Another Obama Success

With just over 6 months in office President Obama is quickly showing to be one of the most successful and effective Presidents our nation has had in a long time. Despite the unprecedented mess he was left with by the failures of the Bush Administration he has quickly and effectively dealt with each one with speed and effectiveness.

The newest clear success has been the "cash for clunkers" program. This rebate program to stimulate sales in the ailing auto industry and remove more gas guzzlers from the road replacing with more fuel efficient vehicles, has been a bigger success then anyone dreamed. 1 billion dollars has flowed into our economy in 4 days. This has helped the auto industry, improved our fuel consumption, saved jobs, and helped individuals economically by saving them money at the gas pumps.

Another success is Iraq. A year ago he was practically being accused of being a traitor for wanting to get out troops out of Iraq. Now a leading Colonel has stated things are such we should leave now. What is more amazing many on the right are now suddenly agreeing. In short Obama's Iraq strategy has been a huge success so far.

The Banks were on the brink of failure. Massive tax dollars were spent propping this greedy inefficient institutions from the brink of collapsing our economy. Now in 7 short months, those banks are paying back the money. Who would have believed that would happen that fast when Obama took office.

GM and Chrysler were both in huge trouble. The failure of these two companies could have cost up to 3 million jobs. The President was blasted for his actions. Yet today we have two companies that have quickly gone through reorganization and are on their feet and reopening plants. Another disaster averted and a successful policy by our President.

Finally the Stimulus Package. Despite the lies and misinformation being spread by the right the two year plan of the American Recovery Act is right on schedule. Only 25% of the way in time wise, 20% of the funds have been spent. All over the country Infrastructure is being repaired, Schools being fixed or refurbished, cops put on the streets, jobs are being created in construction, engineering, architecture and many other sectors. Republican Governors all over the country are verbally trashing the stimulus as they do photo ops giving giant size checks, taking credit for it. If the first 6 months of this plan is any indication, the stimulus plan will show to be another huge success.

One of the biggest frustrations Americans have with politicians is that they make promises as they campaign that they never live up to. Obama is clearly fulfilling the promises he made to the American People.

Now on to Health Care Reform!

Who Broke the Window?

When I was a kid I was clearing the screen on an etch-a-sketch a bit too vigorously and it somehow managed to fly through my parents huge glass picture window. Now in my humble opinion I was a pretty smart kid, well except for how I cleared the etch a sketch, within seconds I was carefully cleaning up the glass.

As expected my parents came flying out to the living room to ask, who broke the window? My response was that it wasn't important how it got broken but that there was glass everywhere and we have to clean it up.

Have you noticed that is how Bush and McCain govern.

Terrorists attack the United States and kill 3000. When questions were asked about the warnings that the Bush administration had, their response was, that what was important is that we do what we need to do now to get the terrorists.

Bush lies us into a war with McCain's support. The response, well how we got into the war is old news, its the surge that matters.

New Orleans drowns and Bush and FEMA show total ineptness at reacting to the problem, causing the additional deaths and suffering of hundreds if not thousands. Their response, no point in pointing fingers except its the democratic governors fault, but we need to work to bring the city back.

Now we are on the brink of an Economic meltdown. Bush, McCain and the Republicans who's 20 years of gutting our economic system of all the safeguards that were put in to prevent this from happening are saying, this isn't a time for blame, we have to work together to fix this.

You know what. My parents didn't fall for this tactic on the window and neither should we. Its time for Blame. The policies of the Republicans like George W. Bush in power have put our country at risk to terrorism, war, more vulnerable to natural disaster and now economic ruin.

Yes it is squarely the fault of the Republicans. Its time for change. Its time for Barack Obama.

Bush and McCain Really Said This?

Today George W. Bush said: "bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century."

Yesterday McCain said: "in the 21st century nations don't invade other nations"

The families of 10's of thousands of dead Iraqis wish these two hypocrites thought of this 6 years ago.

If you wondering why the world has lost all respect for the leaders (and I use that word loosely) of the United States, these two statements pretty much say it all.

McCain makes idle theats, Obama proposes solutions

In typical Bush cowboy diplomacy style, McCain has responded to the Russian attack on Georgia by rattling a non existent saber. It is not only laughable to the Kremlin when McCain spouts idle threats, considering our military is stretched thin because of Bush's war, but it makes not only John McCain but our country look incredibly weak.

Why did Russia do this now? It's simple, because of the foreign policy, economic and energy policies of Bush and McCain, we have increased Russia's strength in the world and seriously weakened anything the United States can do about it.

