Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer announced his candidancy to join the republican field for their party's nomination for President. In doing so Roemer made it clear that corporate America and their lobby are running things in Washington because of the wealth they pass around in campaign contributions. He also made it clear that is why the status quo in Washington exists.
In his announcement, Roemer showed how campaign finance reform can easily be done by refusing to accept campaign contributions from corporate America and their lobby. Roemer understands that he will probably not be able to compete with the rest of the field who will be more than willing to sell their soul. But the beauty of his decision is that it is the only true way of reform because there are no laws or court in our land who can force him to take campaign contributions or find it to be unconstitutional.
The other beauty part is that it does not cost the tax payers one cent or tie up time in congress passing empty campaign finance reform laws with all the loop holes elected officials love to do. The news media should give Roemer the same coverage they give to others but they won't because most of today's news media is owned by corporate America who support the status quo.
The country needs more candidates like Roemer who reject the buying of elected officials. If enough candidates would do that over a period of time it would catch on. The voting public should understand that to refuse campaign contributions is the only true and workable campaign finance reform that will work for the benefit of America and the people. Voter should express that in the voting booth.
This writer has written several commentaries concerning the subject matter. Maybe just one touched a cord with Mr. Roemer and started the ball rolling. Hopefully, real campaign finance reform the easy way will take hold and set an example of how this simple change will return government to the people and for the people. We already know the status quo of wealth for votes does not work. Understanding the past is still the key to the future. Are there any other candidates out there that have the character and courage? And that really says it all.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Conservatism: The Ugly and UnAmerican Ideology, Chapter II
I wrote a commentary under the above title Jan 30, 2008. That is over 3 years ago and the republican party in congress and their leaders are showing how truly ugly and UnAmerican their ideology really is in the current debt ceiling debate. The party that is most responsible for the national debt being a problem wants the congress and the American people to follow their advise to finish the job they started to bankrupt the country.
The tea party is showing their hand in all of this with their extreme agenda but make no mistake, there is no difference between the tea party and the republican party. They are one and the same and that is why the republican party supported the tea party candidates with money in the last congressional election.
Voters who supported the republican party are receiving what they asked for. They should not be surprised by the damage being done to the country and have no right to be ignorant concerning the republican party's true ideology. I know many of them are complaining and saying that is not what they voted for but the republicans have a past history and the voters knew how conservatism as practiced by today's republicans is truly an ugly and unAmerican ideology. That says it all.
The tea party is showing their hand in all of this with their extreme agenda but make no mistake, there is no difference between the tea party and the republican party. They are one and the same and that is why the republican party supported the tea party candidates with money in the last congressional election.
Voters who supported the republican party are receiving what they asked for. They should not be surprised by the damage being done to the country and have no right to be ignorant concerning the republican party's true ideology. I know many of them are complaining and saying that is not what they voted for but the republicans have a past history and the voters knew how conservatism as practiced by today's republicans is truly an ugly and unAmerican ideology. That says it all.
Monday, August 1, 2011
A Failure In Leadership: Kicking The Can Farther Down The Road
The President and leadership of both parties in congress just kicked the debt limit can down the road again by an agreement on the debt ceiling that is in stages and does not address the problem. In fact it is an agreement that is open ended with no closure.
The President's lack of leadership and courage in dealing with the republican's anti American ideology is a preview of things to come for our nation and its people. The President caved on all the issues he said he supported, revenue enhancement, long term debt limit until after the election and not in stages, a fair and balanced approach and too many other issues he said he believed in.
President Obama and the leaders of congress showed their cowardice by their decision to appoint a super committee to do the work they themselves were elected to do. One can be sure the committee will fail and I will have a future commentary on that subject. Obama's decision to embrace this so called compromise and caving in to those who are responsible in the first place for the national debt to be a problem illustrates just how weak a leader he is. President's Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy would have called out the republicans for what they are, a bunch of hypocritical liers and fiscal thieves.
The President and the democratic party were on the right side of the issue when they opposed extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and on the right side of the issue concerning the debt ceiling with a balanced approach that would have increased revenue by canceling the tax loop holes and corporate welfare for Corporate America and could have made both cases if handled properly. The President's weakness, lack of leadership and courage on both issues is a prelude to what the average American is in store for.
