As the discussions, or should I say campaign, transpiring in Washington over raising the debt ceiling reaches fever pitch, Barack Obama seems totally at ease demanding others solve the problem while he continues to point fingers not only at George W. Bush and all republicans, but also his own party. Either he is the most skilled politician, i.e. master of deception, to ever inhabit the oval office, or he actually believes he is the messiah and his words and actions are above reproach. The arrogant narcissism and absolute lack of humility is breathtaking. No wonder the left has transfixed upon him with worshipful adulation. He is the king of spin, the master of misinformation, the great accuser, looking straight into the eyes of the American people denying any culpability for the problem or responsibility to solve it. Great work if you can get it. Anyone for a game of golf.
During his Friday press conference he accused congress of running up the credit card. Well excuse me, but my high school civics teacher made clear that even though spending bills originate in congress they do not become law until signed by the president. His stimulus, even though written by democrats was pushed by him, as well as Obama Care. The stimulus blew up the deficit faster than any spending bill ever, and Obama Care, as implementation continues will have dire effects on the deficit, despite democrats fuzzy math and claims that it is paid for, by new taxes and cuts to medicare. It's notable that democrats passed legislation to cut medicare even though they continue to demagogue the Ryan plan. He also said that, "we cut taxes over the last decade without paying for them. We instituted new programs, like the prescription drug program for seniors without paying for it and fought two wars. We didn't pay for them." Of course we all know that when he said we, he meant George W. Bush.
Let's correct the record. The medicare part D that president Bush signed into law cost 60.8 billion in 2009, which is far less than the 111.2 billion it was projected to cost five years earlier. The program relied heavily on choice and private drug companies competing to bring costs down, which it did. Paul Ryan's medicare makeover proposes the same type of system. Competition always reduces costs. Obama Care closes the doughnut hole and takes away choice from medicare part D which will inevitably bring the cost up. Remember the stimulus was more than 787 billion, and all that money was borrowed. The cost of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars stand at 1.2 trillion right now. That's a lot of money, but that is over a ten year period, and Obama himself is responsible for the last two and a half years of spending, which included a surge in Afghanistan.
How about tax cuts? Let's see what they did to deficits. If you read the ten myths of the Bush tax cuts found at the Heritage Foundation, you'll see that the deficits were created by spending increases for the most part and only a small percentage from the tax cuts. Obama uses the term "tax cuts that were not paid for," but how about spending increases that were not paid for. Spending went up over 20% of GDP in 2006, and is now at 25% of GDP. Heritage says "the tax cuts played a significant role in the economy performing better than expected and recovering much of the lost revenue." Tax cuts always increase economic activity, while government spending sucks money out of the private sector. Which would you prefer.....A growing and vibrant private sector, or an ever increasing federal bureaucracy that smothers innovation and incentive?
Last, but not least Obama says, "80% of the American people support an approach that includes revenues..i.e. taxes, and includes cuts." For the life of me, I can't find that poll. He may be talking about a Gallop poll that asks the question: Congress can reduce the federal deficit by cutting spending, raising taxes, or a combination of the two. How would you prefer to see congress attempt to reduce the federal budget deficit..
Only with spending cuts...........................................20%
Mostly with spending cuts........................................30%
Equally with spending cuts and tax increases..........32%
Mostly with tax increases...........................................7%
Only with tax increases..............................................4%
Only/Mostly with spending cuts.................................50%
Only/Mostly with tax increases..................................11%
How he gets 80% want a balanced approach is beyond me. The question also presents a false narrative, because tax increases will slow economic growth, and a slowing economy always means less revenues. Obama has mastered the art of misinformation, and taken it to a new level, not yet seen in American politics
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Obama's recent presser was an example why he is ill equipped and has profound moral deficiencies that should disqualify anyone to be president of the greatest country on earth. The demagoguery was without question hypocritical at best. His lecturing about jet owners was especially disturbing when you consider it was his stimulus that enacted the private jet tax subsidy. He flies himself or wife and kids around the globe on extravagant vacations to Spain, England, and Africa, all paid for with taxpayer dollars. If he's going to attack subsidies, why not attack them all, green energy included. It's obvious his class warfare attack on the rich was a well polled attempt to create a narrative that republicans are protecting the rich while he cares for average Americans. It was never intended to be a serious attempt to reduce deficits. It was also an attack on capitalism itself which rewards success with some extravagances.
