Known as "Women Airforce Service Pilots" or WASP, they were the first women to fly U.S. military planes. Their orders were to fly noncombat missions to free up male pilots to fly overseas during WWII. Thirty eight WASP were killed in service.
Those brave women went unrecognized for many, many years and long considered civilians, not members of the military and were not entitled to pay and benefits given to the men in uniform. They were finally afforded veteran status in 1977 after a long fight. On Wednesday March 10 a few hundred, now in their 80's and 90's were in Washington at the Capitol to receive the Congressional Gold Medal for their service, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi remarked, "we are all your daughters, you taught us how to fly."
Deanie Parrish, a WASP pilot said the women had volunteered to fly the planes without expectation that they would ever be thanked. Over 65 years ago we each served our country without any expectation of recognition or glory, and we did it without compromising the values that we were taught growing up. We did it because our country needed us.
This is truly an American story of brave and courageous women aviators who wanted to serve their country in time of need and never expected any thing in return. That is in great contrast to those political "hawks" who love to see other people's children march off to war while they themselves stay safe at home.
Although honoring the WASP's was long over due, America did what was required and America is a better country today, thanks to the female aviators of WWII. May God bless them all.
Note: Some excerpts taken from the Associated Press.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Karl Rove: The Nobody Of Conservatism
I wrote a post in 2008 after Karl Rove left the Bush Administration and announced his resignation. I wrote that Rove was resigning so he could write a book in order to rewrite the history of the Bush administration. And now, sure enough, that book has been released titled, "Courage and Consequence: My Life As A Conservative In The Fight." What has been learned so far from the book is that Rove indeed wrote this book to rewrite the history of the war in Iraq and the Katrina aftermath.
The title of the book does not fit the author because Rove has no courage. Also he has the same problem as most political conservatives who put their warped ideology first and never talk about being an American. The details of Rove's comments on Iraq and Katrina do not have to be repeated here because the true facts were exposed long ago about Iraq and Katrina.
I have often noted Rove's tactic of repeating the same lies over and over again, mis-statements over and over again with the idea that if Americans hear the same thing over and over it will become the truth. That is the idea behind republican talking points and the book itself in trying to make the public believe what really happened never did.
Former Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco said it best when she said in reference to Rove's book. It's very obvious to me that he was in some other world. It's just hard for his book to be taken seriously, it is not a historical piece." Former Governor Blanco showed her courage when she put the state and people first and decided not to seek re-election. She did so and one of the reasons why was she knew politics would make Katrina a political football during the campaign and she thought the state and people deserved better.
Conservatism as practiced by many who are in the political arena can best be described as anti-American. Rove's rewrite of the facts concerning the Iraq war and Katrina shows just how pitiful a person he really is.
Note: See my two part series: The Rosetta Stone to The Iraq War dated 12/8 and 12/11 of 2007.
The title of the book does not fit the author because Rove has no courage. Also he has the same problem as most political conservatives who put their warped ideology first and never talk about being an American. The details of Rove's comments on Iraq and Katrina do not have to be repeated here because the true facts were exposed long ago about Iraq and Katrina.
I have often noted Rove's tactic of repeating the same lies over and over again, mis-statements over and over again with the idea that if Americans hear the same thing over and over it will become the truth. That is the idea behind republican talking points and the book itself in trying to make the public believe what really happened never did.
Former Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco said it best when she said in reference to Rove's book. It's very obvious to me that he was in some other world. It's just hard for his book to be taken seriously, it is not a historical piece." Former Governor Blanco showed her courage when she put the state and people first and decided not to seek re-election. She did so and one of the reasons why was she knew politics would make Katrina a political football during the campaign and she thought the state and people deserved better.
Conservatism as practiced by many who are in the political arena can best be described as anti-American. Rove's rewrite of the facts concerning the Iraq war and Katrina shows just how pitiful a person he really is.
Note: See my two part series: The Rosetta Stone to The Iraq War dated 12/8 and 12/11 of 2007.
