Is the Right Sabotaging the Economy for Political Gain?

From the beginning of the Obama Administration the Republicans have made one thing clear, they want the President to fail. They have said so publicly on numerous occasions, not only right wing talkers but Congressmen and Senators as well. They have constantly spouted false facts showing every action taken by the Obama administration has been a failure.

Republicans cannot run on their record on the record of the previous administration because of their utter and obvious failures in the economy, foreign policy, the wars, and doing anything to move this country forward. So their only play is to make things appear worse, to make the Obama administration appear to be a bigger failure then they are.

One problem, Obama has been one of the most successful Presidents in living memory. He has taken an economy on the brink of depression and propped it up, stopped the slide and began the turn around. One by one he has either succeeded or is on the path to success on almost every campaign promise he made. Ending the war in Iraq, taking Afghanistan seriously, Health Care, Finance Reform, Don't ask, don't tell, increasing resources and having increased success securing the borders, stopping the hemorrhaging of jobs and soon energy policy.

So how do the Republicans run against such success? Lie. Constantly claim the stimulus was a failure which by now it is clear it wasn't, make sure that nothing happens ongoing to help the economy, stall any more stimulus, let a quarter of a million teachers get laid off, damaging the employment numbers, refusing to extend unemployment benefits that causes damage to the economy well beyond the unemployed workers, attempt to stop the remaining stimulus money already approved from doing the good it was meant for. Just to name a few things they have done or are doing.

It is sad,that Republicans have put their own political futures above the well being of the United States and the economic situation of its citizens. All for what, to go back to the polices that made the rich, richer, allowed the oil companies unregulated access to put our environment at risk, and the cause such economic destruction that put half a million workers out of work a month. Stagnation on improvement of energy policies, health care, and foreign policy. Not to mention endless wars and the loss of trust and prestige throughout the world putting our nation more at risk.

So their slogan should be: Say No to a better future, Vote Republican.

A Tale of Two Countries

"It was the best of times,


it was the worst of times;


it was the age of wisdom,


it was the age of foolishness;


it was the epoch of belief,



it was the epoch of incredulity;


it was the season of Light,


it was the season of Darkness;


it was the spring of hope,


it was the winter of despair;


we had everything before us,


we had nothing before us;


we were all going directly to Heaven,


we were all going the other way." -



Words of course by Charles Dickens in a Tale of Two Cities

Signs of the Obama Recovery More Clear Every Day

Despite the continued drum beat of RepubLIEcans that the stimulus package has failed, saying it over and over again doesn't make it true. Though less then 50% of the stimulus funds have yet to be spent its clear positive effect on the economy is becoming very clear.

Housing Values are recovering every month.

2009 will be the best year on Wall Street since 2003 with 20% gains.

Gas prices remain significantly lower then previous highs during the last administration.

The Federal tax rate is at its lowest point in 70 years, with 95% of Americans receiving a tax cut in 2009.

And the most lagging indicator is beginning to show signs of recovery. New jobless claims numbers show the lowest amount since 2000, and continuing jobless claims have dropped to the level at the beginning of the year. Finally a survey of employers shows a significant percentage plan to increase their hiring in 2010.

So despite the RepubLIEcans trying to do everything to obstruct and deny the real solutions put in place by the Democrats and the Obama administration, the hard work by our leaders have shown clear positive results.

It may be hard for some to realize real solutions have taken time, as opposed to short term false band aids typical of Republican administrations. So they can try to continue their lies and false claims of higher taxes and economic failure, when it will soon be clear to all Americans that it was Republican leadership and policies that brought our country to the brink of economic disaster and it was democrats who fixed their mess.

Republicans Have Become Irrelevant

Despite the fact that Barack Obama was elected in a landslide, despite the fact that the voters gave huge majorities in Congress to the Democrats, despite the fact people did both based on the issues and policies they want to see implemented and finally despite the fact those policies are being implemented as promised, the Republicans continue to fight the will of the American people.

