E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSObama’s promises kept… And promises broken… President pins the debt-ceiling responsibility on Congress… Executive recommendations on guns… Keeping track of the cabinet shuffle… Boxer backs Hagel… And a deeper look at Hagel’s “openly aggressive gay” comment.
Alex Wong / Getty Images
President Barack Obama speaks during his final news conference of his first term at the East Room of the White House Jan. 14, 2013.
*** Promises kept… : With President Obama’s second inaugural address now less than a week away, we took a look at his biggest three speeches over the past five years -- the 2007 presidential announcement speech in Springfield, IL, the 2008 convention acceptance speech in Denver, and the 2009 inaugural -- to checklist what he promised. And, by and large, he accomplished many of his big objectives. Or he mostly accomplished them. He promised ending the war in Iraq. (“America, it's time to start bringing our troops home,” he said in his ’07 announcement speech.) He promised health care reform. (“Let's be the generation that says right here, right now, that we will have universal health care in America by the end of the next president's first term,” he said in that same ’07 address.) And he promised quick action in dealing with the financial collapse of 2008. (“The state of our economy calls for action: bold and swift. And we will act not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth,” he said in his ’09 inaugural.) Of course, there is still debate about whether his fixes will work, but the point is: He made a promise and got his vision of a fix.
Chuck takes a deep dive look into the promises President Obama made before his first term – during his campaign speeches and first inaugural address – and compares them to the things the President did accomplish in his first term.
*** … and promises broken: But he also didn’t accomplish some of his other goals -- like changing the country’s politics, a huge recurring theme in all three speeches. (“On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics,” he said in his ’09 inaugural.) Or recruiting more teachers when it turns out that about 212,000 teacher jobs have been cut between 2009 and 2011. (“Let's recruit a new army of teachers, and give them better pay and more support in exchange for more accountability,” he said in that ’07 speech.) And then there are the issues that barely got mentioned in those three big speeches, issues that ironically will make up the bulk of Obama’s second term agenda. Guns only received one mention. (“Don't tell me we can't uphold the 2nd Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals,” he said in ’08 acceptance speech.) Ditto immigration. (“Passions fly on immigration, but I don't know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers.”) And if you believe the increased burden on the government for natural disaster cleanup is related to climate change and global warming, you’ll also be disappointed. Looking back at those most important Obama speeches from ’07, ’08 and ’09, the issue BARELY got a mention. Indeed, it’s remarkable what was in those speeches and what wasn’t.
*** Pinning the debt-ceiling responsibility on Congress: It appears that the chief goal of Obama’s press conference yesterday was to pin the responsibility -- and potential blame -- on Congress for raising (or not raising) the debt ceiling. “There's one way to get around this. There's one way to deal with it. And that is for Congress to authorize me to pay for those items of spending that they have already authorized,” Obama said. And there’s also a reason why the White House decided to abandon the idea of any Plan B (like the $1 trillion platinum coin or the 14th Amendment): They will own part of the chaos if they pursue a Plan B. But by having no Plan B, the Obama White House is trying to ensure that raising the debt ceiling is all on Congress. What’s more, Obama seemed to accept that a government shutdown -- and not the debt ceiling -- is the better place to have a fiscal fight. “Well, ultimately, Congress makes the decisions about whether or not we spend money and whether or not we keep this government open… I think [a government shutdown] would be a mistake. I think it would be profoundly damaging to our economy… But they’re elected representatives, and folks put them into those positions and they’re going to have to make a decision about that.”
*** Executive recommendations on guns: Per NBC’s Frank Thorp, House Democrats were told yesterday that Vice President Joe Biden and his task force have developed 19 areas where President Obama could use executive orders to institute new gun control policy. The New York Times has more: “Actions the president could take on his own are likely to include imposing new limits on guns imported from overseas, compelling federal agencies to improve sharing of mental health records and directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct research on gun violence, according to those briefed on the effort.”