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Iraq War: Time To End The United States Presence
This month will start the eighth year of war in Iraq and the U.S. presence there. Six years and nine months after President Bush announced "mission accomplished." We are following a schedule to have all combat troops out of Iraq by this summer and all U.S. personnel out by the end of 2011. The wars end would come eight years and nine months after the invasion if that schedule is maintained.
That schedule should be shortened and all Americans should be brought home this year and the sooner the better. The Iraq government held its elections this week end and every American general who has been questioned on TV this weekend still say school is out on what will actually take place after the elections are all over. In other words seven years later we are still in the dark as we were the day of the invasion when many so called hawks in the Bush administration said the war would be a cake walk. The problem fell to the boots on the ground, while the hawks stayed home.
The various factions in Iraq and their neighbors will decide what kind of country Iraq will be, with or without our presence. The people in Iraq who want to cause trouble can do so anytime they please and proved that during the week before the elections with many bombings and killings. They have that capabilities regardless if our troops are there or not.
The war has taken an awesome toll on our men and women in uniform who have been deployed multiple times, over 4300 American deaths, over 30,000 Americans wounded and billions of dollars. Those in Iraq who are still performing terror acts maintain the ability to still kill Americans there even though they have been withdrawn from the cities. One more American casualty in Iraq is too much. 2011 is a long, long way off. Our troops and personnel should be brought home this year.
That schedule should be shortened and all Americans should be brought home this year and the sooner the better. The Iraq government held its elections this week end and every American general who has been questioned on TV this weekend still say school is out on what will actually take place after the elections are all over. In other words seven years later we are still in the dark as we were the day of the invasion when many so called hawks in the Bush administration said the war would be a cake walk. The problem fell to the boots on the ground, while the hawks stayed home.
The various factions in Iraq and their neighbors will decide what kind of country Iraq will be, with or without our presence. The people in Iraq who want to cause trouble can do so anytime they please and proved that during the week before the elections with many bombings and killings. They have that capabilities regardless if our troops are there or not.
The war has taken an awesome toll on our men and women in uniform who have been deployed multiple times, over 4300 American deaths, over 30,000 Americans wounded and billions of dollars. Those in Iraq who are still performing terror acts maintain the ability to still kill Americans there even though they have been withdrawn from the cities. One more American casualty in Iraq is too much. 2011 is a long, long way off. Our troops and personnel should be brought home this year.
Lift The Cuban Embargo
The Obama administration should quickly try and engage the Cuban government in diplomacy and set up a working agreement to end the economic embargo of Cuba. This should be done as soon as possible. There are strategic reasons for this. Cuba is a member of our hemisphere and as such, should be a close trading partner, friend and ally. The forty plus years of embargo has not resulted in reversing Cuba's human rights problem nor has it changed their communist form of government.
The U.S. trades with Russia and China and has diplomatic relations with those two countries. They have their own human rights problems and are not even close to being in our hemisphere so our chances of influence on their human rights problem are nill. On the other hand, Cuba being only 90 miles from our shore and within our hemisphere would be in a more reasonable position to be influenced. I don't mean being influenced in a colonial way but the normal influence that neighbors are exposed too.
Cuba and the U.S. could help each others economy in a meaningful way and especially for the mid continent region of the U.S. The embargo has left the Cuban people with only the bare necessities. Cuba is no military threat to the U.S. or its neighbors. Being an island is not a strategic position for Cuba to be in militarily. Plus the U.S. has a military presence on that island at Guantanamo Bay.
The U.S. has missed many years of opportunity with Cuba because of an embargo that has never accomplished what it set out to do and all those years, lost what could have been a partner. The time to move is now and the U.S. should make the first move.
The U.S. trades with Russia and China and has diplomatic relations with those two countries. They have their own human rights problems and are not even close to being in our hemisphere so our chances of influence on their human rights problem are nill. On the other hand, Cuba being only 90 miles from our shore and within our hemisphere would be in a more reasonable position to be influenced. I don't mean being influenced in a colonial way but the normal influence that neighbors are exposed too.
