Tag: promises

The Truth Of The Obama Promises

THis is from the Chicago Tribune section called “Truth Squad”.

On energy

“In 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.”—Sen. Barack Obama

The facts: U.S. oil imports from the Middle East amount to about 22 percent of the 13.5 million barrels of oil imported daily, according to the Energy Information Administration. The nation’s biggest suppliers outside the Middle East are Canada, Mexico and Venezuela, accounting for 40 percent of U.S. oil imports.

On budget surpluses

The Bush administration “took us from record surpluses to an exploding national debt; from over 22 million new jobs down to 5 million; from an increase in working family incomes of $7,500 to a decline of more than $2,000; from almost 8 million Americans moving out of poverty to more than 51/2 million falling into poverty—and millions more losing their health insurance.” — former President Bill Clinton

The facts: Clinton, helped by a decade-long economic expansion, recorded four straight years of budget surpluses. They ended in 2001, whittled away by a recession and the cost of fighting terrorism after 9/11 and President George W. Bush‘s tax cuts. Bush has recorded some of the highest deficits in history in dollar terms.

On health care

“Barack Obama will bring down health-care costs by $2,500 for the typical family and, at long last, deliver affordable, accessible health care for all Americans.” — Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware

The facts: Obama’s health-care plan does not provide for universal health-care coverage. He promises to make it affordable and would require children to be covered, but not adults. Estimates of how many would remain without insurance vary.

The facts: Obama did none of this single-handedly, but as a member of the Illinois Senate. He helped expand an existing children’s health insurance program. He also helped pass legislation to raise the income threshold for eligibility and make the temporary program permanent.

Obama Tackles National Security

Barack Obama laid the foundations for a new US foreign policy yesterday ahead of his trips to Europe and the Middle East, promising to work with allies to tackle the threats of the 21st century with a push comparable to the Marshall plan.

In his biggest speech on the matter since entering the presidential race in 2007, he said the US had “paid the price for a foreign policy that lectures without listening”.

He set out five goals for his presidency: ending the war in Iraq; finishing the war with al-Qaida and the Taliban; ending US oil dependency; securing all nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue states; and rebuilding US alliances.

“As president, I will pursue a tough, smart and principled national security strategy – one that recognises that we have interests not just in Baghdad, but in Kandahar and Karachi, in Tokyo and London, in Beijing and Berlin,” Obama told an audience at the Ronald Reagan building in the heart of Washington DC.

An ambitious plan and with a realistic eye, he may be able to definitely accomplish one, two are ify at best and two are so out reach that they are pie in sky promises.  If elected, Obama should be held to this plan to the letter.

Candidates Blow Smoke On Energy

When it comes to a coherent energy policy neither candidate has really levelled with the US public about what is facing them in the future. Most of the debate is couched in terms of “energy security” – about the need for America to wean itself off Middle Eastern oil.

There are some generalised promises from both sides about efficiency standards for vehicles, investment in renewables and biofuels – which was a big component of the US answer to energy security and climate change – until food prices started spiralling upwards, thanks to the policy of turning corn into fuel. But there is almost no talk about demand management, conservation and making lifestyle changes, which will be essential if America is going to have any chance of meeting either candidate’s promises of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Obama makes a big deal about how he unveiled his new fuel efficiency standards for vehicles in Detroit in front of the car makers “and the room went really quiet”. What he does not say is that Americans are going to need to make personal changes too, including moving to smaller cars, more public transport and a much bigger commitment to energy efficiency.

Obama’s energy policy promises to tackle building codes and to mandate low-energy lightbulbs throughout America by 2014, to save 88 billion kilowatt hours of electricity a year.    This idea is not that good either,read my posts on the new light bulbs.  They also will be a ticking time bomb that will bite the world in the butt.

But what he is not telling the people is that his plan for a carbon price to make renewables more competitive and to subsidise their development is going to see electricity costs rise sharply. The other part of the energy equation that is still a sleeper is nuclear power. Obama and McCain say they will allow new nuclear reactors to be built. Neither is saying where.

The big difference between them is that McCain has said he will proceed with plans to store nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain, a repository that has been 10 years in the approval process.

Obama, who is hoping to win Nevada, has ruled out storing waste in Yucca Mountain, instead offering “to lead federal efforts to look for a safe long-term disposal solution”.

Meanwhile, McCain’s buses bearing the slogan Straight Talk Express and Obama’s with Change We Can Believe In rumble through America. The candidates are not levelling with the public, while the energy industry continues to paint a sunny picture of the future.

America’s coal industry is running a campaign promising “clean coal, America’s future”; the petroleum industry promises blue skies with its cleaner diesel fuels for trucks, and the energy companies insist that they are doing their bit on renewables.

Just thought I would let you know just what you will be getting if either candidate is elected.

The Battle Over Entitlements

The Republicans are saying in this election cycle that the biggest problem that the country and government will face is how to pay for the entitlement programs, like Social Security, medicare, etc. There plan and one that McCain is embracing hardily is to give tax cuts and lower entitlement payments.

You know I have listened and thought on this subject for several days and I have come up with a novel idea—END THE WAR! (sarcasm intended) How many trillions, that is trillions with a “T”, is the war gonna cost the American taxpayer? Could not that money be spent here in this country on…I don’t know….entitlements?

Have you noticed that both candidates are promising jobs or emplyment. But they are not addressing the immediate concerns of the people. They both are giving obscure solutions to complex problems. Hell, I will promise you whatever you want if you will vote for me. My point is, they ALL have lied to you and you do not seem to care. You do not hold them accountable for their lies. Why is that?

