Michael Bromwich the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement in an article by staff writer David Hammer of the Times Picayune fired back at the oil industry for bitching about not being granted any new permits to drill in the Gulf of Mexico. Bromwich said, the most critical missing piece in the process of approving applications for permits to drill in deepwater is the demonstration of well control and subsea containment capability. Therefore, I ask that you provide a detailed update as to when your proposed containment systems will be operational. This was in letters to Helix Energy Solutions Group and to the four industry giants, Exxon-Mobil, Shell Oil, Chevron and Conoco-Phillips.
This is the same oil industry who promised in August 2010 they would have an interim containment system ready in six months and a fully operational system in operation in 18 months. The six months has already passed and the oil industry has reneged on its promise. This writer has pointed out in past commentary in politidose that this is the real issue of the oil industry's failure concerning the BP oil blow out and spill. That after over 50 years plus of drilling in the Gulf the industry had no plan or equipment ready to cap a blow out timely or the equipment necessary to remove spilled oil from the waters in the Gulf before that oil hit shore. They told the people they did but lied thru their teeth. That is the real sad story of the BP accident.
The industry's latest failure to meet their own dead line for testing their interim containment system is part of their failed past and falsehoods. They can not be trusted. Lets hope BOEMRE holds the industry and its CEO's accountable. When one takes into account that the industry is given billions of dollars in tax subsidy by our government leaders it is easy to see why big oil is so selfish and think they can do what ever they want to do. To top it off, our elected officials and some at the Times Picayune support the obscene actions by the industry.
The four oil companies mentioned above who are paying to develop the containment system are all wealthy companies who lobby our elected officials to keep the spigot open for corporate welfare and tax breaks. They have no shame. That says it all.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Cynthia Tucker, A Wise Journalist Concerning Immigration
Ms. Tucker in her editorial titled, "Quit Hiring Immigrants: See What Happens" published in the New Orleans Times Picayune dated Feb. 5th showed wisdom on the subject matter. Past Presidents and the congress has struggled to come up with a workable solution to curb the problem. Now Ms. Tucker has a suggestion that is very basic to the problem that would not cost billions of dollars in this writers judgement like the fence the federal government built on the Arizona border and the U.S. troops sent there to police the area.
Ms. Tucker suggest business be required to use a national computer system to verify the legal status of employees, that would dramatically curb illegal immigration. She pointed out illegal border crossers come here for better economic opportunity that reads as "jobs." If they could not get jobs many would not come she pointed out.
The suggestion by Ms. Tuckerhas merit and congress should take that first step that would lead to comprehensive reform of immigration. Business should be held accountable for hiring illegal immigrants and the law should be enforced. The editorial also points out how Obama's predecessor used a failed scheme of workplace raids that punished illegal immigrants but left their employers largely unscathed.
Our elected officials in Washington, especially congress would do well to keep this editorial posted on their desk. The law is on their side, the only thing it now takes is character and courage to make sure the change Ms. Tucker has suggested takes place. Put business on notice and enforce the law. Require them to verify the legal status of whom they hire. It was pointed out in the editorial there is a system available to check workers, it is called e-verify, an instant back ground check run by the Department of Homeland Security.
Congress and the President need to act now.
Ms. Tucker suggest business be required to use a national computer system to verify the legal status of employees, that would dramatically curb illegal immigration. She pointed out illegal border crossers come here for better economic opportunity that reads as "jobs." If they could not get jobs many would not come she pointed out.
The suggestion by Ms. Tuckerhas merit and congress should take that first step that would lead to comprehensive reform of immigration. Business should be held accountable for hiring illegal immigrants and the law should be enforced. The editorial also points out how Obama's predecessor used a failed scheme of workplace raids that punished illegal immigrants but left their employers largely unscathed.
Our elected officials in Washington, especially congress would do well to keep this editorial posted on their desk. The law is on their side, the only thing it now takes is character and courage to make sure the change Ms. Tucker has suggested takes place. Put business on notice and enforce the law. Require them to verify the legal status of whom they hire. It was pointed out in the editorial there is a system available to check workers, it is called e-verify, an instant back ground check run by the Department of Homeland Security.
