OBAMA’S DILEMMA

With the successes and popularity in his first term in Office it appeared that Obama would continue to accomplish more in his second term even with the extreme partisanship in Congress. After all, the polls showed that he was the most popular man in the country.

However, with just 5 months in his second term his choices are beginning to fade and the system of government that he created is beginning to become dysfunctional.  Criticism is mounting on all fronts, his handling of the attack on the Benghazi embassy in Libya, his inability to work with Congress on important issues like the debt ceiling, the economy, even though it is improving, recovery is dreadfully slow.  He seems unwilling, or at least reluctant, to share documents and information that might cast a shadow on his Administration.  Now the IRS has lost all credibility by harassing Conservative groups.  He has said that partisanship in Congress would improve in his second term but if anything he has contributed to its becoming even more divided than before.

There is so much bickering, deception, one-upmanship and misinformation from both Parties it’s hard to tell where the truth lies on any issue but the Republicans appear to have the high ground at the moment, especially since the IRS fiasco story broke.

If the President, with his popularity waning, is unable to turn things around he soon will face insurmountable opposition to accomplish anything in his second term and not just from Congress, the people may also lose confidence in his ability to lead the Country.

That being said, we must guard against any rush to judgment on these snapshots of current issues.  There is simply too much that remains to be sorted out and far too much at stake to make snap judgments based on opinion, incomplete, twisted information and Party values over what is best for the country.

THE BIG PICTURE!

President Bill Clinton turned over to President George W. Bush a 1.3 Trillion budget surplus, a strong economy and a Nation at peace, no wars.

President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Chaney turned over to President Barack Obama a huge budget deficit, a wrecked economy in deep recession, Unresolved 9/11 attack in our Country by Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda and two wars.  The World is better off without Saddam Husain but the high price we paid for the Iraq War that took the lives of so many American soldiers and killed many more innocent Iraqi citizens was unnecessary and unforgivable.  The economic mess he left behind, that contributed to the poor economy of the entire world, was so large and devastating that many thousands of people who have lost jobs and Homes will never be able to recover.

President Barack Obama has saved us from another great depression, reigned in reckless Wall Street, saved the auto Industry from complete collapse, improved the stock market and, according to leading economists, steadily growing the economy and jobs in America.  He reformed healthcare, saved Social Security and Medicare, pulled us out of the Iraq war as promised, dismantled Al Qaida and got Bin Laden.

This list of accomplishments would have received much greater National acclaim except for one thing, he is the first Black President of the United States.  Racism is dividing the country as much as ideology or Party values.  ”When they say it’s not about Race…   It’s about Race”.
        

POLITICAL DIVIDE

Jeb Bush misspoke in his “Face the Nation” interview on Sunday March 10, 2013, saying Obama won the election in some ways by dividing the country.

We live in an intensely Partisan society run by a harshly divided government. Today’s Congress is probably the most partisan than any time in our history.

In My Opinion

I am an Independent, not affiliated with any Party, but I believe that the Republican Party plans to cut entitlement programs in order to reduce taxes for big business allowing them to create larger profits then rely on their “trickle-down” theory

CONGRESS UNTOUCHED BY SEQUESTRATION

Congress has failed again to prevent catastrophic sequestration due to inflexible partisan gridlock, both sides placing Party values over public interest. Republicans control the House

PAUL RYAN

Mitt Romney would have made a good President.  He is a smart, successful business personality with somewhat of a moderate ideology that might have reduced partisanship in Congress.

I was encouraged by his campaign right up until he chose Paul Ryan

TRENDING IN CONGRESS: Party vs Policy

Obama begins his second term facing the same fiercely competitive ideologies he sought to alleviate.  The President and House Republicans seem unwilling to agree or compromise on any of the issues that might prevent drastic across the board tax increases and spending cuts, set to kick in automatically on March 1, 2013, that economists predict would lead to another recession.

DIRTY PARTY’S

The United States can no longer endure the great political division that is sweeping across the country.  We expect Politicians to support their Party’s interests but Parties have become partisan to the extreme and it’s not just politicians, it’s people all across the country.  

NATIONAL DEBT REDUCTION IN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE ECONOMY

First, cut benefits to those not entitled to receive them.

Second, cut salaries and perks for all Congressmen and women, they should not be sheltered from a recession the rest of us have to deal with.

THE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM CONUNDRUM

Why do so many who depend on Social Security, Medicare or other Government entitlement programs for their very survival argue against those very entitlements including educational programs which prepares them to compete in a tight employment market…

Election 2012 Results

 In the beginning it appeared that Barack Obama mistakenly believed that he would win the election easily, so with little preparation, he lost the first debate to a well prepared and experienced debater, Mitt Romney, who won the

DECISSION TIME

America has come to a fork in the road to the future.  Do we take the path to the left or the right.  Road signs are confusing and misleading, both paths riddled with pitfalls and obstacles.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

The Electoral College, administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is not a place.  It is a process that began as part of the original design of the U.S. Constitution.  The Electoral College was established by the founding fathers as a compromise between

SENIOR CITIZENS

Senior Citizens are among the most active voters and it is imperative that we remain vigilant to protect and preserve Social Security and Medicare not just for ourselves, but for our children, grandchildren

TEXAS

The State of Texas

Texas enjoys a national top rated economy… and growing, topped only by New York and California.  Noted for producing jobs and vast exports of its products.  Very attractive to prospective businesses for its low taxes and great business environment

PARTY POLITICS

It’s human nature.
Each one of us view life and the world differently having our own perception of politics and interpretation of human nature, influenced by our vocation, experience and ancestry, that is the basis for our opinion of society and politics.  We instinctively look for politicians that

ELECTION 2012

 

With the added influence of the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street protestors this presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most interesting campaigns for the White House in our history.  It is sure to be more about Party than Policy.