Of course a mind that feels free market principles are immoral, as he does, implies that rewarding them is also immoral. Extravagance should be limited to those who have risen up the ranks of public panhandling, that special someone who deceived a majority of Americans that he should be hypocrite in chief. He has always seen capitalism as this countries greatest evil, that should be reigned in and controlled by none other then himself. He doesn't understand basic economics, and why should he when he considers capitalism immoral. It's never been a point of education or investigation for him. Obama studying the workings of capitalism, is akin to the Amish studying computer science technology. It's not in his wheel house. That's why his entire administration is flush with academics that agree with his sense of economic justice.
Remember it was Obama who in April of 2009 flew in a pizza chef from St. Louis to the White House to make twenty pizzas for an informal pizza party for family, friends and staff. We also must not forget those Wednesday night White House parties with vodka martinis and 100 dollar a lb. imported Japanese steak. The likes of Stevey Wonder and Paul McCartney, to name a few, performed for Obama and his minions. These are very well spent taxpayer dollars. I remember the press going apoplectic when George W. Bush would vacation at his ranch in Crawford. Too much heat and bugs and Texas Accents. They love the Obama vacations in Hawaii, and Martha's Vineyard. It makes them feel worthy of their calling as this administrations lap dog. For they know the king's canines live better than most Americans
We all remember his lecturing of corporate America about private jet trips to Vegas, and then wondering why tourism was decimated in sin city. Of course his trips there on the public dole to fund raise for his majority leader, and his presidential run was acceptable because he is in a different league. He is royalty in his mind and rich capitalists are still the proletariat to him. He feels anyone that is willing to pay twenty to thirty five thousand dollars a plate to attend a fundraiser where he appears must understand the god-like nature of his persona. Therefore his ascendancy to the highest office on earth entitles him, and him alone to set the rules. Doesn't matter that the rules he's setting and his ignorance of free market principles are sliding our entire economy to the brink. His Delusions of Grandeur mindset make it almost impossible to about face, reverse course, or accept blame. Now that his blame Bush narrative has grown old, we are all sentenced to another 16 months of hearing that the rich are responsible for our economics troubles.
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Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin are friends and soul sisters. They are high profile examples of that ever increasing breed of attractive and conservative women. They seem not to fear the collateral damage of their carpet bombing attacks on the messiah and his policies. The establishment republicans would do well to learn from their ballsy intent to eviscerate this administration and put our country back on the right track of fiscal sanity and economic growth. Their attempt to reign in government and unleash the private sector is long over due. They are a threat to the decades old, "media created narrative," that women, and especially attractive and intelligent women, cannot and should not be conservative. That same narrative applies to all minorities. The media and the left, which are interchangeable, want us to believe that conservatives should be limited to aging white males.
Sarah Palin exploded onto the scene at the 2008 republican convention. She connected immediately with middle America and therefore was subsequently attacked by the left. Hoards of reporters were dispatched to the remote areas of our 49th state to dig up dirt through the frozen tundra to discredit her. This was an immense contrast to the free pass given to Barack Obama once it was known he was viable for the nomination of the democrat party. Bloggers fashioned lies about her, stooping to the most vile and despicable charges such as her baby Trig was her daughter's child. Her clothing and the amount that was paid for them was attacked. Why. Because she was a conservative woman. There was never a mention of the two thousand dollar suits that the Obama campaign supplied to the anointed in waiting, or the six thousand dollar pant suits that Hilary had specially made for her.
Well, we all know too well what transpired. The McCain Palin ticket lost and Sarah returned to Alaska to lead that state. But, the attacks continued relentlessly. Frivolous ethics charges were brought against her that made governance pretty much impossible. She resigned and headed to the lower forty eight where she immediately became a force that helped the republicans destroy the democrats in the 2010 elections. The attacks continued. You can always tell who the left fears the most by how viciously they attack them, but Sarah just kept on keeping on. The narrative was formed, that she was stupid, and unsophisticated, even though she seemed to flourish. The left's intentions were obvious. They wanted to so damage her credibility as to insure she wouldn't run for president. The media's "jump the shark" moment, was when they sent and solicited people to peruse over 30 thousands Palin emails that the state of Alaska had just released because of a freedom of information request. This is an absolutely perfect description of "Palin Derangement Syndrome." This blew up in their faces. The emails revealed a serious, and conscientious governor that cared for her state and her staff.
