt, or helping the country in the long run,” Time’s editors write.
“But it’s about time to retire one set of critiques of the stimulus: that it would be riddled with fraud, hamstrung by delays, and crippled by cost overruns. So far, while the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is clearly not a political success, it is just as clearly a managerial success — on schedule, under budget, and according to independent investigators, remarkably free of fraud.
“Yesterday, the administration met its self-imposed deadline of spending 70 percent of the Recovery Act, or $551 billion,” the article continued. “By the end of the fiscal year almost all of the unspent stimulus money is already committed to specific projects, except for a few longer-range initiatives like high-speed rail and electronic health records. And the completed work has cost less than expected, so the savings have financed over 3,000 additional projects, from airport improvements in Atlanta to new child-care centers at military bases in Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi and Oklahoma, from a new five-lane road in Jacksonville to a $14.5 million transformation of a World War II ammunition factory into an eco-friendly government building in St. Louis. ”
But surely the stock market is crashing as a result of “Obamanomics”?
Hardly, and many 401ks had recovered all the money they lost under our last president and then some.
Why, even the gold bugs are doing OK sitting on their hoards of bars, coins and ammo.
What do the Palinites, the tea partiers and the right-wingers want for America instead of this “hopey-changey thing”?
This crowd, which has largely taken over the national Republican Party and will soon be running your local and state GOP organizations if they are successful this Nov. 2, are running on a platform of a rollback to the good old days of George W. Bush, which they believe a majority of Americans want.
Just don’t take my word for it. Read the Republican “Pledge to America,” which parrots the same old mantra of right-wing conservatism.
Spelled out, that’s more tax cuts for the rich and more spending cuts for the rest of us.
You see, right-wingers want you to give them another chance to wreck the family car, like they did in their joy ride under co-Presidents Bush and Dick Cheney.
I think that’s nuts.
I also think it’s nuts not to give Democrats a few more years to keep on the job of fixing that wreck, this time without Republican obstructionism, filibustering and mindless “no ” votes.
Now there’s some “change” I can believe in.
David Kolb is former editorial page editor of The Muskegon Chronicle. E-mail: writersgroupllc@aol.com
Published: Wednesday, October 06, 2010, 6:36 AM Updated: Wednesday, October 06, 2010, 9:52 AM
David Kolb | The Muskegon Chronicle
Follow Share this story
David Kolb
“How’s that ‘hopey-changey’ thing working out for ya?”
I hear this a lot from tea party types giddy with the prospect of stuffing Congress with their roster of half-wits and dingbats.
Even if you have to parse a Sarah Palin tweet to understand its meaning, what the ex-half-term governor of Alaska is suggesting is that the “change” and “hope” embodied by the Democrats in the last presidential campaign is nothing but smoke and mirrors, a bunch of garbage, really.
Health insurance reform, heading off a second Great Depression, financial and banking reform?
Pfffft, according to the Obama haters.
Cardholders Bill of Rights, ending predatory credit card practices?
Who cares.
The Student Aid & Fiscal Responsibility Act, the biggest investment in college aid in history, a bill that expanded access to student loans and reduced the federal deficit by ending wasteful student loan subsidies to banks?
So what.
What about the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which mandates equal pay for equal work, and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act to protect citizens with different sexual orientations?
Yawn.
The rescue of SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan, from the oblivion to which it would have been consigned under the Republicans? A program that expanded health coverage to 4 million low-income children and preserved it for another 7 million?
Big deal.
How about the HIRE Act, then, which created 300,000 jobs with tax incentives for businesses hiring unemployed Americans, which spurred small business investment and spending on rebuilding infrastructure?
Or the Cash for Clunkers program that, while it lasted until the money ran out in a matter of days, saw nearly three-quarters of a million new vehicles sold, revitalizing a moribund U.S. auto industry?
Aw, nothing but socialism.
Well, what about saving the U.S. auto industry, which the GOP would have flushed down the proverbial toilet?
Excuse me, I wasn’t listening.
These aren’t accomplishments, the tea party Republicans contend, but rather clever ruses aimed at bankrupting and destroying America.
Such as the stimulus bill, which garnered not even a single GOP vote.
Republicans preferred the nauseating free-fall of the economy we were enjoying in late 2008 since it furthered their goal of “breaking” President Obama.
They did their best to kill the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and after it passed, they reviled it as a failure rife with fraud. In this week’s Time Magazine more of the truth emerges from underneath a landfill of Republican lies:
“People of good faith can disagree over whether President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package is creating enough jobs, piling on too much debt, or helping the country in the long run,” Time’s editors write.
“But it’s about time to retire one set of critiques of the stimulus: that it would be riddled with fraud, hamstrung by delays, and crippled by cost overruns. So far, while the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is clearly not a political success, it is just as clearly a managerial success — on schedule, under budget, and according to independent investigators, remarkably free of fraud.
“Yesterday, the administration met its self-imposed deadline of spending 70 percent of the Recovery Act, or $551 billion,” the article continued. “By the end of the fiscal year almost all of the unspent stimulus money is already committed to specific projects, except for a few longer-range initiatives like high-speed rail and electronic health records. And the completed work has cost less than expected, so the savings have financed over 3,000 additional projects, from airport improvements in Atlanta to new child-care centers at military bases in Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi and Oklahoma, from a new five-lane road in Jacksonville to a $14.5 million transformation of a World War II ammunition factory into an eco-friendly government building in St. Louis. ”
But surely the stock market is crashing as a result of “Obamanomics”?
Hardly, and many 401ks had recovered all the money they lost under our last president and then some.
Why, even the gold bugs are doing OK sitting on their hoards of bars, coins and ammo.
What do the Palinites, the tea partiers and the right-wingers want for America instead of this “hopey-changey thing”?
This crowd, which has largely taken over the national Republican Party and will soon be running your local and state GOP organizations if they are successful this Nov. 2, are running on a platform of a rollback to the good old days of George W. Bush, which they believe a majority of Americans want.
Just don’t take my word for it. Read the Republican “Pledge to America,” which parrots the same old mantra of right-wing conservatism.
Spelled out, that’s more tax cuts for the rich and more spending cuts for the rest of us.
You see, right-wingers want you to give them another chance to wreck the family car, like they did in their joy ride under co-Presidents Bush and Dick Cheney.
I think that’s nuts.
I also think it’s nuts not to give Democrats a few more years to keep on the job of fixing that wreck, this time without Republican obstructionism, filibustering and mindless “no ” votes.
Now there’s some “change” I can believe in.
David Kolb is former editorial page editor of The Muskegon Chronicle. E-mail: writersgroupllc@aol.com
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Health Insurance
I'm living in the State of Missouri--yes, the state that voted not to have the Obama health plan.
Guess what?
Two out of three people are for his plan and want to keep it. It's really too bad the lobbyists have more control than the people. Too bad rich people can run over everyone else because of simple greed.
At the end of this year I won't have anymore health insurance. It goes up to over thirteen hundred dollars a month. That's a month. I'm not paying that kind of money.
So I hope anyone and everyone who is reading this realizes how much I am now going to cost the system because I am going to be joining the ranks of the uninsured--and our tax dollars (including mine) will be paying one way or the other for me and my family's health care.
Mandatory health insurance that is affordable--this is why I voted for President Obama.
Guess what?
Two out of three people are for his plan and want to keep it. It's really too bad the lobbyists have more control than the people. Too bad rich people can run over everyone else because of simple greed.
At the end of this year I won't have anymore health insurance. It goes up to over thirteen hundred dollars a month. That's a month. I'm not paying that kind of money.
So I hope anyone and everyone who is reading this realizes how much I am now going to cost the system because I am going to be joining the ranks of the uninsured--and our tax dollars (including mine) will be paying one way or the other for me and my family's health care.
Mandatory health insurance that is affordable--this is why I voted for President Obama.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Religious Freedom, the President, and a New York Mosque
Let me get this straight: the president's primary job is to uphold the Constitution. Isn't religious freedom one of our most important rights? It's so important it's the first line of the first amendment in the Bill of Rights:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
So why this firestorm of anger because President Obama said the mosque has a rigfht to be built even if it's nearby the 9/11 towers?
I say thank God we have a president who has the guts to actually support the Constitution.
And one more thing--Tea Party and Republicans--remember how we hated communism because they were so against religion? I'm going to say it: I guess you are communist because now you are infringing on the rights of a religion because--like the communists--you want to do exactly what the communists wanted to do: stop religion.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
So why this firestorm of anger because President Obama said the mosque has a rigfht to be built even if it's nearby the 9/11 towers?
I say thank God we have a president who has the guts to actually support the Constitution.
And one more thing--Tea Party and Republicans--remember how we hated communism because they were so against religion? I'm going to say it: I guess you are communist because now you are infringing on the rights of a religion because--like the communists--you want to do exactly what the communists wanted to do: stop religion.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
A Time To Campaign, A Time To Govern--Part 2
A speech for President Obama--
My fellow countrymen, I have come before you because I have something very serious to say. Something that needs to be said. Something that I and others can no longer pretend is not an issue.
When I ran for president, I pledged that I would change the political culture of this nation and I have tried and tried, and I will continue to try, but in many ways it has not succeeded. I want to tell you why. This job, this job of leadership for our great nation is stuck in stagnation, it's that simple, unable to move forward, unable to change.
I feel I must campaign everyday when I should be governing. And that is what I now propose to do. No longer do I care if I am reelected. Reelection is not my goal. It never was. My goal has always been to change the political culture of this nation, to bring trust back into politics, to create honesty in government.
I repeat--I no longer care if I am reelected. This is not why I am here. It never has been. I made a great number of pledges when I campaigned and I have kept a great number of them, but many others have not even made it past the door because even though those pledges--those policies--are good for America, the political culture of the Congress will not allow them to develop, to incubate, to become positive forces, legislation for the greater good.
I'm not advocating term limits. I'm advocating guts and courage and doing the right thing regardless of getting reelected or not. When I became president, I took it on as a great honor, not as a means to stay employed for the next several years.
So now I call to all of us in this great country to join with me and dig deep and discover our internal courage and the guts that built this nation and to not shy away from controversy and responsible actions that I know--that we as a nation know--will make this nation greater.
I am going to push my agenda of positive change, make this country strong again, and I propose to do this regardless of the consequences. Some of my ideas may be unpopular with some, but I feel very strongly that my ideas and the promises I made that brought me to this position of leadership are good ideas and they need to be addressed without fear of losing the next election.
I and every other elected and/or appointed politician is not here because this is our lifetime job; we are here because we are committed to the United States of America and I for one am prepared to forsake an additional term to make these commitments of excellence realities.
Who will not join me to help make our country the best in the world and who will fail to help me because campaigning and political job security is really all that one wanted.
No, this is not about term limits; this is about doing the right thing regardless of political party affiliation, regardless of creed, regardless of race, regardless of the what-is-in-it-for-me-mentality. We must rise above petty squabbles and work together united as one.
And I, I will now state again proudly and without shame, I am here to govern, not to campaign; I am here for positive results, not more of the same; I am here because I am proud to be called an American.
Thank you.
My fellow countrymen, I have come before you because I have something very serious to say. Something that needs to be said. Something that I and others can no longer pretend is not an issue.
When I ran for president, I pledged that I would change the political culture of this nation and I have tried and tried, and I will continue to try, but in many ways it has not succeeded. I want to tell you why. This job, this job of leadership for our great nation is stuck in stagnation, it's that simple, unable to move forward, unable to change.
I feel I must campaign everyday when I should be governing. And that is what I now propose to do. No longer do I care if I am reelected. Reelection is not my goal. It never was. My goal has always been to change the political culture of this nation, to bring trust back into politics, to create honesty in government.
I repeat--I no longer care if I am reelected. This is not why I am here. It never has been. I made a great number of pledges when I campaigned and I have kept a great number of them, but many others have not even made it past the door because even though those pledges--those policies--are good for America, the political culture of the Congress will not allow them to develop, to incubate, to become positive forces, legislation for the greater good.
I'm not advocating term limits. I'm advocating guts and courage and doing the right thing regardless of getting reelected or not. When I became president, I took it on as a great honor, not as a means to stay employed for the next several years.
So now I call to all of us in this great country to join with me and dig deep and discover our internal courage and the guts that built this nation and to not shy away from controversy and responsible actions that I know--that we as a nation know--will make this nation greater.
I am going to push my agenda of positive change, make this country strong again, and I propose to do this regardless of the consequences. Some of my ideas may be unpopular with some, but I feel very strongly that my ideas and the promises I made that brought me to this position of leadership are good ideas and they need to be addressed without fear of losing the next election.
I and every other elected and/or appointed politician is not here because this is our lifetime job; we are here because we are committed to the United States of America and I for one am prepared to forsake an additional term to make these commitments of excellence realities.
Who will not join me to help make our country the best in the world and who will fail to help me because campaigning and political job security is really all that one wanted.
No, this is not about term limits; this is about doing the right thing regardless of political party affiliation, regardless of creed, regardless of race, regardless of the what-is-in-it-for-me-mentality. We must rise above petty squabbles and work together united as one.
And I, I will now state again proudly and without shame, I am here to govern, not to campaign; I am here for positive results, not more of the same; I am here because I am proud to be called an American.
Thank you.
A Time to Campaign, A Time To Govern
An open letter to President Obama,
I read the following quotes with trepidation:
"The one thing that does frustrate me sometimes is the sense that we shouldn't be campaigning all of the time. There is a time to campaign and then there is a time to govern."
He also said that he was saddened by the political culture he had pledged to change during his election campaign that refused to change.
OK--so I thought I'd write you a speech on these issues.
Michael H. Brownstein
I read the following quotes with trepidation:
"The one thing that does frustrate me sometimes is the sense that we shouldn't be campaigning all of the time. There is a time to campaign and then there is a time to govern."
He also said that he was saddened by the political culture he had pledged to change during his election campaign that refused to change.
OK--so I thought I'd write you a speech on these issues.
Michael H. Brownstein
Thursday, June 17, 2010
BP, Republican Idiots, and 20 Billion dollars
This is why I support President Obama:
From David Plouffe:
"When BP CEO Tony Hayward testified before Congress this morning, many expected to hear him apologize for the disaster his company has caused. Instead, GOP Congressman Joe Barton was the one saying he was sorry -- to BP.