Why? Is it about doing what is best for America? Is it based on real issues and facts? Is it about doing what their constituents want? No. Their actions and even their words are clear. They are doing it because they want Obama to fail.

Just look at what has happened. Obama has bent over backwards to reach out in a bi partisan way, yet again and again the Republicans spit in his face. Then after voting en mass for solely political reason then blame him for not being bi-partisan.

Other evidence of their motives have been their constant spouting of distortions and lies. Several weeks ago they shouted to anyone that would listen that the stimulus bill was a failure. Now that all economic indicators and most economists prove otherwise we hear nothing but the sound of crickets on that topic. The few things we do hear is "well it cost too much." Well I have news for the Republicans, when someone pokes holes in the roof of your house as George W Bush and the Republican polices have done to the house of our economy, you have to spend money to fix it to save the house. That is what Barack Obama and the Democrats have done.

Now comes the health care debate, instead of working toward improving a seriously flawed system that is the cause of 1/3 of the bankruptcies in the United States, that has lead to us having the most expensive health costs in the world to get a mediocre 37th best in the world care, they fight it with lies and distortions.

They scare the elderly and others with absolute lies about Death Panels and Abortion. Things that no one, that is NO ONE, would put in the health care bill. They create fear with repeats of the lies over and over that only the most uninformed or blindly partisan believe. They are stirring up racial hate and violence with words, with tone, with actions.

How does this help America?

In fact it is not only hurting our country but it is ultimately destroying what is left of the Republican Party. It is causing informed citizens to ignore more and more the rabble of nonsense coming from the right. It is causing those that have been fooled once, even twice or three times with misinformation to feel embarrassed they may have repeated such nonsense. As in the old quote that everyone but George W. Bush knows, "fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me." There is a lot of shame going around to those that have been listening to the right.

Since their lack of votes on the Supreme Court Nomination, and the Stimulus Package have proven, the Republicans have no intention of ever voting for anything the President proposes, whether it is whats best for the country or not. So sooner or later, hopefully sooner, the Democrats will stop wasting time listening to Republican lip service and do the work that America needs and wants.

The Whig party was once a very powerful force in this nation. So were the Republicans. I wonder what party will rise to replace them.

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!

Class Warfare at its Worst

If you listen to the right, the stimulus package and the housing package is all about the government taking money from "responsible" people and giving it to "losers." Crap! By the right I mean Republicans in Congress, talking heads on cable news, Faux news especially and of course the blowhards on right wing radio.

The biggest problem with their argument is, as usual its not based in fact in anyway whatsoever. If you listen to them, the entire economic crises has been caused by irresponsible people getting loans they didn't deserve or couldn't afford. That any help for people for those having a mortgage crises is just throwing money to dead beats.

Dead beats? Let's look at the bad mortgages for a moment. Yes there are a few that took loans that they could not afford, knew they couldn't afford it and never expected to afford them. Very few. The vast majority of these loans in trouble were in fact given to people that made reasonable careful decisions based on history. They expected, like has been the case for many years, that two things were a given. Those things being that they would have more income in the future, and the value of their home would increase. Until the last year very few people in this country did not operate with that belief. I myself was told more times then I have hairs on my head that it was stupid to rent that its just throwing money away. That I should get into a mortgage any mortgage because I can't lose. Luckily for me I didn't listen. But how many did? Millions. Meanwhile the mortgage brokers, the Realtors, the developers, the banks, the security traders all got rich off these loans with little risk. They used policies not forced on them, not demanded by anyone, but because they could make money. Period. Yet if you listen to the right it's the homeowners at fault, and not the greed of these people.

They love to blame of all things the "community reinvestment act." Let's talk about that act for a moment. It is not as the right would have you believe, an act that forced banks to give loans to poor jobless black people. In fact the purpose of that act few disagreed with. At the time of major bank acquisitions, when the local banks were being gobbled up by major banks, there was genuine concern that money invested in your local bank would be invested no where near where its depositors were. Instead of building homes and businesses in your community, it would be building casino's in Vegas, High rises in New York City, or retirement communities in Florida. The community reinvestment act simply required Banks to invest in the communities they served, where their deposits came from. Period. The use of this as a scape goat by the right is only one of a series of thinly veiled racist accusations.