Congress and the President need to act now.
Friday, February 11, 2011
What Can The United States Do Concerning The Situation In Egypt
Not very much except what President Obama is trying to do. That is speak with one voice on the side of the people of Egypt and support their cry for democracy. Our one voice should be to support the people's desire to change the behavior of the leaders of Egypt so they can live in an open society with freedom and justice. Other than that the U.S. influence is negligible.
Does any one really believe the billions of dollars that the U.S. gives to countries run by dictators trickle down to the people. Even if it did it would not buy democracy. You have to want democracy before you can have it. The people of Egypt are showing they want democracy with their peaceful demonstrations.
President Kennedy in making his famous speech in Berlin said "contrary to what some people believed, communism was not the wave of the future." He knew full well that repressive regimes would fall in time. His establishment of the peace corps was well with in the realm of spreading democracy and the need for people to work together for the common good. Kennedy did not believe in a Pax Americana for South and Central America either.
Many of our past and present leaders used friendship and support for dictator regimes in the name of national security that has cost our nation rejection from abroad, billions of wasted tax payers dollars and even lives. It also made our country less safe. Kennedy had a better understanding of this than any one else and was moving our country away from those failed policies.
Countries in the middle east and other parts of the world ruled by dictators will over time experience the cry for democracy and it will come from within. People who do not have freedom long for it because it is a basic tenant of life just like self preservation.
The U.S. should be at the lead in supporting the cry of freedom and democracy for all nations. The idea that we have to be in bed with dictator regimes has been a proven disaster. We tried that with the Shah of Iran, Batista in Cuba, Marcos in the Phillipines and yes even with Saddam in Iraq. The President and congress should continue to support the people of Egypt in their quest for freedom and democracy.
Special Note: After I wrote this commentary, it was announced that Mubarak was stepping
down. Now is the time for the President to continue to assist the people of Egypt
and answer any call to help them with the transition.
Does any one really believe the billions of dollars that the U.S. gives to countries run by dictators trickle down to the people. Even if it did it would not buy democracy. You have to want democracy before you can have it. The people of Egypt are showing they want democracy with their peaceful demonstrations.
President Kennedy in making his famous speech in Berlin said "contrary to what some people believed, communism was not the wave of the future." He knew full well that repressive regimes would fall in time. His establishment of the peace corps was well with in the realm of spreading democracy and the need for people to work together for the common good. Kennedy did not believe in a Pax Americana for South and Central America either.
Many of our past and present leaders used friendship and support for dictator regimes in the name of national security that has cost our nation rejection from abroad, billions of wasted tax payers dollars and even lives. It also made our country less safe. Kennedy had a better understanding of this than any one else and was moving our country away from those failed policies.
Countries in the middle east and other parts of the world ruled by dictators will over time experience the cry for democracy and it will come from within. People who do not have freedom long for it because it is a basic tenant of life just like self preservation.
The U.S. should be at the lead in supporting the cry of freedom and democracy for all nations. The idea that we have to be in bed with dictator regimes has been a proven disaster. We tried that with the Shah of Iran, Batista in Cuba, Marcos in the Phillipines and yes even with Saddam in Iraq. The President and congress should continue to support the people of Egypt in their quest for freedom and democracy.
Special Note: After I wrote this commentary, it was announced that Mubarak was stepping
down. Now is the time for the President to continue to assist the people of Egypt
and answer any call to help them with the transition.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Republican Double Talk On Budget Cuts
House republicans have vowed to cut the federal budget piece by piece, across the board but they say defense spending is off limits. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has proposed to cut defense spending by over $70 billion and gave congress the information as to why and how it can be done safely without affecting our national security. The republicans in an effect to continue their propaganda as being strong on defense are saying no way.
Past actions by the republican party tell the true story of their game plan, and it is not about balancing the federal budget. They had their chance under Bush 43 when they controlled both houses of congress and failed to balance one federal budget despite having inherited record surpluses from the Clinton administration. Instead of reducing spending on their watch, they voted for a massive increase in spending and gave the country massive deficits and debt.