Now we have Michele Bachmann announcing for president and rising in the polls. This last Sunday Chris Wallace asked her if she was a flake. She immediately responded by saying "that is insulting, and I'm a serious person." Wallace then put out a video apology, and Bachmann didn't immediately accept it, and no one could blame her. Would Wallace have asked that of a conservative man? I think not. Chris Wallace is a fair minded interviewer, but you can see that even he had fallen into the media narrative that it is OK to attack a conservative woman. The good that came out of this incident is that he didn't get away with it. Could it be that all the unfair attacks on Sarah Palin are making it less likely that the media can have free reign with Michele Bachmann. If she were to be attacked to the same degree as Sarah has been their narrative would be exposed for all to see, and any media credibility that remains would be shattered.
I think the arrows that Sarah has courageously taken now pave the way for a conservative woman to make a serious run for the White House, without being maliciously attacked at every turn. She is the forerunner of all that come behind her, and they all owe her a debt of gratitude. Her strength of character to not curl up in the fetal position in a far away Alaskan town, but rather keep marching onward is inspirational to us all. How many men could have persevered through what she has gone through? Whether or not she decides to make a run herself for the presidency is irrelevant to what she has already accomplished. She is the Susan B. Anthony of this generation and all conservative women. She jumped on an enormous earth mover and blazed a trail that all that follow will benefit from, especially Michele Bachmann.
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Barack Obama continues to lean sharply left when given the choice between job creation and politics. With the country fearing a double dip recession due to high energy costs, stagnant growth, and continued high unemployment, his ideology will not allow him to bend for the good of the country. It seemed after the 2010 midterm smack down, he was willing to compromise when he agreed to extend the Bush tax rates for high income earners for the next two years. But, since then he's stated he will not agree to an extension beyond that, and he and his cohorts are ratcheting up the class warfare rhetoric leading up to 2012. It's enlightening that his ideological rigidity might be his ultimate undoing. Is he so out of touch with everyday Americans that he can't see beyond his progressive utopia to the pain his policies are inflicting? He relishes the role of a professorial lecturer enlightening the masses of their stone age dependence on fossil fuels. He theorizes of a green energy tomorrow while doing all he can to inflict enough pain through high energy costs today, to allow the uncompetitive and well subsidized green world to blossom. It's evident green energy jobs cannot survive without huge government subsidies which American taxpayers are loathe to continue.
In January 2008, Obama told the San Fransisco Chronicle, "Under my cap and trade system electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Businesses would have to retrofit their operations. They will pass that cost unto consumers." Well, since cap and trade wasn't passed while the democrats held huge majorities his first two years, he's decided to empower the EPA to do what he couldn't do through legislation. In January of 2011 the Obama administration, for the first time ever, blocked an already approved bid to build one of the largest mountaintop removal coal mines in Appalachian history. Two new EPA pollution regulations will slam the coal industry so hard that hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost and electricity rates could skyrocket to over 23% according to a new study based on government data. He also said in 2008, "If someone wants to build a coal power plant, they can. It's just that it will bankrupt them." That would be the ultimate result of Obama's idea of a cap and trade bill.
After the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico the administration put a moratorium on all deep water drilling, and even though the moratorium was lifted a de facto moratorium still exists. The interior departments decision to issue only a handful of permits has driven many rigs to Brazil, Cuba and Mexico, while the Gulf states have lost thousand of good paying oil industry and other ancillary jobs. Remember Obama promised to help the government of Brazil with it's offshore drilling on his March Latin American trip. He then said, "And when you're ready to start selling, we want to be one of your best customers." So much for energy independence, and job creation for hurting Americans. Even though he's given lip service to expanded drilling because of the political hit he's taking, he still has the Pacific Coast, Atlantic Coast, and the Eastern Gulf off limits to future energy production. A good portion of Alaska's Outer Continental Shelf is being kept under lock and key. According to the American Energy Alliance, expanding drilling in the OCS could create 1.2 million jobs nation wide and generate 8 trillion in economic output. The same narrative exists for further onshore production of both oil and natural gas which this administration is resisting.