*** The cabinet shuffle: Yesterday, we learned that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will remain in their jobs during President Obama's second term. So to recap, here are the cabinet secretaries who are remaining:
Napolitano (DHS)
Duncan (Education)
Vilsack (Agriculture)
Holder (Justice)
Sebelius (HHS)
Shinseki (Veterans Affairs)
And here are the cabinet members leaving, plus their nominated replacements if applicable:
Clinton at State (John Kerry nominated)
Panetta at Defense (Chuck Hagel nominated)
Geithner at Treasury (Jack Lew nominated)
Solis at Labor
Jackson at EPA
*** Boxer backs Hagel: Yesterday, Sen. Barbara Boxer -- who is Jewish -- came out in support of Hagel. “After speaking extensively with Sen. Hagel by phone last week and after receiving a detailed written response to my questions late today, I will support Senator Hagel’s nomination as Secretary of Defense,” Boxer said. “First and foremost, he has pledged without reservation to support President Obama’s polices – policies that I believe have made our world safer and our alliances stronger.” More: “I asked him about a number of issues – including America’s special relationship with Israel, the threats posed by Iran to the world and the treatment of women and gay and lesbian members of our military – and his answers were reassuring and show a sensitivity and understanding of these issues. In addition, Sen. Hagel has pledged to meet with me once he has been confirmed for a more detailed discussion about the Defense Department’s efforts to combat sexual assault in the military.”
*** “Openly aggressive gay”: Yesterday, we took an in-depth look at Chuck Hagel’s controversial “Jewish lobby” remark. Today, we examine his nearly 15-year-old description of James Hormel, nominated to be ambassador to Luxembourg, as an “openly aggressive gay.” Explaining his opposition to Hormel in a 1998 interview with the Omaha World-Herald, Hagel said: “They are representing America. They are representing our lifestyle, our values, our standards. And I think it is an inhibiting factor to be gay -- openly aggressive gay like Mr. Hormel -- to do an effective job.” Later, the Omaha World-Herald noted that Hagel said “he has seen another video clip that showed Hormel at what Hagel called an anti-Catholic event in San Francisco, featuring the ‘Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,’ a group of male drag queens.” Luxembourg is mostly Catholic.
*** Apology accepted -- but not by all: Hagel has apologized for the 1998 remarks on Hormel. "They do not reflect my views or the totality of my public record, and I apologize to Ambassador Hormel and any LGBT Americans who may question my commitment to their civil rights. I am fully supportive of ‘open service’ and committed to LGBT military families.” Hormel accepted the apology, and so did the Human Rights Campaign. "Sen. Hagel's apology and his statement of support for LGBT equality is appreciated and shows just how far as a country we have come when a conservative former senator from Nebraska can have a change of heart on LGBT issues,” the organization said. But the Log Cabin Republicans took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post hitting Hagel’s record on gay rights. “Chuck Hagel’s Apology: Too Little, Too Late,” the ad said.
Click here to sign up for First Read emails.
Text FIRST to 622639, to sign up for First Read alerts to your mobile phone.
Check us out on Facebook and also on Twitter. Follow us @chucktodd, @mmurraypolitics, @DomenicoNBC, @brookebrower
Leave a Comment:
President Obama wants unity but uppity white Southern evangelicals would rather die than rub elbows with, not only a "colored" man, but one from Kenya and with Hussein as his middle name. It's impossible to build bridges with such reactonaries. Out of 12 invitations to State Dinners to Boehner and McConnell, only one was accepted by Mitch and it was for the Germany head of State Angela Merkel
Yhbua
Keep driving that wedge between the races. It's working really well. You have a fixation on race.
From Kenya! Finally!! lol
Proof yet again, liberals are racists.
So hows all that "mo' free stuffs" working for you?
SN
Conservatives seem to live in an alternate reality
Spending-Obama cannot spend one dollar or allocate one dime of federal revenue..unless Congress gives him the money in legislation. Obama is not the cause of the spending..in fact, the spending as a part of GDP has been down each year of his administration.
Leadership-Conservatives claim that he has been unable to lead, and now complain when he makes a decision
Debt ceiling-it has nothing to do with spending. Not increasing the debt ceiling is like arbitrarily deciding not to pay your mortgage
The budget (or lack thereof)-Conservatives seem to think that because the house passed a budget bill, the senate is obligated to vote on it, and therefore Obama is failing to negotiate in good faith. If you have your house up for sale for $500K and someone offers you $200K, are you a failure because you don't want to negotiate? Have the Boner put a budget up with realistic numbers and common issues and they can debate it. Failure to do so is failure in the House, not the White House.
The debt ceiling is like having a mortgage to pay but one spends the money on a new vehicle...
So you're saying that Obama has recommended a budget for 4 years...Obama's budgets were voted on in the House and Senate without ever getting even 1 aye vote...and you're saying that's not Obama's fault...let Obama recommend a budget that anyone can take seriously...Obama's failure to do so is not the failure of congress...
