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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.
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debt ceiling compromise. we will raise the debt ceiling this one time to cover government expenses, while passing a balanced budget amendment. we the government can now only spend what we take in as taxes. we will now have to spread currently gathered equity between current programs. we can no longer borrow and spend. i see this as a good solution. myself and many Americans believe this is the way to go.
so tell me why is our government not doing this? they work for us after all!
i have to live off a budget, so why shouldnt our government!
wow, i have never heard such crap from the bleeding heart democraps! you people will have an eye opening experience when the welfare is cut off! you thing the violence in chicago is bad now, wait til the checks quit coming from the actions of the worst phuck up of a president in the us. his lies have come to a head deal with it!
People who steal power vs. People who are given authorization. History is fun. Same old same old, throw a party for everyone and get them drunk, control the media, push out the catholics, stomp on the jews as scapegoats, raid the homes and businesses while the party goes on, implement new social controls, hand out the junk you stole to everyone... then when people wake up out of their drunken stupor... not much they can say.
The Government should be AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE, not the other way around.
This goes Repubs as well. There will hopefully come a day when ignorant Americans(mostly libs) will see the need to educate themselves and realize that this country is worth fighting for, it may come to just that.
All people in government have made themselves insulated from the American people. All of them are there to enjoy the spoils of their position. We have a government run by and for the benefit of those in government.
i would like to know what people posting here think about a balanced budget amendment? i think that would be better then constantly raising the debt ceiling.
I wholeheartedly agree!
You know what the problem with Americans Are? They think there's a left and right.
READ, WEEP, PRINT AND KEEP!
This should be on the front page of every newspaper.
Charley Reese's Final column!
A very interesting column. COMPLETELY NEUTRAL.
Be sure to Read the Poem at the end..
Charley Reese's final column for the Orlando Sentinel... He has been a journalist for 49 years. He is retiring and this is HIS LAST COLUMN.
Be sure to read the Tax List at the end.
This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be. The article below is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat. Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day. It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!
545 vs. 300,000,000 People
-By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.. ( The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.)
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House?( John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. ) If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. [The House has passed a budget but the Senate has not approved a budget in over three years. The President's proposed budgets have gotten almost unanimous rejections in the Senate in that time. ]
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan ..
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees... We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
What you do with this article now that you have read it... is up to you.
This might be funny if it weren't so true.
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid...
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me
to my doom...'
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the heck happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'
I hope this goes around THE USA at least 545 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!!
GO AHEAD. . . BE AN AMERICAN!!!
SEND THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW
"HE MUST BE CLOSE !!!!"
"IMPEACHMENT"
A process that is used to charge, try, and remove public officials for misconduct while in office.
Impeachment is a fundamental constitutional power belonging to Congress. This safeguard against corruption can be initiated against federal officeholders from the lowest cabinet member, all the way up to the president and the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Besides providing the authority for impeachment, the U.S. Constitution details the methods to be used. The two-stage process begins in the House of Representatives with a public inquiry into allegations. It culminates, if necessary, with a trial in the Senate. State constitutions model impeachment processes for state officials on this approach. At both the federal and state levels, impeachment is rare: From the passage of the Constitution to the mid-1990s, only 50 impeachment proceedings were initiated, and only a third of these went as far as a trial in the Senate. The reluctance of lawmakers to use this power is a measure of its gravity; it is generally only invoked by evidence of criminality or substantial abuse of power.
The roots of impeachment date to ancient Athens. Its place in the U.S. Constitution was secured by the influence of English Common Law on the Framers of the Constitution. Originally, any English subject, politician, or ruler could institute impeachment charges in Parliament. By the fourteenth century, this power became the exclusive domain of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. In 1776, the American colonies included much of the English tradition in state constitutions, but the delegates of the Constitutional Convention hotly debated how best to embody it in the federal Constitution. Their most contentious question was over the offenses that should be considered impeachable.
And who will impeach congress? Seeing how they only have 9% approval, and you know as well as i do that they are corrupt.
Challenger.
Damn good commentary........I did forget about that! UR Correct....."They all need to Go"!!!
To Mr. Stew-856316 and all in America I do not speak good English but i can thinking with all
A - preparing for the return of the U.S. military to home from Iraq and Afghanistan and Qatar, Yemen , was required to preparing for international security in two international part in world 1- Persian Gulf, Iran 2- West Asia in Pakistan and India and Afghanistan 3- America's allies before the enemies are awaiting this case to find any new international influence part international for themselves 4- it is not ending soccer match but it's ending a disaster of George W. Bush when he mixing between the protection of human civilization from terrorism and extremism and the protection of the security of Gulf oil in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and did not make it one goal and one meets human above the land of Afghanistan aloneB - U.S. consumer welfare and capitalist extremism of Commerce and Industry and the U.S. real estate investment and investment for health until the treatment can not be form one person, even if the President, or of one party, even if only political majority
Geez, will Republicans ever get over it, you are such winers/wyners. The world doesn't fit into their ideology so you just try to make up a new "fake"world where you and Fox News are always right.... Then you lose the Presidential election and just can't seem to deal with it... It doesn't fit into your world... it can't be real...ummm... its not real.....ummm..... it's those dang liberal's fault....ummmm..... Fox News Robots make me sick...
Tim, I hate to call you a dumb ass, but you are a dumb ass. Obumer didn't win crap. The people was robbed of their vote.
We already took the royal blood out of this equation once before. It's time to do it again.
