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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.
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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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How convenient, the article skips over Obama's State of the Union speeches and his central campaign promise in 2008 to make the government live within its means.Wouldn't want to highlight those failures. Not to mention that Obamacare was touted, by Mr. Obama, as the remedy to fix our economy.
The following is what Obama said in his previous speeches before Congress. obviously he didn't mean a word of it, otherwise he would not be submitting budgets to Congress that call for continued massive deficit spending and the creation of a $26 Trillion debt..
Yet, despite all of his promises and rhetoric, he has failed to propose any significant cuts or reforms, in any of those programs, that will eliminate defict spending, pay down the debt and balance of the budget. Choosing instead to demagogue and fear monger the issue, in an attempt to score cheap political points against his opposition, while knowing full well that failing to bite the bullet, and do what he himself has recognized needs to be done, will lead country into financial ruin. He appointed a Commission, on his own, and then ignored what they told him needed to be done. Yes, it was a gimmick to make Obama look serious about cutting the deficit, but the bills he has proposed continue massive deficit spending and make no meaningful cuts. And despite the language quoted above, he has failed to propose cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Soc Sec. Choosing instead to act like a child by chiding those adults that are willing to bite the bullet and do what's neded so to save the country from financial ruin.
Yes we can,............. blame Mr. Obama for his failure to lead!
#197 - Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:04 PM EDT
Did you all know Kim Kar-trashian is pregnant?
Does she know who the father is?
No...but she has been able to narrow the possibilities down to 47........1 of whom is herself!!!
Definition of mass confusion - Father's Day in Hollywood.
Obama has blamed everything on everybody else. Obama is a con-artist and liar. It's time America wakes up and gets over it's ethnic infatuation of Obama.
Job1, yes I see what great things this POTUS has done for me. My taxes have increased, my healthcare cost have doubled, and my freedoms have decreased. He has brought division in this country like no other president so I feel real good!!
Gary - That would be the actions that betray his true agenda.
When a man has an agenda only he and his inner circle knows his speech's mean nothing.
His actions betray him.
And like Obama libbies - I will not debate it. It's reality.
What happened to CHECKS AND BALANCES? Guess the dems forgot all about that when they were in total control the first 2 years of this administration.
Obama stated this when he was a senator.....OOPS I guess its ok now that he is the president....
hypocrisy
1. a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.
2. a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude.
Washinton is only a reflection of the views of the American People. We vote them in; yet complain that nothing gets done! Until the Citizens decide on the direction they want the country to go on! Washington will continue to remain broken. It is easy to make Washington a scape goat for all ills in our country. But in the end we get what we vote for.
Very true. America deserves obama, but I don't! lol
fiesty discovered O'B as her savior and for some reason hates Ann
Did she offend you somehow?
Not a GOP but did not vote for the Great Hope!, liar and whatever else...
But Congress has to put on their boots and get out of the mire they are in now
good luck
Who cares what fisty posts....nothing but a foul mouthed wrinkled hateful despicable old witch....Ann Romney is everything fisty isn't.....an honorable decent generous female with morals and principles.
Moderate in madison
It must really eat her up the Queen Ann as she calls her, can buy & pay for 100 leeches like her any day of the week. At least Mrs. Romney WAS approached by DWTS . What is Fisties claim to fame? Nothing, just like the rest of us.
Fisty, LOL....
Are you guys referring to flatfaced Michelle?
The byline on this story should read, brought to you by the Obama propaganda team.
He also promised to implement LABELING OF GMO POISONED products. In stead he has fast tracked the implementation of allowing new GMO products to be approved without proper review.
This one thing, GMO POISONED products, nearly killed my wife 5 years ago. She is slowly recovering now that she has stopped eating anything that she suspects MAY have GMO POISONING in them.
ROUNDUP is an environmental disaster. It ALWAYS leads to harsher and more deadly poisons needing to be used. ALWAYS.
Well, there are all manner of lesser imps and demons, Pete, but the great Satan hisself is red and scaly with a bifurcated tail, and he carries a hay fork.
Just think. If he had not kept the promises he did keep and visa versa, we would all be better off.