"In his opening statement, Barton, the top Republican on the committee overseeing the oil spill and its aftermath, delivered a personal apology to the oil giant. He said the $20 billion fund that President Obama directed BP to establish to provide relief to the victims of the oil disaster was a "tragedy in the first proportion."
"Other Republicans are echoing his call. Sen. John Cornyn said he "shares" Barton's concern. Rep. Michele Bachmann said that BP shouldn't agree to be "fleeced." Rush Limbaugh called it a "bailout." The Republican Study Committee, with its 114 members in the House, called it a "shakedown.""
Because of President Obama, BP has pledged 20 billion dollars--which is still to little for the biggest ecological disaster in the world's history.
Once again the Republicans show where they stand--with the rich and richer.
From David Plouffe:
"When BP CEO Tony Hayward testified before Congress this morning, many expected to hear him apologize for the disaster his company has caused. Instead, GOP Congressman Joe Barton was the one saying he was sorry -- to BP.
"In his opening statement, Barton, the top Republican on the committee overseeing the oil spill and its aftermath, delivered a personal apology to the oil giant. He said the $20 billion fund that President Obama directed BP to establish to provide relief to the victims of the oil disaster was a "tragedy in the first proportion."
"Other Republicans are echoing his call. Sen. John Cornyn said he "shares" Barton's concern. Rep. Michele Bachmann said that BP shouldn't agree to be "fleeced." Rush Limbaugh called it a "bailout." The Republican Study Committee, with its 114 members in the House, called it a "shakedown.""
Because of President Obama, BP has pledged 20 billion dollars--which is still to little for the biggest ecological disaster in the world's history.
Once again the Republicans show where they stand--with the rich and richer.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Boycott BP
Is President Obama to be blamed for the oil spill?
Not in my opinion.
Deregulating started under Clinton and continued under Bush. In fact, if you remember President Bush pushed for oil drilling in the arctic as well as off shore in the Gulf.
I know it's easy to blame the current president for this mishap, but he did not allow the massive growth of oil drilling in the gulf. Bush and Cheney did. In fact, Cheney has an economic interest in the very corporations that built this broken pipe that now is leaking everywhere.
Of course, as former President Truman said, "The buck stops here," and President Obama has to respond and deal effectively with this crisis. But to blame him for it is not even remotely understandable. Deregulation of the oil industry began after Carter's administration and it flourished under George Bush.
We went from 29 to over a 125 oil drilling rigs in the Gulf during the George Bush administration.
I say boycott BP and continue to boycott.
But don't blame this disaster on Obama. He's not the one who deregulated the oil industry and allowed all of this to happen. And he especially did not allow BP to drill for oil by cutting corners thus creating one of--if not the worse--ecological disasters in our history.
Not in my opinion.
Deregulating started under Clinton and continued under Bush. In fact, if you remember President Bush pushed for oil drilling in the arctic as well as off shore in the Gulf.
I know it's easy to blame the current president for this mishap, but he did not allow the massive growth of oil drilling in the gulf. Bush and Cheney did. In fact, Cheney has an economic interest in the very corporations that built this broken pipe that now is leaking everywhere.
Of course, as former President Truman said, "The buck stops here," and President Obama has to respond and deal effectively with this crisis. But to blame him for it is not even remotely understandable. Deregulation of the oil industry began after Carter's administration and it flourished under George Bush.
We went from 29 to over a 125 oil drilling rigs in the Gulf during the George Bush administration.
I say boycott BP and continue to boycott.
But don't blame this disaster on Obama. He's not the one who deregulated the oil industry and allowed all of this to happen. And he especially did not allow BP to drill for oil by cutting corners thus creating one of--if not the worse--ecological disasters in our history.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Another Posting Because I Had To
How does health care reform affect us: click here to watch a video.
And below--reform for students who want to go to college, but cannot afford to go:
"In Spring 2007, on a conference call with students, then-Senator Barack Obama called for major reform to federal student loans:
"'We shouldn't be providing billions in taxpayer-funded giveaways to private banks. We should be providing an affordable, accessible college education to every American."
"This morning, President Obama signed those historic reforms into law.
"Dr. Jill Biden, an educator for 29 years, just recorded a short video explaining what these groundbreaking reforms mean for education in America. Click here to watch."
Unfortunately for myself and others who do read this blog, we agreed that it's preaching to the choir--not those who need to know.
I'm open to suggestions as to how to get others involved--including tea baggers, Sarah Palen fanatics, Republicans, etc. etc. etc.
And below--reform for students who want to go to college, but cannot afford to go:
"In Spring 2007, on a conference call with students, then-Senator Barack Obama called for major reform to federal student loans:
"'We shouldn't be providing billions in taxpayer-funded giveaways to private banks. We should be providing an affordable, accessible college education to every American."
"This morning, President Obama signed those historic reforms into law.
"Dr. Jill Biden, an educator for 29 years, just recorded a short video explaining what these groundbreaking reforms mean for education in America. Click here to watch."
Unfortunately for myself and others who do read this blog, we agreed that it's preaching to the choir--not those who need to know.
I'm open to suggestions as to how to get others involved--including tea baggers, Sarah Palen fanatics, Republicans, etc. etc. etc.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Speaking to the Choir
Unfortunately this blog speaks to the choir. Individuals who do not agree with me about my support for President Obama are not reading this blog--or if they are, they are not leaving comments--comments which I will publish as long as they are not obscene (but I might publish those too due to how stupid they make the commenter look).
I'm going to take a break from this blog for a period of time. A week maybe, perhaps a month or two.
Obama over and over again has shown how much he cares for the American people--and those who depict him as the Anti-Christ or another Hitler--well, I can't respond to them in a rational manner. Hitler ordered the murder and destruction of many nations--Obama is trying to make this world a safer place--and as for the Anti-Christ, I do not understand how trying to rebuild a nation destroyed by previous administrations (including the Reagan one) makes him anything but Christ like.
When we import our right wing Christianity to other nations (Uganda, for example) and then see the results of this right wing activity and how destructive it is (Uganda again in the case of capital punishment for being gay), then I wonder who the real Anti-Christ are--the Republicans blocking help for American workers or the right wing Christians allowing a nation (once more, Uganda) to put to death individuals because of a difference in sexual orientation.
If heaven is full of these racist and evil people who use the name of Christ and the Bible as their weapon, I need to go somewhere else.
I'm going to take a break from this blog for a period of time. A week maybe, perhaps a month or two.
Obama over and over again has shown how much he cares for the American people--and those who depict him as the Anti-Christ or another Hitler--well, I can't respond to them in a rational manner. Hitler ordered the murder and destruction of many nations--Obama is trying to make this world a safer place--and as for the Anti-Christ, I do not understand how trying to rebuild a nation destroyed by previous administrations (including the Reagan one) makes him anything but Christ like.
When we import our right wing Christianity to other nations (Uganda, for example) and then see the results of this right wing activity and how destructive it is (Uganda again in the case of capital punishment for being gay), then I wonder who the real Anti-Christ are--the Republicans blocking help for American workers or the right wing Christians allowing a nation (once more, Uganda) to put to death individuals because of a difference in sexual orientation.
If heaven is full of these racist and evil people who use the name of Christ and the Bible as their weapon, I need to go somewhere else.
An Email to me from the President
Michael --
For the first time in our nation's history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.
Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:
Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.
Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.
And we'll finally start reducing the cost of care -- creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.
But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.
It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.
It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.
And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.
This is what change looks like.
My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.
This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.
Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.
We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we've faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right -- and actually create the change we believe in.
Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
For the first time in our nation's history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.
Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:
Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.
Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.
And we'll finally start reducing the cost of care -- creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.
But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.
It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.
It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.
And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.
This is what change looks like.
My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.
This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.
Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.
We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we've faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right -- and actually create the change we believe in.
Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Republicans Do Not Care About Us
Senate Republican holds up jobless benefits--By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer
"WASHINGTON – Once again, a stubborn Senate Republican is blocking speedy passage of a stopgap bill to extend jobless benefits..."
So once again the Republicans tell our country's unemployed what Tom Delay has already said: Too bad. We don't care about you.
Why I support Obama? He took on a terribly hard job and every single day shows how much he really cares.
Republicans: It's not always about money. Some of the time you have to realize it's also about people.
"WASHINGTON – Once again, a stubborn Senate Republican is blocking speedy passage of a stopgap bill to extend jobless benefits..."
So once again the Republicans tell our country's unemployed what Tom Delay has already said: Too bad. We don't care about you.
Why I support Obama? He took on a terribly hard job and every single day shows how much he really cares.
Republicans: It's not always about money. Some of the time you have to realize it's also about people.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
To Isaac Newton Skelton, A Missouri Rep, Who Voted No on the Healthcare Bill.
Isaac Newton Skelton,
The below comments are from the Jefferson City News Tribune, a newspaper in a very conservative state--Missouri. I don't know about you, Mr. Skelton, but it appears the people have spoken, Representatives have voted their conscience instead of voting in fear of losing their job, and I'm going to celebrate tonight because President Obama has the guts--along with 219 other Reps--to do the right thing. This is something the Republican Party cannot begin to understand. As for Rush Limbaugh, you don't have to go to Costa Rico for their socialized healthcare because the Democrats and the President has just made our nation stronger and healthier by taking this historic step forward.
m.lapin wrote on Mar 21, 2010 10:57 PM:
" A vote for no is a vote against being an American. Did you know we are behind Costa Rico in healthcare right now--the place Rush Limbaugh said he would go if the bill passes. I want to go there too. 88% of its population receives free healthcare and if we go there, we pay way less than what we pay in Jeff City. Limbaugh actually supports a socialist state.
But I'll tell you what--when you start paying for your own healthcare like the rest of us and begin to get the same inadequate treatment we get, then maybe you can vote however you want.
I'm definitely voting against you--and this maybe the first year I'm a single issue voter. "
waitingontheend wrote on Mar 21, 2010 5:24 PM:
" hmarie I agree with you, I work for a small business and when insurance is 25% of your budget there has to be some relief. "
climax wrote on Mar 21, 2010 10:32 AM:
" Ike is running again, and is selling out his own party. I would suspect, and rightfully so that Ike will lose his chairmanship with a no vote. "
boscoe wrote on Mar 21, 2010 9:59 AM:
" Skelton doesn't care what the majority of his constituents think. He isn't running again, so he just sold his soul to the party regime. "
climax wrote on Mar 21, 2010 9:23 AM:
" I have voted for Ike since 1976, and I consider him a personal friend. I guess you can call me his base. I called his Washington office, and left this personal message Friday "If Ike votes against the Health Care bill I will no longer be able to support him" "
mccrabb wrote on Mar 20, 2010 11:36 PM:
" I always thought of my employees as number one priority ,but I need to rethink after I read some of the input here in the news tribune,I need to read the political material on the automobile bumpers at my office and weed the out the negativity.I can no longer can have a blind eye and I can find a willing worker on the other side of the fence ,its always greener. "
cherchante wrote on Mar 20, 2010 9:51 PM:
" limerick54 when you wrote on Mar 20, 2010 9:21 PM:
" Yet another jerkwad Republican that puts money ahead of people. How typical. How sad. "
To whom were you referring as "another jerkwad Republican?" "
limerick54 wrote on Mar 20, 2010 9:21 PM:
" Yet another jerkwad Republican that puts money ahead of people. How typical. How sad. "
hmarie775 wrote on Mar 20, 2010 5:59 PM:
" Of course they are going to protect against higher taxes for the rich! That's the only people taxed in this bill. The rich are the ones who finance their campaigns!
Here are a couple good articles..as there seems to be SO much misinformation out there. If people really understood what was being voted on instead of what they hear from talk radio they might not be so adamantly opposed..it's NOT that bad!
http://inventorspot.com/articles/debunking_health_care_reform_myths_11th_hour_39063
and http://www.cnbc.com/id/35948289 "
cherchante wrote on Mar 20, 2010 1:07 PM:
" Let Isaac Newton Skelton and his ilk view and attempt an understanding of this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VR1bOha40U&feature=player_embedded
That is IF they have the capacity to understand We the People HAVE NO KING! "
pale rider wrote on Mar 20, 2010 12:14 PM:
" asfor mr. skelton if he votes against changing the way AMA and the pharmacutical companys and the health insurance company.buy votes in the senate and house i and any i can influence will vote against him or anyone else who goes for contenuing doing nothing in washington other than following a conservative veiw of doing nothing "
cherchante wrote on Mar 20, 2010 9:52 AM:
" Issac Newton Skelton. What a charlatan! Showing his derriere to his constituents whom he thinks will buy his merde! Isaac knows full well that the end of his reign of tyranny over the 4th is over if he doesn't appear to go with his constituents this time. And his party is fully aware of that as well. So, Isaac has decreed the safe answer to his support for obamacare by his tactic of voting FOR "deem and pass" while he knows that tactic will ensure passage of obamacare and he will have never voted directly for it. Disgustingly lying by omission of what his true intentions are!
It is beyond time for Isaac to be ousted! "
The below comments are from the Jefferson City News Tribune, a newspaper in a very conservative state--Missouri. I don't know about you, Mr. Skelton, but it appears the people have spoken, Representatives have voted their conscience instead of voting in fear of losing their job, and I'm going to celebrate tonight because President Obama has the guts--along with 219 other Reps--to do the right thing. This is something the Republican Party cannot begin to understand. As for Rush Limbaugh, you don't have to go to Costa Rico for their socialized healthcare because the Democrats and the President has just made our nation stronger and healthier by taking this historic step forward.
m.lapin wrote on Mar 21, 2010 10:57 PM:
" A vote for no is a vote against being an American. Did you know we are behind Costa Rico in healthcare right now--the place Rush Limbaugh said he would go if the bill passes. I want to go there too. 88% of its population receives free healthcare and if we go there, we pay way less than what we pay in Jeff City. Limbaugh actually supports a socialist state.
But I'll tell you what--when you start paying for your own healthcare like the rest of us and begin to get the same inadequate treatment we get, then maybe you can vote however you want.
