Having read the transcript of the speech Mr. Obama, I think he puts forward a case for necessary reforms and political change. Issues such as health care reform, education and finance reform, a commitment to promoting renewable energy were the highlights of his speech. He also touched on taking action to stabilize the banks, helping credit worthy borrowers to find affordable refits, and regulatory reform. These are all questions that are watching us in the face for a while, but have not had the attention and commitment behind the decision for them to tackle them. In addition, the president expressed his support for American troops fighting for us around the world, promising better pay and benefits, and before leaving the service and afterwards.
He even does a good job of justifying most of the stimulus package, saying states that have been overlooked in an attempt to showcase the Republican pork. He drew attention to the push for more alternative forms of energy, infrastructure, middle and lower class tax cuts, tuition tax credits, and extended unemployment benefits and health coverage. While helping those in need, will now help in the short term, what I like most about this plan is not to ignore the long-term interests in order to score a few brownie points close. the appointment of inspectors and inspection under the guidance of Joe Biden will address some of the abuses of this kind of spending can create.
the thing that impressed me most about all of the speech, but his focus on long-term solution, was his lack of fear to tell Wall Street that he really did not care what they think about their programs. He made it clear that they will not let the market dictate what the American domestic political needs, offering constructive solutions to the future for short-term profits and gains.
is the official Republican response submitted to Governor Jindal was predictable. He criticized the president plans and initiatives, pointing to a deficit that will be caused the bemoaning plan to expand the role of government. He reiterated the classic Republican battle cry less government. House GOP leader John Boehner, also promotes a "small government", was more complimentary. Boehner said he felt that the President made an "exceptional case" and that it was very close to the talks that he will give.
can find a Republican call for smaller, less intrusive government and criticism of deficit spending to be disingenuous at best, really hypocritical at worst. This is the same party, when they had control of the White House and Congress voted to expand government by creating new departments such as Homeland Security instead of reconstruction and the creation of cooperation between existing CIA and FBI. This is the same party that hacked away at the basic civil rights for the creation and adoption of the Patriot Act that allows the government unprecedented and unrestricted access to private information and eliminates the need for transparency in judicial proceedings. Your library book checkout list, your credit card charges, your internet use, all subject to government supervision. You could literally be picked up and taken away, your home is searched, to be held without charge for unlimited time permit anonymous and untouchable court only on the government suspected of wrongdoing. This is the Republican version of the smaller and less intrusive government?
As for the deficit spending, tell me, how billions of dollars spent on the war that was launched on false and trumped up information used in this country and help our economy? We do not even know what the real count so far for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, let alone the future of total costs. Despite all the money we spent, we lose the war in Afghanistan and created nothing but a long-term commitment to fiscal and global ill will with the war in Iraq. We are committed to the reconstruction of Iraq and its infrastructure, spending money on schools, hospitals, roads, police and security forces to the Iraqis when we can not fund our own. All this for a country that our excessive use of oil helps to be rich, even without our tax dollars going to work for them. Where is the Republican in Congress cried when we went from a balanced budget to record deficit spending to less than 5 years for that to happen?
and, of course, no Republican in Congress or the White House has never been funded pork projects, while the control ... The bridge to nowhere, anyone?
I will argue that Obama, their platforms, and its stimulus plan was perfect. They do not. I will argue that the plan is a model for targeted and effective spending. It is not. But we sit around, take a sharp stand and do nothing? Do you take any action at all, because few in Washington, both sides play "I'll stroke your back if you stroke my" game to get anything done? Do we stick with the tried and true, although it does not work, because we have to spend money to invest in what it takes to move to the next level? Do we hold the future hostage to just score a few political points, or to have a better shot at the next election? I do not think so. And in the privacy of your own heart, nor the majority of congressional Republicans.
tough times require bold action. Only time will tell if President Barack Obama campaign and the Democratic Congress will take the right ones, and what is the cost if they fail. But what is the cost if we do nothing? Mr. Obama has repeatedly struck a note of hope in his speech to repeat his belief in the determination, strength, and drive the American people. We look for those characteristics not only of myself, but from our elected officials. This is a nation of thinkers and doers. Let's act like it.
