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Subscribe to RSSRALEIGH, NC -- What's a folksy, blue-collar pitch from a Midwestern pol without a good beer analogy?
Appearing at a GOP Victory office opening in swing state North Carolina, Tim Pawlenty on Saturday compared the President Barack Obama's lofty rhetoric of hope and change to the unsatisfying byproduct of a poor-quality keg of an adult beverage.
"We got a problem because we've got a president who's all foam and no beer," declared the former Minnesota governor and top GOP VP pick.
The crowd of about 300 supporters roared.
"I don't know about you but I'm tired of hearing these teleprompter speeches and no results!" he said. "You know his big fancy speeches from four years ago; those speeches, those words don't put gas in our cars do they? And his teleprompter speeches don't pay the mortgage do they?"
Pawlenty, who hours before had talked policy details at a roundtable and given young hockey fans tips on the skating rink, was visibly energized and almost raspy-voiced as he berated the president on behalf of the presumptive GOP nominee, who remains abroad this weekend.
Mitt Romney, a Mormon, does not drink alcohol
"We need to grow this economy and quit kicking our entrepreneurs and small business leaders like President Obama does in the shins every day," he said.
Numerous vice presidential prospects, including Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and Gov. Bobby Jindalof Louisiana, are stumping for Romney over the coming days. Pawlenty told reporters after his Raleigh appearance that he doesn't see this weekend as an audition for the job.
"I've been out doing this sort of thing since last fall and I get a call once in a while from the campaign saying, 'hey, do you have any free time next week to go be a surrogate?' " he said. "This is consistent with that pattern so it's really no different than what I've been doing for the campaign since last fall."
He declined to speak further about the vetting process, joking that he's been busy around the house.
"I've been taking care of yard work, doing my other work, trying to deal with family matters," he said.
"And trying to get the garage cleaned up. My garage is a mess."
Earlier: Pawlenty calls officials' thumbs down on Chick-Fil-A 'chilling, jaw-dropping'
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Ha ha, Pawlenty's little Freudian slip. With his santorum problem he must have foam on the brain.
Does this make Willard more fermented?
194 of President Obama's Accomplishments! With Citations!
Let's talk about President Obama...
If you're one of those people who thinks President Obama is a "disappointment," condolences for not getting your unicorn. And it's time to grow up, get over it. We have four months to go before an election that will feature more political ads than you have ever seen before in your life. We're not just having to beat Willard Romney; we also have to beat Citizens United. There will be TWO choices for president. You can either work for Obama and every other Democrat (yes, including Blue Dogs), or you can sit back and watch Willard Romney complete the job of taking apart the social fabric of the country that was begun by Ronald Reagan.
What makes the "disappointment" argument even more irritating is that it's simply not true. He's done nearly everything we elect a president to do, and he dd it all with little support from the left, and massive obstruction from the right. .
Is he perfect? No, he's human. Does he deserve some criticism? At this point, it really doesn't matter.
What does matter is that this president has compiled a STELLAR record. If you can look at this list of the president's accomplishments after three years, and not be excited, you have a serious problem with perspective.
Pass this list around to everyone you know. And don't be afraid; unlike many such lists, every item includes a link to a citation supporting it.
He Returned The Executive Branch To Fiscal Responsibility After the Bush Debacle
1. Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse.
2. Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money.
3. On his first full day, he froze White House salaries.
4. He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending.
5. He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems. To that end, he also signed the Democratic-sponsored Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which attempted to put a stop to waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system.
6. Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
He Improved the Economy, Preventing a Bush Depression
7. Pushed through and signed the Democratic-sponsored American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package.” The bill passed, even though only three Republicans voted for it. In a major departure from the previous administration, he launched recovery.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to track spending from the Act.
8. The Bush-led Great Recession was costing the economy nearly 800,000 jobs per month by the time President Obama took office. But by the end of his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economyby 3.5%.
9. Not only did he completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, he also leaned on the banks and others, and recovered virtually all of the bail-out money.
10. He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan.
11. Oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years.
12. Along with Democrats, and almost no Republicans, implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest. This resulted in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world. Willard Romney, on the other hand, advocated for the entire industry to go belly-up.
13. Doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency.
14. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system, and create a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown.
15. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices.
16. Increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect.
17. Signed the Democratic-sponsored and passed Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market.
18. Through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery.
19. Initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses.
20. Created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.)
21. Played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis.
22. Took steps to improve minority access to capital.
23. Signed an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to review all federal regulations and remove any unnecessary and/or burdensome regulations from the books.
24. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost.
25. Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government.
26. Along with Congressional Democrats, provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession.
27. Used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan.
28. Crafted an Executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans.
He Fostered Greater Transparency and Better Government, After the Excesses of the Bush Years
29. Signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch.
30. Signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years, and put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House.
31. Held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public.
32. Became the first to stream every White House event, live.
33. Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities.
34. Provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history.
35. Issued an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. Provides the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them.
36. Improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent when processing FOIA requests.
Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection
37. Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money.
38. Along with Congressional Democrats, pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression.
39. Through Dodd-Frank legislation, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
40. Through Dodd-Frank, the Executive Branch fashioned rules that reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market.
41. Fashioned rules so that banks can no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers' interests.
42. Supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation.
43. Endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes.
44. Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks that now permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders.
45. Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which closed many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore.
46. Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses.
47. Oversaw and then signed a Democratic bill constituting the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression.
48. Through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, extended the False Claims Act to combat fraud by companies and individuals usingmoney from the TARP and Stimulus programs.
He Ushered Through Many Changes That Enhanced Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination
49. Along with Congressional Democrats, advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.
50. Pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie in order to be eligible to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping.
51. Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
52. Appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history.
53. Appointed first openly transgender Cabinet Official in History.
54. Changed HUD rules to prohibit gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in housing bit.ly/9RxEnP
55. Changed his mind and publicly expressed support for the right to enter into a same-sex marriage.
56. Issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other.
57. Wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families.
58. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill.
59. Expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act.
60. Under his guidance, National Labor Relations Board issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees' rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including websites and intranets, beginning November 2011.
61. Advocated that United Nations adopt a policy supporting gay rights worldwide.
62. Issued an order requiring hospitals to allow visitation by same-sex couples. reut.rs/llNJek
63. Appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy.
64. Helped Democrats in Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act.
He Made Major Improvements in Foreign Relations and American Status Around the World
65. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office.
66. As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration.
67. Helped to restore America's reputation around the world as a global leader that does the "right thing" in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the world.
68. Re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues.
69. Closed a number of secret detention facilities.
70. Improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys.
71. Pushed for military to emphasize devlopment of foreign language skills.
72. Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence.
73. Refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program, and thus avoid another war that Republicans wanted.
74. Worked with Democratic Congress to make donations to Haiti tax deductible in 2009.
75. Established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
76. Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia.
77. Established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them.
78. Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and, unfortunately, progressive Democrats) who prevented follow through.
79. Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called "enhanced interrogation." He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual.
80. Ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed.
81. Released the Bush torture memos.
82. On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention.
83. In response to the emerging "Arab Spring," he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them.
84. Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war, and to encourage Iran to give up their nuclear program.
85. Ended the Iraq War.
86. Authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates.
He Took a More Realistic Approach to “Defense”
87. Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat.
88. Authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010.
89. Restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush.
90. Signed and pushed through ratification a new SALT Treaty.
91. Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will lst until at least 2021.
92. Through the Defense Authorization Act, reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq.
93. Developed first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
94. Returned our focus to Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing our troops from the country.
95. Negotiated a deal with Afghan govenment, to withdraw troops and military support, while assisting in rebuilding and modernizing of the country.
96. Took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world.
97. Negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India.
98. Took decisive action to use NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that the Libyan people could topple a despotic government and determine their own fate.
His Administration Treated Soldiers and Veterans with Respect That Was Missing Previously
99. Along with Congressional Democrats, not only reauthorized families of fallen soldiers to be able to visit when the body arrives at Dover AFB, but also provided funding for it. Ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers.
100. Funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services.
101. Provided active combat troops with better body armor.
102. Created Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care.
103. Put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. (personal note: my son will be in harm’s way for six fewer months with Obama as president, so you know I love this one.)
104. Along with Congressional Democrats, supported and signed Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans.
105. Along with Congressional Democrats, ushered through largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, with money to go to improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities.
106. Created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs.
107. Initiated and signed a recruitment and employment plan to get more veterans into government jobs.
108. Oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals.
109. Signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, which ensures that spouses of military personnel who are forced to move because their spouse is posted for military duty will be able to avoid state taxes in their temporary residence.
He Refocused the Federal Government on Education
110. Repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process.
111. Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate.
112. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.