The true story of the republicans budget cuts that they will propose is to continue the failed policies of Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43. Their aim is to bankrupt those programs that are vital to our country and its people while promoting tax cuts, incentives and other goodies for the wealthy. They have already met with industry lobbyist to kill regulations and promote corporate Americas agenda.
The best chance for a balanced budget is the democratic way. President Obama is the only President besides Clinton in the last 31 years to pay attention to and publicly tell the people the deficit problem has to be addressed and dealt with. Obama's state of the union speech laid out a plan to continue to address and act on the deficit. As the economy continues to improve, federal revenue will increase and help reduce the deficit. Is it interesting to note the republicans were silent the 20 years Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 ran up those massive deficits.
As I noted in a previous commentary here in politidose, Reagan was the first President to preside over a trillion dollar budget. Bush 43 was the first President to preside over the first two and three trillion dollar budget. It took the country 15 years to go from a one trillion dollar budget to a two trillion dollar budget, but it took Bush 43 only seven years to go from a two trillion dollar budget to a three trillion budget. Conservative Presidents? Not on your life.
The country has been void of any true conservative leaders for over 30 years. Their leadership has been right wing radicals who care nothing about moving the country and its people forward. Their anti-American ideology is to tear down everything that has made America great. Every day their actions prove they are incapable of engaging in a debate of the real issues. President Obama and the democratic party are still in the forefront of having the best policies of moving the country and its people forward to reverse the economic damage, record job losses and record deficit spending and debt of the previous administration. It will once again be democratic policies that will bring spending under control.
Past actions by the republican party tell the true story of their game plan, and it is not about balancing the federal budget. They had their chance under Bush 43 when they controlled both houses of congress and failed to balance one federal budget despite having inherited record surpluses from the Clinton administration. Instead of reducing spending on their watch, they voted for a massive increase in spending and gave the country massive deficits and debt.
The true story of the republicans budget cuts that they will propose is to continue the failed policies of Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43. Their aim is to bankrupt those programs that are vital to our country and its people while promoting tax cuts, incentives and other goodies for the wealthy. They have already met with industry lobbyist to kill regulations and promote corporate Americas agenda.
The best chance for a balanced budget is the democratic way. President Obama is the only President besides Clinton in the last 31 years to pay attention to and publicly tell the people the deficit problem has to be addressed and dealt with. Obama's state of the union speech laid out a plan to continue to address and act on the deficit. As the economy continues to improve, federal revenue will increase and help reduce the deficit. Is it interesting to note the republicans were silent the 20 years Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 ran up those massive deficits.
As I noted in a previous commentary here in politidose, Reagan was the first President to preside over a trillion dollar budget. Bush 43 was the first President to preside over the first two and three trillion dollar budget. It took the country 15 years to go from a one trillion dollar budget to a two trillion dollar budget, but it took Bush 43 only seven years to go from a two trillion dollar budget to a three trillion budget. Conservative Presidents? Not on your life.
The country has been void of any true conservative leaders for over 30 years. Their leadership has been right wing radicals who care nothing about moving the country and its people forward. Their anti-American ideology is to tear down everything that has made America great. Every day their actions prove they are incapable of engaging in a debate of the real issues. President Obama and the democratic party are still in the forefront of having the best policies of moving the country and its people forward to reverse the economic damage, record job losses and record deficit spending and debt of the previous administration. It will once again be democratic policies that will bring spending under control.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Tax Breaks(Corporate Welfare) For The Oil And Gas Industry Need To Be Terminated Now
The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday Feb. 2 against a proposal that would have ended Oil industry tax breaks that amount to $22 billion over 10 years. The vote was 81-17 to retain such tax breaks. The vote has once again revealed how the Oil and Gas industry has been able to manipulate our elected officials because of their wealth in doling out campaign contributions.
President Obama in his state of the union address asked congress to end those tax breaks for that wealthy industry. Since congress answer was no, the President should now take his case directly to the people, shame congress and the industry and use his authority as the only nation wide elected official to do what it takes to relieve that $22 billion burden that the average American pays for.