Cuba and the U.S. could help each others economy in a meaningful way and especially for the mid continent region of the U.S. The embargo has left the Cuban people with only the bare necessities. Cuba is no military threat to the U.S. or its neighbors. Being an island is not a strategic position for Cuba to be in militarily. Plus the U.S. has a military presence on that island at Guantanamo Bay.
The U.S. has missed many years of opportunity with Cuba because of an embargo that has never accomplished what it set out to do and all those years, lost what could have been a partner. The time to move is now and the U.S. should make the first move.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal: Another Flip Flop
As noted in the Times Picayune of 2/28 Governor Jindal for the past year has been calling the Medicaid financing formula known as FMAP "faulty" and asked congress to fix the problem. Well it is no longer a "faulty formula" but a "Katrina tax." There was no explanation why the change. Could it be to change the subject with U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu who has actually obtained a partial fix to the problem that is included in health-care reform that the governor opposes.
It was also noted the government unveiled Jindal's Louisiana GRAD plan which would give public colleges and universities more flexibility to raise tuition provided they agree to raise admission standards, raise graduation rates and other performance measures. Public institutions would like to raise tuition again because of all the budget cuts to higher education but first have to seek approval from the legislature. This would free them to do so. It amounts to the buck being passed by Jindal because he still does not have a handle on the budget.
In another announcement Louisiana will receive an additional $77 million in federal economic stimulus money to help cover cost in its Medicaid program. The same stimulus that Jindal says he opposes. Health and hospital secretary Alan Levine said he would like to plug nearly half of it, about $32 million into the current year budget to cover a Medicaid shortfall. The rest of the money will be shifted into the 2010/2011 health care budget. The stimulus money has allowed governor Jindal an opportunity to dodge the hard decision as to what he would do if there were no help from the federal government. It should be noted Florida Republican governor Charlie Crist disagrees with Jindal and said the stimulus created or maintained 87,000 jobs in Florida including those of many teachers.
Jindal is writing an autobiography according to reports. The title of which is "On Solid Ground: Returning to America's Core Values." The term core values is a conservative catch word to indicate some thing is wrong with America and its people. Well, prior to Obama's election as President the Republicans ran the country 20 of the last 28 years so it is obvious American's must have lost its core values on their watch. More ironic is the fact that Jindal served in congress for 4 years during the Bush administration who reversed the balanced budgets and surpluses of the Clinton administration and gave the country a collapsed economy and record job losses. The conservative elite have no shame.
It was also noted the government unveiled Jindal's Louisiana GRAD plan which would give public colleges and universities more flexibility to raise tuition provided they agree to raise admission standards, raise graduation rates and other performance measures. Public institutions would like to raise tuition again because of all the budget cuts to higher education but first have to seek approval from the legislature. This would free them to do so. It amounts to the buck being passed by Jindal because he still does not have a handle on the budget.
In another announcement Louisiana will receive an additional $77 million in federal economic stimulus money to help cover cost in its Medicaid program. The same stimulus that Jindal says he opposes. Health and hospital secretary Alan Levine said he would like to plug nearly half of it, about $32 million into the current year budget to cover a Medicaid shortfall. The rest of the money will be shifted into the 2010/2011 health care budget. The stimulus money has allowed governor Jindal an opportunity to dodge the hard decision as to what he would do if there were no help from the federal government. It should be noted Florida Republican governor Charlie Crist disagrees with Jindal and said the stimulus created or maintained 87,000 jobs in Florida including those of many teachers.