I'm definitely voting against you--and this maybe the first year I'm a single issue voter. "
waitingontheend wrote on Mar 21, 2010 5:24 PM:
" hmarie I agree with you, I work for a small business and when insurance is 25% of your budget there has to be some relief. "
climax wrote on Mar 21, 2010 10:32 AM:
" Ike is running again, and is selling out his own party. I would suspect, and rightfully so that Ike will lose his chairmanship with a no vote. "
boscoe wrote on Mar 21, 2010 9:59 AM:
" Skelton doesn't care what the majority of his constituents think. He isn't running again, so he just sold his soul to the party regime. "
climax wrote on Mar 21, 2010 9:23 AM:
" I have voted for Ike since 1976, and I consider him a personal friend. I guess you can call me his base. I called his Washington office, and left this personal message Friday "If Ike votes against the Health Care bill I will no longer be able to support him" "
mccrabb wrote on Mar 20, 2010 11:36 PM:
" I always thought of my employees as number one priority ,but I need to rethink after I read some of the input here in the news tribune,I need to read the political material on the automobile bumpers at my office and weed the out the negativity.I can no longer can have a blind eye and I can find a willing worker on the other side of the fence ,its always greener. "
cherchante wrote on Mar 20, 2010 9:51 PM:
" limerick54 when you wrote on Mar 20, 2010 9:21 PM:
" Yet another jerkwad Republican that puts money ahead of people. How typical. How sad. "
To whom were you referring as "another jerkwad Republican?" "
limerick54 wrote on Mar 20, 2010 9:21 PM:
" Yet another jerkwad Republican that puts money ahead of people. How typical. How sad. "
hmarie775 wrote on Mar 20, 2010 5:59 PM:
" Of course they are going to protect against higher taxes for the rich! That's the only people taxed in this bill. The rich are the ones who finance their campaigns!
Here are a couple good articles..as there seems to be SO much misinformation out there. If people really understood what was being voted on instead of what they hear from talk radio they might not be so adamantly opposed..it's NOT that bad!
http://inventorspot.com/articles/debunking_health_care_reform_myths_11th_hour_39063
and http://www.cnbc.com/id/35948289 "
cherchante wrote on Mar 20, 2010 1:07 PM:
" Let Isaac Newton Skelton and his ilk view and attempt an understanding of this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VR1bOha40U&feature=player_embedded
That is IF they have the capacity to understand We the People HAVE NO KING! "
pale rider wrote on Mar 20, 2010 12:14 PM:
" asfor mr. skelton if he votes against changing the way AMA and the pharmacutical companys and the health insurance company.buy votes in the senate and house i and any i can influence will vote against him or anyone else who goes for contenuing doing nothing in washington other than following a conservative veiw of doing nothing "
cherchante wrote on Mar 20, 2010 9:52 AM:
" Issac Newton Skelton. What a charlatan! Showing his derriere to his constituents whom he thinks will buy his merde! Isaac knows full well that the end of his reign of tyranny over the 4th is over if he doesn't appear to go with his constituents this time. And his party is fully aware of that as well. So, Isaac has decreed the safe answer to his support for obamacare by his tactic of voting FOR "deem and pass" while he knows that tactic will ensure passage of obamacare and he will have never voted directly for it. Disgustingly lying by omission of what his true intentions are!
It is beyond time for Isaac to be ousted! "
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Accomplishments? Yes or No?
Why we continue to support President Obama: click here for 100 reasons.
For ten more reasons--and this list includes domestic issues--click here.
Full disclosure: I disagree with the President on his education policies--though they appear to be better than the previous administrations--due to my contact with charter schools and the strange rules and funding programs of what is still called No Child Left Behind (which really means a teacher who graduated from college can be left behind). I worked too long in the public school sector and watched as we dumbed down our children and took away the thrill of learning--something that is natural in every child--because we were forced as teachers and school administratoprs to make choices counter to what we cognitively and emotionally knew were not correct--these changes forced on us by noneducators (many of whom never even stepped in a real classroom). Just so you know, I was an inner city classroom teacher for over thirty some years. I never taught to the test and my students scored well on standardized tests--given that I taught them all subjects--including music--and more than once had intermediate and upper grade students working out of a trigonometry book.
I'm also a staunch supporter of peace and I strongly believe we no longer have a reason to be in Afganistan.
As for the health issue, I am strongly for this only because I see the devastation poor (or no) health insurance causes--and we are not the healthiest nation any longer because of our actions to constantly fight against universal healthcare.
Pick any topic (from my full disclosure list or from the two lists above) and let's let the debates begin.
For ten more reasons--and this list includes domestic issues--click here.
Full disclosure: I disagree with the President on his education policies--though they appear to be better than the previous administrations--due to my contact with charter schools and the strange rules and funding programs of what is still called No Child Left Behind (which really means a teacher who graduated from college can be left behind). I worked too long in the public school sector and watched as we dumbed down our children and took away the thrill of learning--something that is natural in every child--because we were forced as teachers and school administratoprs to make choices counter to what we cognitively and emotionally knew were not correct--these changes forced on us by noneducators (many of whom never even stepped in a real classroom). Just so you know, I was an inner city classroom teacher for over thirty some years. I never taught to the test and my students scored well on standardized tests--given that I taught them all subjects--including music--and more than once had intermediate and upper grade students working out of a trigonometry book.
I'm also a staunch supporter of peace and I strongly believe we no longer have a reason to be in Afganistan.
As for the health issue, I am strongly for this only because I see the devastation poor (or no) health insurance causes--and we are not the healthiest nation any longer because of our actions to constantly fight against universal healthcare.
Pick any topic (from my full disclosure list or from the two lists above) and let's let the debates begin.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Birthers and Other Idiots--Please Read This:
"So-called "birthers" claim Obama is ineligible to be president because, they argue, he was actually born outside the United States, and therefore doesn't meet a constitutional requirement for being president.
"Hawaii Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino issued statements last year and in October 2008 saying that she's seen vital records that prove Obama is a natural-born American citizen."
This is from MARK NIESSE, Associated Press Writer – Wed Mar 17.
If the problem with Obama is his race, than just admit it--you're a racist and can't allow anyone but a European-American to be president.
Get over it. Did you not support the Republicans as they dragged us into war and deficits and now a major recession/depression? Did you not support a war based on lies?
I don't know what more to say--if he was not a US born citizen, I'm sure somebody would have found this out a long time before he had a chance to run for president.
"Hawaii Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino issued statements last year and in October 2008 saying that she's seen vital records that prove Obama is a natural-born American citizen."
This is from MARK NIESSE, Associated Press Writer – Wed Mar 17.
If the problem with Obama is his race, than just admit it--you're a racist and can't allow anyone but a European-American to be president.
Get over it. Did you not support the Republicans as they dragged us into war and deficits and now a major recession/depression? Did you not support a war based on lies?
I don't know what more to say--if he was not a US born citizen, I'm sure somebody would have found this out a long time before he had a chance to run for president.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Obama and Jobs
According to David Gergon of Parade Magazine, since December 1999 (this is the final months of the lame duck Clinton Administration after George Bush won the election and would become president in 2000) that no jobs have been created at all since then in our nation.
He writes: "Since December 1999, there has been zero job creation--nada, zippo."
Can this be because Bush and his administration felt it was better to send jobs out of the country to make a few people richer? Who knows, but given a chance, Obama's stimulus plan is beginning to create jobs--green jobs, infrastructure jobs, etc.
No new jobs during the Bush administration?
President Obama is trying to turn this negative statistic around.
He writes: "Since December 1999, there has been zero job creation--nada, zippo."
Can this be because Bush and his administration felt it was better to send jobs out of the country to make a few people richer? Who knows, but given a chance, Obama's stimulus plan is beginning to create jobs--green jobs, infrastructure jobs, etc.
No new jobs during the Bush administration?
President Obama is trying to turn this negative statistic around.
Obama and No Child Left Behind
Obama has made a promise to give all of our children a better education. First, he's going to change the name. Thank God, no more No Child Left Behind. Then he's going to reward schools for improving--not punish them because they are not doing well on only reading and math.
Why is the world educating their children better than us? They teach to the whole child--all subjects from music to physical education to math to science to geography. Geography? That's something only Americans don;t seem to know anything about. This is one of the changes Obama wants to make.
I don't know all the details, but I know it has to be better than what we had: punish the teachers, punish the schools, punish the children, and that's how Bush and the Republicans think we can improve everyone's education.
I'll stay on top of this issue as more details become available.
Why is the world educating their children better than us? They teach to the whole child--all subjects from music to physical education to math to science to geography. Geography? That's something only Americans don;t seem to know anything about. This is one of the changes Obama wants to make.
I don't know all the details, but I know it has to be better than what we had: punish the teachers, punish the schools, punish the children, and that's how Bush and the Republicans think we can improve everyone's education.
I'll stay on top of this issue as more details become available.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Rush Limbaugh is for Socialized Healthcare--One More Reason to Pass the President's Healthcare Plan
Rush Limbaugh, according to the Christian Science Monitor said he would rather go to Costa Rica for medical treatment if Congress votes to change the US healthcare system.
Why Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is the destination for medical tourists. The Central American nation has a higher life expectancy than we do in the USA, the World Health Organization rated it ahead of the USA, and it spends 87 percent less on health care per capita then the USA does.
Apparently Costa Rican's health care is better than our, and--get this--it offers free coverage to 86.8 percent of its population.
Hey, if Rush Limbaugh realizes how great the Costa Rican system is, socialized and all (and free to 86.8% of its population), all of us should join his bandwagon, too, and become advocates for the same kind of healthcare system here.
Why Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is the destination for medical tourists. The Central American nation has a higher life expectancy than we do in the USA, the World Health Organization rated it ahead of the USA, and it spends 87 percent less on health care per capita then the USA does.
Apparently Costa Rican's health care is better than our, and--get this--it offers free coverage to 86.8 percent of its population.
Hey, if Rush Limbaugh realizes how great the Costa Rican system is, socialized and all (and free to 86.8% of its population), all of us should join his bandwagon, too, and become advocates for the same kind of healthcare system here.
Monday, March 8, 2010
How the World Feels About Our President Obama
Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi said that President Obama deserved the Noble Peace Prize because of his admission that there was torture taking place in Guantanamo Bay (and he is trying to close it), he admitted the Iranian War was wrong (and has taken measures to correct the problem), and--most importantly--she felt his efforts to create a universal health care plan for all Americans is the greatest and best thing he has continued to do.
"I pray that American's get universal healthcare," she said.
How is it prominent individuals and citzens from around the world know we have a great President, but here in America we have Republicans, Tea Party Members, and others have absolutely no cue.
Come to think of it--doesn't this remind you of the first term of Chicago's first African-American Mayor Harold Washington--and how the city council fought him at every step even though he made the city that much greater because he was the mayor of it?
Think about it.
"I pray that American's get universal healthcare," she said.
How is it prominent individuals and citzens from around the world know we have a great President, but here in America we have Republicans, Tea Party Members, and others have absolutely no cue.
Come to think of it--doesn't this remind you of the first term of Chicago's first African-American Mayor Harold Washington--and how the city council fought him at every step even though he made the city that much greater because he was the mayor of it?
Think about it.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Charter Schools, Public Education and Arnie Duncan
I taught for many years in the hardest neighborhoods of Chicago (name a housing project and I probably taught there at one time or another) and I even had dinners once a month with Arnie Duncan, the current Secretary of Education.
When Obama won the presidency, I hoped for a change in the No Child Left Behind program--and even though I am a strong supporter of Obama, I hoped he would change the rules about charter schools.
They do not work.
Research continues to show charter schools cost a lot of money--money removed from the public school budgets--and they regularly underperform public schools.
Under the Bush Administration, thou8sands--if not millions--were wasted on this program. My school had an after school program that worked with only twelve--yes, I said twelve--students, but it's budget was well over two hundred thousand dollars.
What a waste of money.
Just to let you know, my math scores on standardized tests in Illinois for my fourth grade class--and, yes, I'm bragging here--was at 71% (outperforming the local area, the city and much of the state). I never taught to the test. I taught test taking skills once every two weeks for thirty minutes, but what I really did was teach math with a great number of textbooks and other sources. My fourth graders even used a high school trigonometry book to study fractions, division and ratios.
I have been watching the Obama Administration and I have noticed a lot of positive changes. Nonetheless, charter schools are not the way.
Finally, I quote Diane Ravitch:
"If Arne Duncan knows exactly how to reform American education, why didn’t he reform Chicago’s schools? A report came out a couple of weeks ago from the Civic Committee of Chicago (”Still Left Behind”) saying that Chicago’s much-touted score gains in the past several years were phony, that they were generated after the state lowered the passing mark on the state tests, that the purported gains did not show up on the federal tests, and that Chicago’s high schools are still failing. On the respected federal test (NAEP), Chicago continues to be one of the lowest performing cities in the nation."
(I can add to that the year the Iowa Test scores were changed so more eighth graders could graduate.)
OK--I am a strong supporter of President Obama, but I'm not so blind that I can't see a policy that is prone to failure.
When my school became a receiving school, we fell apart and became a sending school. Then we received again and failed again. Only when we stopped this activity--and this was sanctioned under the Bush Administration--did my school begin to stabilize and start to show gains.
With No Child Left Behind, if changes are not made, I will have to agree to disagree with the president.
No president is perfect and I am not a one issue voter so I will continue my fervent support of President Obama, and if he were to ask for help, I would offer it immediately.
Just to let you know.
When Obama won the presidency, I hoped for a change in the No Child Left Behind program--and even though I am a strong supporter of Obama, I hoped he would change the rules about charter schools.
They do not work.
Research continues to show charter schools cost a lot of money--money removed from the public school budgets--and they regularly underperform public schools.
Under the Bush Administration, thou8sands--if not millions--were wasted on this program. My school had an after school program that worked with only twelve--yes, I said twelve--students, but it's budget was well over two hundred thousand dollars.
What a waste of money.
Just to let you know, my math scores on standardized tests in Illinois for my fourth grade class--and, yes, I'm bragging here--was at 71% (outperforming the local area, the city and much of the state). I never taught to the test. I taught test taking skills once every two weeks for thirty minutes, but what I really did was teach math with a great number of textbooks and other sources. My fourth graders even used a high school trigonometry book to study fractions, division and ratios.
I have been watching the Obama Administration and I have noticed a lot of positive changes. Nonetheless, charter schools are not the way.
Finally, I quote Diane Ravitch:
"If Arne Duncan knows exactly how to reform American education, why didn’t he reform Chicago’s schools? A report came out a couple of weeks ago from the Civic Committee of Chicago (”Still Left Behind”) saying that Chicago’s much-touted score gains in the past several years were phony, that they were generated after the state lowered the passing mark on the state tests, that the purported gains did not show up on the federal tests, and that Chicago’s high schools are still failing. On the respected federal test (NAEP), Chicago continues to be one of the lowest performing cities in the nation."