President Obama has shed all the positive positions he took during the campaign and does not even have a message anymore that he is able to articulate. He talked about having lines in the sand he would never cross, but he let the republican's hot air move those lines back over and over again.
The President has failed his responsibility to the American people who elected him to lead instead of being led. The excuse that this is the best deal he could get indicates the President has been overwhelmed and does not understand what the Presidency is all about. Congress is beyond hope because they suck up to corporate America and the special interest lobby. The President does not have to put up with that and the constitution gives him the authority to look after the well being of the nation and its people. The President lacks those leadership qualities and the courage to step up to the plate and fulfill his constitutional responsibility and duties.
The President's lack of leadership and courage in dealing with the republican's anti American ideology is a preview of things to come for our nation and its people. The President caved on all the issues he said he supported, revenue enhancement, long term debt limit until after the election and not in stages, a fair and balanced approach and too many other issues he said he believed in.
President Obama and the leaders of congress showed their cowardice by their decision to appoint a super committee to do the work they themselves were elected to do. One can be sure the committee will fail and I will have a future commentary on that subject. Obama's decision to embrace this so called compromise and caving in to those who are responsible in the first place for the national debt to be a problem illustrates just how weak a leader he is. President's Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy would have called out the republicans for what they are, a bunch of hypocritical liers and fiscal thieves.
The President and the democratic party were on the right side of the issue when they opposed extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and on the right side of the issue concerning the debt ceiling with a balanced approach that would have increased revenue by canceling the tax loop holes and corporate welfare for Corporate America and could have made both cases if handled properly. The President's weakness, lack of leadership and courage on both issues is a prelude to what the average American is in store for.
President Obama has shed all the positive positions he took during the campaign and does not even have a message anymore that he is able to articulate. He talked about having lines in the sand he would never cross, but he let the republican's hot air move those lines back over and over again.
The President has failed his responsibility to the American people who elected him to lead instead of being led. The excuse that this is the best deal he could get indicates the President has been overwhelmed and does not understand what the Presidency is all about. Congress is beyond hope because they suck up to corporate America and the special interest lobby. The President does not have to put up with that and the constitution gives him the authority to look after the well being of the nation and its people. The President lacks those leadership qualities and the courage to step up to the plate and fulfill his constitutional responsibility and duties.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Raising The National Debt Ceiling
President Obama did not handle the extension of the Bush tax cuts at the end of last year very well and is failing to handle the debt ceiling issue a lot worse. The President needs to start showing leadership and courage and stop pussy footing around with the leaders of the republican party and their anti-American ideology.
Obama should tell the leaders to go take a hike if they don't raise the ceiling in a clean bill with no attachments and that he will fulfill his constitutional duty as President and not let the country default on its debt obligations. The republicans are never going to work with the President for the benefit of the country and its people and it is time for him to get tough and carry out the responsibilities he owes to the American people. Obama was elected by the people of all America, members of congress were not and he should be pushing his democratic agenda instead of playing games with the little boy republicans.
The President should also be reminding the people every day that it was the republican administration of George W. Bush and his policies that created the national debt problem, the economic meltdown, the record number of job losses and economic problems for the middle class. He should also point out that no republican administration has presided over a balanced federal budget in over 50 years and that deficit spending is their method of operation.
The President should also be telling the republicans he is not about to listen to them concerning the economy, job creation or any thing to do with fiscal matters since the republicans have no positive record of accomplishments on any of those issues that are so important to the U.S. and its people. Obama needs to do those things immediately and often and stop letting the republicans control the dialog with their lies.
If the President is not up to the leadership challenge and take charge with courage it is this writers hope that some democrat with leadership and courage will run for the democratic nomination in the next election. President Obama is better than any republican candidate but he is not fulfilling his duty as a leader and that is what a President should do, lead.