Jindal is writing an autobiography according to reports. The title of which is "On Solid Ground: Returning to America's Core Values." The term core values is a conservative catch word to indicate some thing is wrong with America and its people. Well, prior to Obama's election as President the Republicans ran the country 20 of the last 28 years so it is obvious American's must have lost its core values on their watch. More ironic is the fact that Jindal served in congress for 4 years during the Bush administration who reversed the balanced budgets and surpluses of the Clinton administration and gave the country a collapsed economy and record job losses. The conservative elite have no shame.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Another First For Politidose
This writer on several occasions over a year ago pointed out that the real reason for the record deficit spending and debt created by Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 was to bankrupt the country so the government would have insufficient funds to support Social Security, Medicare and other needed programs that help the people and country. (See Note 1)
Now comes Paul Krugman, a journalist who is highly regarded in economic matters and writes for the New York Times reported on 2/24 in an editorial in the Times Picayune "that instead of trying to take on unpopular spending cuts the republicans instead went for popular tax cuts with the deliberate intention of worsening the governments fiscal position." In other words go the route of depriving the government of revenue and a sound economy, the government fiscal position will be harmed by deficit spending and debt.
Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 accomplished just that and now the country and its people are living in times of great distress. No one would be talking of deficit spending and debt today had it not been for those three Presidents and their ideology of trickle down economics they sold to America even though they knew what would happen. The Bush 43 Presidency was the nail in the coffin. Two unfunded wars and deficits and debt at levels never heard of before.
Those that are leading the republican party today have the same ideology. That is why they have nothing to offer but personal attacks. Paul Krugman's editorial should be read by everyone.
Note 1: U.S. Economy: Which Party Performs Best Part I dated 1/27/08
Republican Cycle of Record Federal Deficits and Debt dated 8/3/08
Now comes Paul Krugman, a journalist who is highly regarded in economic matters and writes for the New York Times reported on 2/24 in an editorial in the Times Picayune "that instead of trying to take on unpopular spending cuts the republicans instead went for popular tax cuts with the deliberate intention of worsening the governments fiscal position." In other words go the route of depriving the government of revenue and a sound economy, the government fiscal position will be harmed by deficit spending and debt.
Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 accomplished just that and now the country and its people are living in times of great distress. No one would be talking of deficit spending and debt today had it not been for those three Presidents and their ideology of trickle down economics they sold to America even though they knew what would happen. The Bush 43 Presidency was the nail in the coffin. Two unfunded wars and deficits and debt at levels never heard of before.
Those that are leading the republican party today have the same ideology. That is why they have nothing to offer but personal attacks. Paul Krugman's editorial should be read by everyone.
Note 1: U.S. Economy: Which Party Performs Best Part I dated 1/27/08
Republican Cycle of Record Federal Deficits and Debt dated 8/3/08
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
U.S. Senator Scott Brown
Scott Brown, the man elected to replace the late Ted Kennedy voted with the majority democrats 62-30 in favor of cutting off a filibuster of President Obama's jobs bill. Four other republicans voted in favor also, Senators Snow, Collins, Bond and Voinovich.
I wrote a commentary early after Mr. Brown's election and pointed out that his voting record would really tell the story of what the Senator stands for. His vote against the republican wishes (they wanted to filibuster the bill) immediately drew personal attacks from other conservatives. As usual, those conservatives rely on personal attacks because they are unable to compete or debate in a civil way and therefore have nothing to offer.
Senator Brown said, I came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside and to do everything in my power to help create jobs. I voted for it because it contains measures that will help put people back to work. That statement was truly an American statement that recognized the job problem facing the people and was able to put ideology aside and do what is right for the country and its people.
If Senator Brown continues to be independent with his vote on the issues and not be just another republican ditto head the nation will be better off and future needed legislation will have a better chance to pass congress. All it would take is 4 or 5 republicans to vote with the democrats, then the ditto heads can wallow in their own defeatist attitude.
One can only hope Senator Brown will continue to make his state proud on the important issues the people face. The choice is his to make.
I wrote a commentary early after Mr. Brown's election and pointed out that his voting record would really tell the story of what the Senator stands for. His vote against the republican wishes (they wanted to filibuster the bill) immediately drew personal attacks from other conservatives. As usual, those conservatives rely on personal attacks because they are unable to compete or debate in a civil way and therefore have nothing to offer.
Senator Brown said, I came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside and to do everything in my power to help create jobs. I voted for it because it contains measures that will help put people back to work. That statement was truly an American statement that recognized the job problem facing the people and was able to put ideology aside and do what is right for the country and its people.
