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Pulling the Wool Over Our Eyes
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Sift through their self-righteous attacks on the Senate floor and the bluster of their talking heads on Fox News, and there's an important aspect of the debate over the recovery package that the Republicans in Congress seem to forget -- they're the ones that got us into this mess. After all, over the past eight years they have driven our economy off a cliff faster than Thelma and Louise
Think about it -- it was President Bush who transformed a $5.6 trillion projected budget surplus into a record budget deficit. He did so by cutting taxes for the wealthiest among us while spending $10 billion a month in Iraq. It was the Republicans in Congress who opposed common sense oversight and regulation of the financial industry, and who passed pork by the barrel, most memorably Alaska's $250 million bridge to nowhere. And it was under their collective watch that our economy lost 5 million manufacturing jobs and millions of families lost their homes to foreclosure.
Facts may be stubborn things, but the Republicans in Congress aren't letting them get in their way. That's why it's time that they spare taxpayers their supposed indignation over the proposed recovery package and buckle down and help to pass a plan that will help all Americans already. They're attempting to pull the wool over our eyes, and whitewash their role in causing the current economic crisis. Despite President Obama's repeated efforts to reach out to them and find common ground, the Republican leadership continues to treat these meetings as little more than a photo-op. Instead of working proactively and constructively behind closed doors, they continue to lob pithy sound bites to the media and propose little more than increased tax cuts.
While I appreciate President Obama's goal of working across the aisle to fix this crisis, we cannot allow partisan temper tantrums to stand in the way of fixing our economy. The American people elected President Obama in record numbers to lead our country in a new direction, if the Republicans aren't willing to join him, the least they can do is get out of his way.
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Palin's Facebook Page: Opposes Obama's Stimulus Plan
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Just imagine: What if McCain Had Won the Election and Obama had Shafted him During the Stimulus Debate?
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I find your criticism of the Republican party quite trite. It might serve us all well to remember that Republicans still constitute a large percentage of the American population. Do our views count at all? Apparently not, according to the Democrat rhetoric I'm reading on this site. Most people on this site call for for Republicans to "get out of the way" of Obama's proposed initiatives. Did you call for the same thing with President Bush. Of course not! Debate and energetic discourse is healthy when Democrats are questioning Republican endorsed initiatives, but it's "un-American" when it's the other way around. Should we really give our blind faith to a mainstream media inspired "Messiah" without the usual modicum of critical review? I don't believe that it's so much of a case that Republicans are seeking to see Obama fail, as that Democrats are over zealous in their ambition to show that Obama was the right choice. Have you considered that growing government control and excessive spending may ultimately harm us more than it helps? And what if this stimulus package fails? Oh I know, it will be blamed on the previous administration's shortcomings and the Republican opposition to the Obama administration's irresponsible and poorly thought out fiscal initiatives. As a Republican, and contrary to the current Democratic mantra, I care for the well-being of all Americans enough to have the courage to question and critically evaluate all legislation that impacts our fiscal and domestic security.
"Facts may be stubborn things, but the Republicans in Congress aren't letting them get in their way. That's why it's time that they spare taxpayers their supposed indignation over the proposed recovery package and buckle down and help to pass a plan that will help all Americans already...The American people elected President Obama in record numbers to lead our country in a new direction, if the Republicans aren't willing to join him, the least they can do is get out of his way."
Amen
Pelosis: The condition of being Pelosi
Dear Representative Woolsey thank you for putting your position of Huffington Post. Since I live and vote in your district I'm happy to see that you feel as I do. We voters expect the Democrats to listen to Republicans but not to be bogged down by them unless their role is something other than obstructionist.
That's why terms such as partisanship that I hear frequently from speaker of the House Pelosis tend to make me nervous. Partisanship with those that broke it doesn't make a lot of sense.
The striking thing about the American GDP is that 70% of that is spending by consumers. The only way to recover from that is to find new industry and new jobs. In your own northbay community there is already a thriving medical marijuana industry. One way to bring new jobs and job growth to Sonoma and Marin counties would be to end prohibition and use the significant tax revenue to help support government programs.
Currently the thinking is raising $35 billion over 4 years in California by increasing the tax on a pack of cigs. Legal taxed cannabis could pour billions into the California economy ALMOST IMMEDIATELY and without great expense to government in setting up or training.
Congresswoman Woolsey isn't it time to end cannabis Prohibition and reap the economic benefit?
GOP has had a chance to work with President Obama, and basically flipped him off. Enough already. Move on without them.
Rep. Woolsey. I think the American people understand what the Republicans stand for, nothing but themselves. I do not think you need to waste time on bashing them anymore. Make your points by supporting programs that help the people of America. Let's move on the agenda for the future. So far I have seen little progress, just more pork barrel spending.