Obama should tell the leaders to go take a hike if they don't raise the ceiling in a clean bill with no attachments and that he will fulfill his constitutional duty as President and not let the country default on its debt obligations. The republicans are never going to work with the President for the benefit of the country and its people and it is time for him to get tough and carry out the responsibilities he owes to the American people. Obama was elected by the people of all America, members of congress were not and he should be pushing his democratic agenda instead of playing games with the little boy republicans.
The President should also be reminding the people every day that it was the republican administration of George W. Bush and his policies that created the national debt problem, the economic meltdown, the record number of job losses and economic problems for the middle class. He should also point out that no republican administration has presided over a balanced federal budget in over 50 years and that deficit spending is their method of operation.
The President should also be telling the republicans he is not about to listen to them concerning the economy, job creation or any thing to do with fiscal matters since the republicans have no positive record of accomplishments on any of those issues that are so important to the U.S. and its people. Obama needs to do those things immediately and often and stop letting the republicans control the dialog with their lies.
If the President is not up to the leadership challenge and take charge with courage it is this writers hope that some democrat with leadership and courage will run for the democratic nomination in the next election. President Obama is better than any republican candidate but he is not fulfilling his duty as a leader and that is what a President should do, lead.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Drilling Offshore Louisiana In The Gulf Of Mexico: Facts And Nothing But The Facts
The American people and especially the people of Louisiana have been out right deceived and lied to concerning offshore drilling in the Gulf Of Mexico, the impact of rigs working or not working, the moratorium and the effects there of. This commentary will provide the true facts and show what President's policies were best for the nation, the people of Louisiana and yes the best for the oil industry.
The deceivers opposed the moratorium after the BP spill even though the explosion took the lives of 11 rig workers and no one seemed to have the answer as to what caused the explosion. President Obama made the right decision with the temporary moratorium. The opposition shoved safety aside and did a disservice to the families of the 11 workers who lost their lives and the workers themselves. The deceivers will herein after be addressed as the opposition.
The opposition kept talking about rigs moving out of the Gulf, being idle, rig workers in the thousands being laid off and making America more dependent on foreign oil all because of the moratorium. However, as Boone Pickens pointed out, the nation was more dependent on foreign oil before the BP explosion.
The record you are about to read concerning offshore drilling in the Gulf off Louisiana will not only tell the real story of the deception but point out how the largest exodus of rigs from Louisiana offshore in the Gulf happened on the republican watch of President George W. Bush along with the highest sustained price of a barrel of oil in the past 40 years.
The below annual yearly average of rigs working offshore Louisiana in the Gulf under the following administrations are:
1) The administration of President George H. W. Bush:
1989 72 Rigs working
1990 76 ditto
1991 57 ditto
1992 38 ditto
The annual average of rigs working under Bush's time in office 60.75
2) The administration of President Bill Clinton:
1993 60 Rigs working
1994 78 "
1995 82 "
1996 88 "
1997 102 "
1998 106 "
1999 88 "
2000 118 "
The annual average of rigs working under Clinton's time in office 90.25
3) The administration of President George W. Bush:
2001 119 Rigs working
2002 92 "
2003 85 "
2004 79 "
2005 79 "
2006 73 "
2007 61 "
2008 53 "
The annual average of rigs working under George W. Bush's time in office 80.12
Note 1: The above number taken from Baker-Hughes rig count annual average by states 1987-2010 and is the bible of rig activity used by the oil industry. The numbers do not represent the high or low for the year but the average.
One must note the offshore rig count declined 34 rigs on President George H.W. Bush's watch from his first year in office to his last. It increased by 58 rigs on President Clinton's watch and increased every year except one. The rig count not only declined on George W. Bush's watch by 66 rigs, it also declined every year except one. Does any one remember the opposition asking what happened to those rigs that caused the exodus on Bush's watch and where did they go.
The annual average price of a barrel of oil on George H.W. Bush's watch was $33.26. Under Bill Clinton's watch it was $24.78 and under George W. Bush's watch it was $51.34. In fact the highest sustained annual price of a barrel of oil on George W. Bush's watch was the highest in over 30 years and lasted 6 straight years.
Note 2: The above numbers on the annual price of a barrel of oil was taken from Historical Crude Oil Prices posted at inflationdata.com. It does not show the highest or lowest yearly price but the average.