Obama is the leader of the democrat party, if he wanted a budget he could twist Reid's arm. No he cannot spend a dime that isn't allocated, but by threatening to shut down government, by threatening default, by refusing compromise he can tyrannize the country.
Funny how Bush gets blamed for his much smaller deficits, yet Obama's outrageous behemoths some how aren't his fault. Typical progressive hypocrisy.
Typical of the "Ah dinnit do nuffin," breed.
*** … and promises broken: But he also didn’t accomplish some of his other goals -- like changing the country’s politics
should we really be surprised. i mean really folks...he is just a typical progressive playing the game. just another washington puppet.
When McConnells' announced goal was a one term president, and the Boners first bill was to repeal health care, you could write it off on Jan 20,2009
Because of Obama's divisive actions. What was bipartisan about Obamacare????!!!
Because of Obama's divisive actions. What was bipartisan about Obamacare????!!!
Hey, reactionaries looks like Chuck Hagel will be our next Scty. of Defense. Check another for the President!
Yes, check another failure for the incompetent in chief.
He really should have gone with Jane Fonda, she knows even less but projects more of his kind of image.
While President Bush vetoed not one peice of legislation and rubber-stamped every single bill that hit his desk, because the Jeckle GOP went crazy , unfunded 2 wars, created the Homeland Security agency, unfunded the Medicaid program without raising taxes to cover the costs, but raised the debt ceiling every single year anyway, we now have to put up with the Mr. Hyde GOP, who refuses to pay for what they spent, while Obama is the President!
Did the GOP come off their meds, have remorse for what they have done? Hell, no!
The GOP seeks to use the right-wing media to convince the low-information voters the debt is President Obama's, even though he is saddled with all the interest payments, while he is trying to stimulate our economy back into action!
President Obama completed troop removals from Iraq! He is on track to remove the majority of troops by next year, if not earlier, from Afghanistan, while the GOP wants to again increase defense spending (because both Boehner and Cantor have defense industries in their districts) while we have no new war to fight, and troops are coming home.
The GOP fought tooth and nail to keep the Bush temporary tax cuts permanent, while our citizens watched, with an over 65% majority of American citizens wanting the rich to start paying their fair share!
Now, the debt limit bill approaches and the GOP pronounces they are done with spending cuts, while they are blaming the president for spending too much!
Please understand this, America! There is only one tier of the three tiers of government that can pay bills and can levi taxes! That tier is the House of Representatives, currently run by the Republicans who ran up the BUSH bills! Now the GOP in the House of Representatives doesn't want to pay the bills for the money they spent in the past!
The GOP will hold this nation hostage, upset the world economy, and again threaten our credit rating to try to reduce entitlement spending on the blind, the old, the sick, and the poor, but refuse to entertain lowering one tax loophole on the rich!
While the top 280 corporations pay zero in overall taxes, due to all the loopholes they exploit, the Republicans who are responsible for spending and taxes refuse to contemplate getting rid of the loopholes that allow these mega-corporations to get off scot free and hide all their profits in the Cayman Islands!
How about the GOP doing their job? How about stopping the blame game on the President when it is the Republican's fealty to the rich that limits their ability to pay the debts only the House of Representives can run up?
The President and the Senate can pass no budget bills! They can only approve or sign the bills from the House of Representatives! Look at the Constitution! It is the House of Representatives who must do their job to pay the bills and levy taxes!
Look what happened at Christmas-time, while Speaker Boehner had his House working 2 day work-weeks, and then at the last minute, refused to do his Constitutional duty and craft a budget bill! The Republican Speaker Boehner gave up, passed power to the Senate and the President because Boehner refused to call for the vote for the Democratic Bill, proposed in July, that he knew would pass, with a majority!
Then what happened? The budget got passed! Then the GOP re-appointed John Boehner chairman oif the House of Representatives for the next two years again!
One thing is for certain! Republicans do not believe in evolution! They are like a one track record, with the needle stuck, never evolving while they receive their billions of campaign funds from the billionaires they serve so well!
Prepare for more shenanigans and less jobs until we vote the GOP out of power in two years. The world has found that austerity(cutting programs and firing government workers and attacking union wages) does not create jobs or help a nation to recover! The nations that stimulated their economies with new infrastructure projects and increased wages were the countries that did well in their recovery efforts!