Just step back and take a look at all the damage now caused by Bush's illegal war that McCain supports and wishes to continue indefinitely. First there is the war on terror that has been neglected. Osama Bin Laden continues to live and plan all safe and cozy somewhere on the Afghanistan border. The Taliban have made a resurgence in Afghanistan itself. The world is on the brink of economic crises due to the effect the Iraq war has had on oil prices. The United States has even lost any moral authority to lead a coalition of countries to take even diplomatic action to solve this crises since we are seen by the world as an aggressor country that attacks sovereign nations without justification as well. And now Russia is clearly in the process of restoring the Soviet Union as tanks now roll through the streets of Georgia.

Now republicans are trying to spin this as proof we need a commander in chief like McCain. It is mind boggling they are even attempting this line of crap. The entire world and hopefully American voters can clearly see this crisis was made possible bythe Bush/McCain style of governing.

How weak is the United States seen around the world? This is from the German Magazine Spiegel: "The West urgently needs to get tough to contain Russia's new-found imperialism in the wake of its military action in Georgia, write German media commentators. The problem is that the EU, as usual, lacks the required unity while the US has a lame duck president whose invasion of Iraq robbed him of authority. "

It reminds me of bullies in high school. Whenever they know they don't have the intelligence to actually deal with an issue, they threaten to beat someone up. The only problem is, usually bullies actually can, McCain just looks weak.

Rather then making weak idle threats, Barack Obama has spoken out clearly about finding diplomatic ways to actually find real solutions to solve this crises. If we needed any more proof this country needs Obama as President, this is it.

The "Surge" in perspective

John McCain wants to make the discussion on Iraq all about the "surge." It is fantastic that violence is down, its wonderful that causalities are down, but lets put this all in perspective.

On September 11, 2001 we were attacked by terrorists under the orders and training of Osama Bin Laden who was in Afghanistan sheltered by the Taliban.

With the support of the world the United States responded, driving the Taliban out of power and putting al queda on the run. We had the enemy that attacked us cornered.

Then the President of the United States, lied to the citizens of our county, and to the world and unilaterally attacked another country who had not attacked us, nor was a threat to the United States. Senator John McCain voted for and supported this disastrous decision.

This attack created chaos in Iraq, it created an environment for al queda to thrive in a country where they never were able to before. It caused us to lose the trust and the respect of the world. It has cost hundreds of thousands of lives, milions of dollars and has had a serious effect on our economy. It allowed Iran to become more defiant and have justification for pursuing it's nuclear program. It has stressed our armed forces to the breaking point and because of the lack of available sufficient forces, the Taliban has regained power in much of Afghanistan and al queda is as strong as in 2001. Bin Laden, the man who attacked us continues to be at large taunting us with his video and audio tapes, and it remains a matter of time before the next attack. All the while John McCain applauds these policies.

The surge did one thing, was to calm the chaos Bush created with McCain's approval. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the real enemy is, we are incapable of doing what needs to be done.

McCain and the war mongers like to say, that how we got into the war is old news, it's the success of the surge that matters. I disagree. Having a President lie us into war and making the United States responsible for war crimes, is never old news. We were once the example for the world about honor, truth, and trust. That is all gone. What is even more scary is the thinking that created this disaster, is the same thinking McCain expresses with comments about leaving troops in Iraq for 100 years and shows in his sick humor singing "Bomb, bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran."

Perhaps it's not about the past, it is definitely not about cleaning up some of the mess we created. It is very much about the future and the judgement of the man that will lead our country into it. Shall it be a man that supported every step of Bush's disastrous war and wants to continue similar policies, or the man that opposed it from the beginning and wants to lead our beloved country to a position of respect around the world once again.

Southeastern Ohio Honors Fallen Hero

As I write this the funeral procession for Army Specialist Kyle Norris continues to make its way from Zanesville to Lowell Ohio. Kyle who was 22 gave his life in service to his country near Baghdad.

I passed along the route earlier and found it lined with American flags and many citizens paying their last respects. As the procession proceeded through downtown Zanesville, two fire trucks outlined the street.

The Zanesville Times Recorder followed the procession live on its website as it made its way along the Muskingum River as thousands of citizens in McConnelsville,Beverly and Lowell lined the streets. They reported families coming out of their homes, soliders in battle fatigues, boy scouts and veterans groups among the crowds.

Source: Zanesville Times Recorder

Bush's War PBS tonight

Tonight and tomorrow night at 9pm eastern on PBS' Frontline the Documentary Bush's War by award winning producer Michael Kirk. I have not seen it as of yet but reports are that it is a must see comprehensive look at the entire history of that war.

The Documentary shows how Bush's Cronies perpetrated this fraud on the American People and the world and kept it going for 5 long years.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar

4000 lives

The 4000th solider died today in Iraq. I can't find the words that are sufficient within my self that are appropriate. Instead I will forward the following poem.