The above numbers show that the Clinton Administration and its economic policies provided the oil industry with the best conditions to operate under and they responded with rig activity. Clinton's policies also provided the American people and the people of Louisiana the lowest sustained prices of a barrel of oil and there fore gasoline in the last 40 years. The record also is complete that Clinton raised the Corporate tax rate during his administration and increased taxes on those making over $200,000.00 a year and it had a positive effect onthe economy and did not hurt drilling one bit. The opposition has egg all over their faces.
There were good reasons for the moratorium on Gulf drilling after the BP spill that anyone with common sense can understand. What happened on George W. Bush's watch with the more than doubling the price of a barrel of oil and the exodus of rigs from the Gulf is called greed and one can be justified in concluding it was the result of the secret decisions made by the Bush administration and the energy industry executives. Why operate more rigs when the price of oil was doubled.
You could go back to the Reagan years and the results would be the same. The Clinton record would knock Reagan's socks off. So much for the fairy tale of republican conservatism.
Special Note: For related comparison of the above Presidents see my past commentaries on the Economy, Deficit Spending, the National Debt and Federal Spending.
The deceivers opposed the moratorium after the BP spill even though the explosion took the lives of 11 rig workers and no one seemed to have the answer as to what caused the explosion. President Obama made the right decision with the temporary moratorium. The opposition shoved safety aside and did a disservice to the families of the 11 workers who lost their lives and the workers themselves. The deceivers will herein after be addressed as the opposition.
The opposition kept talking about rigs moving out of the Gulf, being idle, rig workers in the thousands being laid off and making America more dependent on foreign oil all because of the moratorium. However, as Boone Pickens pointed out, the nation was more dependent on foreign oil before the BP explosion.
The record you are about to read concerning offshore drilling in the Gulf off Louisiana will not only tell the real story of the deception but point out how the largest exodus of rigs from Louisiana offshore in the Gulf happened on the republican watch of President George W. Bush along with the highest sustained price of a barrel of oil in the past 40 years.
The below annual yearly average of rigs working offshore Louisiana in the Gulf under the following administrations are:
1) The administration of President George H. W. Bush:
1989 72 Rigs working
1990 76 ditto
1991 57 ditto
1992 38 ditto
The annual average of rigs working under Bush's time in office 60.75
2) The administration of President Bill Clinton:
1993 60 Rigs working
1994 78 "
1995 82 "
1996 88 "
1997 102 "
1998 106 "
1999 88 "
2000 118 "
The annual average of rigs working under Clinton's time in office 90.25
3) The administration of President George W. Bush:
2001 119 Rigs working
2002 92 "
2003 85 "
2004 79 "
2005 79 "
2006 73 "
2007 61 "
2008 53 "
The annual average of rigs working under George W. Bush's time in office 80.12
Note 1: The above number taken from Baker-Hughes rig count annual average by states 1987-2010 and is the bible of rig activity used by the oil industry. The numbers do not represent the high or low for the year but the average.
One must note the offshore rig count declined 34 rigs on President George H.W. Bush's watch from his first year in office to his last. It increased by 58 rigs on President Clinton's watch and increased every year except one. The rig count not only declined on George W. Bush's watch by 66 rigs, it also declined every year except one. Does any one remember the opposition asking what happened to those rigs that caused the exodus on Bush's watch and where did they go.
The annual average price of a barrel of oil on George H.W. Bush's watch was $33.26. Under Bill Clinton's watch it was $24.78 and under George W. Bush's watch it was $51.34. In fact the highest sustained annual price of a barrel of oil on George W. Bush's watch was the highest in over 30 years and lasted 6 straight years.
Note 2: The above numbers on the annual price of a barrel of oil was taken from Historical Crude Oil Prices posted at inflationdata.com. It does not show the highest or lowest yearly price but the average.