113. Created the Race to the Top program, which encouraged states to come up with effective school reforms and rewards the best of them.
114. Oversaw major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide ,
115. Oversaw major expansion in school construction.
116. Also through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start.
117. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0
118. Oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low income students to go to college.
119. Along with Democratic Congress, passed and signed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds.
He Pushed Through Improvements in National Safety and Security
120. Restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully.
121. Authorized Navy SEALS to successfully secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates and increased patrols off the Somali coast.
122. Has repeatedly beefed up border security
123. Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
Science, Technology and Health Care
124. Created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making.
125. Opened up process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects.
126. Eliminated Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, and provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research.
127. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs.
128. Signed Democratic-sponsored Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis.
129. Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers.
130. Obama EPA reveresed research ethics standards which allowed humands to be used as "guinea pigs" in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics.
131. Conducted a cyberspace policy review.
132. Provided financial support for private sector space programs.
133. Oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use.
134. Along with Democrats in Congress, ushered through and signed a bill authorizing FDA to regulate tobacco. As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.”
135. Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs.
136. Increased funding for community-based prevention programs.
137. Oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors.
138. Eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price.
139. Two weeks after taking office, signed Democratic-sponsored Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million.
140. Urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Democratic Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put increase on hold for two months.
141. Ushered through and signed Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to at least 30 million more people, ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established healthcare.gov, so that taxpayers could keep up with developments.
142. Through ACA, allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26.
143. Through the ACA, provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance.
144. Through the ACA, expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level.
145. Through the ACA, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care.
146. Provisions in theACAhave already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The increase in 2011 was 4%, which is very low compared to the average 12% annual inflation rate during previous 40 years.
He Took Steps to Strengthen the Middle Class and Families, and to Fight Poverty
147. Worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families.
148. Cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor.
149. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , cut taxes for 95% of America's working families.
150. Tax rates for average working families are the lowest since 1950.
151. Extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years.
152. Extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s extended unemployment benefits several times.
153. Provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps).
154. Signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs.
He Took Concrete Steps to Improve Our Environment and Address Our Energy Needs
155. Fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact fuel efficiency standards that exceeded federal standards.
156. Fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade.
157. Oversaw establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, to create more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies.
158. Obama EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history.
159. Ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances.
160. Ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. (As you can see, Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)
161. Oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers.
162. Bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions.
163. Obama EPA ruled that CO2 is a pollutant.
164. Oversaw doubling federal spending on clean energy research.
165. Pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars.
166. Created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents.
167. Reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush era stance that climate change was a “hoax.”
168. Fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide.
169. Required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption.
170. Following the neglect of Bush’s eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic.
171. Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars.
172. Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles.
173. Oversaw and pushed through amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
174. Actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills.
175. Initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
176. Through his EPA, he asserted federal legal supremacy, and barred Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own.
177. Strengthened the Endangered Species Act.
178. Obama EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year.
179. Through the EPA, attemped to take steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans.
180. Increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10%
181. Announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards.
182. Announced a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg in 2010 to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025
But That's Not All...
183. Expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA.
184. Oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations.
185. Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.
186. Nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices.
187. Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president.
188. Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule.
189. Loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference.
190. Signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program.
191. Signed an Executive Order that will speed up deployment of a more comprehensive broadband infrastructure.
192. Signed an Executive Order creating jobs immediately by instructing them to reduce the time needed for review and permitting of infrastructure projects.
193. Signed a bill that provided $4.3 billion in additional assistance to 9/11 first reponders.
And Did You Know?
194. Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%.
Reblog (9) |
DemElizabeth...
Great post of facts but expect the hate to come your way. From personal experience, I have found that every time I posted anything more than about 3 paragraphs, the repukes slammed me for giving them too much to think about.
They usually let me know that in one sentence.
Their attention span isn't the best. Fight the good fight... Peace.
Oh YEAH! Well Dubya set the record for vacation days in office!!!!
...and you forgot his Nobel Peace Prize....
great leader did all that and accomplished..
nada..
no jobs..
downgraded economy..
added 6 trillion to the national debt..
associates with communists..
romney/pawlenty 2012
Jobs have increased for 18 straight months.
Excuse me luke while I laugh at your idiotic comment. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
Hey Dem eliz....Bet if someone asked you to list 10 Hussein accomplishments, you could not name 3. Use your own material.
2012 Employment Statistics
June:The economy added 80,000 jobs, better than May but below expectations.