Another huge group of mortgages in trouble are refinanced mortgages. These are not homes for the poor or the barely solvent. These were to provide additional funds to build pools, take vacations, pay for college, open businesses. Some of these yes were taken out by the unwise without thinking, the vast majority seemed a good risk at the time based on history of property values and income.

The stimulus nor the mortgage recovery plan has a single thing to do with redistributing wealth. It is to stem a tide that began in the Reagen era. A belief that if you allow the wealthy to get wealthier the benefits would trickle down. Instead what happened is that greed led to more greed, false wealth was created, many got rich, yet heaven forbid we blame them as they have money now and are "winners", it's the losers that are losing their homes at "fault". Again I say, Crap!

Before you are quick to blame all these "losers", you better take a quick look at the value of your house. What position would you be in if either you or your spouse lost your job? How quickly can you be suddenly jump from the "winner" category to the "loser" group.

The fact is the stimulus package and the mortgage relief packages as proposed by our President will help everyone winners and losers. It will stem the tide that is leading all of us, yes all of us, toward economic ruin. So put your racist finger pointing in check and realise this is what America needs, and that includes us all.

Austria and Tiberi put politics before jobs and education

As expected Congressmen Steve Austria and Pat Tiberi walked in lock step with fellow loser Republicans to maintain their course of putting politics above the citizens of their districts. The voted no on the stimulus package despite the fact it was the policies and their party that lead this country down this path.

Thank goodness the voters of the this country in most districts have put men like this in the minority in congress and our country can move forward on improving the economy and the lives of Americans despite them.

The whining of the republicans on this bill has been laughable. Tiberi complained it did nothing about the mortgage crisis. Well genius does it address it directly, no this is a jobs stimulus package. The mortgage crises is being dealt with in various other ways and in other bills and he knows this. Regardless Americans losing their jobs by the 10's of thousands is not helping the mortgage crises either. So this will in fact in a indirect way have a positive effect on that.

The other bogus claim is they didn't have time to read the bill. Bull pucky. This bill has been debated and discussed for weeks. They manage to find little pieces of it to take out of context and twist to complain about but somehow don't know whats in the bill? The bill as passed had only a few changes. Each and every congressman and Senator has a huge staff, this is what they are for, to read, analyze and provide the information to their bosses.

President Obama was unbelievably gracious and understanding when it came to getting the input from the Republicans on this bill. The bill was changed in ways not for the good, in my opinion, based on this input. The President reached out and acted in a bi partisan manner as he promised he would. The Republicans chose to still turn their backs on him and the country.

Quite clearly the Republicans didn't learn from their blistering defeat at the polls in November. Perhaps they will learn in 2 years when their numbers decrease even further. American has chosen leadership over partisan political games. Leadership will win.

Voinovich and GOP holds America Hostage

600,000 workers lost their jobs last week, that makes it the worst month for jobs in 35 years. Yet republicans like George Voinovich are holding America hostage to try to force on us more of their failed economic policies that have lead our economy to the brink of ruin.

While they bicker and fight for real stimulus they push for tax cuts for corporations and the rich. While people lose their homes, their livelihood and ways to even feed their families, they push for cuts in food stamp programs. They have demanded we cut provisions spending on schools, on health care for the unemployed, to give the rich more tax cuts. They cut aid to states to provide services to its citizens so that to keep colleges, roads, health care, and other vital services solvent the states will have to raise taxes.

While companies lay off, close doors, struggle to survive, the republicans try to rewrite history by denying the stimulus spending by FDR is what saved this country in the 30's despite all historical and evidence proving otherwise. They try to blame democrats for the mess our country is in while it was a Republican administration and Republican congress that took a surplus and a vibrant economy and turned it in the biggest deficit and the most crippled economy in 70 years.