The above numbers show that the Clinton Administration and its economic policies provided the oil industry with the best conditions to operate under and they responded with rig activity. Clinton's policies also provided the American people and the people of Louisiana the lowest sustained prices of a barrel of oil and there fore gasoline in the last 40 years. The record also is complete that Clinton raised the Corporate tax rate during his administration and increased taxes on those making over $200,000.00 a year and it had a positive effect onthe economy and did not hurt drilling one bit. The opposition has egg all over their faces.
There were good reasons for the moratorium on Gulf drilling after the BP spill that anyone with common sense can understand. What happened on George W. Bush's watch with the more than doubling the price of a barrel of oil and the exodus of rigs from the Gulf is called greed and one can be justified in concluding it was the result of the secret decisions made by the Bush administration and the energy industry executives. Why operate more rigs when the price of oil was doubled.
You could go back to the Reagan years and the results would be the same. The Clinton record would knock Reagan's socks off. So much for the fairy tale of republican conservatism.
Special Note: For related comparison of the above Presidents see my past commentaries on the Economy, Deficit Spending, the National Debt and Federal Spending.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Louisiana's Ecosystem Restoration And Its Little Children Elected Officials
President Obama's request for $35.8 million for ecosystem restoration in Louisiana that was part of his $30.6 billion water and energy bill was defeated by the republican controlled U.S. House on July 16. Instead of the $35.8 million, Louisiana will receive $1 million. Lets see, the last time I checked all of Louisiana's representatives in the U.S. House are republicans, except one. They really have clout with their party don't they.
Louisiana's elected officials who represent the state on both the state level and in the congress are out to lunch when it comes to taking care of the state's ecosystem. Little boy Scalise on the floor of the U.S. House held up a football and told his republican friends and said, I want to hold up this football to present that every single hour Louisiana alone loses an entire football field of land that's eroded away. That according to a Times Picayune article dated 7/16. What Scalise did not mention is that erosion is mainly caused by the oil industry operations in Louisiana.
Little boy Scalise, his party and Louisiana's elected officials are beholden to the oil industry and there in lie the root cause of the problem concerning the state's ecosystem. Scalise and his party want to cut everything coming out of the Obama administration so the party told him to go jump in the lake because you are one of us and gave Louisiana $1 million instead of the $35.8 million requested by Obama. The President has a better feel for Louisiana's needs than Scalise and his party.
The big failure to address the state's ecosystem restoration over the last 40 plus years is the oil industry operations, their failure to put the land back together like they found it and the state's elected officials who have failed to pass legislation to hold the oil industry responsible for their damage to the environment. Former governor David Treen had the answer in CWEL, but the state's law makers never had the character or courage to pass such legislation. They were always to busy doing the oil industry's bidding. Little boy Scalise could have introduced CWEL when he served in the state's legislature but he was to busy defending big oil. Scalise missed a chance to hold up that football before the Louisiana legislature when he was a member of that body and give that speech to them. But the little boy had no courage.
Now we see elected officials want most of the fines to be leveled on BP for the spill to be dedicated to Louisiana's ecosystem restoration. BP should be held responsible for the damage they caused but Louisiana should hold the oil industry responsible for the damage they caused for the last 40 plus years.
This is a major example how the oil industry and their lobby control our elected officials with campaign contributions. The other is the massive tax breaks doled out, once again by you know who, our elected officials. Has any one heard of a tax loop hole for the middle class, the forgotten few who are left out.
Louisiana's elected officials who represent the state on both the state level and in the congress are out to lunch when it comes to taking care of the state's ecosystem. Little boy Scalise on the floor of the U.S. House held up a football and told his republican friends and said, I want to hold up this football to present that every single hour Louisiana alone loses an entire football field of land that's eroded away. That according to a Times Picayune article dated 7/16. What Scalise did not mention is that erosion is mainly caused by the oil industry operations in Louisiana.
Little boy Scalise, his party and Louisiana's elected officials are beholden to the oil industry and there in lie the root cause of the problem concerning the state's ecosystem. Scalise and his party want to cut everything coming out of the Obama administration so the party told him to go jump in the lake because you are one of us and gave Louisiana $1 million instead of the $35.8 million requested by Obama. The President has a better feel for Louisiana's needs than Scalise and his party.