If Senator Brown continues to be independent with his vote on the issues and not be just another republican ditto head the nation will be better off and future needed legislation will have a better chance to pass congress. All it would take is 4 or 5 republicans to vote with the democrats, then the ditto heads can wallow in their own defeatist attitude.
One can only hope Senator Brown will continue to make his state proud on the important issues the people face. The choice is his to make.
Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise: A Not Too Flattering Tribute
Bruce Alpert, Washington Bureau wrote in the Times Picayune of 2/21 what appears to be a flattering article on Scalise (according to the title) but when one reads the article there is no mistake about Scalise's warped ideology.
The "professor" (Bruce's description) Scalise gave President Obama an F for his first year in office. Scalise also said, In this time in our country's history, when there's so much at stake and real concerns about the direction of our country, we got to fight because if the liberal democratic leadership gets their way, I think they could destroy our country. Its obvious that Scalise has the Obama administration mixed up with the Bush administration and what they did to the country and Mr. Scalise was there. It is also obvious Mr. Scalise thinks conservatives are the elite and should make all decisions for America and its people. If one uses Scalise's rating scale I guess Bush deserves a triple F minus.
Mr. Alpert says Scalise has cultivated some Democratic friends but could only name two. It was pointed out that Scalise voted 98% of the time with his party in 2009. Just another ditto head with no original thought. In Sept. 2009 the U.S. House voted in favor of the biggest overhaul of college aid programs. The CBO said the legislation would save the tax payers $87 billion. Mr. Scalise voted against that bill. Representative Cao voted yes.
Scalise also voted no in Nov. of 09 against the extension of unemployment insurance. The Louisiana Workforce Commission said 6829 Louisiana residents would be eligible. Scalise was only one of 12 to vote against the measure and the only one representing Louisiana that voted no.
The article talks about Scalise sharp tongue. That is a ditto head mantra because conservatives have nothing to offer. Like talking about the federal deficit after they bankrupted the country. Scalise was part of the republican administration that gave the country the largest one year deficit in the country's history, $1.4 trillion in Mr. Bush's last fiscal year budget and Scalise was silent.
Mr. Scalise and the conservatives see what every one is starting to realize. The economy is getting better, jobs losses have been reversed and Mr. Scalise like his fellow conservatives can not stand to see the country and its people return to the prosperity they deserve. And what is more frustrating to the ditto heads is that it is happening on a democrats watch. That drives them crazy.
The "professor" (Bruce's description) Scalise gave President Obama an F for his first year in office. Scalise also said, In this time in our country's history, when there's so much at stake and real concerns about the direction of our country, we got to fight because if the liberal democratic leadership gets their way, I think they could destroy our country. Its obvious that Scalise has the Obama administration mixed up with the Bush administration and what they did to the country and Mr. Scalise was there. It is also obvious Mr. Scalise thinks conservatives are the elite and should make all decisions for America and its people. If one uses Scalise's rating scale I guess Bush deserves a triple F minus.
Mr. Alpert says Scalise has cultivated some Democratic friends but could only name two. It was pointed out that Scalise voted 98% of the time with his party in 2009. Just another ditto head with no original thought. In Sept. 2009 the U.S. House voted in favor of the biggest overhaul of college aid programs. The CBO said the legislation would save the tax payers $87 billion. Mr. Scalise voted against that bill. Representative Cao voted yes.
Scalise also voted no in Nov. of 09 against the extension of unemployment insurance. The Louisiana Workforce Commission said 6829 Louisiana residents would be eligible. Scalise was only one of 12 to vote against the measure and the only one representing Louisiana that voted no.
The article talks about Scalise sharp tongue. That is a ditto head mantra because conservatives have nothing to offer. Like talking about the federal deficit after they bankrupted the country. Scalise was part of the republican administration that gave the country the largest one year deficit in the country's history, $1.4 trillion in Mr. Bush's last fiscal year budget and Scalise was silent.
