Saturday, November 5, 2011

Iraq: Some Republicans Just Can Not Let Go:

Senators David Vitter, Joe Lieberman, Lindsey Graham and John McCain joined in a letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee to ask the Committee to hold a hearing on the Obama's administration decision to bring home almost all remaining U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. They said the withdrawal is likely to be viewed as a strategic victory by our enemies in the middle east, especially by the Iranian Regime.

Those four senators stated reason is a slap in the face to our men and women in uniform who gave so much in a war those four senators supported over WMD that did not exist. Who cares if the world thinks it is a strategic victory by our enemies. Those senators certainly did not care that the war was a major strategic blunder when they supported the war. As for Iran, the war brought Iran and Iraq closer together so the supporters of the war were the ones who committed the biggest strategic blunder of them all.

McCain a veteran, has failed to understand what war is all about. Graham and Vitter served in the reserves to dodge the draft so they would not be called to active duty. Bush landed on an aircraft carrier and proclaimed the war in Iraq was mission accomplished. Those four senators must not have said a word to Bush when he made that statement. Bush himself could have landed on a real aircraft carrier in combat during the Viet Nam war but he was busy skipping his duties in the Air National Guard. Lieberman does not have a service record that I can find, so he tries to talk tough at the expense of our troops.

President Obama's decision to end the war was the right decision. The unnecessary war over WMD that did not exist destabilized Iraq and gave Al Queda an opportunity to operate in Iraq and kill Americans. The U.S. has the military power and know how to take care of its interest and national security without occupying Iraq.

The Senate Armed Service Committee should tell those four senators to take a hike, or pick up a rifle and go to Iraq themselves.

More Evidence Of The Transfer Of Wealth From The Middle Class To The Wealthy

Any one following "politidose" knows my take on the subject matter. Now a report comes out from the Congressional Budget Office that found over the past three decades average after tax income for the top 1% of U.S. households had increased 275% while middle income households saw a 40% rise and those at the bottom of the scale rose 18%.

That is just one of many reminders how wealth has been transfered to the wealthy from the middle class. When you put that together with the large bonuses for CEO's and executives, the elimination of jobs and benefits for the average workers and the use of third world country labor it is easy to understand what is going on in our country today and why "occupy wall street" is growing strong.

In a report by Marian Wright Edelman, President Childrens Defense Fund the gap between CEO's and the average workers pay was 325 to 1 in the year 2010. And that 25 of the 100 paid highest CEO's took home more in pay than their companies paid in income tax. Those number continue to grow every year while the middle class suffers the burdens.

The wall street banks monopolies should be broken up, corporate America and the wealthy's special tax breaks and treatment with tax loopholes should be cancelled. Elected officials who's ties to the special interest groups should be banned and the responsibility should be put on elected officials to act themselves in refusing to take campaign contributions or any money from special interest. It is time they devote their job to what is best for the country and its working people who bear the burden of all taxes.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu

Both men offer a stark contrast in how to govern the state and city. Jindal governs by using the usual conservative talking points about blaming every one else when things go wrong in the state. Next to Billy Nungesser he is the little mouth that roars but really has nothing to say of value to the people or the state.

Jindal has had a big problem balancing the state budget since he took office. The previous democratic administration left him a $1 billion surplus and he blew it big time like Bush did with the Clinton administration surpluses. Jindal has not really balanced any state budgets in fact, but only through the legislature's accounting gimmicks. The present state budget is supposed to be in balance but before the fiscal year is over Jindal will announce it is out of balance like his previous budgets.

His hypocrisy came to light in an article published in the Times Picayune of 9/29 concerning of all things the federal budget. You know that big brother he hates so much. In the article written by Michelle Hunter, Jindal before the JPEDC said this about the federal debt. It's not acceptable for us to borrow from our children and grandchildren. It's not acceptable for us to run up this massive debt. The massive debt Jindal talks about happened on the watch of George W. Bush and it happened while Bobby Jindal was a member of congress and while the republicans controlled both houses of congress. The whole time those massive deficits and debt was taken place Jindal and the republicans were silent and in fact rubber stamped Bush's failed policies.

Mayor Landrieu on the other hand does not govern by trying to talk tough or blame others. He faced the city's financial problems and the crime issue with new budget plans, a new police chief and was transparent in doing so. The city is moving forward and the people can see progress. Landrieu is a people's politician who rolls up his sleeves and goes to work. His reorganization of city government is working and many new and improved operations of city government will be coming on line.

Landrieu stepped up to the plate concerning the proposed VA Medical Complex at a time when Vitter and other republicans were trying to scuttle the plans. Landrieu wrote an editorial that blew their phony arguements away. Those loud mouths that like to roar can't even control their own phony rhetoric. Landrieu knows and understands how to get things done without using so called tough talk.

The city in the next four years under Landrieu will do better than the state under Jindal. Just wait and see and remember you read it first here in politidose.