The big failure to address the state's ecosystem restoration over the last 40 plus years is the oil industry operations, their failure to put the land back together like they found it and the state's elected officials who have failed to pass legislation to hold the oil industry responsible for their damage to the environment. Former governor David Treen had the answer in CWEL, but the state's law makers never had the character or courage to pass such legislation. They were always to busy doing the oil industry's bidding. Little boy Scalise could have introduced CWEL when he served in the state's legislature but he was to busy defending big oil. Scalise missed a chance to hold up that football before the Louisiana legislature when he was a member of that body and give that speech to them. But the little boy had no courage.
Now we see elected officials want most of the fines to be leveled on BP for the spill to be dedicated to Louisiana's ecosystem restoration. BP should be held responsible for the damage they caused but Louisiana should hold the oil industry responsible for the damage they caused for the last 40 plus years.
This is a major example how the oil industry and their lobby control our elected officials with campaign contributions. The other is the massive tax breaks doled out, once again by you know who, our elected officials. Has any one heard of a tax loop hole for the middle class, the forgotten few who are left out.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
The Empire Should Be Broken Up
Rupert Murdoch's news media empire should be broken up by congress and scattered to the wind. It is a monopoly and the congress should have never let it happen. Monopolies control wealth and in the news media they control the dialog. Wealthy people like Murdoch believe they can do anything they want. His Fox News is a great example how their journalists openly lie and try to influence their views with those lies.
Murdoch's trouble in Britian in all probability will spill over to his U.S. operations. There is one thing to keep in mind here and that is most of Murdoch's businesses emulate their leader and what ever their leader condones. Paying off police to obtain information on people and hacking into their communications is un American. Murdoch is heavily involved in Wall Street and owns the Wall Street Journal. We all know that the Wall Street Banks are also monopolies and they should be broken up too. We also know the Wall Street Banks were involved in the great financial meltdown whose effects are still with the people and the economy.
Once the American people understand how wealthy monopolies have taken over America and demand that congress act to break them up we will have an America for the people and by the people. The wealthy have shown how brazen they are by demanding tax breaks and corporate welfare for their wealthy businesses and having congress go along at the expense of the average American. They behold our elected officials with campaign contributions and elected officials are just as brazen defending those tax breaks. A good example is going on right now with the debt ceiling where republicans oppose any closing of those tax loop holes and benefits they helped create.
It would be wise for the proper authorities in the U.S. to fully investigate Murdoch's business dealings. And it would really be wise if congress moves to break up Murdoch's media monopoly and the wall street banks monopoly. It should easily be understood how the wealth of monopolies can control a large part of our country's economy and put the average American at risks.
Every day President Kennedy's statement, Our problems are man made and therefore can be solved by man, is in play here. We just don't have the elected officials with character and courage who are willing to stand up and be counted. The American people should understand that their are no laws that elected officials have to take campaign contributions so they can not pass the buck.
Murdoch's trouble in Britian in all probability will spill over to his U.S. operations. There is one thing to keep in mind here and that is most of Murdoch's businesses emulate their leader and what ever their leader condones. Paying off police to obtain information on people and hacking into their communications is un American. Murdoch is heavily involved in Wall Street and owns the Wall Street Journal. We all know that the Wall Street Banks are also monopolies and they should be broken up too. We also know the Wall Street Banks were involved in the great financial meltdown whose effects are still with the people and the economy.
Once the American people understand how wealthy monopolies have taken over America and demand that congress act to break them up we will have an America for the people and by the people. The wealthy have shown how brazen they are by demanding tax breaks and corporate welfare for their wealthy businesses and having congress go along at the expense of the average American. They behold our elected officials with campaign contributions and elected officials are just as brazen defending those tax breaks. A good example is going on right now with the debt ceiling where republicans oppose any closing of those tax loop holes and benefits they helped create.
It would be wise for the proper authorities in the U.S. to fully investigate Murdoch's business dealings. And it would really be wise if congress moves to break up Murdoch's media monopoly and the wall street banks monopoly. It should easily be understood how the wealth of monopolies can control a large part of our country's economy and put the average American at risks.