(I can add to that the year the Iowa Test scores were changed so more eighth graders could graduate.)
OK--I am a strong supporter of President Obama, but I'm not so blind that I can't see a policy that is prone to failure.
When my school became a receiving school, we fell apart and became a sending school. Then we received again and failed again. Only when we stopped this activity--and this was sanctioned under the Bush Administration--did my school begin to stabilize and start to show gains.
With No Child Left Behind, if changes are not made, I will have to agree to disagree with the president.
No president is perfect and I am not a one issue voter so I will continue my fervent support of President Obama, and if he were to ask for help, I would offer it immediately.
Just to let you know.
Are the Obama Policies Working?
Friday the stock market went over 10,500--one week before the the one-year anniversary of the movement that took the market from a decade low because of major concerns about the economy.
Obama was president when the decade--really twelve year--low was reached--and he's president now as the stock market continues to rise.
Further good news: Unemployment is no longer at or above 10%, consumers are beginning to spend again, auto loans are up, 48,000 new temporary jobs opened up (and that's for only one month), and the average hourly salary rate increased by three cents.
Tea Party Members and Republicans--Obama's plan is working--so get off your bandwagons and help with the creation of an economy that--as Reagan used to say--will and can stay the course. Remember Reagan--your hero--refused to back down or change any of his economic programs and he got out of a recession--not a depression/recession the Bush Administration pushed us into.
It's interesting that I can even mention Reagan and Obama in the same blog--but their drive, conviction and willingness not to back down even in the light of protest and serious animosity is what won--and will win--the day.
Obama was president when the decade--really twelve year--low was reached--and he's president now as the stock market continues to rise.
Further good news: Unemployment is no longer at or above 10%, consumers are beginning to spend again, auto loans are up, 48,000 new temporary jobs opened up (and that's for only one month), and the average hourly salary rate increased by three cents.
Tea Party Members and Republicans--Obama's plan is working--so get off your bandwagons and help with the creation of an economy that--as Reagan used to say--will and can stay the course. Remember Reagan--your hero--refused to back down or change any of his economic programs and he got out of a recession--not a depression/recession the Bush Administration pushed us into.
It's interesting that I can even mention Reagan and Obama in the same blog--but their drive, conviction and willingness not to back down even in the light of protest and serious animosity is what won--and will win--the day.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Joe Lieberman and Obama
This is why I continue to support President Obama:
Joe Lieberman supported the Republicans in the last election and even though this should cause problems, President Obama has steadily worked with the senator.
Here are a few examples:
to sponsor the bill to repeal the anti-Gay don't tell and don't ask rule
to help round up votes for the stimulus bill
to help round up votes for energy legislation
to assist the Administration with most of its controversial nominees
and to allow Lieberman to speak--including his credit to the President for creating a more realistic foreign policy
Why is the above a good thing? It shows leadership that can bury a hatchet and move forward for the betterment of our nation--not a hostile individual who holds a grudge. And that's what our nation needs right now--a president of vision who can work with those who support him and those who do not, those who oppose him and those who do not, and those who want to help the nation become a stronger place--the very vision of a great man who can agree to disagree and still work together to build a greater America.
Joe Lieberman supported the Republicans in the last election and even though this should cause problems, President Obama has steadily worked with the senator.
Here are a few examples:
to sponsor the bill to repeal the anti-Gay don't tell and don't ask rule
to help round up votes for the stimulus bill
to help round up votes for energy legislation
to assist the Administration with most of its controversial nominees
and to allow Lieberman to speak--including his credit to the President for creating a more realistic foreign policy
Why is the above a good thing? It shows leadership that can bury a hatchet and move forward for the betterment of our nation--not a hostile individual who holds a grudge. And that's what our nation needs right now--a president of vision who can work with those who support him and those who do not, those who oppose him and those who do not, and those who want to help the nation become a stronger place--the very vision of a great man who can agree to disagree and still work together to build a greater America.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Why the Tea Party is Frightening
At a meeting held last evening at the Universal Unitarian Church in Jefferson City--one of the last truly racist towns around, Jeff City that is (and that came from a member of the audience who explained why in a five minute discussion period)--we were shown a photograph of a Tea Party rally with one member holding up a sign claiming Obama will take our nation into white slavery.
White slavery?
Tea Party members--The gold standard didn't work back in the day. Economic issues go in cycles and we have had a recession/depression just about every twenty years--though Reagonomics and the Bush years have made this occur more often.
Income tax pays for our police and our schools and our fire departments. It pays for the county hospitals and our highways. It pays for bridges and airports. Think before you make a wish that will negatively impact on you.
Sarah Palin couldn't even run Alaska--let alone find her way through a geography book. Can't you find someone with a bit more intelligence?
Remember that the John Birch Society is helping to fund your group--one of the most racist, anti-semitic, anti Catholic groups spouting hate in our nation's history.
Do people who hate go to heaven? I think not.
White slavery?
That's the disease of racists--not people who support Obama.
If racism is abhorrent to you, any kind of racism for that matter, then why would anyone think Obama and/or his supporters--including myself--would allow racism against whites? We do feel racism is an evil act and an act against human nature and even--for many of us--an act against God.
White slavery?
Get over yourself, Tea Party members--and come join us in healing this nation, not disrupting it with foolishness and outright ignorance.
White slavery?
Tea Party members--The gold standard didn't work back in the day. Economic issues go in cycles and we have had a recession/depression just about every twenty years--though Reagonomics and the Bush years have made this occur more often.
Income tax pays for our police and our schools and our fire departments. It pays for the county hospitals and our highways. It pays for bridges and airports. Think before you make a wish that will negatively impact on you.
Sarah Palin couldn't even run Alaska--let alone find her way through a geography book. Can't you find someone with a bit more intelligence?
Remember that the John Birch Society is helping to fund your group--one of the most racist, anti-semitic, anti Catholic groups spouting hate in our nation's history.
Do people who hate go to heaven? I think not.
White slavery?
That's the disease of racists--not people who support Obama.
If racism is abhorrent to you, any kind of racism for that matter, then why would anyone think Obama and/or his supporters--including myself--would allow racism against whites? We do feel racism is an evil act and an act against human nature and even--for many of us--an act against God.
White slavery?
Get over yourself, Tea Party members--and come join us in healing this nation, not disrupting it with foolishness and outright ignorance.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Back to Health Care
"President Obama gathered with congressional leaders of both parties yesterday for an open, honest, and productive discussion on health reform. It was a strong success, focused on substance -- as CNN put it, 'a win for our country.'
"While disagreements remain, the meeting uncovered considerable areas of overlap, including many Republican ideas that were already in the President's proposal. And with all the best ideas now on the table, the President made it clear that no excuses remain."
Mitch Stewart, Director, Organizing for America
This is why I support the president.
"While disagreements remain, the meeting uncovered considerable areas of overlap, including many Republican ideas that were already in the President's proposal. And with all the best ideas now on the table, the President made it clear that no excuses remain."
Mitch Stewart, Director, Organizing for America
This is why I support the president.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Support for the President from Republican Schwarzenegger
From the Huffington Post:
"'I find it interesting that you have a lot of the Republicans running around, and pushing back on the stimulus money and saying, 'This doesn't create any new job,'" said Schwarzenegger. "And then they go out and do the photo ops, posing with the big check and they say: 'Isn't this great, look at the kind of money I've provided for the state and this is money to create jobs, and this has created 10,000 new jobs, this has created 20,000 news jobs, and all those kinds of things.' It doesn't match up."
"It's hypocrisy, said host Terry Moran. "Exactly," Schwarzenegger replied.
"'I don't want to beat up on my Republican colleagues but I think it is kind of politics rather than thinking about one thing, and this is: 'How do we support the president? How do we support him and everything we can in order to go and stimulate the economy back and think about the people and not the politics?'
"'Anyone that says this hasn't created a job, they should talk to the 150,000 people getting jobs in California," he added, "from the private sector and also from the public sector.'"
The above comes to us courtesy of Sam Stein – Sun Feb 21 in his article, Schwarzenegger Rips Romney, GOP For Stimulus Hypocrisy
Below is the lead paragraph:
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) accused his Republican colleagues in Washington on Sunday of blatant hypocrisy on the stimulus package -- railing against the jobs bill in public while posing for stimulus-related projects and ceremonies in their home districts."
OK--now let's start paying attention.
And thanks, Governor Schwarzenegger, for having the guts to tell the truth.
"'I find it interesting that you have a lot of the Republicans running around, and pushing back on the stimulus money and saying, 'This doesn't create any new job,'" said Schwarzenegger. "And then they go out and do the photo ops, posing with the big check and they say: 'Isn't this great, look at the kind of money I've provided for the state and this is money to create jobs, and this has created 10,000 new jobs, this has created 20,000 news jobs, and all those kinds of things.' It doesn't match up."
"It's hypocrisy, said host Terry Moran. "Exactly," Schwarzenegger replied.
"'I don't want to beat up on my Republican colleagues but I think it is kind of politics rather than thinking about one thing, and this is: 'How do we support the president? How do we support him and everything we can in order to go and stimulate the economy back and think about the people and not the politics?'
"'Anyone that says this hasn't created a job, they should talk to the 150,000 people getting jobs in California," he added, "from the private sector and also from the public sector.'"
The above comes to us courtesy of Sam Stein – Sun Feb 21 in his article, Schwarzenegger Rips Romney, GOP For Stimulus Hypocrisy
Below is the lead paragraph:
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) accused his Republican colleagues in Washington on Sunday of blatant hypocrisy on the stimulus package -- railing against the jobs bill in public while posing for stimulus-related projects and ceremonies in their home districts."
OK--now let's start paying attention.
And thanks, Governor Schwarzenegger, for having the guts to tell the truth.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
And the republicans Continue to Lie
OK--maybe lying is a harsh word, but check out the following taken from an AP article By RON FOURNIER, Associated:
"And so it's worth noting when Romney, the former Massachusetts governor positioning himself for the 2012 presidential race, tells the CPAC crowd that Democrats are opposed to tax cuts.
He conveniently left out the fact that the stimulus bill backed by President Barack Obama and approved by the Democratic-led Congress included $288 billion in tax benefits, including refundable credits of $400 for individuals and $800 for families in 2009 and 2010 covering about 95 percent of taxpayers.
"Democrats are against balanced budgets? You might chalk that up to harmless hyperbole except for important facts that Romney overlooked: A Democratic president, Bill Clinton, oversaw surpluses and the nation's debt skyrocketed under President Bush, a conservative Republican.
Romney could have pointed to projections of deepening deficits on Obama's watch — more than $9 trillion from 2010 through 2019. But it's easier to say Democrats are against balanced budgets, even if that's bogus.
"Romney said Democrats are against "tort reform," or the limiting of lawsuits. Actually, Obama has put this idea on the table in an effort to get Republicans to address the troubled health care system.
"Finally, Romney followed GOP talking points by suggesting that the Obama administration went easy on the 23-year-old Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a plane over Detroit in December. If a Republican were president, Romney said, "a conversation with a would-be suicide bomber would not begin with 'You have a right to remain silent.'"
"The fact is the conversation with Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab did not begin with a Miranda warning, and he cooperated with FBI agents to the point of turning against the cleric who claims to be his teacher. Abdulmutallab also has helped the U.S. hunt for the radical preacher.
Several Republicans at CPAC denounced Obama for putting suspected terrorists in the criminal system rather than trying them in war tribunals. While that's a legitimate point of debate in this era of terrorism, Obama's critics seem to have forgotten — or they chose to ignore — simple facts: The Bush administration sent many terrorists to prison, including a 9/11 co-conspirator and a man who tried to bring down an airplane with a bomb in his shoe.
"All were read their rights. All got lawyers. All appeared in court."
Republicans, quit rewriting history--you caused all of these problems.
Tea Party members--read your history so you will quit backing these liars.
"And so it's worth noting when Romney, the former Massachusetts governor positioning himself for the 2012 presidential race, tells the CPAC crowd that Democrats are opposed to tax cuts.
He conveniently left out the fact that the stimulus bill backed by President Barack Obama and approved by the Democratic-led Congress included $288 billion in tax benefits, including refundable credits of $400 for individuals and $800 for families in 2009 and 2010 covering about 95 percent of taxpayers.
"Democrats are against balanced budgets? You might chalk that up to harmless hyperbole except for important facts that Romney overlooked: A Democratic president, Bill Clinton, oversaw surpluses and the nation's debt skyrocketed under President Bush, a conservative Republican.
Romney could have pointed to projections of deepening deficits on Obama's watch — more than $9 trillion from 2010 through 2019. But it's easier to say Democrats are against balanced budgets, even if that's bogus.
"Romney said Democrats are against "tort reform," or the limiting of lawsuits. Actually, Obama has put this idea on the table in an effort to get Republicans to address the troubled health care system.
"Finally, Romney followed GOP talking points by suggesting that the Obama administration went easy on the 23-year-old Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a plane over Detroit in December. If a Republican were president, Romney said, "a conversation with a would-be suicide bomber would not begin with 'You have a right to remain silent.'"
"The fact is the conversation with Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab did not begin with a Miranda warning, and he cooperated with FBI agents to the point of turning against the cleric who claims to be his teacher. Abdulmutallab also has helped the U.S. hunt for the radical preacher.
Several Republicans at CPAC denounced Obama for putting suspected terrorists in the criminal system rather than trying them in war tribunals. While that's a legitimate point of debate in this era of terrorism, Obama's critics seem to have forgotten — or they chose to ignore — simple facts: The Bush administration sent many terrorists to prison, including a 9/11 co-conspirator and a man who tried to bring down an airplane with a bomb in his shoe.
"All were read their rights. All got lawyers. All appeared in court."
Republicans, quit rewriting history--you caused all of these problems.
Tea Party members--read your history so you will quit backing these liars.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Success of the Obama Stimulus Program--and the Impatient Tea Party
Click here to see how far we have come--but stay with this video: it starts with the Bush failure in 2008 and ends with improvements in 2010.
And for the Tea Party people--you admire Reagan for going the course--isn't President Obama doing the same exact thing? Both men were criticized and both men held to their ideals.
Tea Party members--you were patient with Reagan. Why are you so impatient with President Obama?