Both plans seem to say, “screw the American taxpayer”. Why not? After all they are the ones that finance the whole damn government. Corporations get all the assistence they can stand, but yet the people and the entitlement programs have to stand raid after raid just to make a few a couple more bucks. At what point do the American people become the most important issue? At what point do the American people who have fought and worked for this country deserve an adequate life?

What part of this government is truly showing a concern for the American people? Better yet, what part of this government is a government for the people? Your vote is very important, so please use it wisely. Do not let them keep your ignorant, learn the issues and how it will realistically impact your life, not the lame promises of the past, but real issues and real solutions.

Now Can The Change Begin?

We now have our presumnptive Repub and Dem nominees.  One is called a maverick, but yet he voted with Bush 95% of the time and the other in a fresh new face that may not be corrupted by the system in Washington, yet.  Both promise to bring change in one form or another, but is this a new thing, a new ideal for government?  Hell no!  Candidates have been promising that since the beginning of this experiment.

Carter in 1976 was all about change–a snooze at best.  Bush, both of them were all about change…ROFLMAO!  It is a common theme if you want to be elected…promise something new and different and once elected you play the game as is.

Now the question is will either of the two candidates really bring change?  Look at the Repub–do not think there is much change in that platform.  Now the Dem–the biggest question mark is this candidate.  He does not have enough record to judge accurately….but that could be something in his favor…I have said for months now that the only way to judge him if elected is his choice for VP…that IMO, will be the most telling thing.

Just remember:  CHANGE is just a word….it is often used…but seldom delivered!

SEIU: Stern Wins Fight Over Power

Andy Stern, the president of the Service Employees International Union, went into its convention under heavy fire from one of its largest locals, but he emerged stronger — overwhelmingly re-elected for another four years and with his power consolidated.

At the convention in San Juan, P. R., which ended on Wednesday, the nearly 2,000 delegates followed Mr. Stern’s lead and voted to give the union’s top officials more power to bargain with large, nationwide employers, somewhat reducing the role of individual locals in negotiations.

Mr. Stern has repeatedly argued that as employers grow larger and operate at a national and even international level, unions must do the same. To help deal with these ever-larger employers, he persuaded the delegates to create nationwide industry bargaining councils.

In an unusual move, Mr. Stern said, “I pledge we will, before the next convention,” gain legislation “that guarantees affordable health care for every man, every woman and every child.” He also pledged that Congress would pass legislation to make it easier to unionize millions of additional workers.

Now these are ambitious promises and hopefully the rank and file will hold them to their promises.  If not then, make them pay.

Is It Really Time For A Change?

Yes, is the short answer to the question. But unfortunately, Americans will most likely get reform, not change. There will be NO change, regardless who wins the election in November.

Just about to the person the Big 3, candidates, are promising some form or degree of change in Washington. But the question that Americans should be asking is, which, if any, will truly bring the change they are promising? A national “hero”? A woman? Or how about the African-American? Now ask, where will the change begin? From an unsuccessful, impotent Congress? Just where would this promised change come from?

Change? As I have already said, more like some form or another of reforms, not change. These candidates want to reform Washington so that the “business as usual” will become a thing of the past. Thinking…….but does that not mean using the powers that be? if so, then why would there be any change or reform? It would mean that someone, somewhere would lose their power and that will not be happening.

Reform is more preferable in this 2 party system. Why, you ask? Reforms can be short lived, they are easily overturned at a later date and they give the illusion that change has occurred, but with limited success.

For reforms to be achievable, then there needs to be a national crisis to discredit a sitting administration. We have that–the economy. The Repubs have nothing on the economy, their proposals are nothing but a continuation of the situation that has put the economy in crisis. So they keep the dialog on national security, because their economic policies are as thin as Waffle House bacon.

The Repubs have stuck to the same lame policies they had a 100 years ago–words change, but the ideology remains the same. Defend the weak central government, deny there is a class conflict, and that business is the answer to ALL problems. On the other hand the Dems have stuck to their same lame talking points–equality of taxation, class struggles, and more control of business. And for the same 100 years of their counterparts.

Reformers do not want change, only some adjustments to what is. Reformers appeal to the sensibilities of the people to make them feel the heavy weight of the situation and to prod them into a false since of responsibility by voting. Once they are successful and the people have “spoken”, then all reverts back to the status quo.

November will usher in a historical race and the American people will participate in making that history. But unfortunately their participation will not bring the change that they say they seek. About the only thing they have to look forward to is some minor reforms to give an illusion of change.

People! People! Politics is about marketing, not about what is best for the country and its people. The word CHANGE is just part of the marketing scheme offered to the voter. Please do NOT hold your breath waiting for the promised change…..I promise you will turn blue and die before the change occurs.

Clinton Calls On Congress

Clinton returned to one of her major campaign themes Monday — the economic impact of the home mortgage crisis — and called on Congress to provide $30 billion to help states and communities lessen the number of foreclosures.  Think about that for a minute.  (pause)

How nice, but what will this do to help people in trouble?  Not a damn thing!  It will possibly make her a bit more appealing to the voter, but as far as any help goes….they will continue to wait.

Come on, people….ok…I call on the Congress to raise minimum wage to $10 an hour and to provide health coverage to all people and to shit hole the E85 comedy.  (pause)   Now do I get your vote?  Hell no, you have no idea who I am and that I am delusional to think it will happen because I ask for it.

BINGO, bird brains!   I will not happen because Clinton calls for it.  Grow up and use your head for something beyond a hat rack.