According to a report in the Times Picayune dated Feb. 4, U.S. Senator David Vitter and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise really showed their ass over the subject matter. Vitter said the industry needs the tax breaks because the U.S. has the highest business tax rate in the world. Scalise made the dumb remark about high oil prices because of the instability in Egypt and not restricting domestic production. Vitter and Scalise are ditto heads for the industry because of their campaign contributions.
The fact of the matter is big business like oil and gas pay no taxes. There are tax loop holes in the tax code created by members of congress like Vitter and Scalise that cancel out any tax liability. Any small tax they may end up paying is passed onto the consumer. Yet Vitter and Scalise want to continue the tax breaks for their chosen few. They like to see the middle class make up for the loss of revenue. As for Scalise's stupid remark he knows full well the only thing that restricts production is when the industry itself shuts in production to manipulate the price.
The oil and gas industry has had 50 plus years of tax breaks and exemptions and our country at this very time is more dependent on foreign oil than ever before. They could care less, their main goal in wanting those tax breaks is to increase their bottom line so more wealth can be passed onto their CEO's and executives. They have had plenty time to make the country self sufficient. They are not satisfied that the price of a barrel of oil and gallon of gasoline had been at a sustained record high level for over 7 years. That's not good enough for them, they want it all.
President Kennedy said it best and set the example when he said,"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." The oil and gas industry, Vitter, Scalise and all those who continue to vote for tax breaks for wealthy corporations gladly put themselves before their country. Its pretty sad when elected officials sell out the people they represent and even more sad when Corporate America spend a fortune on those officials to influence their decisions.
U.S. Senators Markey and Levin who voted in favor to cancel the tax breaks said it best. Said Senator Levin: We would reform unjustified tax expenditures related to oil and gas production by large oil companies, companies that are enormously profitable with or without these tax expenditures. Said Senator Markey: American consumers and small businesses are all told that they will have to tighten their belts, and do their share to bring down our deficit and grow our economy. Yet even when their top five companies make nearly $1 trillion in profits over the last 10 years, they still defend with a straight face the billions in tax breaks and regulatory subsidies they stand to rake in over the next decade.
The congress need more members like Levin and Markey who are not afraid to deal with the truth and that really says it all.
President Obama in his state of the union address asked congress to end those tax breaks for that wealthy industry. Since congress answer was no, the President should now take his case directly to the people, shame congress and the industry and use his authority as the only nation wide elected official to do what it takes to relieve that $22 billion burden that the average American pays for.
According to a report in the Times Picayune dated Feb. 4, U.S. Senator David Vitter and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise really showed their ass over the subject matter. Vitter said the industry needs the tax breaks because the U.S. has the highest business tax rate in the world. Scalise made the dumb remark about high oil prices because of the instability in Egypt and not restricting domestic production. Vitter and Scalise are ditto heads for the industry because of their campaign contributions.
The fact of the matter is big business like oil and gas pay no taxes. There are tax loop holes in the tax code created by members of congress like Vitter and Scalise that cancel out any tax liability. Any small tax they may end up paying is passed onto the consumer. Yet Vitter and Scalise want to continue the tax breaks for their chosen few. They like to see the middle class make up for the loss of revenue. As for Scalise's stupid remark he knows full well the only thing that restricts production is when the industry itself shuts in production to manipulate the price.
The oil and gas industry has had 50 plus years of tax breaks and exemptions and our country at this very time is more dependent on foreign oil than ever before. They could care less, their main goal in wanting those tax breaks is to increase their bottom line so more wealth can be passed onto their CEO's and executives. They have had plenty time to make the country self sufficient. They are not satisfied that the price of a barrel of oil and gallon of gasoline had been at a sustained record high level for over 7 years. That's not good enough for them, they want it all.
President Kennedy said it best and set the example when he said,"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." The oil and gas industry, Vitter, Scalise and all those who continue to vote for tax breaks for wealthy corporations gladly put themselves before their country. Its pretty sad when elected officials sell out the people they represent and even more sad when Corporate America spend a fortune on those officials to influence their decisions.