Every day President Kennedy's statement, Our problems are man made and therefore can be solved by man, is in play here. We just don't have the elected officials with character and courage who are willing to stand up and be counted. The American people should understand that their are no laws that elected officials have to take campaign contributions so they can not pass the buck.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Raising The Federal Debt Ceiling
There are probably very few Americans who realize that raising the debt ceiling has to do with paying off the obligations of our past expenditures that are coming due and not our future expenditures, that will come later on. There are even fewer Americans who know we would not be dealing with a $14 trillion debt had the Bush 43 administration followed in President Clinton's footsteps and balanced the federal budget during his term in office. Bush could have done so had he wanted to and that tells the true story of the conservative ideology and what they are really up to.
Today's leaders of the republican party in congress are the same leaders when Bush was in office. Their current position of cutting the budget concerning the debt ceiling has nothing to do with the debt ceiling or balancing the federal budget. Lets look at Mitch McConnell's latest statement as reported by the AP on July 13. McConnell said that if congress fails to act, Obama would have a good opportunity to blame it on the republican party. He also said his first choice was to reach a good compromise with Obama. His second choice and obligation would be to his party and prevent his party from not getting sucked into a position politically that would allow the President to be reelected.
McConnell's first choice has no merit since he and his party will not compromise. Obama gave them the chance to do so. His second choice really tells what he and his party is all about. It's about republican ideology and their desire to see Obama defeated in the next Presidential election. Neither of his two choices concern what is good for America or its people and the people he represents. And that comes from his own mouth.
It should be noted the debt ceiling was raised many times during the Bush 43 administration and not once did the republican controlled congress require spending cuts to raise the debt ceiling. They never saw a record federal deficit they did not love when their party ran the country.
Today's leaders of the republican party in congress are the same leaders when Bush was in office. Their current position of cutting the budget concerning the debt ceiling has nothing to do with the debt ceiling or balancing the federal budget. Lets look at Mitch McConnell's latest statement as reported by the AP on July 13. McConnell said that if congress fails to act, Obama would have a good opportunity to blame it on the republican party. He also said his first choice was to reach a good compromise with Obama. His second choice and obligation would be to his party and prevent his party from not getting sucked into a position politically that would allow the President to be reelected.
McConnell's first choice has no merit since he and his party will not compromise. Obama gave them the chance to do so. His second choice really tells what he and his party is all about. It's about republican ideology and their desire to see Obama defeated in the next Presidential election. Neither of his two choices concern what is good for America or its people and the people he represents. And that comes from his own mouth.
It should be noted the debt ceiling was raised many times during the Bush 43 administration and not once did the republican controlled congress require spending cuts to raise the debt ceiling. They never saw a record federal deficit they did not love when their party ran the country.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
It Is Past Time To Get Out Of Iraq Now
It appears that the Obama administration is ready to extend our troops deployment in Iraq past the agreed withdrawal date of December 2011 if the Iraqi government request same. That seems to be the case since it was reported by Secretary of Defense Leon Pinetta that the U.S. was waiting for Iraq to make up its mind.
Why should the U.S. let Iraq determine our troops fate in Iraq? That should be a decision of the U.S. and the U.S. alone. Those voices that say U.S. troops need to stay because the mission of training Iraqi troops has not been completed and that Iraq needs more time to be able to defend their country is slang for the continued occupation of our troops in Iraq.
If enough Iraqi troops have not been trained after 8 years on the job and those we have trained are not good enough to train their own Iraqi forces than the U.S. has failed. As for those who say we have to stay to blunt Iran's influence, forget it. Iran and Iraq are tied together no matter what, which was pointed out in past commentary by this writer long ago.
In December 2011 the war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist will be 8 years and 9 months old. The U.S. has lost over 4400 of its brave men and women, over 30,000 wounded and just last month the highest number of Americans were killed in Iraq than in the past few years all because of our invasion and occupation over WMD that did not exist. Bush's war committed our military to satisfy his warped ideology of remaking the middle east in his own warped image and our troops are still paying the price with their lives. President Obama needs to end this madness like he promised. That is the only way he and other elected officials can truly show they support our troops and the sacrifice they have already made. Pretty speeches are a dime a dozen. What is needed is action to end this war once and for all.