Or is it--and I hate to say it--a race issue, but you do not have the guts to say so?
And for the Tea Party people--you admire Reagan for going the course--isn't President Obama doing the same exact thing? Both men were criticized and both men held to their ideals.
Tea Party members--you were patient with Reagan. Why are you so impatient with President Obama?
Or is it--and I hate to say it--a race issue, but you do not have the guts to say so?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Obama, Bush and the Economy
This from David Plouffe, Organizing for America:
One year in (after the disaster of President Bush), the evidence is clear – and growing by the day – that Obama's Recovery Act is working to cushion the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression and lay a new foundation for economic growth.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Obama's Recovery Act is already responsible for as many as 2.4 million jobs through the end of 2009. As a result, job losses are a fraction of what they were a year ago, before Obama's Recovery Act began.
Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has done all of the following:
Cut taxes for 95 percent of working families through the Making Work Pay tax credit
Cut taxes for small businesses
Provided loans to over 42,000 small businesses
Funded over 12,500 transportation construction projects nationwide, ranging from highway construction to airport improvement projects
Made multi-billion dollar investments in innovation, science and technology that are laying the foundation for our 21st century economy
Provided critical relief for state governments facing record budget shortfalls, including help to prevent cuts to Medicaid and creating or saving over 300,000 education jobs
Economists on the left and the right have stated that the Recovery Act has helped avert an even worse economic disaster.
One year in (after the disaster of President Bush), the evidence is clear – and growing by the day – that Obama's Recovery Act is working to cushion the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression and lay a new foundation for economic growth.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Obama's Recovery Act is already responsible for as many as 2.4 million jobs through the end of 2009. As a result, job losses are a fraction of what they were a year ago, before Obama's Recovery Act began.
Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has done all of the following:
Cut taxes for 95 percent of working families through the Making Work Pay tax credit
Cut taxes for small businesses
Provided loans to over 42,000 small businesses
Funded over 12,500 transportation construction projects nationwide, ranging from highway construction to airport improvement projects
Made multi-billion dollar investments in innovation, science and technology that are laying the foundation for our 21st century economy
Provided critical relief for state governments facing record budget shortfalls, including help to prevent cuts to Medicaid and creating or saving over 300,000 education jobs
Economists on the left and the right have stated that the Recovery Act has helped avert an even worse economic disaster.
Obama and Terrorists
"Under President Barack Obama's direction, Biden says, the U.S. has been more successful at killing off al-Qaida leaders and their followers than it was during the years George W. Bush and Cheney sat in the White House."
This is from the Jefferson City News Tribune from the AP, Sunday, Feb. 14th.
And never forget--Usama Bin Laden is related to a rich family that is also friends with the Bush family. And let's not forget how the Bush administration helped the family leave this country when 9/11 struck.
This is from the Jefferson City News Tribune from the AP, Sunday, Feb. 14th.
And never forget--Usama Bin Laden is related to a rich family that is also friends with the Bush family. And let's not forget how the Bush administration helped the family leave this country when 9/11 struck.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Following the Money to Failure
Insurance companies are fighting the health care bill to the tune of 1.7 million dollars a day. That's $1,700,000 dollars. My source? NPR.
Energy companies are spending that much--maybe even more--to stop legislation to stop global warming. Same source.
Understand--these figures are not for a year or a month or even a week. These are figure for one day to sway our government and our nation to vote the way these industries want us to vote--even though our interests are not even remotely in their heads.
It's all about money--their money.
Think how much lower our costs would be if the insurance and energy industries just gave it back to us.
Check it out: For one million dollars, a company can hire forty individuals at $25,000 per year. This is without health insurance, of course--but if we add that number to the mix, they can still hire thirty-three individuals.
At the rate of wasted money for just one of these industries--and remember we're not talking about bonuses, obscene as that word is--if the total sum of money spent on lobbying against the legislation for a year was used for job creation, according to my calculations, about 20,683,333 people could be employed at a salary of 25,000 with 5,000 for benefits and other costs.
If we do the math for both industries--insurance and energy--the number of employed doubles.
The recession is now over.
But I forget where I am--and so instead of helping the people of our nation, we allow the rich to lobby over the media at exorbitant rates and change the minds of those who are easily swayed--including legislators who know better, but care about their job more than they care about the good of the country.
Let's never forget the Alabama congressman who stopped the proceedings because he wanted to make sure two of his pet projects for his state got funded. Mr. Congressman, it's not about you and it's not about Alabama. It's about this entire great nation.
Let's change the priorities of some of our biggest corporations and put the money where it will do the most good--giving Americans jobs.
And one more thing--that profit for the insurance company I wrote about earlier--2.9 billion dollars. At 30,000 per worker, that profit could have been utilized to hire about 96,666 Americans.
Recession over.
I'm sorry--forgot where I am again. Recession still on. Greed and self interest rule.
Energy companies are spending that much--maybe even more--to stop legislation to stop global warming. Same source.
Understand--these figures are not for a year or a month or even a week. These are figure for one day to sway our government and our nation to vote the way these industries want us to vote--even though our interests are not even remotely in their heads.
It's all about money--their money.
Think how much lower our costs would be if the insurance and energy industries just gave it back to us.
Check it out: For one million dollars, a company can hire forty individuals at $25,000 per year. This is without health insurance, of course--but if we add that number to the mix, they can still hire thirty-three individuals.
At the rate of wasted money for just one of these industries--and remember we're not talking about bonuses, obscene as that word is--if the total sum of money spent on lobbying against the legislation for a year was used for job creation, according to my calculations, about 20,683,333 people could be employed at a salary of 25,000 with 5,000 for benefits and other costs.
If we do the math for both industries--insurance and energy--the number of employed doubles.
The recession is now over.
But I forget where I am--and so instead of helping the people of our nation, we allow the rich to lobby over the media at exorbitant rates and change the minds of those who are easily swayed--including legislators who know better, but care about their job more than they care about the good of the country.
Let's never forget the Alabama congressman who stopped the proceedings because he wanted to make sure two of his pet projects for his state got funded. Mr. Congressman, it's not about you and it's not about Alabama. It's about this entire great nation.
Let's change the priorities of some of our biggest corporations and put the money where it will do the most good--giving Americans jobs.
And one more thing--that profit for the insurance company I wrote about earlier--2.9 billion dollars. At 30,000 per worker, that profit could have been utilized to hire about 96,666 Americans.
Recession over.
I'm sorry--forgot where I am again. Recession still on. Greed and self interest rule.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Sarah Palen, The Tea Party and More Stupidities
Sarah Palen, please run for president against President Obama. I know the country cannot stand voting for intelligent people--Bush is one example, an actor (remember Reagan wanted to classify ketchup as a vegetable in the national lunch program for poverty level school children) was another--so you probably have a chance. I remember studying history--Stephenson against Eisenhower. The brains did not win.
The fact that you stood in front of your people--the people who support you--and had to have crib notes for what your prioriti9es are--how dumb can someone be. And let's not forget how you crossed out the word "budget" as if the national deficit and the budget are not a major problem--begun, of course, by President Bush who came into office with a surplus.
It's bad enough you don't even know your priorities--a cheat sheet written on your hand--and you don't know your geography and you couldn't even finish your term as governore of Alaska--but that's OK. Even your facts are wrong, but these people love you.
I heard them say Obama uses a teleprompter for his speeches and your cheat sheet was making fun of him. All presidents use teleprompters. Even Bush who had to have certain words phonetically spelled out for him. Do you think Reagan didn't use a teleprompter? Get real.
As for your statement on who would you rather have as Commander and Chief--a Harvard lawyer or yourself--that's not a problem at all. Of course, I would want you who doesn't know where anything is so you can bomb parts of Canada thinking its a part of Pakistan and start a new war in Cambodia thinking it's a part of Iraq. (For Tea Party followers, I'm joking.) Of course, I'd rather have President Obama. He knows how to read a map. That's something intelligent people learn how to do.
So, yes, please run for president. I'll be supporting Obama.
The fact that you stood in front of your people--the people who support you--and had to have crib notes for what your prioriti9es are--how dumb can someone be. And let's not forget how you crossed out the word "budget" as if the national deficit and the budget are not a major problem--begun, of course, by President Bush who came into office with a surplus.
It's bad enough you don't even know your priorities--a cheat sheet written on your hand--and you don't know your geography and you couldn't even finish your term as governore of Alaska--but that's OK. Even your facts are wrong, but these people love you.
I heard them say Obama uses a teleprompter for his speeches and your cheat sheet was making fun of him. All presidents use teleprompters. Even Bush who had to have certain words phonetically spelled out for him. Do you think Reagan didn't use a teleprompter? Get real.
As for your statement on who would you rather have as Commander and Chief--a Harvard lawyer or yourself--that's not a problem at all. Of course, I would want you who doesn't know where anything is so you can bomb parts of Canada thinking its a part of Pakistan and start a new war in Cambodia thinking it's a part of Iraq. (For Tea Party followers, I'm joking.) Of course, I'd rather have President Obama. He knows how to read a map. That's something intelligent people learn how to do.
So, yes, please run for president. I'll be supporting Obama.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Free Speech, Marvel Comics, Captain America and the Tea Party
I'm impressed by the intolerance of the Tea Party to allow free speech.
And I'm ashamed of Marvel Comics.
Marvel apologized to the Tea Party for a Captain America panel--because the Tea Party thought Marvel was making fun of them.
They were.
And it's OK to make fun of people you do not always agree with. Political cartoons are one example. Satire is another. The Tea Party is against so much of what we need to keep our nation strong, it's hard for me to understand everything about them. So I--a strong supporter of Obama--and not at all a supporter of Reagan--who I feel began sliding us into the mess we are in today (remember he abolished deductions of interest from credit cards, ignored the AIDs problem when we needed as a nation to be proactive, etc., etc., etc.)
I will let the Tea Party have their say. I will allow them the freedom of speech and the freedom of press. I will allow them to disagree with me--as I hope they are able to allow me to disagree with them.
And as for you, Marvel Comics, if Captain America has a problem with the Tea Party, so be it. Why apologize? Do we not have the freedom of the written word?
Afterall, George Bush is no longer in office. Under Obama are rights have been given back to us.
And I for one think it's a good thing.
And I'm ashamed of Marvel Comics.
Marvel apologized to the Tea Party for a Captain America panel--because the Tea Party thought Marvel was making fun of them.
They were.
And it's OK to make fun of people you do not always agree with. Political cartoons are one example. Satire is another. The Tea Party is against so much of what we need to keep our nation strong, it's hard for me to understand everything about them. So I--a strong supporter of Obama--and not at all a supporter of Reagan--who I feel began sliding us into the mess we are in today (remember he abolished deductions of interest from credit cards, ignored the AIDs problem when we needed as a nation to be proactive, etc., etc., etc.)
I will let the Tea Party have their say. I will allow them the freedom of speech and the freedom of press. I will allow them to disagree with me--as I hope they are able to allow me to disagree with them.
And as for you, Marvel Comics, if Captain America has a problem with the Tea Party, so be it. Why apologize? Do we not have the freedom of the written word?
Afterall, George Bush is no longer in office. Under Obama are rights have been given back to us.
And I for one think it's a good thing.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Why We Need Universal Healthcare--An Open Letter to the Tea Party
Something's are better stated by others--so here goes:
Tom Murphy and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Writers wrote the following on Thursday February 11, 2010, 6:14 pm:
WellPoint insurance hike becomes target for Obama
Obama says premium hikes by WellPoint are reason for reform, insurer blames recession, costs
"INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Health insurer WellPoint blames the Great Recession and rising medical costs for its planned 39 percent rate increase for some California customers. To President Barack Obama, however, it's Exhibit A in his campaign to revive the health care overhaul.
"Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who received the company's explanation in a letter Thursday, said 'it remains difficult to understand' how premium increases of that size by can be justified when WellPoint Inc. reported a $2.7 billion profit in the last quarter of 2009.
"'This is a stark illustration of what the status quo means for American families,' said White House spokesman Reid Cherlin. 'You'd be hard-pressed to find a better example of why reform is so urgent, and it's going to continue to be part of the case the president makes.'"
For all of you Tea Party fanatics--notice how this company made a 2.7 billion dollar profit in the last quarter of 2009. I don't even want to know what they made the rest of the year. Now they want a 39% price increase.
This is why we need government intervention in healthcare.
Tom Murphy and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Writers wrote the following on Thursday February 11, 2010, 6:14 pm:
WellPoint insurance hike becomes target for Obama
Obama says premium hikes by WellPoint are reason for reform, insurer blames recession, costs
"INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Health insurer WellPoint blames the Great Recession and rising medical costs for its planned 39 percent rate increase for some California customers. To President Barack Obama, however, it's Exhibit A in his campaign to revive the health care overhaul.
"Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who received the company's explanation in a letter Thursday, said 'it remains difficult to understand' how premium increases of that size by can be justified when WellPoint Inc. reported a $2.7 billion profit in the last quarter of 2009.
"'This is a stark illustration of what the status quo means for American families,' said White House spokesman Reid Cherlin. 'You'd be hard-pressed to find a better example of why reform is so urgent, and it's going to continue to be part of the case the president makes.'"
For all of you Tea Party fanatics--notice how this company made a 2.7 billion dollar profit in the last quarter of 2009. I don't even want to know what they made the rest of the year. Now they want a 39% price increase.
This is why we need government intervention in healthcare.
Obama and the Economy
January's economic statistics are out and guess what? Obama's economic program is working--the stock market is back on the rise and unemployment has dropped below ten percent.
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- JANUARY 2010
"The unemployment rate fell from 10.0 to 9.7 percent in January, and nonfarm payroll employment was essentially unchanged (-20,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment fell in construction and in transportation and warehousing, while temporary help services and retail trade added jobs."
--Economic News Release www.bls.gov/ces
Enough said.
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- JANUARY 2010
"The unemployment rate fell from 10.0 to 9.7 percent in January, and nonfarm payroll employment was essentially unchanged (-20,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment fell in construction and in transportation and warehousing, while temporary help services and retail trade added jobs."
--Economic News Release www.bls.gov/ces
Enough said.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Health Care Again
This is why I support Obama:
"Michael H. Brownstein --
"A few days ago, President Obama told a story about an OFA supporter in St. Louis who had volunteered during the campaign and organized her community for health reform, but recently succumbed to breast cancer.