U.S. Senators Markey and Levin who voted in favor to cancel the tax breaks said it best. Said Senator Levin: We would reform unjustified tax expenditures related to oil and gas production by large oil companies, companies that are enormously profitable with or without these tax expenditures. Said Senator Markey: American consumers and small businesses are all told that they will have to tighten their belts, and do their share to bring down our deficit and grow our economy. Yet even when their top five companies make nearly $1 trillion in profits over the last 10 years, they still defend with a straight face the billions in tax breaks and regulatory subsidies they stand to rake in over the next decade.
The congress need more members like Levin and Markey who are not afraid to deal with the truth and that really says it all.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
It Is Past Time To Break Up The Wall Street Banks
I wrote a commentary titled, "Too Big To Fail" dated April 17, 2010 in "politidose" and pointed out that if a company was Too Big To Fail it indicated that company was a monopoly and should be broken up. In the book titled "13 Bankers" by Simon Johnson and James Kwak supports everything this writer reported and pointed out in the above cited commentary and then some.
Johnson and Kwak think the Wall Street Banks should be broken up and pointed out that "even after the ruinous financial crisis of 2008 six banks, Bank of America, J.P. Morgan, Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley together control assets amounting to 60% of the country's GDP." In this writers judgement that is a disaster for the country and its people and show's how they have the wealth to do practically any thing they want to do. Johnson and Kwak also point out how the wealth of Wall Street are buying our elected officials with campaign contributions and slick propaganda and avoiding regulations.
Presidents Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt under stood that power and wealth of monopolies are not in the best interest of the country and its people and broke them up during their administrations. It is past time for President Obama and congress to act and do the same thing with the Wall Street Banks and their monopoly. The wealth and power of the monopoly, their ability to control legislation before congress and their ability to bring about another financial crisis and come out smelling like a rose while the general public pays the bill has to be put to an end.
In conjunction with President Obama taking the steps necessary to break the monopolies up he should go after congress and shame them for giving those monopolies special tax breaks and other goodies in the first place and put a end to this crime against the American people and the country. Lately in the news on several occasions it was revealed that Corporate America is sitting on $1 trillion in cash earned during 2010, most of whom are still seeking special tax breaks at the expense of the average American. Congress as a whole lacks the character and courage to stand up and say enough is enough, no more special treatment or favors.
Wealth and power in the hands of ruthless people is anti-American and anti-business in nature. As I wrote in my commentary mentioned above. "Power and wealth gives monopolies the feeling of being invincible and above the law and thereby do as they please." The Sherman Anti-trust act gives our nation the authority to break up monopolies and President Obama needs to point the way and do so. Anything less will make those monopolies more powerful and wealthy and that is unacceptable.
Johnson and Kwak think the Wall Street Banks should be broken up and pointed out that "even after the ruinous financial crisis of 2008 six banks, Bank of America, J.P. Morgan, Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley together control assets amounting to 60% of the country's GDP." In this writers judgement that is a disaster for the country and its people and show's how they have the wealth to do practically any thing they want to do. Johnson and Kwak also point out how the wealth of Wall Street are buying our elected officials with campaign contributions and slick propaganda and avoiding regulations.
Presidents Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt under stood that power and wealth of monopolies are not in the best interest of the country and its people and broke them up during their administrations. It is past time for President Obama and congress to act and do the same thing with the Wall Street Banks and their monopoly. The wealth and power of the monopoly, their ability to control legislation before congress and their ability to bring about another financial crisis and come out smelling like a rose while the general public pays the bill has to be put to an end.
In conjunction with President Obama taking the steps necessary to break the monopolies up he should go after congress and shame them for giving those monopolies special tax breaks and other goodies in the first place and put a end to this crime against the American people and the country. Lately in the news on several occasions it was revealed that Corporate America is sitting on $1 trillion in cash earned during 2010, most of whom are still seeking special tax breaks at the expense of the average American. Congress as a whole lacks the character and courage to stand up and say enough is enough, no more special treatment or favors.