This is amazing there are really people in this country that believe in politicians! Amazing! Children do you also believe they do what they say? Make $100.00 and spend $500.00....great future. A future created by politicians. And now you dance to the good guy/bad guy song. Amazing so many morons. Washington is full of themselves and have only gotten worse. Democrats/Republicans are all politicians and have proven to be self serving.
We're on the road to the "Land of milk and honey" once again..Problem is right now, we've got three flats and are trying to change the only good tire we have left..
Gun control is once again going to be the albatross that brings the Democrats down. Usually the political cycle goes with the Democrats pushing for more social freedoms, and people get on board with that, then when they get in position where they believe their power base is secure they start pushing for gun control which knocks them right back out of power. Gun control is anathema to political success everywhere except portions of the northeast and California. When tragedies strike, the people who understand firearms know that being able to defend yourself is a better defense than declaring you are defenseless. So the more tragedies that happen, the further entrenched gun advocates become, and the harder they are willing to fight those who seek to undermine the 2nd amendment. Democrats always misjudge this, and soon find themselves out of the jobs they worked so hard to get. Obama pulled a bait-and-switch on guns from in his first term to fool the independents and moderates who were on the fence due to social issues into complacency. This betrayal by the Democrats will not be soon forgotten, and if history is any indicator, it will be severely punished at mid-term elections.
I thought the sheer size of the deficit was the biggest issue after the immediate bailout?? Didn't candidate Obama say something about actually reducing the deficit?? You know, any idiot can bail out the economy, give eveyone health care, etc, if they dont' have to worry about paying for it. The hard part is doing this within your budget, or with the finance plan in place when you do it. And as far as Iraq goes, McCain was in agreement with the same timeline, which was also roughly the same as the original Bush timeline, so was that really an accomplishment?? I'm telling you, Obama is mostly smoke and mirrors and it's scary watching people fall for it.
Absolutely! Washington is made of smoke and mirrors.
ConservAl......unfortunately, "smoke and mirrors" does not describe this POS adequately, or sufficiently. Distortion , Destructive, Disruptive, DisHONEST, Disingenuous, Divisive, Devious, and DESPICABLE are a few of the words I would use to describe him. And I GUARANTEE YOU History will prove the same. This Country is far , far too naive politically, on both Domestic and International fronts, to understand or envision the path this Lying POS has set us on.
Dude - yuou forgot Dastardly and Dangerous.....but i like your post.
Moderate...I would not argue with your statement. I remember listening to Obama on tv years ago in Chicago and calling my wife and telling her to remember his name. He was the consummate politician. I named him the Pied Piper. And I made the forecast of bad weather, not if, but when this guy gets noticed for his gift to talk. One of the very few things I've called correct, or that's my impression. He is, like ALOT of politicians, arrogant and full of himself. But who am I let the future speak for itself.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill passed to avoid the "FISCAL CLIFF" will add almost $4 trillion to the national debt over 10 years. Like if you are fed up with Washington mortgaging our children's future.
That was TOTALLY George BUSHES fault..didnt you get the memo?
I thought that when we taxed the rich "just a little bit more" so they can pay 'thier fair share" that that would FIX all of our PROBLEMS??
What blade you have not heard the minute they got that passed, they wanted even more...
If you want to see a low point in journalistic integrity then check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYH0HD2CpXQ
Sorry Hagal, but The ONLY way I will believe that you are TRUELY sorry for your anit-gay remarks is to fall to your knees and suck a big one..No wait..Thats what you're doing right now to Obama so you can get this job..My bad..
Obama also said over and over: I can't do it alone. Its ridiculous to 'judge' Obama's promises out of the context of the obstruction he has faced over and over. Its amazing he has been able to do what he has done. And as far as a 'quick fix' to the catastrophe he was left in 2008 (Thank you, GW for two unfunded wars--one treasonously entered by telling lies to Congress, a giant gift to Big Pharma, etc. etc. and a last minute bailout to his cronies that did not require repayment--unlike Obama's)--it took almost 20 years to pull out of the Great Depression--8 years would BE a quick fix. But nano second attention span Americans scream if a mess isn't cleaned up in the time it takes to watch a sitcom.