"She didn't have quality insurance, so she put off crucial exams and didn't catch it early enough. And while she fought cancer, she also spent her final months fighting for a chance at health reform so others wouldn't go through the same thing.
"The President told this story to remind Congress, the nation, and us."
So when does it end? The strongest nation in the world and we no longer have the longest life span nor do we have the best health system. In fact, qwe are not even in the top ten.
So do we continue down this road--
"An alarming new study shows that health care costs increased last year at the fastest rate in more than a half century.
"Health care spending rose to an estimated $2.5 trillion in 2009, or $8,047 per person -- and is now projected to nearly double by 2019. If we don't act, this growing burden will mean more lost jobs, more families pushed into bankruptcy, and more crushing debt for our nation."
--Organizing for America
"Michael H. Brownstein --
"A few days ago, President Obama told a story about an OFA supporter in St. Louis who had volunteered during the campaign and organized her community for health reform, but recently succumbed to breast cancer.
"She didn't have quality insurance, so she put off crucial exams and didn't catch it early enough. And while she fought cancer, she also spent her final months fighting for a chance at health reform so others wouldn't go through the same thing.
"The President told this story to remind Congress, the nation, and us."
So when does it end? The strongest nation in the world and we no longer have the longest life span nor do we have the best health system. In fact, qwe are not even in the top ten.
So do we continue down this road--
"An alarming new study shows that health care costs increased last year at the fastest rate in more than a half century.
"Health care spending rose to an estimated $2.5 trillion in 2009, or $8,047 per person -- and is now projected to nearly double by 2019. If we don't act, this growing burden will mean more lost jobs, more families pushed into bankruptcy, and more crushing debt for our nation."
--Organizing for America
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Obama and No Child Left Behind
I have to say this first: When George Bush pushed through the No Child Left Behind Act, my school applied for a grant for an after school program. I wrote the grant--for about two hundred thousand dollars. I put in there hiring local college students to tutor the students (k-2nd graders), a teacher to monitor the tutors and a learning specialist to monitor the program.
It was a great plan--servicing every child in those three grades if they wanted to be a part of the program--and giving assistance to local college students who needed financial support to continue with their college education.
(The school where I taught is still a high poverty school where ninety-eight percent of the students receive free lunch and free breakfast. During the program we even fed them dinner. Furthermore, the area is a high crime, high gangs, high everything negative neighborhood--and I had hopes the grant would begin to change the way the community saw itself.)
When the program began--everything changed. four teachers were hired at about fifty dollars an hour, one learning specialist was hired (at the same hourly rate) and we saw twelve students--not the potentially ninety I had hoped for.
This is why I support President Obama:
"The new budget blueprint, and the recent meetings with education groups, give a look at Obama's thinking on other aspects of the law:
"_Teachers. The 2002 law said all teachers in core academic subjects must be "highly qualified" but let states define what that meant; as a result, most teachers in the U.S. are now deemed highly qualified. Instead, Obama wants to measure teachers by how much their students improve, and he wants to do a better job of making sure disadvantaged kids, who are more likely to get inexperienced teachers, get experienced ones. The budget would create a $950 million competitive grant program for teacher recruitment and retention.
"_Spending. Obama wants to make federal education spending more competitive to drive states and schools to do better, rather than relying on formulas that give states and districts a certain amount of money regardless of how well they educate kids. The president began with the $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" competitive grant program created by the economic stimulus. His budget would make more K-12 spending competitive — but money from the larger programs, those for poor children and children with disabilities, still would be distributed through traditional formulas. And his budget would add another $1.35 billion to the Race to the Top program.
"_Standards. The president is pushing states to adopt tougher academic standards; his budget would give states money to align math and science teaching with higher standards. Nearly all the states have signed onto an effort by the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers to develop a set of high-quality standards. The Race to the Top program also will reward states for working toward those standards."
Click here to read the entire article--Obama would overhaul No Child Left Behind By LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writer – Mon Feb 1
It was a great plan--servicing every child in those three grades if they wanted to be a part of the program--and giving assistance to local college students who needed financial support to continue with their college education.
(The school where I taught is still a high poverty school where ninety-eight percent of the students receive free lunch and free breakfast. During the program we even fed them dinner. Furthermore, the area is a high crime, high gangs, high everything negative neighborhood--and I had hopes the grant would begin to change the way the community saw itself.)
When the program began--everything changed. four teachers were hired at about fifty dollars an hour, one learning specialist was hired (at the same hourly rate) and we saw twelve students--not the potentially ninety I had hoped for.
This is why I support President Obama:
"The new budget blueprint, and the recent meetings with education groups, give a look at Obama's thinking on other aspects of the law:
"_Teachers. The 2002 law said all teachers in core academic subjects must be "highly qualified" but let states define what that meant; as a result, most teachers in the U.S. are now deemed highly qualified. Instead, Obama wants to measure teachers by how much their students improve, and he wants to do a better job of making sure disadvantaged kids, who are more likely to get inexperienced teachers, get experienced ones. The budget would create a $950 million competitive grant program for teacher recruitment and retention.
"_Spending. Obama wants to make federal education spending more competitive to drive states and schools to do better, rather than relying on formulas that give states and districts a certain amount of money regardless of how well they educate kids. The president began with the $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" competitive grant program created by the economic stimulus. His budget would make more K-12 spending competitive — but money from the larger programs, those for poor children and children with disabilities, still would be distributed through traditional formulas. And his budget would add another $1.35 billion to the Race to the Top program.
"_Standards. The president is pushing states to adopt tougher academic standards; his budget would give states money to align math and science teaching with higher standards. Nearly all the states have signed onto an effort by the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers to develop a set of high-quality standards. The Race to the Top program also will reward states for working toward those standards."
Click here to read the entire article--Obama would overhaul No Child Left Behind By LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writer – Mon Feb 1
Friday, January 29, 2010
Obama, a President with Guts
I always support the man who can lead especially when the man who can lead has guts.
Click here to read about his debate with Republicans--at one of their conferences--and check out that it was Obama, not the Republicans who requested coverage by the press.
Obviously we have come a long way since the censorship days of former President Bush.
Click here to read about his debate with Republicans--at one of their conferences--and check out that it was Obama, not the Republicans who requested coverage by the press.
Obviously we have come a long way since the censorship days of former President Bush.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Comments on State of the Union
"The MSNBC commentator Chris Matthews said it was noteworthy to him that a black president was addressing a room of mostly white people and how it didn't seem to be an issue. He said he saw it in the context of growing up at a time racial divisions were ever-present.
"Says Matthews: "I went in the room tonight, you could feel it wasn't there tonight and that takes leadership on his part, to get us beyond those divisions."--Chris Matthews on Obama: 'I forgot he was black,' AP
"On Thursday, he turned emphatically toward Republicans and implored cooperation.
"'Our political dialogue in this country has always been messy and noisy," Obama told the crowd at the University of Tampa.
"'We're all Americans. We all should anticipate that the other person, even if they disagree with us, has the best of intentions. We don't have to call them names. We don't have to demonize them.'"--Obama urges nervous Dems to fight for his agenda By CHARLES BABINGTON, AP.
Newsweek's Howard Fineman:
"If one speech can replenish a presidency–and I'm not sure it can—Barack Obama's State of the Union address was just such a speech. In tone and content it was aimed squarely at the fickle voters he has lost since last year: the swing-voting independents in the middle of the spectrum."
"Says Matthews: "I went in the room tonight, you could feel it wasn't there tonight and that takes leadership on his part, to get us beyond those divisions."--Chris Matthews on Obama: 'I forgot he was black,' AP
"On Thursday, he turned emphatically toward Republicans and implored cooperation.
"'Our political dialogue in this country has always been messy and noisy," Obama told the crowd at the University of Tampa.
"'We're all Americans. We all should anticipate that the other person, even if they disagree with us, has the best of intentions. We don't have to call them names. We don't have to demonize them.'"--Obama urges nervous Dems to fight for his agenda By CHARLES BABINGTON, AP.
Newsweek's Howard Fineman:
"If one speech can replenish a presidency–and I'm not sure it can—Barack Obama's State of the Union address was just such a speech. In tone and content it was aimed squarely at the fickle voters he has lost since last year: the swing-voting independents in the middle of the spectrum."
State of the Union
Michael --
I just finished delivering my first State of the Union, and I wanted to send you a quick note.
We face big and difficult challenges. Change on the scale we seek does not come easily. But I will never accept second place for the United States of America.
That is why I called for a robust jobs bill without delay. It's why I proposed a small businesses tax credit, new investments in infrastructure, and pushed for climate legislation to create a clean energy economy.
It's why we're taking on big banks, reforming Wall Street, revitalizing our education system, increasing transparency -- and finishing the job on health insurance reform.
It's why I need your help -- because I am determined to fight to defend the middle class, and special interest lobbyists will go all out to fight us.
Help me show that the American people are ready to join this fight for the middle class -- add your name to a letter to Congress today:
http://my.barackobama.com/SOTU
We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But we don't quit. I don't quit.
Let's seize this moment -- to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.
President Barack Obama
I just finished delivering my first State of the Union, and I wanted to send you a quick note.
We face big and difficult challenges. Change on the scale we seek does not come easily. But I will never accept second place for the United States of America.
That is why I called for a robust jobs bill without delay. It's why I proposed a small businesses tax credit, new investments in infrastructure, and pushed for climate legislation to create a clean energy economy.
It's why we're taking on big banks, reforming Wall Street, revitalizing our education system, increasing transparency -- and finishing the job on health insurance reform.
It's why I need your help -- because I am determined to fight to defend the middle class, and special interest lobbyists will go all out to fight us.
Help me show that the American people are ready to join this fight for the middle class -- add your name to a letter to Congress today:
http://my.barackobama.com/SOTU
We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But we don't quit. I don't quit.
Let's seize this moment -- to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.
President Barack Obama
Monday, January 25, 2010
Obama and the Economy He Inherited
"The full effects of the crash of 2007-2008 on the lives of regular Americans has yet to be fully appreciated. For most members of the middle class, their sense of financial well-being was largely based on the size of their 401(k)s and their equity as homeowners. After the collapse of stock prices and with the steep drop in home prices, many may never feel the same way again, or spend their money as confidently."--7 Things About The Economy Everyone Should Be Worried About by Dan Froomkin – Sun Jan 24, The Huffington Post
In the above quote notice how everything crashed in 2007-2008. Bush was president. Not Obama.
Now we want instant results--but a bad economy takes time--and everyone is blaming Obama for Bush's errors (to put it mildly).
Always remember where this bad economy came from. Not the Democrats and definitely not a Democratic administration. In 2007 and 2008 Bush ran the nation.
Give Obama a chance.
In the above quote notice how everything crashed in 2007-2008. Bush was president. Not Obama.
Now we want instant results--but a bad economy takes time--and everyone is blaming Obama for Bush's errors (to put it mildly).
Always remember where this bad economy came from. Not the Democrats and definitely not a Democratic administration. In 2007 and 2008 Bush ran the nation.
Give Obama a chance.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
An Interesting Link
Click here to read an interesting link.
Excerpts below (emphasis mine):
"In the fall of 2008, the government treated the stock markets like a hysterical child that needed to be calmed, no matter what. Several bailouts were hastily orchestrated over the weekend, to minimize the dreaded uncertainty by the time the Asian markets opened on Monday morning. It didn't work. The markets plunged anyway, leading to the dubious bank-bailout program and many other desperate moves meant to reassure investors and stop the panic.
"Obama came into office as stocks were sinking toward a 13-year low--and a depression still seemed possible.
"The markets finally bottomed out last March, and government measures finally helped. The Federal Reserve's "stress tests" on big banks provided some transparency about their condition, improving confidence. The government's capital injections into banks helped stabilize them. A smorgasbord of behind-the-scenes guarantee programs, asset purchases and other maneuvers may have been the most effective stabilizers. But all that government aid has also created an economy that's addicted to federal subsidies and terrified of failure, one reason that voters are more skeptical than ever.
"If the economy is really recovering, then the banks and other pillars of free enterprise need to prove they can walk without government crutches. Obama apparently believes they can. His bank bashing obviously has a populist tint, aimed at enraged voters, but it also signals an important shift: The government is no longer coddling Wall Street. That's good news, and the more tension there is between regulator and regulated, the stronger the signs that things are getting back to normal.
"If all goes well, this will be the year when the government retreats from its forays into capitalism. The Federal Reserve will reduce its support of the credit markets. The home-buyer tax credit will expire. Stimulus spending, enacted last year, will start to peter out. The government will reduce its guarantees of bank assets and maybe even get paid back by AIG, Citigroup, General Motors and Chrysler. And the government will start acting like the government again, not like a conflicted Sugar Daddy."--Why It's Good News When Obama Sinks the Market by Rick Newman – Fri Jan 22--U.S. News
Excerpts below (emphasis mine):
"In the fall of 2008, the government treated the stock markets like a hysterical child that needed to be calmed, no matter what. Several bailouts were hastily orchestrated over the weekend, to minimize the dreaded uncertainty by the time the Asian markets opened on Monday morning. It didn't work. The markets plunged anyway, leading to the dubious bank-bailout program and many other desperate moves meant to reassure investors and stop the panic.
"Obama came into office as stocks were sinking toward a 13-year low--and a depression still seemed possible.
"The markets finally bottomed out last March, and government measures finally helped. The Federal Reserve's "stress tests" on big banks provided some transparency about their condition, improving confidence. The government's capital injections into banks helped stabilize them. A smorgasbord of behind-the-scenes guarantee programs, asset purchases and other maneuvers may have been the most effective stabilizers. But all that government aid has also created an economy that's addicted to federal subsidies and terrified of failure, one reason that voters are more skeptical than ever.
"If the economy is really recovering, then the banks and other pillars of free enterprise need to prove they can walk without government crutches. Obama apparently believes they can. His bank bashing obviously has a populist tint, aimed at enraged voters, but it also signals an important shift: The government is no longer coddling Wall Street. That's good news, and the more tension there is between regulator and regulated, the stronger the signs that things are getting back to normal.