Wealth and power in the hands of ruthless people is anti-American and anti-business in nature. As I wrote in my commentary mentioned above. "Power and wealth gives monopolies the feeling of being invincible and above the law and thereby do as they please." The Sherman Anti-trust act gives our nation the authority to break up monopolies and President Obama needs to point the way and do so. Anything less will make those monopolies more powerful and wealthy and that is unacceptable.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Health Care Repeal: The Republican's Achilles Heel
Republican leaders in the U.S. House and Senate really showed their true hypocrisy and lies concerning the Health Care issue. During the year and a half debate when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress and before they passed Health Care legislation, the republicans told the American people they had their own plan but never disclosed what it was.
After the U.S. House voted to repeal Health Care just a few weeks ago, their leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor said the republican party would reveal their own Health Care plan they are working on over the next several months. In other words they had no alternate plan to actually offer the people during that year and a half debate and once again flat out lied to the people.
Now comes Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell of the republican party who introduced the same Health Care repeal and the democratic majority who rightly rejected repeal on a 51-47 vote. The democrats stood their ground. After the defeat McConnell said the republicans kept their campaign promise. A sad excuse of a sad leader. In other words the hell with moving the country forward. Instead, do anything to block the democratic's agenda with the idea of making Obama a one term President.
The republican's anti-American ideology is still alive and are willing to continue to lie to turn the clock back. One should easily understand how their ideology along with the Bush 43 Presidency crippled the economy, brought about the record job losses and contributed to the financial meltdown. Republicans say they got the message of the November elections, but all the voters received so far is the same republican party of no and they should have known that from the start. After all the republicans do have a past record of failure and lies.
President Obama and the democrats in the Senate are the only hope of defeating the republican's agenda and a return to the Bush years. Dividing the country is still the standing procedure for republicans in congress. The President and democrats have to stand firm, have courage and continue to move the country forward. In the end, if they do that the country and its people will be the winner.
After the U.S. House voted to repeal Health Care just a few weeks ago, their leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor said the republican party would reveal their own Health Care plan they are working on over the next several months. In other words they had no alternate plan to actually offer the people during that year and a half debate and once again flat out lied to the people.
Now comes Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell of the republican party who introduced the same Health Care repeal and the democratic majority who rightly rejected repeal on a 51-47 vote. The democrats stood their ground. After the defeat McConnell said the republicans kept their campaign promise. A sad excuse of a sad leader. In other words the hell with moving the country forward. Instead, do anything to block the democratic's agenda with the idea of making Obama a one term President.
The republican's anti-American ideology is still alive and are willing to continue to lie to turn the clock back. One should easily understand how their ideology along with the Bush 43 Presidency crippled the economy, brought about the record job losses and contributed to the financial meltdown. Republicans say they got the message of the November elections, but all the voters received so far is the same republican party of no and they should have known that from the start. After all the republicans do have a past record of failure and lies.
President Obama and the democrats in the Senate are the only hope of defeating the republican's agenda and a return to the Bush years. Dividing the country is still the standing procedure for republicans in congress. The President and democrats have to stand firm, have courage and continue to move the country forward. In the end, if they do that the country and its people will be the winner.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Republican Controlled U.S. House: A New Congress But The Same Conservative Anti-American Ideology
Wednesday, the U.S. House voted to repeal Health Care Legislation that was passed into law last year. All republicans voted to repeal, all but three democrats voted no. A typical republican vote on an issue that divided the people last year but had less support for repeal at the time of the vote according to all the most recent polls. The fact that the republicans took up the issue proved once again they care nothing about the country and its people.
The U.S. Senate nor the President will let the republican vote stand and rightly so. Conservatives once again in a new congress raised it ugly head and showed that they will do any thing to destroy the Presidents agenda and legislation that will move the economy forward, reduce the deficit and create jobs. They are not satisfied that their support of Bush's policies gave the country the worst economic meltdown and record job losses, they now use a new congress and their new majority to carry out the republican status quo.
That the republicans picked out a divisive issue as one of their first priority is not strange or new. They will continue to choose divisive issues as their game plan because they have no record of accomplishments to stand on or debate. President Clinton often remarked the republicans could only win elections by dividing the people. Clintons wisdom on the subject has proved to be the truth time and time again.
The second issue they are talking about now is to not extend the debt ceiling that is due soon unless the President agrees to budget cuts to offset the debt ceiling increase. When they controlled both houses of congress under the Bush administration for the first 6 years they had a chance to cut spending when they raised the debt ceiling several times and never did. In fact they gave the country record federal deficits and debt.