"The tree of liberty should be watered from time to time with the blood of tyrants and patriots" - Thomas Jefferson
My all time favorite!
So you are advocating an armed insurrection?
Tony-CountersANovel.com: Mess with the US Consitution and possibly there might be one.
Obama's Debt Ceiling Song Boyz
Let's raise the roof
Let's raise the roof
Let's make a scene
Let's make a scene Let's roll the dice
Let's roll the dice
Take my advice
It always pays to
Raise the roof! And raise the roof!
Time to have some fun!
Go raise the roof!
Time to beat the sun!
Let's raise the roof
@jaywillie
It was reported that when asked why Japan did not follow up the Pearl Harbor attack with an invasion of the U.S. Mainland, Admiral Yamamoto; who crafted the attack on Pearl Harbor, replied that he had lived in the U. S. and knew that almost all households had guns.
Do you honestly believe what you say or do you just say things to move the air around?
obummer was in the Senate and nothing was done but not having any credible actual work experience in running even a kool aid stand . What we expected from obummer was nothing and he delivered nothing . Get the 25000 signatures needed to impeach obummer seems better and better. Impeach Biden and Peloisi and clean out the corrupt politicans starting the road to recovery with a smile
Chip, if you impeached everyone in DC that is corrupt me and you would have to take over and we would be the only ones there.
Obama simply cannot tell the truth, and he is well versed mesmerizing America as the worlds greatest pathological liar since Bill Clinton.
Just impeach the worthless bastard and send him back to the country he came from, and it sure isn't the USA.
D I C K h e a d
Put alot of thought into that answer did you?
Something else to consider.
All i have heard for the past 2-3 years are rants about the elite class of rich who dont pay their share, how these people and corporate america rule the country.
well you are right, look at the rich in house and senate....if you took a closer look at them all, you will find they have investments in the big rich corporations of America and abroad.
I could post a list of both democrats and republicans who among the rich and powerful in washington, but im sure you know of them already.
simply put, why with all the anger toward the nations rich, do we put them into office.
do you really believe they are looking out for you and me and the best interest of our country?
why is it that you and i are the one's who pay the price as they get richer?....remember, they are the one's who make the laws as you pays the price and who doesn't.
i don't know about you people, but i am just tired of it.
if you want true change, then join me and get away from the norms in voting and vote the elite and lifers out of power and replace them with the ordinary man or woman.
you don't have to be a rich man to work in Washington.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States John Roberts scheduled a case by attorney Orly Taitz dealing with Barack Hussein Obama’s use of forged IDs to be heard in conference before the full Supreme Court. The case titled Noonan, Judd, MacLeran, Taitz v Bowen provides a mountain of evidence of Barack Obama using a last name not legally his, forged Selective Service application, forged long form and short form birth certificate and a Connecticut Social Security number 042-68-4425 which was never assigned to him according to E-Verify and SSNVS. Additionally, this case provides evidence of around one and a half million invalid voter registrations in the state of California alone.
Buckle up Liberals! You're going for a ride...... FORWARD.
So you're telling us that this birther stuff is going to be decided by the Supreme Court? When is this supposed to happen?
February . www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?FileName=/docketfiles/12a606.htm
In the midst of our outrageous Congress, the 112th Congress, which has passed the least bills in 2012, has made our President, President Obama, shining through from the democratic processes.
the vote for me and its free president, not mine.
You know that Odumbo is doing a bad job when NBC talks badly about him. He is a disgrace to the position he holds.
The arrogance and hubris that pours out of the Orators mouth is beyond belief. I would not trust him with my a penny let alone our economy. Our debt is on pace to exceed that which thecOMB projected just three months ago. We are to raise the debt limit without any spending cut guarantees from the spending/crack addict Libs? The Orator does not get it. Our economy and financial status is a joke around the world. We will deault and we must allow it to happen if the Orator does not relent. He scares people into considering the bizarre logic is that his spending addiction by telling us Medicare and Social Security are in danger with cuts. Well tele prompter crutch President, the danger these programs face due your drunken spending habits far exceeds anything that might occur due to mature and educated curbs to your gluttonous ways. Her is an idea, cut the cost of your inaugural party/orgee. The price tag for this event is reported by your lib media to Newell over $50mm!!!!
Fred: What the heck? Just make a few Trillion dollar coins and all will be good.
Well Oblamo is finally going to get his due, he plans on issuing 19 Executive orders side stepping congress on gun control. Can't wait for the impeachment procedings. This guy thinks he is above the constitution.
He will be the 1st president in history that has his own military along with cabinet that turns against him.
Can't wait!! Once again he is a disgrace to this once great nation.
Hey Dougj whens this gonna happen? I wanna be ready.
Robert,Really, all nineteen. Where'd you read that?
Just keep drinking Libtard!!!!!
President Obama got us out of the George W. Bush Vanity War in Iraq. We lost thousands of young American lives in that Contrived Occupation.
Seems to me comrades pelosi and reid supported President Bush, I am sure you forgot that fact???
Deuphus2: I guess you also forget Obama just followed the exit plan that Bush put in motion before Obama took over, but do you give Bush Credit for getting our troops out of Iraq. Nope.
The only thing you can give Obama credit for about the withdraw from Iraq is not ****ing it up.
As the next elections come up vote against all incumbents.You can still vote party line if that's what you do but vote for a different person in your party.Then the next election ,then the next.Vote out all incumbents so the new people know their job is on the line if they don't get in line to do what's best for the country.They work for us.In the last election everything stayed the same and yet we expect a different result.Why would we?