Probably the most political move this administration has taken recently is the decision by the NLRB, "National Labor Relations Board," to sue Boeing over their decision to build a production plant in South Carolina for their new 787 Dreamliner. South Carolina is a conservative right to work state while Washington state, site of Boeings main product line is a very democrat union state. Boeing had gone ahead with the plant that would employ thousands with the understanding that the NLRB would not get involved. No jobs were taken from the state of Washington, and in reality two thousand jobs were added there for the production of the 787. If this lawsuit were to achieve, a chilling effect would be felt by all businesses considering relocation to increase competitiveness and expansion.
Preferring union interest over the interests of the country at large is not new for Obama. During the auto bankruptcies early in his administration, Obama took from the first in line preferred creditors to give to the United Auto workers which would not have happened in an ordinary bankruptcy. He has talked of increasing exports, a sure way to boost employment, but is sitting on three trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. These agreements were negotiated by the Bush administration, but of course opposed by unions. He is cynically demanding more taxpayer money be given to workers displaced by foreign competition through a Trade Adjustment Assistance expansion as a condition of these agreements. By doing this he will attempt to make the GOP look uncaring and fault them for the hold up, when it's obvious this is another payback to unions that give almost exclusively to the democrat party.
It's undisputed that Obama's political arm, "Organizing For America" was behind much of the union protests in Wisconsin early this year. The protests were in response to new GOP majorities attempt to reign in state employees collective bargaining rights through the leadership of GOP governor Scott Walker. The GOP has succeeded now that the state supreme court has ruled in favor of the new law. Had the law failed thousands of state workers would have been laid off to fill huge budget shortfalls. Apparently Obama was more concerned for the welfare of union bosses so he could grease the skids of campaign cash rather than those targeted for lay off. It is evident beyond a shadow of doubt that this administration is hurting economic growth and job creation because of ideological purity and subservience to political allies. You'd think the 2012 presidential election would be a cake walk for any republican that could articulate this. Only time will tell if a Reagan-esque figure will emerge.
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It's becoming increasingly clear how Obama intends to attack the 2012 campaign. His intentions are not honorable or befitting a sitting president. Of course he will attempt to distract the public from his huge deficits, 9% unemployment, $4.00 a gallon gasoline, and diminishing home values. The U.S. debt has grown roughly 3.7 trillion dollars in his less then three and a half years as spender in chief. The unemployment rate, which he promised wouldn't reach 8% if the stimulus was passed, is back at 9% and that stimulus bill added a trillion to the debt if you consider interest on the original 787 billion. His health care bill continues to be unpopular to the point that the latest Rasmussen poll shows 57% favor repeal while 36% do not. The media is in full "watch his back mode," as they continue to spread a narrative of a "tough on terrorist, tall dark and handsome Hollywood heart throb, that has saved our economy from depression, and is a winning the future president." As Sarah Palin once said, " Winning The Future is nothing more than a big WTF." The future looks more like generations in serfdom, saddled with higher taxes and diminished standard of living as the bill comes due for the messiah's lavish shopping spree.
He recently attempted to demagogue immigration reform on a visit to Texas, accusing republicans of wanting an alligator infested mote across our southern border. He knows immigration reform cannot pass now, but is attempting to shore up his Latino base which has shrunk recently. He will stop at no euphemism to paint his opponents as racists who use border enforcement to keep brown down. Maybe he should borrow UPS's motto, and just come out and say, "what can brown do for you if only we granted them amnesty." The problem is, he has alienated many conservative Latinos because of his recent decision to not defend the "Defense Of Marriage Act."
He invited Paul Ryan to a front row seat while accusing his recent budget of leaving autistic and Down syndrome children to fend for themselves, and hastening grandma and grandpa's death by attempting to save medicare. It's obvious where all this is going. Shouts of racism, scaring the elderly and handicapped, and painting republicans of diabolical intentions with the phrase "draconian cuts." All this is an attempt to distract from a far less then stellar economic plan that has increased government and shrunk the private sector. In his Saturday radio address he tried to walk back a bit his energy policy by giving overtures of more drilling and exploration, while also demonizing the oil companies for record profits. He understands that the American peoples disgust with gas prices is a huge negative for him, so he hopes lip service will help while not alienating his environmental left. This is evidence that his reelection is foremost on his mind, because he has always touted high energy cost as a necessary element to bring about his goal of restricting Americans mobility and increasing their dependence on mass transit and ultimately government.