Let me try one more time since I've heard this UNFUNDED WAR bull$hit for the one millionith time..The total cost of the WARS didnt reach the ONE TRILLION dollar COST amount until BUSHES lastyear in office..EVEN if we didnt pay ONE SINGLE DIME on the war for eight years{I find that difficult to believe dont you}and he PASSED thaty COST to OBAMA to pay for in his 4 years..that SILL leaves almost $4 TRILLION dollars of NEW DEBT that oBAMA has accured..WHERE did that come from Souls2feet?
And BTW..YOUR MESSIAH...OBAMAGOD voted FOR those two wars that were treasonously entered..Do YOU hold him responcible as well????????????
souls2webbedfeet..... If it walks like a dumb duck, and talks like a dumb duck, it is most likely a dumb duck. With you, however, there is no doubt.
Here goes the old obstruction excuse again. Every president must deal with an opposition party. Several have been able to accomplish a lot without acting like a spoiled arrogant self absorbed jerk who can only blame others.
Anyone remember Clinton or Reagan every saying "I can't do it alone"?? And remember, a Republican congress tried to formally impeach Clinton that's how badly they tried to obstruct him, but no excuses from Clinton, he just went about his business. I don't even like Clinton, but at least I respect him. Actually, "Obama" is an old Indina name which translated roughly means "man who makes excuses"...........
Obama does NOT show a good example of cutting government spending by taking lavish vacations to Hawaii on taxpayer money. This president added 4 trillion dollars to the national debt in the last 4 years and wants an unlimited credit card to spend, spend, and spend.
Obamacare will cause your medical premiums to double because the insurance companies have to pass the expense of accepting americans with pre-existing conditions. And if you don't get medical insurance you have to pay a big fat government penalty. Hope you morons who voted for him are happy.
The morons that voted for him were happy to being with because they got their government "stipend" at the first of every month reguardless of the economic woes of the country..
The morons that voted for him wont HAVE to pay for THEIR insurance because it is ALREADY provided for them by the government..ONLY working Americans will have to pay for thier insurance..
what you just said about the private insurances raising their premiums to everyone so they can cover the sick is EXACTALLY what the government intended with obamacare.. The under lying truth is that the Government WANTS to take over Healthcare in America..So iF they can do away with PRIVATE insurance coverage in America, then who does that leave to cover the gap but the GOVERNMENT..They will try and run the cost of health care premiums up so high that no one can afford them and thus collapse the private healthcare insurance companies..Then the government walks in and takes over.
Correction.....HealthCare costs will soar under ObozoCare only for those of us who have not been BLESSED by the Lord and Saviour Oblatherer with "exclusion".....And just who are those that don't have to toe the Little Dictators "line" on "Universal Healthcare"??????? Uhhhhh.......his CRONEY SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST SUPPORT Organizations.....you know, Unions and such. Exclusion of these orgs' from what should have been MANDATORY INCLUSION in the ObozoCare should have been sufficient to make the Law UNCONSTITUTIONAL. But I don't see any attacks on that little "oversight".
Backhouse and Feisty, you both argue like 2 year old children with undeveloped brains and thought processes. You rely on partisan vitriol instead of hard facts. Case in point, Backhouse, your psychotic rambling is about European austerity resulting in a recession on that continent. Germany has been a huge proponent of austerity, and are they having a recession? Not at all. 5.6% unemployment, in fact. And besides, why should Germany pay for Greece's debt issues, caused by Greek inability to contain spending? Trust me, Republicans have a host of problems as long as the democrats, but you libtard shills who think that your party is the only one who can solve the problems the USA faces are sadly mistaken. Now go back to playing with your toys, you immature 2 year old children.
Yeah it is very scary to fall for it. It is equally scary to fall for conservative crap. Where was all this concern about living within our means when we initiated and fought two wars while not only not paying for them but lowering taxes during a time of balanced budgets. Democrats do the same thing. It just depends on whose ox is getting gored. Obama was blamed in this article for not getting along with republicans. The best way to get my support is to not get along with either side. My congressman talks about the necessary pain we need to go through. However, there is no "we" in the discussion. He is not going to be in any pain and caused much of the pain I am going to have to endure. Big players in the financial markets are not going to be in pain and they caused much of the grief we have. Interesting concept of "we". I did not vote for Obama but at least he has tried to do something sometime. His opponents have not except to try and stop what he is doing.