Obama needs to stand up to the GOP but he can't do that and seem serious if he is repeating the same mistakes that Bush did. Obama promised change and so far we have Clinton retreads, the same Wall St insiders that got us into this mess. He promises more bailouts with just a modicum of control and massive spending that really doesn't seem all that convincing for job creation. What to create jobs? Stop all these mergers between large companies that always result in massive layoffs. Stop offshoring middle class jobs to India and bring those that have been offshored back home. Break up the big banks that are "too big to fail" so that we are a nation of community banks again. Get rid of NAFTA and all the rest of these anti-labor anti-environmental treaties. Bailouts? No, nationalize the banks that have failed, arrest the big boys for fraud, and sell off the pieces. But so far it seems he is more interested in saving his corporate buddies than anything else. If he doesn't make some drastic changes soon, this country will be facing two choices, Germany 1933 or France 1789.
Someone in the White House needs to read history. The victor sometimes can be magnanimous IF the defeated are weak and/or compliant. If your defeated opponent is obstinate and not willing to comply with your wishes, you do NOTreward them, you CRUSH them. If not they will destroy you. Republicans have shown 100% opposition to Obama's agenda. Stop playing kissy-face with the pit bull. You are going to get your face ripped off, President Obama. It also makes you look a little foolish to your supporters. Declare war against your enemies. Sorry, but human behavior and time-tested history is gainst your "can't we all get along" politics. No, we can't all get along. And Tell Harry Reid to just change the 60-vote rule to 59-votes and move on.
It is becoming more and more obvious that the GOP is REALLY taking their marching orders from Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly and a few others! It is also abundantly clear that these guys have absolutely NO interest in our country's survival, as long as that means that Obama would succeed.
Just look at Hannity's website forum "Washington Politics" http://forums.hannity.com/ and it becomes even more clear that the opposition to EVERYTHING proposed and done by Obama, is as Limbaugh himself said in explaining Powell's endorsement of Obama... "It's all about race. It's ALL ABOUT RACE"!
No matter the cost Hannity, Limbaugh and their audiences have let it be known to the GOP that an African American President can not be allowed, under any circumstances, to succeed!
We, as a nation, may never recover, and the right wing zealots will just sit back amongst the rubble and proudly proclaim "We told you so"!
Sustaining scholastic debates, discussions and analysis of economic matters have remained a permanent subject since ages among faiths, ideologies, systems and cultures. The point is - can we afford our fondness for politicizing sensitive issues like "Stimulus Package", being in full and firm grip of the Greatest Financial Famine ever witnessed by this planet in its entire history - certainly "NO" in sentorian voice. Thus, the foremost Focus has to be and should be to Fix it as swiftly, as economically and as efficiently as possible, by applying the best possible known and available methods and means.
Obama whose Presidency is in its infancy (just 15 days old) is striving to clean the massive mess, which the Republicans let happen and led that to happen. Instead of feeling embarrassed and ashamed for having wreaked such a havoc, they are criticizing and obstructing Obama, perhaps to let those people profusely suffer who relegated (rightly) them to minority and mandated Obama to reign and run all their planetary affairs. Republicans would never be able to recover or rise unless they recognize in spirit that their majority has not been stolen by the Democrats, but lost due to their own wrongdoings and worst performance.
Those keen to make meaningful and measurable contribution towards restoring USA's planetary prestige and power are urged to cultivate Obama's rare planetary popularity among billions beyond their shores. Before summing this letter up, this humble scribe sincerely and vehemently vouch for the substance of this precocious blog by learned
How about hiring Americans to check incoming products for safety? And to meet US product standards? Foods of all kinds, Drugs, toys, all products are passing into the country untested. This would hire many, for a good cause, and could be charged to the companies bringing the goods in. They need a US stamp of approval.
Obama gave them his hands in a gesture of a handshake and not only did they not take his hand they try to cut it off. You try to be respectful to them and they think its a sign of weakness for them to pounce. But dont worry Obama is at his best when he is going on the defense. There is no way that repubs will win this propaganda war and what they have done is made things WORSE for themselves. He wanted a partnership they took it to mean that they are in charge and now he is going to show them who is in charge. People are criticizing how Obama handled this but I think handled it fine I think the republicans are the ones who MESSED up a good thing now their opinion will be counted for even LESS. They had no power other than what Obama GAVE them and they are going around acting like they had all the power. They played their ace right out of the gate they are id ots.
Carol
Republicans will not be "getting out of the way"
We are going to have to endure another four years of republican obstructionism, drama, and ugly partisanship.
This is all they know...it's all they got....they will fight over every single Bill and idea, and do their best to keep this country from moving forward...and to especially keep Government from WORKING, because a Government that works would put the final stake in their whole idealogy.
A Republican "government" employee is an oxymoron.
I've always thought that you were the only representative from either house from California who was worth a good dog dam. You've proved it today by being the only one willing to take a stand with some backbone in it.
They should give both Nancy and Dianne's jobs--they aren't doing anything with them, anyway.
"give YOU both..." ahhh
I know, I wish we could edit our posts for typos, etc.
Congresswoman Woosley, WHY don't the Dems bring up the cost of 2 six year wars, the 7 billion dollars IN CASH that was sent to Iraq and was suddenly lost, with NO accounting for.
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