"If all goes well, this will be the year when the government retreats from its forays into capitalism. The Federal Reserve will reduce its support of the credit markets. The home-buyer tax credit will expire. Stimulus spending, enacted last year, will start to peter out. The government will reduce its guarantees of bank assets and maybe even get paid back by AIG, Citigroup, General Motors and Chrysler. And the government will start acting like the government again, not like a conflicted Sugar Daddy."--Why It's Good News When Obama Sinks the Market by Rick Newman – Fri Jan 22--U.S. News
Friday, January 22, 2010
Supreme Court Ruling
So now corporate greed--and union greed--rules the land.
Forget that our nation is built on individuals and the hard work of individuals. The Supreme Court ruled that the land is ruled by money--and it's that simple.
Click here for the link.
The winner as was shown in Massachusetts is always the winner because of huge donations to sway people who are Rush Limbaughs--true idiots who I'm not sure know how to read and actually believe what they hear even though most of the money that elected the Republican Senator came from other places--not Massachusetts.
Forget that our nation is built on individuals and the hard work of individuals. The Supreme Court ruled that the land is ruled by money--and it's that simple.
Click here for the link.
The winner as was shown in Massachusetts is always the winner because of huge donations to sway people who are Rush Limbaughs--true idiots who I'm not sure know how to read and actually believe what they hear even though most of the money that elected the Republican Senator came from other places--not Massachusetts.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Toxic Chemical BPA and Obama
Even though Canada has outlawed the toxic chemical BPA, under former President Bush, the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) refused to ban it.
The FDA under Obama is now getting ready to ban its use in a number of items--baby bottles, for example.
Once again my leader has put the safety of his nation's people ahead of the greed that ran the Bush Administration.
This is why I support Obama--he has my best interests in heart and hand.
The FDA under Obama is now getting ready to ban its use in a number of items--baby bottles, for example.
Once again my leader has put the safety of his nation's people ahead of the greed that ran the Bush Administration.
This is why I support Obama--he has my best interests in heart and hand.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA ON THE HEALTH PLAN FROM AN ARDENT SUPPORTER
Dear President Obama,
We live in a nation where a woman can run for one of our highest office with little understanding of geography and can quit a governorship midstream and yet she can sell a million copies of her book and get a job with the FOX network;
where an actor acting as a commentator can garnish incredible publicity by stating that the people of an island devastated by an earthquake deserve no money from us at all ("We already give them aid. It's called taxes.");
where a former president can bring us to our knees and a year later what he did is no longer remembered.
Dear Mr. President,
I am an ardent supporter of you and I am an ardent supporter of a universal health plan. I support the health program because I have seen firsthand how our health system built on greed and a lack of compassion destroys the human spirit. I support it for personal reasons and reasons that have nothing to do with me. Nonetheless, I understand when enough is enough.
Last night when Republican Scott Brown won the Senate seat in Massachusetts--a state that has now turned its back on the great liberal legacy of Teddy Kennedy just a few months after his death--I believe the message is clear.
I wrote you this letter to include this speech:
My fellow Americans,I am honored to come before you this night and talk about universal health care. When I made the pledge to give every American a choice to be healthy, to have insurance even when they have preconditions or lack the financial means to purchase health insurance, to make sure each American was able to get the care they needed because we are a great country made even greater when we all have access to quality healthcare, I did not believe the power of money could misrepresent facts and issues as effectively as it did. I did not believe the lobbyists who fought against this bill would do so out of greed and a lack of compassion. I thought strongly that our country could get around its divisive ideologies and work for an issue that is in the best interest of all Americans--economically, emotionally and compassionately.
I've been in office a little over a year. During that time I have passed legislation on ninety-one promises out of about five hundred that I made on the campaign trail. There are many other issues before us. A lack of viable jobs. The misuse of TARP funds. Large bonuses for banks paid from government monies. A war in Afghanistan. A souring impatience that a job can be done overnight correctly when many good things and ideas need time. The health bill will have to be one promise I can't keep.
I have spent a lot of time on the health bill. I have spent a lot of energy and strength on what I believe in. Now its time to move on. If a health bill is to come, it will have to come from within the Congress--a Congress that cares more about the people of this country. I may not agree with the bill in its entirety, but I will sign it if it is a good bill.
As your president, I have said a great many things and I have tried to make this nation a greater force--a force for the good of the world--and a force to be contended with at home.
I have 407 more promises to keep. A few have already failed on the first attempt. I will not give up. I just hope when I walk away from this speech, all of us--me included--will take a look around and reflect on how our nation in the grips of a grave economic downturn can continue to allow medical debts and a lack of quality care for everyone to continue.
We did not win World War ll in a year. We did not cure polio in a year. We did not land the first man in space in a year. But we did win the war, we did find the cure and we did succeed at landing on the moon. We will succeed at making this a better nation--a nation where everyone who wants to work can and where everyone who needs access to quality care can get it.
Today I ask for your patience. Today I ask for your help. Today I ask that we put aside our differences and come together because we are more alike than we are different and that's because first and foremost we are Americans and proud to be Americans.
Thank you.
Dear Mr. President,
As one of your most ardent supporters, I want to thank you for trying.
Michael H. Brownstein
We live in a nation where a woman can run for one of our highest office with little understanding of geography and can quit a governorship midstream and yet she can sell a million copies of her book and get a job with the FOX network;
where an actor acting as a commentator can garnish incredible publicity by stating that the people of an island devastated by an earthquake deserve no money from us at all ("We already give them aid. It's called taxes.");
where a former president can bring us to our knees and a year later what he did is no longer remembered.
Dear Mr. President,
I am an ardent supporter of you and I am an ardent supporter of a universal health plan. I support the health program because I have seen firsthand how our health system built on greed and a lack of compassion destroys the human spirit. I support it for personal reasons and reasons that have nothing to do with me. Nonetheless, I understand when enough is enough.
Last night when Republican Scott Brown won the Senate seat in Massachusetts--a state that has now turned its back on the great liberal legacy of Teddy Kennedy just a few months after his death--I believe the message is clear.
I wrote you this letter to include this speech:
My fellow Americans,I am honored to come before you this night and talk about universal health care. When I made the pledge to give every American a choice to be healthy, to have insurance even when they have preconditions or lack the financial means to purchase health insurance, to make sure each American was able to get the care they needed because we are a great country made even greater when we all have access to quality healthcare, I did not believe the power of money could misrepresent facts and issues as effectively as it did. I did not believe the lobbyists who fought against this bill would do so out of greed and a lack of compassion. I thought strongly that our country could get around its divisive ideologies and work for an issue that is in the best interest of all Americans--economically, emotionally and compassionately.
I've been in office a little over a year. During that time I have passed legislation on ninety-one promises out of about five hundred that I made on the campaign trail. There are many other issues before us. A lack of viable jobs. The misuse of TARP funds. Large bonuses for banks paid from government monies. A war in Afghanistan. A souring impatience that a job can be done overnight correctly when many good things and ideas need time. The health bill will have to be one promise I can't keep.
I have spent a lot of time on the health bill. I have spent a lot of energy and strength on what I believe in. Now its time to move on. If a health bill is to come, it will have to come from within the Congress--a Congress that cares more about the people of this country. I may not agree with the bill in its entirety, but I will sign it if it is a good bill.
As your president, I have said a great many things and I have tried to make this nation a greater force--a force for the good of the world--and a force to be contended with at home.
I have 407 more promises to keep. A few have already failed on the first attempt. I will not give up. I just hope when I walk away from this speech, all of us--me included--will take a look around and reflect on how our nation in the grips of a grave economic downturn can continue to allow medical debts and a lack of quality care for everyone to continue.
We did not win World War ll in a year. We did not cure polio in a year. We did not land the first man in space in a year. But we did win the war, we did find the cure and we did succeed at landing on the moon. We will succeed at making this a better nation--a nation where everyone who wants to work can and where everyone who needs access to quality care can get it.
Today I ask for your patience. Today I ask for your help. Today I ask that we put aside our differences and come together because we are more alike than we are different and that's because first and foremost we are Americans and proud to be Americans.
Thank you.
Dear Mr. President,
As one of your most ardent supporters, I want to thank you for trying.
Michael H. Brownstein
Monday, January 18, 2010
George Bush Gives A Lesson to Conservatives, Republicans and Rush Limbaughs
Click here to see the video of former President George Bush who is proud to work for President Obama.
Listen to what he has to say.
And. please, all of you Rush Limbaughs out there--please realize how whne we work together, we solve the problems before us.
Listen to what he has to say.
And. please, all of you Rush Limbaughs out there--please realize how whne we work together, we solve the problems before us.
Obama's First Year--Keeping Campaign Promises
Obama made five hundred campaign promises and 91 have come to pass successfully.
"LIASSON: Well, Barack Obama is a president who came into office facing a huge set of unprecedented problems - a collapsing financial system, the worst recession since the Great Depression, two wars. And on top of all the things he had to do, the crises and the emergencies, he also had an incredibly ambitious agenda of his own: health care, energy, financial re-regulation. And now that we're at the end of this year, he passed a lot of it."
"RAZ: Mara, recently, Congressional Quarterly, the nonpartisan publication, did a study looking at President Obama's first year. It concluded that he was more successful in getting more legislation passed in his first year than any other president since World War II. It seems pretty significant. "
The above quotes come from an NPR interview. Click here to read it.
And here is another article:
Tracking Obama's Campaign Promises: 91 Kept So Far by Jae C. Hong/AP--
"Since taking the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2009, President Obama has kept dozens of his campaign promises, but has delayed action on many others.
"While on the campaign trail, Barack Obama made hundreds of promises. And throughout the president's first year in office, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Web site PolitiFact has tracked each one of those commitments.
"Just before Obama took office, PolitiFact combed through campaign documents, speeches and debate transcripts to see what promises he had made. They found more than 500 individual promises and put each of them into a database to be monitored closely.
"They found 91 promises have been fulfilled, 33 compromised on, 87 stalled and 14 broken. The remaining promises are designated as being "in the works."
Obama--the hardest working president since--I don't know--ever.
"LIASSON: Well, Barack Obama is a president who came into office facing a huge set of unprecedented problems - a collapsing financial system, the worst recession since the Great Depression, two wars. And on top of all the things he had to do, the crises and the emergencies, he also had an incredibly ambitious agenda of his own: health care, energy, financial re-regulation. And now that we're at the end of this year, he passed a lot of it."
"RAZ: Mara, recently, Congressional Quarterly, the nonpartisan publication, did a study looking at President Obama's first year. It concluded that he was more successful in getting more legislation passed in his first year than any other president since World War II. It seems pretty significant. "
The above quotes come from an NPR interview. Click here to read it.
And here is another article:
Tracking Obama's Campaign Promises: 91 Kept So Far by Jae C. Hong/AP--
"Since taking the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2009, President Obama has kept dozens of his campaign promises, but has delayed action on many others.
"While on the campaign trail, Barack Obama made hundreds of promises. And throughout the president's first year in office, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Web site PolitiFact has tracked each one of those commitments.
"Just before Obama took office, PolitiFact combed through campaign documents, speeches and debate transcripts to see what promises he had made. They found more than 500 individual promises and put each of them into a database to be monitored closely.
"They found 91 promises have been fulfilled, 33 compromised on, 87 stalled and 14 broken. The remaining promises are designated as being "in the works."
Obama--the hardest working president since--I don't know--ever.
Friday, January 15, 2010
More on Obama, Haiti and Rush Limbaugh
Isn't it curious that Obama has "...tasked Bush, along with fellow former President Bill Clinton, to lead the private fundraising efforts to help Haiti and its people recover."
Even though "George W. Bush paid a huge price when America watched, in horror, as New Orleans was drowning and governments at all levels were slow to respond."
Both of the above quotes come from BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer, Analysis: Obama heeding lessons of Katrina.
And why Bush?
To quote more of the article: "'This is a time when the world looks to us,' Obama told House Democrats on Thursday. 'And they say, given our capacity, given our unique capacity to project power around the world, that we have to project that not just for our own interests but for the interests of the world.'"
And: "The world is watching because of the expectations that come with being a rich, powerful democracy that is supposed to look out for its neighbors.
"And because the stain of Katrina is not gone.
"'This is one of those moments that calls out for American leadership,' said Obama..."
But, Rush Limbaugh, I'm taken in by the fact that he asked for Bush's help and Bush offered to help.
Right now you have made the Republicans look like Katrina was just another example of what Republicans are--nothing but selfish individuals who care nothing for what happens to the people it affected.
And don't forget it was under your president that Haiti received major aid.
Even though "George W. Bush paid a huge price when America watched, in horror, as New Orleans was drowning and governments at all levels were slow to respond."
Both of the above quotes come from BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer, Analysis: Obama heeding lessons of Katrina.
And why Bush?
To quote more of the article: "'This is a time when the world looks to us,' Obama told House Democrats on Thursday. 'And they say, given our capacity, given our unique capacity to project power around the world, that we have to project that not just for our own interests but for the interests of the world.'"
And: "The world is watching because of the expectations that come with being a rich, powerful democracy that is supposed to look out for its neighbors.
"And because the stain of Katrina is not gone.
"'This is one of those moments that calls out for American leadership,' said Obama..."
But, Rush Limbaugh, I'm taken in by the fact that he asked for Bush's help and Bush offered to help.
Right now you have made the Republicans look like Katrina was just another example of what Republicans are--nothing but selfish individuals who care nothing for what happens to the people it affected.
And don't forget it was under your president that Haiti received major aid.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Obama, Haiti, and Rush Limbaugh.
I'm glad my government has a clue--when the terrible earthquake hit Haiti killing thousands and doing great damage, I thought back to Katrina--and how it took our president--Bush that is--to figure out anything was wrong. I thought about 9/11 and how Bush continued to speak to school children.
A terrorist is on a plane that took off from somewhere else and, yes, our intelligence let us down. Again. Just as it did in Iraq with Bush and parts of Africa under Bush and even in Katrina under Bush. Unlike Bush, Obama was able to take the blame--even though the man boarded a plane outside of our country and went through a number of security checks outside of our country.
Rush Limbaugh--you're an idiot.
Pat Robertson--you're an idiot.
Obama's response was not for the African-American, it was for all of us who have pride in how our nation can react quickly and smoothly to make this world a better place.
Obama, I'm proud of you.
A terrorist is on a plane that took off from somewhere else and, yes, our intelligence let us down. Again. Just as it did in Iraq with Bush and parts of Africa under Bush and even in Katrina under Bush. Unlike Bush, Obama was able to take the blame--even though the man boarded a plane outside of our country and went through a number of security checks outside of our country.