The politicians will
Blame each other.
The generals will
Blame each other.
The politicians will
Accuse the generals.
The generals will accuse
The politicians.

Nothing of this
Will help
The dead.

Gush Shalom

He lied and 1,193,471 have died.

While the media and we put our attention and outrage on the sexual indiscretions of some elected officials, a man sits in the oval office every day that committed the most horrid crime a President can do. He lied to the American people and the world to send us to war.

He told us that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and were a danger to our safety. He told us Iraq had ties to the terrorists that attacked us. He continues to tie 9/11 to the Iraq war even after the Pentagon has proven after extensive investigation there were no such ties.

We impeached a President for a lie about his private sexual affairs, yet George W Bush’s lie has led to 1,193,471 deaths of human beings. This includes 3,990 brave American men and women of our military, 308 Military personnel from other countries and no less important 1,189,173 Iraqi lives.

There is no disputing the facts, there were no weapons of mass destruction, and there were no ties to terrorism. Today Bush stood with a straight face in the pentagon, the home of our brave military that he has been responsible for damaging beyond belief, and continued to claim ties to terrorism. He tried to rewrite history by tying the arrests of some al qaeda leaders to the start of the Iraq war, when those arrests were made in Pakistan and Afghanistan not Iraq. He trys to justify his lies by changing the reasons for the war. Redefining the definition of success.

He bragged about the success of the surge when the reality is the surge was successful at helping to improve a bad situation that we created. This reminds me of the kid I went to high school with that taunted non-swimmer to jump in the deep end of the pool, then received a Boy Scout badge for saving his life from drowning.

When I was a boy learning about the atrocities done by dictators and leaders in History, I never understood how these men were allowed by the citizens of their countries to succeed in their crimes against humanity. I watch what George W. Bush has done and I still do not understand.

Bush remains in office. We have allowed it. There is no shortage of complicity in his crimes. We have not held those responsible who voted to allow Bush to take us to war. We have not demanded that congress investigate and bring to justice those that lied to the country and the world. We have continued to let them rewrite history, change the facts, eliminate those within the government and military that have opposed Bush.

People like Hillary Clinton and John McCain don’t want to talk about the mistakes that got us here, they want us to look at the future. We cannot do that. We must not do that. We simply can’t just find the best way out of this mess that these lies have created. We must also make sure this can never happen again.

There must be investigations, there must be consequences and yes those that have committed crimes including George W. Bush must be brought to justice. This must be done for our future for the future of the world and to gain justice for the 1,193,471 that have died because this horrendous crime.

Obama’s “substance:” The War

As Hillary in her desperation to win at any cost begins using a “swift boat” style 527 advertising campaign to trash Obama for being an eloquent speaker, I continue with my 3rd in a series of issues articles that show that Hillary’s whining about speeches and no substance is another of her falsifications.

Both Candidates now say they want to end the war. Obama’s plan is very detailed and laid out on his web site on exactly how many troops will be brought out of Iraq and when. Hillary’s says, will have a meeting about it. Which who knows perhaps after the meeting she will change her mind on the war again.

Barack Obama has never swayed on his opposition to this war from the beginning. Obama was speaking out against this war in 2003 and 2004. In 2005 he called for a phased withdrawal, in 2006 he called for a timetable to remove our troops and in 2007he introduced legislation to have our combat troops removed by March 2008.

Where was Hillary? She is partly responsible for authorizing this war as she voted to do so. She stood by that until the polls showed clearly she would not get elected if she were to continue that course.

Once again the person with the “substance” is Barack Obama.

Read more about Barrack Obama’s plan for ending the war at:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/foreignpolicy/

22 More have died

While the attention has been on the primary elections 22 more American servicemen have died this month in Iraq. 22 men with families, 22 young lives lost in a war that should never have happened.

They died as the Bush, McCain and the republicans talk about how much success we are having in Iraq. They were killed as the republicans justify a war by rewriting history. They continue to chant their mantras about stopping terrorism and protecting America, that we must defeat Al Qaeda. When Iraq never attacked us, Al Qaeda did not exist in Iraq until we started this war.

What is worse is that 22 more families weep while citizens and congress have given a President a pass for lying us into this war, perhaps the worst crime any President could do as commander in chief.

Then follows John McCain who spouts the same exact rhetoric perpetuating the lies and the fear mongering. Demanding some “victory” that no one can define. Saying we may need to have a presence in Iraq a 100 years.

John McCain says the length of time we remain in Iraq is not important. I assure you Senator it is important to the families of the 22 men killed this month and to the hundreds what will die because of men like you prolonging this disaster.

To all the candidates be it known that though other issues seem to get most of the attention these days to these 22 families it is the war that is THE issue.