The republicans ran on an anti government platform in November and won even though they are part of the government. The voters seem to be satisfied that the republicans never had any answers for the problems the country faced. Now the voters will have to live with their vote for the next two years. The country and its people are lucky to have a democratic President in office at this time in our history.
The economy is once again responding to a democratic President's policies, jobs are being created again, unemployment will continue to fall and the middle class will once again see their hopes of a middle class recovery come true. And once again the republican party will have no hand in the recovery. They are repeating their failed past when they voted against President Clinton's deficit reduction and economic policies in 1993 that was passed by the democratic controlled congress without one republican vote in either house of congress. They predicted doom and gloom for the economy. Does that sound familiar now?
The people should also be ready for the republicans to once again use personal attacks as their method of operation. As this writer pointed out in the past, it is hell when you have no record to run on or talk about and worse when you use a phony conservative ideology. That says it all.
The U.S. Senate nor the President will let the republican vote stand and rightly so. Conservatives once again in a new congress raised it ugly head and showed that they will do any thing to destroy the Presidents agenda and legislation that will move the economy forward, reduce the deficit and create jobs. They are not satisfied that their support of Bush's policies gave the country the worst economic meltdown and record job losses, they now use a new congress and their new majority to carry out the republican status quo.
That the republicans picked out a divisive issue as one of their first priority is not strange or new. They will continue to choose divisive issues as their game plan because they have no record of accomplishments to stand on or debate. President Clinton often remarked the republicans could only win elections by dividing the people. Clintons wisdom on the subject has proved to be the truth time and time again.
The second issue they are talking about now is to not extend the debt ceiling that is due soon unless the President agrees to budget cuts to offset the debt ceiling increase. When they controlled both houses of congress under the Bush administration for the first 6 years they had a chance to cut spending when they raised the debt ceiling several times and never did. In fact they gave the country record federal deficits and debt.
The republicans ran on an anti government platform in November and won even though they are part of the government. The voters seem to be satisfied that the republicans never had any answers for the problems the country faced. Now the voters will have to live with their vote for the next two years. The country and its people are lucky to have a democratic President in office at this time in our history.
The economy is once again responding to a democratic President's policies, jobs are being created again, unemployment will continue to fall and the middle class will once again see their hopes of a middle class recovery come true. And once again the republican party will have no hand in the recovery. They are repeating their failed past when they voted against President Clinton's deficit reduction and economic policies in 1993 that was passed by the democratic controlled congress without one republican vote in either house of congress. They predicted doom and gloom for the economy. Does that sound familiar now?
The people should also be ready for the republicans to once again use personal attacks as their method of operation. As this writer pointed out in the past, it is hell when you have no record to run on or talk about and worse when you use a phony conservative ideology. That says it all.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Economic Recovery Continues Under The President's Economic Policies
The unemployment rate for December came in at 9.4% down from 9.7% in November and the lowest in 19 months. The economy added 103,000 jobs in December and for the year 2010 over 1.1 million new jobs were created. One can compare that to the average of almost 1/2 million jobs lost a month in the last 14 months of the Bush administration.
The Labor Department announced the economy added 210,000 jobs in October, up from 172,000 previously reported and November's job creation was revised up from 39,000 to 71,000. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told a Senate panel he sees evidence that a "self sustaining" recovery is taken place.
According to an AP report dated Jan 10, Morgan Stanley economists said 4% GDP is likely in 2011. The growth had been projected to be between 2.25-2.50% earlier by many economist. The unemployment, job growth and the GDP is now coming in line with this writers predictions as published in politidose long before the economist changed their mind. The economic recovery is taking place despite the opposition by the republican party to the President's policies. The deal the President made with republicans to extend the Bush tax cuts has nothing to do with the economic recovery and the republicans just say no attitude for the past two years has once again made them a bystander to the recovery.
Like Clinton, once again it is a democratic President and his policies who turned around the greatest economic failure and record job losses since the great depression. The President needs to continue to be vigil and monitor the progress of the recovery and do those things necessary to continue a "sustained recovery" and job creation. Anything less is unacceptable.