The GOP doesn't understand economics, or ignores economics, for the sake of their Koch Brothers and Sheldon Adelson tax breaks! The Waltons control 42% of the wealth in this country and the GOP will not remove the loophole that rewards them for shipping our manufacturing jobs to slave labor Communist China! What should Americans think when the GOP rewards China and the mega-corporations that do business there, flooding our country with cheap products we can no longer afford to buy at any price?
And the GOP unanimously refuses to raise our minimum wages for our poorest folks to pay their bills! Maybe we should put the Red Flag of China in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, because that is the country the GOP, and John Boehner, serve now!
More pathetic liberal lies. Democrats inherited 4.6% unemployment and a booming economy when they took over congress. It was not Bush policies that sunk the economy, it was liberals forcing loans for people who couldn't afford them that did it. "Home ownership is a right! - Barney Frank.
Bush average real unemployment 5%, Obama average real unemployment 9%, who is clueless about the economy???
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I do think the prez has done the best he can considering the mess he inherited. An economic meltdown doesn't turn around overnight. Not everything works out well either and not everything gets done. My friends, the same goes for you and me. We plan things and do things that don't always work out well, but at least we try.
He inherited his own mess. As liberals in this thread have so eagerly pointed out it is congress that controls the spending and thus the economy. Who owned congress before, during, and after the melt down? DEMOCRATS.
Sorry libs, you can't have it both ways.
I give Obama credit for one thing and that is he didn't buckle to his lib friends when it comes to the war on terrorism. I really thought he would shut it down when he took office but it's been quite the opposite. It must drive his lib friends nuts that we still haven't closed Guantanamo, we still hunt terrorists with drones, we still wire tap every electronic communication in this nation.
I have a question? You praise President Obama for all he has done, the new programs, health care, this that the other - he did all that, he da man. But some how now it is congress who decided to spend all that money? It's congress fualt? No, never blame da man.
The overall effect of the Obamacare bill will reduce healthcare cost by billions over the next ten years! The House of Representatives approved the cost, or the bill would not have been passed at all!
And, now as our heathcare costs are only increasing by 4% a year, rather than the 50 per cent a year before ObamaCare took effect, you seek to lay the blame on the President? Then we should all cheer him, don't you think?
More pathetic liberal lies. Health care costs are going up way above 4%, try 25-35%. Obamacare is already 2x what was promised and it isn't even fully implemented yet.
Please tell me this statement makes sense, we'll add 30 million new patients, we'll steal $500,000,000,000 from Medicare, we will decrease the number of doctors and nurses, we will improve care, and we'll cut costs all at the same time! If you believe that I have a river on the moon to sell you, dirt cheap!
Liberal ignorance know no bounds.
Frist the government regulates guns with amendment on amendment and then they’ll want to regulate your spelling! Both the pen and gun are high powered and efficient deterrents! In the right hands can stop any power set on destruction of its citizens! In the wrong hands you have nothing more than propaganda, or Sandy hook! When mental illness should be the taking points while trying to get through the liberals smoke screen! blame lies on anyone they can make the scape goat! It just so happens, it's the law abiding citizens!
They want all your money! Your country and freedom are now in question; once this snow ball starts rolling downhill it’ll be hard to stop! It’s funny how we pointed the finger at the Germans after the war "How could you do such horrible things! and they replied; "We had no choice, it was them or us! History in repeat mode!
Thre have been no gun laws passed...except to expand gun rights.
That was before he faced another election, this is now.
The things people will do to avoid taking a shower!
Obamao only follows thru on destructive promises.
Spoken like a trewww Tea Partier, Urban Roman.....
Sorry, not enough room here to list all the broken promises
Amazing that the GOP would trash the US and world economies to try to prove that they are still relevant, and in the process almost guarantee that they will not be a viable party within a few years. The first bills introduced were to repeal health care, personhood, anchor babies, obstruction of the resolution of the 'fiscal cliff' and now a promise to trash the economy. They have alienated blacks, browns, women. I wonder how their demographic studies will reflect the loss of almost all senior citizens when they delay SS checks?
wood, really the blame should fall on King Obama for his failure to reduce spending. In fact just recently he said there was not a spending problem. Go figure.
And what reason would there be to delay SS for those who are receiving it? The gubmint bragged about how it was separately independent of other spending and was solvent under it's own policies until at least 2033.