May:Job gains dropped to 65,000, spooking investors and sending the Dow down 275 points.
April: The headlines read only 115,000 jobs were created, but behind the scenes were some major winners.
March: Why the 120,000 job gain was disappointing.
February: 227,000 jobs were created in February, all due to business growth.
January: The economy created 243,000 jobs, primarily in professional and business services, hospitality, and manufacturing.
2011 Employment Statistics
December: A welcome 200,000 jobs were added in December.
November: Strong retail sales helped boost jobs by 120,000.
October: Another 90,000 jobs were added.
September: Although 103,000 jobs were added, many more were needed.
August: Astonishingly, absolutely no jobs were created, giving urgency to Obama's jobs speech the following week.
July:An amazing 117,000 jobs were added, but the Dow dropped 400 points anyway.
June: Even though only 18,000 jobs were added, it's too soon to panic.
May: Only 54,000 new jobs were added.
April: Mixed news -- 244,000 new jobs were added.
March: A strong jobs report with a welcome 216,000 new jobs added.
February: The economy added 192,000 new jobs.
January: The January Jobs Report was confusing. If the economy only added 36,000 new jobs, why did unemployment drop?
2010 Employment Statistics
December: Although 103,000 jobs were added, the December jobs report was a mixture of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
November: There were 39,000 jobs added in November, creating 842,000 more jobs than the year before.
October: The economy gained 151,000 in October, and 829,000 jobs over the year before.
September: The economy gained 334,000 jobs over the year before.
August: The economy gained 229,000 jobs over the year before - the first time in 26 months.
Still laughing Tony?
Tony?
Anybody seen Tony?
Gonna miss that Tony.........he had a warped sense of humor....
these are accomplishments?.....wow...you libs are totally loony.....
After Dubya? yes.....these are accomplishments........keep laughing teatards.........
Dubya also holds the record for most BBQ ribs eaten while in the Oral Office. He also has the best record of not getting any blowjobs either, cause he has no dick.
I read post here that I just have to respond to. The statement was made that politicians raided the SS fund to build dams and highways. Who ever thinks this has to go to the back of the room and stay there until you take you ear muffs off and listen to what is being discussed in class.
Point being that if you took any history classes in grade school you would of learned that most dams and highways were built with LOANS that are being paid back with interest. Also, before they were approved any proposal had to meet at least a 1 to 1 economic benefit analysis.
Dumbing of America continues.
Ed, I think the dumbing of the America population began a long time ago. Now they're getting a wake up call. Time to bite the bullet and get with the programme. Nothing is exceptionable about America anymore. The world is flat, in case you haven't noticed. America has to dump the military complex and world domination or become extinct. Look at the history of Republics(Empires). Google it.
.
Teatard logic driven by hate....fueled by alcohol.....
luke, teatards and logic don't mix, that's obvious. Is that what they discuss at your AA meetings or perhaps you should fill in the blanks.
Pawlenty is plain with no brain. He and Romney together would be called bore and snore.
Beats the hell out of whatcha hidin and Biden! hahahahahahahahahahahaha
The only time people listen to Obama is when he breaks wind! Otherwise..............all foam-no beer.
TD, Perhaps you prefer a 'frothy' Santorum to a real mans drink.
Ever notice all American beer turns to foam as soon as it hits your mouth.
Pawlenty's analogy should give teatard Joe Sixpack a boner.....
Luke, I get, maybe Pawlenty's anology gives TopDrum a boner.
Pres. Eisenhower played over 900 games during his tenure...and people said "I like Ike!". Obama's 88 games puts him down the list from the Bushes and Clinton.
Pretty lame accusation...maybe you could characterize his agency bosses as "czars" to make him sound communist, or fascist or something equally unappealing.
Oh wait!..that was actually the very first thing you guys did!! I bet you got these ideas from little bullies and cowards like those that hang out on school buses.
300 people. That says it all. How many were paid campaign workers?
Pawlenty's beer metaphor is inappropriate, considering Willard is a Mormon who doesn't drink alcololic beverages.
The fact remains Willard has taken conflicting positions on virtually every issue.
Yeah and Romney is all talk, and no action!
Leave the president alone, hes focused on the economy,foodstamps ,increasing the poverty level and another stimulus.....whatta joke!
Sounds like you're focused on yourself, And the opinions of Faux News.!!
I would ask that all readers think VERY hard before they cast their vote on Nov. 6th!!