Rush Limbaugh--you're an idiot.
Pat Robertson--you're an idiot.
Obama's response was not for the African-American, it was for all of us who have pride in how our nation can react quickly and smoothly to make this world a better place.
Obama, I'm proud of you.
Obama and Banks
Obama has proposed a tax on the richest banks--and why not.
Let's start by looking at the compensation of one of the bailed-out banks--Citicorp:
Citigroup Inc filed the compensation data below on 3/13/2008:
Sir Winfried Bischoff Chairman--373,734--base salary, 1,950,000--bonus salary, 6,130,390--total compensation
Vikram Pandit CEO 250,000--base salary, 573,813--total compensation
Gary Crittenden
Chief Financial Officer--403,410 base salary, 14,030,000 bonus salary, 19,369,506--total compensation
Sallie Krawcheck Chair and CEO—GWM--500,000 base salary, 5,820,000 bonus salary, 9,918,267 total compensation
Lewis Kaden Vice Chairman--500,000 base salary, 4,000,000 bonus salary, 6,771,307 total compensation
Michael Klein CEO—Global Banking--212,500 base salary, 5,500,000 bonus salary, 7,861,438 total compensation
*The above executive compensation data is an excerpt from the proxy statement filed for
Citigroup Inc on 3/13/2008
I can go on and on. One of the CEO's from Citicorp made 13,000,000 dollars. See the complete chart here.
So why should we not make the banks the Republicans bailed out with the TARP funds--including Citi Bank above--pay for the havoc they put America in. Their greed and their continued greed does not have our best interests in mind at all. Maybe now they will realize it's not always only about profit, but about doing the right thing.
Under the Republicans they used the money for large bonuses--not for lending money out to help businesses prosper during hard times.
If we stole even a thousand dollars from the federal government, we would be in jail. I feel the bonuses they gave themselves are the same as stealing--and yes, they continue to steal by granting themselves even bigger bonuses.
Let's start by looking at the compensation of one of the bailed-out banks--Citicorp:
Citigroup Inc filed the compensation data below on 3/13/2008:
Sir Winfried Bischoff Chairman--373,734--base salary, 1,950,000--bonus salary, 6,130,390--total compensation
Vikram Pandit CEO 250,000--base salary, 573,813--total compensation
Gary Crittenden
Chief Financial Officer--403,410 base salary, 14,030,000 bonus salary, 19,369,506--total compensation
Sallie Krawcheck Chair and CEO—GWM--500,000 base salary, 5,820,000 bonus salary, 9,918,267 total compensation
Lewis Kaden Vice Chairman--500,000 base salary, 4,000,000 bonus salary, 6,771,307 total compensation
Michael Klein CEO—Global Banking--212,500 base salary, 5,500,000 bonus salary, 7,861,438 total compensation
*The above executive compensation data is an excerpt from the proxy statement filed for
Citigroup Inc on 3/13/2008
I can go on and on. One of the CEO's from Citicorp made 13,000,000 dollars. See the complete chart here.
So why should we not make the banks the Republicans bailed out with the TARP funds--including Citi Bank above--pay for the havoc they put America in. Their greed and their continued greed does not have our best interests in mind at all. Maybe now they will realize it's not always only about profit, but about doing the right thing.
Under the Republicans they used the money for large bonuses--not for lending money out to help businesses prosper during hard times.
If we stole even a thousand dollars from the federal government, we would be in jail. I feel the bonuses they gave themselves are the same as stealing--and yes, they continue to steal by granting themselves even bigger bonuses.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Why purchase a copy when you can have the original?
“'To a certain extent, he’s our version of Obama — the tall, lanky, good-looking, well-spoken senator' is how a former top {Republican} party official put it."--Jonathan Martin, Daschle-dashing Thune in 2012 mix – Wed Jan 13
I have only one question: If you need a version of Obama and you already have an Obama in office, then why do you need a copy?
That's about as silly as a vegetarian ordering a dish made of soy because it has the taste of turkey. If you want to eat turkey, eat turkey.
If you want the original, go for the original.
If you want a version of Obama, then go with Obama.
I have only one question: If you need a version of Obama and you already have an Obama in office, then why do you need a copy?
That's about as silly as a vegetarian ordering a dish made of soy because it has the taste of turkey. If you want to eat turkey, eat turkey.
If you want the original, go for the original.
If you want a version of Obama, then go with Obama.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
2009 Government Profits--and Obama was President
From The Associated Press: Fed Posts Record Profit Of $46.1B For Last Year:
"January 12, 2010 The Federal Reserve made a record profit of $46.1 billion last year, reflecting money made off its extraordinary efforts to rescue the country from the worst economic and financial crisis since the 1930s, the central bank announced Tuesday.
"The windfall gets turned over to the Treasury Department.
"It marks the biggest profit on record dating back to 1914 when the Fed was created...
"The Fed says the bigger profit was primarily due to increased income from the securities it held last year (2009--Obama's time as president--emphasis mine.)
"Such income went up as the Fed's holdings of securities mushroomed.
"The Fed launched several securities-buying programs last year to help revive the economy. Its goal is to drive down rates on mortgages and other consumer debt.
"Under one program that ended last year, the Fed snapped up $300 billion worth of government debt. Under another program, the Fed is on track to buy $1.25 trillion in mortgage securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and an additional $175 billion in debt issued by the mortgage giants. Those programs have boosted the value of securities held by the Fed.
"The Fed is funded from the interest earned on it vast portfolio of securities. It is not funded by Congress.
"After covering its expenses, the Fed gives what is left over to the Treasury Department."
So Obama, like the other Democratic president before him--Clinton--is on the way to balancing the budget.
Let's never forget Clinton gave Bush a balanced budeget that Bush immediately exploded into some of the largest deficits in our nation's history.
"January 12, 2010 The Federal Reserve made a record profit of $46.1 billion last year, reflecting money made off its extraordinary efforts to rescue the country from the worst economic and financial crisis since the 1930s, the central bank announced Tuesday.
"The windfall gets turned over to the Treasury Department.
"It marks the biggest profit on record dating back to 1914 when the Fed was created...
"The Fed says the bigger profit was primarily due to increased income from the securities it held last year (2009--Obama's time as president--emphasis mine.)
"Such income went up as the Fed's holdings of securities mushroomed.
"The Fed launched several securities-buying programs last year to help revive the economy. Its goal is to drive down rates on mortgages and other consumer debt.
"Under one program that ended last year, the Fed snapped up $300 billion worth of government debt. Under another program, the Fed is on track to buy $1.25 trillion in mortgage securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and an additional $175 billion in debt issued by the mortgage giants. Those programs have boosted the value of securities held by the Fed.
"The Fed is funded from the interest earned on it vast portfolio of securities. It is not funded by Congress.
"After covering its expenses, the Fed gives what is left over to the Treasury Department."
So Obama, like the other Democratic president before him--Clinton--is on the way to balancing the budget.
Let's never forget Clinton gave Bush a balanced budeget that Bush immediately exploded into some of the largest deficits in our nation's history.
Bush's TARP Failure--How Obama is Fixing Another Bush Mistake
From NPR (Source: Obama Considers Levy For Rescued Firms
by The Associated Press)
"The 2008 law that created the Troubled Asset Relief Program requires the president to seek a way to recoup unrecovered TARP money from financial institutions, but five years after the law was enacted. It does not specify how the money should be recovered."
2008? Wasn't Bush the president then?
Notice how the law the way the Republicans wrote it under Bush does not "specify how the money should be recovered."
So Obama has to once again fix what the Bush presidency broke:
"Targeting an industry whose political deafness has vexed his administration, President Barack Obama is weighing a levy aimed at recovering tax dollars from government-rescued financial institutions.
"The proposed levy could put Obama on the popular side of public opinion that is decidedly against Wall Street and angry over shortfalls in a $700 billion bank bailout fund.
"A senior administration official said Monday that Obama would seek modifications to the law that sent billions in bailout money in 2008 and 2009 to a flailing Wall Street that was approaching collapse."
--from the article cited above.
by The Associated Press)
"The 2008 law that created the Troubled Asset Relief Program requires the president to seek a way to recoup unrecovered TARP money from financial institutions, but five years after the law was enacted. It does not specify how the money should be recovered."
2008? Wasn't Bush the president then?
Notice how the law the way the Republicans wrote it under Bush does not "specify how the money should be recovered."
So Obama has to once again fix what the Bush presidency broke:
"Targeting an industry whose political deafness has vexed his administration, President Barack Obama is weighing a levy aimed at recovering tax dollars from government-rescued financial institutions.
"The proposed levy could put Obama on the popular side of public opinion that is decidedly against Wall Street and angry over shortfalls in a $700 billion bank bailout fund.
"A senior administration official said Monday that Obama would seek modifications to the law that sent billions in bailout money in 2008 and 2009 to a flailing Wall Street that was approaching collapse."
--from the article cited above.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Obama and Seniors--Health Care
So senior citizens who have a hard time paying for prescriptions are now getting a boost--a program is now in place to give them additional resources to pay for their prescriptions.
And this happened under Obama's watch--but where is the praise. Click here for the article and notice his name is not mentioned at all.
I would have thought that since he is president, he would also be in charge of the Social Security Medicare Administration.
And this happened under Obama's watch--but where is the praise. Click here for the article and notice his name is not mentioned at all.
I would have thought that since he is president, he would also be in charge of the Social Security Medicare Administration.
When did the recession begin?
"The economy has lost more than 8 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007." This from AP CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writer.
Remember: George Bush was president then and Obama was running for nomination, but no one at that time seemed to take him seriously.
Obama won the 2008 election, but was not sworn in until January, 2009--a little over two years after the Bush regime did it's best with conservative assistance to destroy our country.
Remember: George Bush was president then and Obama was running for nomination, but no one at that time seemed to take him seriously.
Obama won the 2008 election, but was not sworn in until January, 2009--a little over two years after the Bush regime did it's best with conservative assistance to destroy our country.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Obama Transparency
Say what you will about the Nigerian terrorist who came in on a flight from another nation with the intention of blowing up the plane he was on--at least Obama has the guts to put the report out there for all of us to see.
Bush and Cheney didn't have the guts to ever do this. We still have a great number of questions we want answered and they never gave us any answers--nor will they--because they are too chicken to do so. Conservatives have them scared to tell the truth and so they won't.
Haven't you wondered why we don't hear anything from Bush lately?
Bush and Cheney didn't have the guts to ever do this. We still have a great number of questions we want answered and they never gave us any answers--nor will they--because they are too chicken to do so. Conservatives have them scared to tell the truth and so they won't.
Haven't you wondered why we don't hear anything from Bush lately?
Obama and GM--Another Obama Success Story
Obama economics are working. Take the case of GM, for example. They are paying back what they owe the nation--even though they were in bankruptcy--and now they are even claiming a profit and jobs for dealers.
Click here for the whole story.
Now let's look at the conservative Republicans--they let too much fail under their regime and only a few have paid anything back--but under Obama: money is flowing in. Bank after bank has paid back what they borrowed.
Click here for the whole story.
Now let's look at the conservative Republicans--they let too much fail under their regime and only a few have paid anything back--but under Obama: money is flowing in. Bank after bank has paid back what they borrowed.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Obama and Golfing
"I go to work a little before 7 a.m., and I expect everybody to show up on time when I have a meeting. I make time to run or exercise every day. There's never a question in my mind that I'll exercise. Even when I travel, there's always a treadmill in my room. I have a treadmill on Air Force One. On long trips-for example, when I went to Europe recently-I ran for 90 minutes on the flight over there. When I came back from China, I ran on the flight.
"Usually I run 6 days a week. When I don't run, I use an elliptical trainer, lift weights, and stretch. But when I run, I run hard. On Sundays, if I'm at Camp David, I'll go for a hard, morning run-these days about 20:30 to 20:45 for 3 miles on a tough course-and then I'll go walk 2 to 4 miles with Laura [the First Lady] afterward.
"I try to go for longer runs, but it's tough around here at the White House on the outdoor track. When I'm at my ranch in Crawford [Tex.], I can do longer runs. It's sad that I can't run longer. It's one of the saddest things about the presidency. There would be nothing better than to take off on a long run around the Mall, but I just can't. I really miss those long ones.
"I believe anyone can make the time. As a matter of fact, I don't believe it-I know it. If the President of the United States can make the time, anyone can.
"Exercise is so important that corporate America should help its employees make time. There should be flextime for families, and there should be flextime for exercise. A healthy work force is a more productive work force. We have got to do a better job of encouraging exercise in America."
This is not Obama--this is George Bush--who also played a lot of golf. Click here for the link to the entire article.
So Obama golfs. George Bush ran. Sometimes he ran for a long period of time. He golfed too. Do presidents not need downtime? Are we as Americans so selfish we can have our leisure time, but we can't give that same right to the president?
Bush played golf and he ran.
Obama plays golf and basketball.
I admire Bush for his running regimen--surprised, aren't you?--and I admire Obama for his skill at basketball.
"Usually I run 6 days a week. When I don't run, I use an elliptical trainer, lift weights, and stretch. But when I run, I run hard. On Sundays, if I'm at Camp David, I'll go for a hard, morning run-these days about 20:30 to 20:45 for 3 miles on a tough course-and then I'll go walk 2 to 4 miles with Laura [the First Lady] afterward.
"I try to go for longer runs, but it's tough around here at the White House on the outdoor track. When I'm at my ranch in Crawford [Tex.], I can do longer runs. It's sad that I can't run longer. It's one of the saddest things about the presidency. There would be nothing better than to take off on a long run around the Mall, but I just can't. I really miss those long ones.
"I believe anyone can make the time. As a matter of fact, I don't believe it-I know it. If the President of the United States can make the time, anyone can.
"Exercise is so important that corporate America should help its employees make time. There should be flextime for families, and there should be flextime for exercise. A healthy work force is a more productive work force. We have got to do a better job of encouraging exercise in America."
This is not Obama--this is George Bush--who also played a lot of golf. Click here for the link to the entire article.
So Obama golfs. George Bush ran. Sometimes he ran for a long period of time. He golfed too. Do presidents not need downtime? Are we as Americans so selfish we can have our leisure time, but we can't give that same right to the president?
Bush played golf and he ran.
Obama plays golf and basketball.
I admire Bush for his running regimen--surprised, aren't you?--and I admire Obama for his skill at basketball.
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