If those checks are held up it is ONLY because the obamanation in the whitehouse is intentionally hioldiing the elderly and handicapped hostage financially. Kind of like that fascist in Germany in the thirties and forties who targeted those least able to defend themselves!
Hell I’m still trying to figure out where the trillions upon trillions are going I can even fathom twenty wars costing that much am I the only math illiterate! Talk about getting raped and not being able to identify the perpetrators! Everyone we supposed to have bailed out paid back with interest and now are on the high successes ladder I’m just mind boggled SS money is pocket change in this scam!
In the past 50 years, how many President's have been able to keep a promise. Big problem is that they make the promise and the American people vote yes to bring them in and never stand behind them when things go wrong. Our President have people working against him and the American people. Nothig will work until the republicans wake up and help out. They all have one more year in congress before we head to the polls again. They need to wake up and do what is right to pay our bills. How many of them are in collection with their own personal accounts? All we can do is pray that they will do the right thing and stop trying to hurt the American people.
So, I am assuming that when you are in debt way over your head, that you just continue to spend money that you don't have either, right?
Yes... Personal Responsibility. It didn't stop the republicans from doing it from 2000 to 2008 now did it.
I believe that you are referring to the democratically controlled congress
You mean the "democratically controlled congress" for approximately 70 whole days in the period from 2008 until 2010. Or did you conveniently forget about the REPUBLICAN controlled Congress that lasted for TWELVE years from 1994 until 2006 and had enough of a majority to continuously pass legislation?
Momentum to ban assault weapons and legislate tough gun laws with severe penalties for failure to do a thorough background check is GROWING! Of course, the American Fascist Party aka the NRA objects to anything trying to bring regulation and sanity to gun ownership, even enforcing a background check.
yhbua, I get nauseous every time I see your avatar
I understand Joe....if you were born 75 years ago, she would have been your chambermaid, cook, sitter for your children, would wash your soiled underware and all for 50 cents an hour. Losing that deal makes many a Southern gentleman sick and bitter.
yhbua has an identity crisis much like barry soetoro = "the king has no clothes"
So tell us 'oh wise michelle wannabe' - how much of the brady bill is being enforced?
yhbua, wrong, I just have a hard time liking phonies
The last congress promised jobs, jobs, jobs. The current congress says stop the spending. Their first bill was to repeal Obamacare, which the CBO says will INCREASE the deficit. Talk about broken promises.
To all the dems out there,get the word out to your family,friends to vote,i have with my children and now grandchildren and friends,so far i have encouraged 27 people as of today through facebook,and they will be voting for the midterms and for the next administration,my children already been voting.
Oblaaaaaaaaama.... Is a liar as are the other washington politicians. Time to reduce the ranks. Save money by eliminating half of congress and half of the senate and relaed staff expenses. Make it manditory to include the option on the ballot for "none of the above" If that option gets the most votes then the position is eliminated.
Lets reduce taxes and save a lot
In response to the education situation in this country, I have to say this is one place where conservatives can't object to me blaming Bush. Since No Child Left Behind (yes, I know...good intentions) our education system has gone down the toilet. My children are in the 4th grade and the ONLY things they are learning are math and language arts because that is what they are tested on. I asked their teachers when will they get science, geography, history, art, etc. They said in middle school. When I was their age I could point out each continent on a map; they can't even name them. I try hard to fill in the gaps at home with games, etc., but my 10-year old son thought Japan was a US city! I have complained to the school, but their hands are tied by the testing. They don't have time to teach anything beyond the bare-bones basics.
a lesson on how sh!t works..
the GOP house puts together a spending bill (budget)...it then goes to the democrat controlled senate for debates/amendments/votes...if passed, it then goes to obama for his signing.
obama is the last man to get this bill, it is he and his signature that makes it law. it is obama's call....below i give you what he promised.
President Obama promised Tuesday night that he will veto any bill that includes earmarks.
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/140189-obama-to-issue-earmark-veto-threat-in-state-of-the-union-address
spending is not a congress issue...its a presidents issue, the government cant spend one dime without obamas signature.
an updated lesson on how this SH*T works....
I am impressed you must have read article 1 section 8 and the rest of the consitution. However, you must have missed the part where Congress can over ride a presidential veto as well. ;-). So that means, the Republican Controlled HOUSE, needs to stop their crusade of adding things to a budget bill that destroy our civil rights like they did in the 112th congress. Social Security is NOT an entitlement and it should NOT be cut period. The only ones who should NOT be receiving SS are those who never paid into it or are not designated receipents (like RYAN), for someoen who did pay into it.