1) What is it that is so VERY important to Republicans that they would have their last 3 presidents sign TWENTY deficit riddled budgets and adding over $11T to the national debt?? Obviously, this wasnt accidental. Nor was their leaving to Pres. Obama a $1.3T deficit that still continues. What could possibly be so important for Republicans to endanger the national security of the United States, its financial stability and its economic future that they would deliberately create a debt crisis??
2) What could be so important for Republicans and their supporters that they would construct a billion dollar per year propaganda machine like Fox News, "conservative" talk radio, and other media?? That is a HUGE amount of money to spend on what is essentially political propaganda, meant to persuade the public of the importance of their cause. We've seen this before, in other country, in other ages. In NO CASE has the outcome been good for the country and its people!
3) What could be so important to Republicans that they would meet secretly, as outlined in Robert Draper's book: "Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives.", and plan various way to oppose everything Pres. Obama and the Democrats would propose at they very HEIGHT of the greatest economic crisis since 1929! Political plans are one thing, but to deliberately undermine the nation's economic recovery, from a recession that happened under THEIR watch, which made so many millions of people and families people suffer from jobs losses, housing losses, retirement savings losses and all the things that happened due to the recession. Somehow, it's vaguely unpatriotic, perhaps treasonous, to deliberately undermine the very foundations of this country and it's government. What is their goal???
I dont have an answer; I dont know. Whatever it is cant be good for the country that Republicans would walk so fine a line on the edge of the collapse of the United States. Based on what kind of legislation they passed, and to whom it was targeted, it CANT been good for the majority of American or this great country!
What would cause the Republican party to go to such EXTREMES???????
Think about is, and try for an answer BEFORE you vote. Most Americans hope and pray for the survival of these United States as we know them. There is NO DOUBT that they are in danger.
Romney will win NH.
Doesnt look like it. The people here cant STAND the teabaggers that took over the state government. We have a SEVERE case of buyers' remorse with the GOP!
I just love it when these bozos stoop to trying to appeal to bubba on his level. They look like the fools that they are.
No substance? Instead of Romneycare instructing his stand-in to start talking EXACTLY how he is going to fix all of our problems, he just insults the President?
That's Romneycare's idea of substance.
blah blah blah - same tired old BS from the left. We need to remove you morons from the Country.
Obama should select Mayor Bloomberg as VP they would make a perfect pair of Nanny's
Yes, Bloomberg could make sure no one drinks sugary soda while Obama makes sure more people get food stamps. Now here's their dilemma... how would these two geniuses be sure that people aren't buying soda while on food stamps?
"We got a problem because we've got a president who's all foam and no beer," declared the former Minnesota governor and top GOP VP pick.
Mr. Pawlenty is entitled to his opinion just as I am entitled to mine. To compare Pawlenty in reference to his comment, He is like the gas being expelled from drinking said beer foam. Full of hot air and no one can stand the smell.
No foam and no beer.
Just vote the jackwagon out. Worst Prez in modern history.
"All foam and no beer." Now there's a metaphor the average moron in this country will understand.
I've got one: The GOP is all penis with no Viagra.
In the 70 years preceding FD Roosevelt, there were 17 recessions and 3 depressions. In the 70 years following FDR, there were 11 recessions and 0 depressions.
Also, the Great Depression was preceded by 3 republican administrations and the Great Recession by 2.
President Obama is cleaning up an unprecedented mess left by a sock-puppet similar to Romney. Not only did Dubya leave the economy near the brink of total collapse, he has drained the treasury and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of innocent people dying in fabricated wars designed to control oil.
President Obama has a vision, a vision only partially fulfilled, because an obstructionist opposition party. By misusing the fillibuster, Republicans have managed to accomplish almost nothing during the last 4 years. If your partner cheats, how can anyone ever win a game? Republicans have acted like puting toddlers, simply saying NO, even to ideas they themselves initiated and once fully supported.
Despite all of this ignorant and deliberate obstruction, Obama accomplished great things.
Osama bin Laden has been wiped off the face of this earth.
DOMA has ended and the move has been lauded a great advance toward inclusiveness in the armeed forces.
Gay Marriage equality is no longer opposed by the US Justice department, which means any discriminatory laws dividing Americans on the basis of sexual orientation are no longer supported by the federal governement. Haters are on their own now, and they are fighting a losing game.
Any foreign wars are fought as a last resort, with diplomacy, sanctions and targeted drone strikes replacing bloody and destructive warfare (the latter still preferred by Republicans, for reasons unexplained).