The Labor Department announced the economy added 210,000 jobs in October, up from 172,000 previously reported and November's job creation was revised up from 39,000 to 71,000. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told a Senate panel he sees evidence that a "self sustaining" recovery is taken place.
According to an AP report dated Jan 10, Morgan Stanley economists said 4% GDP is likely in 2011. The growth had been projected to be between 2.25-2.50% earlier by many economist. The unemployment, job growth and the GDP is now coming in line with this writers predictions as published in politidose long before the economist changed their mind. The economic recovery is taking place despite the opposition by the republican party to the President's policies. The deal the President made with republicans to extend the Bush tax cuts has nothing to do with the economic recovery and the republicans just say no attitude for the past two years has once again made them a bystander to the recovery.
Like Clinton, once again it is a democratic President and his policies who turned around the greatest economic failure and record job losses since the great depression. The President needs to continue to be vigil and monitor the progress of the recovery and do those things necessary to continue a "sustained recovery" and job creation. Anything less is unacceptable.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Republicans Discover We Have A Constitution
John Boehner, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and his republican cohorts read aloud the U.S. Constitution before members of Congress last week. Boehner said the House will operate according to the Constitution. Their new found discovery of the Constitution is consistent with their phony ideology and their new pronouncements of cutting federal spending and the repeal of the Health Care legislation that was passed last year and signed into law by the President.
Never mind that Mr. Boehner, Mitch McConnel and the republican party controlled both houses of congress during the first 6 years of the Bush administration and had the opportunity and votes to (1) cut federal spending and (2) operate according to the Constitution during those 6 years and failed on both accounts. Instead the republican party and Mr. Bush gave the country record deficit spending and debt. They never saw a budget deficit they did not love. They also backed Mr. Bush's secret surveillance program which the courts found unconstitutional.
Democratic Senator Harry Byrd carried a copy of the Constitution in his pocket at all times and voted against the war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist because he pointed out only and act of congress can commit the nation to war. The republicans could have learned a lot from Senator Byrd concerning the Constitution. He believed it was a living document. The republicans use the Constitution like they use various issues to divide the American people. While Senator Byrd lived the Constitution, republicans were using it as a ploy.
The past is still the key to the future. In the past under Bush the republicans had a great opportunity to cut federal spending and never even tried. In fact their actions show their aim is to bankrupt the federal government with debt. Boehner and the republicans have already showed their hand. They want to kill health care legislation even though the CBO says to do so will add $230 billion to the budget deficit. That goes along with their objective of adding to the deficit in order to deprive the federal government of needed revenue.
The democratic controlled Senate needs to vote down the republicans right wing agenda and the President needs to stand fast, especially now with the economic recovery well under way.
Never mind that Mr. Boehner, Mitch McConnel and the republican party controlled both houses of congress during the first 6 years of the Bush administration and had the opportunity and votes to (1) cut federal spending and (2) operate according to the Constitution during those 6 years and failed on both accounts. Instead the republican party and Mr. Bush gave the country record deficit spending and debt. They never saw a budget deficit they did not love. They also backed Mr. Bush's secret surveillance program which the courts found unconstitutional.
Democratic Senator Harry Byrd carried a copy of the Constitution in his pocket at all times and voted against the war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist because he pointed out only and act of congress can commit the nation to war. The republicans could have learned a lot from Senator Byrd concerning the Constitution. He believed it was a living document. The republicans use the Constitution like they use various issues to divide the American people. While Senator Byrd lived the Constitution, republicans were using it as a ploy.
The past is still the key to the future. In the past under Bush the republicans had a great opportunity to cut federal spending and never even tried. In fact their actions show their aim is to bankrupt the federal government with debt. Boehner and the republicans have already showed their hand. They want to kill health care legislation even though the CBO says to do so will add $230 billion to the budget deficit. That goes along with their objective of adding to the deficit in order to deprive the federal government of needed revenue.
The democratic controlled Senate needs to vote down the republicans right wing agenda and the President needs to stand fast, especially now with the economic recovery well under way.
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