It also means, the GOP/DEM have to both be WILLING to compromise (including Obama) to cut spending. Its not just OBAMA who needs to come to the table. Obama has offered to cut social programs, but I have yet to see the GOP offer to CUT their pork spending and end 54 BILLION in subsidies for fossil fuel corporations. Have you?
agree on the compromise, all parties.... but lets not get confused and thinking obama doesnt and shouldnt take blame for spending.
he is a big boy, im sure he can handle the responsibility of taking the heat.
I hold Obama accountable for the deficit, but the one thing you may have missed... Congress can reduce spending even without Obama's approval. The constitution provides the means to do that. Obama can't spend more $$ without Congress. So in this case, Congress holds the real power to cut spending, not Obama.
Glad to see you agree on the compromise.. its the only way we can get out of this mess. Like you, I don't spend money I don't have... and our govt (ALL OF THEM) needs to remember that.
Bush: It's the economy stupid
Obama: It's the debt stupid, not the debt ceiling
Why is the press giving him a "get out of jail free" card on this....then senator O had it right when the debt was "only" 5T, that it was unacceptable and a sign of failed leadership by Bush...he was right then...his latest excuse: I was wrong then, and it was politics... don't call me racist, but what a hypocrite!
On the second stringers for cabinet: why don't you borrow the binders from romney?
Frothing delusional teapublicans... LOL!!!
Apparently, last Nov. was a bit harder on them than previously thought...
trolling again??
The gutless liberal press didnt remind Americans that Obama voted against rasing the debt ceiling, liberal trash the cancer thats killing off America.
Does this apply to Obama and the 'liberal' trash only? Or have you forgotten the GOP RAISED It 19 TIMES during BUSH'S administration?
Oh and I'll stop bringing up bush, when we pay back the 11 TRILLION deficit he passed along.
now now, remember...compromise
bush couldnt spend a dime without the approval of the house and senate. that means both democrats and republicans voted to spend during the bush years.
and lets not forget when obama was a senator he said raising the debt ceiling is a bad idea, now as president he demands it to be raised.
Ahh but remember... the GOP had control of both the house and senate for 6 of those years :). So if we apply that same philosophy for Obama's first terms.......
Also, BUSH committed our troops to two wars.. the dems couldn't vote against that.
Why is Obama asking for the debt ceiling to be raised? To pay america's bills. The payments on the 11 TRILLION alone didn't just stop when he came into office.
"Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ‘‘the buck stops here.’’ Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit." Barrack Obama 2006
Read more: #ixzz2I4G6nJPO
To Yhbua,
I have been drawn in by their insults too and please be sure that it is only a tactic that they use to in part justify their own paranoia.Then i realized what they were trying to do?The best advice i can give you is be as smart as you actually are and let them get disturbed,that is one reason we won the vote for the Presidency and will continue to win as long as at least some of us democrats and even some republicans that are seeing what is going on and continue to see who is hurting them most are smart.Let them turn their attention to their aggression and let us turn our attention to common sense and determination to win more elections.TY DaveandSher Bird
AS lonmg as you understand that the day China refuses to buy new debt that no bills will be paid, no welfare, no social security etc. Republicans are fine with Obama. We have money and will survive. You Obama rump swabs will eat each other.
"COMMON SENSE" is non-existant within the liberal party.
I believe the Pres has been able to achieve a surprising number of things he set out to do, surprising in that this Age of Obstructionism is now in full swing. When you count the number of times the Repubs/Baggers have abused the filibuster it's quite shocking. We are crying for reform of same. I wonder what the Pres will say in his inaugural, since the SOTU speech will only be about a week later. I sure hope that Obama uses that bully pulpit he uniquely "owns" as POTUS to the full extent of its potential power. Said power is monumental and it would be a shame to allow it to go to waste.
sarita, that is all he ever does. His agenda is to keep dividing the country.
Sarita, what lacks transparency is exactly what he intends to do. Lay out the vision honestly and let everone understand and vote it "up" or "down". The appearance of an enormous "hidden agenda" and lack of honesty/transparency has many moving very cautiously. I am one of them.
When America is bankrupt I will read about it on the Internet from my foreign retirement property. Until then I'll just go skiing.