There is simply no good reason to extend our presence in Iraq past the end of this year. Bringing our troops home alive is the best way to honor their sacrifice and service. Not one more American should die in Iraq over WMD that did not exist. Too many people have taken this war and loss of life in a casual way and have treated it like a foot note in history. What a shame.
Why should the U.S. let Iraq determine our troops fate in Iraq? That should be a decision of the U.S. and the U.S. alone. Those voices that say U.S. troops need to stay because the mission of training Iraqi troops has not been completed and that Iraq needs more time to be able to defend their country is slang for the continued occupation of our troops in Iraq.
If enough Iraqi troops have not been trained after 8 years on the job and those we have trained are not good enough to train their own Iraqi forces than the U.S. has failed. As for those who say we have to stay to blunt Iran's influence, forget it. Iran and Iraq are tied together no matter what, which was pointed out in past commentary by this writer long ago.
In December 2011 the war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist will be 8 years and 9 months old. The U.S. has lost over 4400 of its brave men and women, over 30,000 wounded and just last month the highest number of Americans were killed in Iraq than in the past few years all because of our invasion and occupation over WMD that did not exist. Bush's war committed our military to satisfy his warped ideology of remaking the middle east in his own warped image and our troops are still paying the price with their lives. President Obama needs to end this madness like he promised. That is the only way he and other elected officials can truly show they support our troops and the sacrifice they have already made. Pretty speeches are a dime a dozen. What is needed is action to end this war once and for all.
There is simply no good reason to extend our presence in Iraq past the end of this year. Bringing our troops home alive is the best way to honor their sacrifice and service. Not one more American should die in Iraq over WMD that did not exist. Too many people have taken this war and loss of life in a casual way and have treated it like a foot note in history. What a shame.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Latest On The U.S. Economy
Job creation for the month of June was weak as it was for May according to the latest report from the U.S. Labor Department. Although job creation has been in positive territory for some time it is still not strong enough to reduce the unemployment rate and that is a factor that still affects the American people the most.
The naysayers were out in full force and jumped on the job numbers. However they overlooked the importance of the effect the earthquake in Japan and energy prices have on the job market. The congressional republicans position of opposing every thing coming out of the Obama administration still represents a great threat for making the economy and job market worse. Their position on raising the debt ceiling is still a greater threat and is in line with their record of presiding over weak economies and job creation of the past.
Although the present unemployment rate is unacceptable, past administrations have done worse, including the Reagan administration where unemployment was over 10% for ten straight months even though Reagan was not dealt the severe economic situation Obama was dealt.
In my judgement an unemployment rate closer to 7% than 8% can still be achieved by the end of 2012. It may not be easy and President Obama will have to step up, show more leadership and courage and confront the republicans and expose them for what they are. Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy had the character and courage to do it and now it falls to Obama. Republican talking points can not change their dismal record for failing to create a sound economy and job creation when they had the opportunity to do so. It is time for them to get out of the way and give the American people a chance under Obama's leadership.
The naysayers were out in full force and jumped on the job numbers. However they overlooked the importance of the effect the earthquake in Japan and energy prices have on the job market. The congressional republicans position of opposing every thing coming out of the Obama administration still represents a great threat for making the economy and job market worse. Their position on raising the debt ceiling is still a greater threat and is in line with their record of presiding over weak economies and job creation of the past.
Although the present unemployment rate is unacceptable, past administrations have done worse, including the Reagan administration where unemployment was over 10% for ten straight months even though Reagan was not dealt the severe economic situation Obama was dealt.
In my judgement an unemployment rate closer to 7% than 8% can still be achieved by the end of 2012. It may not be easy and President Obama will have to step up, show more leadership and courage and confront the republicans and expose them for what they are. Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy had the character and courage to do it and now it falls to Obama. Republican talking points can not change their dismal record for failing to create a sound economy and job creation when they had the opportunity to do so. It is time for them to get out of the way and give the American people a chance under Obama's leadership.
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