Mr. Scalise and the conservatives see what every one is starting to realize. The economy is getting better, jobs losses have been reversed and Mr. Scalise like his fellow conservatives can not stand to see the country and its people return to the prosperity they deserve. And what is more frustrating to the ditto heads is that it is happening on a democrats watch. That drives them crazy.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Front Man For The Oil And Gas Industry
Chris John, President of Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association wrote an editorial published in the Times Picayune of 2/19/10. He does not like President Obama's budget for fiscal 2010/2011, that he says proposes higher taxes and eliminates incentives on the Oil and Gas industry. He does not explain that and the rest of his editorial is really curious to say the least. His higher tax must be in conjunction with Obama's plans to let the remaining Bush tax cuts expire, but John does not say.
Mr. John said the gulf continues to prove that more resources are available if government will allow our industry to economically pursue the energy at our doorstep. Mr. John's words economically pursue seem to be code words for the continuation of billions of dollars of corporate welfare that the industry has enjoyed for over 40 years and has done nothing to make the country less dependent on foreign oil.
The fact is the oil and gas industry generate enough profit to do as much drilling and production as they want to. The price the consumers are paying for a barrel of oil and a gallon of gasoline has reached its highest level in the past several years, and as of this writing a barrel of oil is still over $70/barrel. At the same time the industry's finding and production cost are going down. Marathon Oil announced just the other week their production cost was reduced 15% in 2009.
Now a word concerning taxes that business pays. Until the law was changed a few years ago many businesses paid no taxes. Those who do, pass those taxes on to the consumer in their price structure. Those businesses that receive corporate welfare or so called incentives has never resulted in lower prices to the consumer. This writer worked in the oil field trucking industry for over 24 years. The state of Louisiana at that time charged the trucking industry a 2% transportation tax. That 2% was built into the truckers rates for hauling and passed on to the consumer paying the freight bill. I feel Mr. John is aware of that fact since his family has been the owner of an oil field trucking company.
Mr. Obama's budget shows that the federal government is expecting individual income tax revenue of $1.12 Trillion which represents 43% of federal revenue. Corporate income tax is expected to be $270 Billion. Yea that's right, billion. The price of a barrel of oil and gallon of gasoline is enough incentive for the industry to stay busy. The problem is greed. The industry wants all the tax breaks and incentives at the expense of the people and then charge outrageous prices even when consumers are cutting back their use of gasoline. The CEO's make out like bandits with bonuses and other goodies. That is really what tax breaks and incentives are all about.
Keep in mind, the Bush administration passed legislation that gave the oil and gas industry billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives and oil shot up to $150 barrel and gasoline over $3.50 gallon. Record profits were recorded. The oil and gas industry is only entitled to being treated fairly like all businesses. No special favors or tax breaks. They should also take the responsibility for any damage their activity does to the environment and hold themselves responsible.
Mr. John said the gulf continues to prove that more resources are available if government will allow our industry to economically pursue the energy at our doorstep. Mr. John's words economically pursue seem to be code words for the continuation of billions of dollars of corporate welfare that the industry has enjoyed for over 40 years and has done nothing to make the country less dependent on foreign oil.
The fact is the oil and gas industry generate enough profit to do as much drilling and production as they want to. The price the consumers are paying for a barrel of oil and a gallon of gasoline has reached its highest level in the past several years, and as of this writing a barrel of oil is still over $70/barrel. At the same time the industry's finding and production cost are going down. Marathon Oil announced just the other week their production cost was reduced 15% in 2009.
Now a word concerning taxes that business pays. Until the law was changed a few years ago many businesses paid no taxes. Those who do, pass those taxes on to the consumer in their price structure. Those businesses that receive corporate welfare or so called incentives has never resulted in lower prices to the consumer. This writer worked in the oil field trucking industry for over 24 years. The state of Louisiana at that time charged the trucking industry a 2% transportation tax. That 2% was built into the truckers rates for hauling and passed on to the consumer paying the freight bill. I feel Mr. John is aware of that fact since his family has been the owner of an oil field trucking company.