Mr. Brock...Thank you for a mindless and UNINFORMED blathering post. Maybe, before you criticize the House Republicans for "doing nothing" you should check on the NUMBER OF JOBS BILLS passed by the Republican controlled HR and sent to the Senate....whereby the little dwarf toad from Nevada (Senator Harry Reid) promptly "pocket vetoes" them and never allows them to see the LIGHT OF Day ON THE DimOCRAP CONTROLLED Senate Floor for Debate. In short, you really don't know your azz from a big fat hole in the ground, so until you do.....STFU!!!!
REPORT CARD BY REPRESENTATIVE - I don't believe I'm the only one that is "completely" fed-up with the performance in Washington. I hope the 113th congress is better than the 112th. (It is reported that the 112 th will go down in history as the worst, performance wise, in history!) What want to see is congress that works "together" a lot better. Their has to be more work on how to work together and less effort on how to win points for their party. I might add, I do see that the scales for which party is willing to compromise weighting more in favor of the Democratics. (All the polls run by independent organizations match with my view.) However, I still think "both" parties need work together a whole lot better than they are. I strongly believe the voting public has to give more feed back to their representatives to tell them how they want a particular issue to be resolved. I'd think that with the internet, that a simple voting type opinion poll could be placed on each repreesntaives WEB site, ahead of each key piece of legislation's vote. Then, if the representatives are not supporting the publics view, then they should use their vote to give them their feedback on election day. I understand that disagreements and gamesmanship is part of the political process. However, what's going on now, and has been going on for years, has to get better. The voting records for every Representative should be "VERY" public and easy to get at. I'd like to see it posted on every network WEB site. Also, I'd like to see if all my representative are voting on a purely party line; Why, because I don't see voting a straight party line as a good thing; that sure appears to be the record of someone who can't think for themselves and it can send a message that they are not willing work together with the other party. So that's my feedback. Please do what you can the fix the absolute mess that Washington is STILL in. Thank You.
Want to fix the mess? Stop re-electing the same people over and over again. Hard term limits like two term max for everyone would go a long way to ending the madness.
The 112th congress may go down as the worst in history, but I will assure you when the history books are written this President will edge out Jimmy Carter and take his place as the biggest joke of a President!
Obama threatens seniors with no payments on their social security checks unless congress raises the debt limit. Shameless! Worst president ever.
Why is it shameless when it is true? If the debt limit is not increased there will be no funds to cover those checks. It's really very simple. You can't write checks on an empty account. I would think that would please the right wing. After all, they have already labeled seniors receiving social security checks as moochers and takers feeding at the public trough. So what if they starve?
Didn't Obama just tell us that the increase was to pay past debts and not ongoing obligations? Another Obama lie.
Obama Quote of the Decade:
"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. 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."
~ Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006~
Using seniors as leverage is shameless.
Taking SS payments is not mooching. You pay into the system your whole working life, it's not mooching getting it out. If congress had left the trust fund alone instead of leaving IOU's then it would still be solvent.
Text from Sen. Obama's Floor Speech, March 20, 2006:
"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can't pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. … 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."
This is even more relevant today! President Obama is a HYPOCRITE!!!
Definition of a Democrat or Barack Hussein Obama: A person who engages in the same behaviors he condemns others for; A person who professes certain ideals, but fails to live up to them.
After all, they have already labeled seniors receiving social security checks as moochers and takers feeding at the public trough. So what if they starve?
Another Lefturd lie. People recieving SS paid for it. The Right is talking about people on SSI that have nothing wrong with them, leeches getting Welfare & food stamps & using it in strip Clubs, getting Unemployment for 3 years & never looking for a job. People that suck the system instead of contributing. Stop the lies.
It's not a lie. Who do you think makes up the 47% of voters Romney was talking about? Or are you throwing him under the bus?
underemployed: Why is it shameless when it is true? Its not.
The trust fund represents a legal obligation to Social Security program recipients and is considered "intra-governmental" debt, a component of the "public" or "national" debt. As of April 2012.
A trust fund is an account of accumulated assets, managed by the Department of Treasury. Medicare and Social Security are two major trust funds in the United States. The Social Security Trust Fund holds the largest proportion of intragovernmental debt. According to Treasury Direct, trust funds generate income through dedicated revenue such as social security tax, or from selling securities to the public. Securities are known as "special issues" and are guaranteed by the federal government.