People like George Voinovich have the chance to negotiate and work out real solutions and a real stimulus package but instead he walks out fighting to keep the failed republican policies in place that led to this mess.

We need action now, we need real stimulus now, not a bill so watered down because of republican blackmail that will do little but just pay off corporate interests with their tax cuts. 42% of the bill is now republican tax bribes to their corporate interests. More money thrown away that has proven to do nothing to stimulate this economy.

Democrats must lead, they must pass a bill that works, despite the blackmail of the republicans. When we lead, when we do what works, it is them that will suffer in the polls in two years. If we let them prevent them from allowing us to lead and take real action then it will be democrats that suffer. That is their strategy, keep hold America and its economy hostage so they can have any chance of winning seats in 2 years.

How Dare They

I have had enough of listening to the Republicans spewing their partisan crap about the stimulus bill.

Republicans lecuturing on increasing the deficit? These are the morons that took our country from a surplus to the largest deficit in history, but now suddenly when democrats are in charge and are left with an economic mess created by republican leadership they have found the anti deficet religion? Spare me.

The President, even though he does not have to, has been trying to reach out to republicans to come up with a true bi partisan bill with lots of ideas involved. What do the republicans do, the same old crap, cut taxes for corporations, blame democrats for TARP, which EXCUSE ME was Bush's bill. Pushed for, and mismanaged by HIS people, NOT DEMOCRATS.

Republicans have had 8 years to test out their economic theories, they have failed miserably. This is not theory, this is not ideology, this is fact. Their theories have lead us to the worse recession in 25 years. People are losing jobs at incredible rates, homes are being lost, lives are being ruined.

These fools complain about spending in the stimulus package increasing funding for unemployment, state and local needs, education, and other help programs. Well NO KIDDING, your policies threw hundreds of thousands out of work, your policies are bankrupting our cities, our states our schools. Your policies who have made only the rich richer and corporations thrive on false wealth, have created real hardship in this country. So yes there is spending, because there is a republican created mess that has to be cleaned up.

Bi partisan ship means sharing good ideas, not holding the country hostage to continue your worn out failed policies.

Despite the attempt the rewrite history buy claiming FDR's policies failed to restore the economy, the fact is he did save our economy. Democratic ideas and programs saved this country that was left in a mess by the Republican Hoover, and once again it will be democrats and democratic ideals and programs that will fix your mess again.

So frankly Republicans, shut up and get out of the way, its time for the country to be fixed by Democrats once again.

House Democrats take action without Republicans

Despite talk about bi partisan ship by republicans. Despite President Obama reaching out to them, listening to them, and then changing the bill, the house Republicans showed the are more concerned about politics then the countries well being and voted no en mass against the Stimulus Package.

Guess what, it passed anyway.

House Republicans have just made themselves irrelevant. Good luck getting anything you want from the President or the Democratic Leadership in Congress the next two years.

You had a chance, you blew it.

The Democrats once again truly put country first, Republicans as usual put failed political games first.

Message to Capital Hill Republicans

YOU LOST!!!

Americans have had enough of your partisan games. Americans have had enough of your promising voodoo economics of save the rich, to hell with everyone else. Americans have had enough of the economic disaster your policies have created. Americans have had enough of taking away all regulation so that a few can make fortunes with fake wealth on the back of most of us. Americans have had enough of thousands of jobs being lost everyday while you spew your partisan crap slowing down action on the economy.

We have had enough of you.

This stimulus package will pass with our without you. The Democrats are in charge now so the economy will recover our way, without you.

Your false claims, policies and promises have been exposed and will continue to be.

Bipartisanship does not mean the winners have to continue the path and the policies set by losers. Bipartisanship means all will come to reasonable compromise which clearly you have shown no intention of doing.

Yes you lost this election by following the path you are now. Keep it up and soon will be even less of you to spew your nonsense on capital hill.

Vote yes, or vote no, one shows you do want results one shows you have no desire to get reelected.