Mr. Obama's budget shows that the federal government is expecting individual income tax revenue of $1.12 Trillion which represents 43% of federal revenue. Corporate income tax is expected to be $270 Billion. Yea that's right, billion. The price of a barrel of oil and gallon of gasoline is enough incentive for the industry to stay busy. The problem is greed. The industry wants all the tax breaks and incentives at the expense of the people and then charge outrageous prices even when consumers are cutting back their use of gasoline. The CEO's make out like bandits with bonuses and other goodies. That is really what tax breaks and incentives are all about.
Keep in mind, the Bush administration passed legislation that gave the oil and gas industry billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives and oil shot up to $150 barrel and gasoline over $3.50 gallon. Record profits were recorded. The oil and gas industry is only entitled to being treated fairly like all businesses. No special favors or tax breaks. They should also take the responsibility for any damage their activity does to the environment and hold themselves responsible.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
President Obama's First Year In Office
Despite the conservative noise making machine and the tea parties, America has made progress in the first year of the Obama administration. Consumer confidence is up since taking office and record job losses under Bush's administration has been reversed and on a steady basis. The unemployment rate which started to go up each month before Obama took office has now been stabilized. Still too high but the more the job market improves the more unemployment will go down.
Major parts of the economy are growing again and the GDP for the fourth quarter of 2009 was up over 5% annual rate. Manufacturing orders are steady and up for the past several months. The stock market (DJIA) average has gained over 4000 points and portfolio's are up. Financial markets have been stabilized to a greater extent and lending has increased. Retail sales have been up so consumer spending has increased, not yet to the extent needed to propel the economy but enough for a turn around and heading in the right direction.
According to the last report only half of the $787 stimulus has been spent. There are many area's of the economy where states are putting in their applications to receive and spend the balance of the stimulus. The Regional Transit Authority in New Orleans was just awarded $45 million in funding for a new streetcar line in the city. As states line up their applications and the awards are granted more people will find badly needed jobs. There is much more to be done and the administration is working on that. Mean while the economy has been improving.
Progress has been made in Afghanistan and a number of high ranking Taliban leaders have been eliminated or captured according to reports. There were no major terror attacks on U.S. soil during Obama's first year in office and the country did much better in that regard than the previous administration did in its first year in office. The country is still on track with our withdrawal of troops from Iraq and should stay on track.
There is still much to be done and the President needs to stay focused. He must not let the negative noise machine dictate the agenda and he and the democrats in congress have to finish the job on health care reform and other important legislation that will help produce a sustained economy and sustain job creation. The reason that is so important is because the republican party still has no record of creating a sustained economy or job creation.
Major parts of the economy are growing again and the GDP for the fourth quarter of 2009 was up over 5% annual rate. Manufacturing orders are steady and up for the past several months. The stock market (DJIA) average has gained over 4000 points and portfolio's are up. Financial markets have been stabilized to a greater extent and lending has increased. Retail sales have been up so consumer spending has increased, not yet to the extent needed to propel the economy but enough for a turn around and heading in the right direction.
According to the last report only half of the $787 stimulus has been spent. There are many area's of the economy where states are putting in their applications to receive and spend the balance of the stimulus. The Regional Transit Authority in New Orleans was just awarded $45 million in funding for a new streetcar line in the city. As states line up their applications and the awards are granted more people will find badly needed jobs. There is much more to be done and the administration is working on that. Mean while the economy has been improving.
Progress has been made in Afghanistan and a number of high ranking Taliban leaders have been eliminated or captured according to reports. There were no major terror attacks on U.S. soil during Obama's first year in office and the country did much better in that regard than the previous administration did in its first year in office. The country is still on track with our withdrawal of troops from Iraq and should stay on track.
There is still much to be done and the President needs to stay focused. He must not let the negative noise machine dictate the agenda and he and the democrats in congress have to finish the job on health care reform and other important legislation that will help produce a sustained economy and sustain job creation. The reason that is so important is because the republican party still has no record of creating a sustained economy or job creation.
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