Will the republicans take the bait and walk back their attempts to cut Washington's power by sticking to their promises of entitlement reform and budget cutting? Nobody knows for sure. They could easily take back the senate and the presidency by simply putting forth the numbers, and show the public where all that leads. The reality is stark, and somebody has to sound the alarm, that the present trajectory is unsustainable. It sadly appears that the 2012 elections will be won by the party that can scare the American people the most. It is also ironic the the republican party will be arguing for the sake of the collective, and the country as a whole. The democrats will try to scare certain voting blocks. There is another alternative out there somewhere. Can a candidate come forth with a pro growth, positive agenda that inspires us in American exceptionalism rather than scaring the living daylights out of us. As of yet, that candidate has not emerged. Is there another Ronald Reagan in the wings?
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Obama spoke today at Georgetown University about energy policy and rising gasoline prices. Once again he showed arrogance and condescension as he dismissed calls for more oil exploration as an unrealistic fix to the problem. He mentioned $4 gasoline prices during the 2008 elections and ridiculed the slogans like, "drill baby drill," dismissing them as election year sloganeering. His new goal is to cut our oil imports by one third over the next decade. Apparently he then intends to drill baby drill. That would mean opening up ANWR, and start approving leases for the Gulf Coast as well as the East and West Coast for off shore drilling. Maybe he should loosen regulation for American companies instead of supporting Brazilian exploration. Obviously that is not his intention. Apparently he thinks the green route and conservation is going to accomplish that. Rising gasoline prices seem to be in his wheel house for lessening dependence and encouraging alternatives. In reality all that will do is put the brakes on an economy that is dependent on affordable energy. Alternatives are no where near any type of sustainable level that would even make a dent in our energy needs. Natural gas is the closest example of a transitional cleaner burning fuel that could power our vehicles, and he's blocking exploration and extraction of it right here in America. He's right about one thing. You can drop our importation of oil by one third over ten years without loosening regulation and drilling, but he'll bankrupt many with oil driven inflation and our economy may shrink to the level of many third world countries.
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Has there ever been a president so in control, that he can be totally disengaged? Maybe his strategy is, "I'm not worried, Why should you be." Let's consider the peril. The budget battle continues as government nears another shutdown on Friday if congress doesn't pass another short term continuing resolution. The deficit could reach 1.6 trillion dollars this year. But, remember he told us not too long ago that China is becoming an economic powerhouse. Therefore they'll be able to buy more of our debt. Oil and gas prices are accelerating at break neck speed. Don't worry, it's all part of his plan. Libya is in chaos, and Japan is in crisis. Wisconsin republicans are receiving death threats, and the union thugs continue to attack the capital in Madison. All par for the course for a community organizer. What is our illustrative leader doing? Well, he played golf this weekend for the second week in a row, and I'm wondering if he's hit par for that course yet. His 61st round since becoming president. It takes time and dedication to improve your golf game. He still must be having trouble slicing left.
Saturday he spent the whole of his weekly radio address talking about, "March is Women's History month." The Japanese quake and ensuing tsunami weren't even mentioned. But, in fairness, and isn't that what womens history month is all about...fairness, he probably recorded it ahead of time to make room for golf on the weekend. Last week he addressed a White House conference on the need to stop bullying in schools. He reminded folks that he got bullied because of his big ears, and name. Apparently those big ears help him fly above the chaos and turmoil that the country is facing. And, to top it all off, he's filling out his NCAA basketball bracket today to be released tomorrow on ESPN. Don't forget about the women's bracket. It is Women's History Month. Will he pick Duke this time around? The suspense is killing me.
It gives all Americans such comfort to know that he has everything under control. Engage. Why engage? He knows that if he gets involved it signals there must be a problem and that he's worried. Should he be leading? He is leading by example. If we all just relax and enjoy life, everything will fall into place. Work, why work? He worked leading up to his inauguration, or incarnation, or whatever you want to call it. And, since many consider him the messiah he considers his presidency the seventh day, and we all know what God did on the seventh day. Work is the curse of the proletariat. Intellectual elites don't work. God forbid. Do elitists believe in God? They may believe in elected gods. These are all good questions, but seriously, elites don't work. They are, because they think, and he's thinking right now... "do I pick Duke or do I go with Ohio State." Hmmm, Ohio is a very critical state for next years election. He's probably thinking..."Go Buckeyes."
check out my other blog........Con-Men 4 Palin
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