Imigration Reform is underway, but to support the Dream Act is a good first step. Republicans once supported this, but now that PObama agrees, they suddenly don't. Obama took executive action by halting the senseless waste of resources used to deport law abiding, productive undocumented young people who are in this country through no doing of their own.
Taxes need to be adjusted so the very rich have a greater share in the sacrifices, while giving some relief to those truly struggling. The only ubjection comes from Republican law makers, not the American People!
Banks and their thieving tactics need regularion, which Repubicans simply disagree with (again, without any common sense to back them up).
Where does Romney come in on any of the above? What is his plan? Will he tell us? He won't even share his tax returns, a "report card" for his great work as a business man. If that's his trump card, he'has something up his sleeve, because he's not a fair player.
President Obama is a genuinely decent man of action. Romney is a profoundly flawed puppet with neither a spine nor a soul.
YOUR turn! (THIS ought'a be GOOD!)
Government welfare programs are created to buy the
votes of those who want someone to take care of them?
Work for it or do without. Is this good enought?
vinyl, clean up the mess, you say. More like making the mess a permanent disaster,
Here are the specifics on the Obama economic plan to go along with his big government as the center of the universe agenda.
Straight from Mr. Obama's fourth proposed budget. Here is the debt he is proposing to foist on US, our kids and grandchildren:
Table S–15. Federal Government Financing and Debt—Continued(Dollars amounts in billions)Actual 2011 Estimate 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020021 2022
Debt Outstanding, End of Year: Gross Federal debt:Debt issued by Treasury .................................................... 14,737 16,323 17,520 18,471 19,398 20,363 21,298 22,218 23,125 24,051 24,984 25,918
Debt issued by other agencies ........................................... 27 28 28 29 29 28 28 27 27 26 24 22 Total,
gross Federal debt .............................................. 14,764 16,351 17,548 18,500 19,427 20,392 21,326 22,245 23,152 24,077 25,008 25,940
Almost $26 Trillion in debt at 75% of GDP proposed /projected by Mr. Obama. UNSUSTAINABLE! And we all know that in actual practice it will turn out to be a lot higher if Obama is returned to office. And on July 16, on Morning Joe, Mr. Obama's spokesperson, Rep. Jim Clyburn(D), admitted that the Obama plan necessarily will require middle class tax hikes in the years going forward after the election, in order to pay for the deficit spending and debt laden Obama plan. Which is why Mr. Obama is only proposing a ONE YEAR extension of the current middle class tax rates.
And please, when you see Mr. Obama on the campaign trail, ask him how much yearly revenue he perceives his proposed tax hike on those making over $200,000.00/$250,000.00 per couple (projected to raise $60 to 70 billion)will raise, and how that will even come close to his proposed $1.3 Trillion per year in deficit spending and debt building.
Too bad Mr. Obama can't discuss his budget plan with the American people. He knows it will be rejected, so he is busy playing with smoke and mirrors and giving meaningless rhetorical speeches in the hopes of duping voters once again.
END IT IN NOV.,VOTE ROMNEY
wow still blaming bush....how pathetic...
Exactly Vinyl45s !!
Hey KingK got all that info from faux, beck and limbaugh? Better watch out with all the lies they tell. Keep your head up their butts, I see you are really learning alot from the inside out.
Let us look at Barrys first term..he is an abyssmal failure..okay,im done..wasnt that nice and easy?...i understand racegirl is going to share some pix of Barrys colon for us soon....and you told us you were only a leg hugger...
racegirl
As I stated in my post, the figures presented are directly from Mr. Obama's fourth proposed budget. Try to educate yourself about the individuals you support. You don't need Limbaugh or Beck to point fingers at, they had nothing to do with putting together Mr. Obama's proposed budget. Are you that much in denial that you can't even acknowledge the contents of Mr. Obama's own budget? What a sad commentary on the Obama supporters that, when they see his own budget ,they claim it was something that was made up. Very sad. Please take off the bilnd fodls and do some reading before you vote next time.
BTW, thanks for confirming that even a die hard Obama supporter, like yourself, can't agree with Mr. Obama's proposed budget.
Trying to debate with Obama voters is like trying to pick up a turd by its clean end.
Democrats do not see any advantage whatsoever in debating with "turd-pickers." But don't let that interfere with your strange fetishes.
Mitt doesn't drink, so he is an empty glass...
at least a little foam is better than nothing at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!