Tag: Speeches

2012 DNC Convention

I have watched the videos of the speeches….and I am impressed…..the Dems were on message more so than the Repubs…..they made the cases of why Romney sucks…….unlike the GOP whose best line was Obama Sucks…..not in so many words but the implication was there…..

The first night speeches were beautifully orchestrated…..Mrs. Obama gave a helluva speech….emotional yet hopeful…..she has a compelling story….I personally liked the story about the 2004 convention when the Prez gave a keynote speech but had to leave the convention early because his credit card was maxed out….that we all can relate to….

Next was the speech by Julian Castro……..the mayor of San Antonio gave a masterful speech perfect delivery…another compelling story…..but beyond that….he is the face of the Dem Party in coming years……I see him and Deval Patrick going at it in the near future…..

Night two……I watch the vid of Warrens speech….to me, my personal opinion, she gave a good speech but sounded more angry than hopeful….I am not saying I did not agree with what she had to say….just that it was a stump speech and not a convention speech……she gave a adequate speech…..

Now to Bubba, Pres. Clinton, what can we say….Bubba was Bubba……NO body can give a speech like Clinton!  The best speech I have ever heard!  Boy can the man ad lib……absolutely NO body can distill complex issues down to the comprehension of anyone willing to listen…..Brilliant!

The last night was, IMO, all about the troops and the veterans.  The Dems did something that the GOP forgot to do…..thank the vets for their contributions to freedom…..this was a big mistake by the GOP…….

Biden–Joe was Joe….his speech was authentic and like his role of attack dog, he succeeded…he reminded all of the Prez work and the GOP obstructionism….I personally, do not think it was Joe best speech but it was effective….I love Joe…….

Pres. Obama a very good vision speech…….a speech that should rev up the base….a promise of a better future….and he will get my vote because of one thing and one thing only…..he did not forget the troops or the vets……he thank them……. he acknowledged their contributions, something the GOP neglected to do……he touched on all the points that make the Dems who they are….gays, immigrants, the poor, he made his case to the people and it was very effective…..

Mitt got a dead cat bounce after the convention….the Dems should do much better…..In comparison, the Dems convention was heads above the GOP one……they took on issues, real issues, not the “trust me” issues of the GOP…..the one thing that I learned was that conventions in the future will most likely be a 2 day affair….we have seen the last of week long conventions.

The Big “O” Speaks

I was recently chastised by an acquaintance about why I am not more vocal on Obama and his presidency……and it is true….I was very vocal in the past about his candidacy but have not been so since…..first, I think the whole system is sick!  Second,  Obama has been a disappointment to me for he has changed NOTHING in the way DC does business….but with that said I will now commence my broadcast day with a review of his most recent speech, economic speech, delivered in Kansas…..what can I say about Kansas?  Thinking……thinking……NOTHING good….but this is not about the state but rather a speech……

Let me begin, most of these types speeches are mind numbing…..and choked full of one liners that can be used for the 20 second sound bite on cable news shows….

Let me begin with the fact that he threw in some historical events is to my liking…..but I think that Obama should have mentioned the Teddy was running on the Progressive Party platform and NOT as a Repub……and that none of the major ideas were Teddy’s or even Republican…………..second almost everything that was on the platform were issues championed by socialists…..but that would not have been a good idea……Rush and that form of bottom feeder would have had a field day…….God forbid give due where due is warranted….

Now on to his speech…..I was impressed, not because it was a good speech but rather that it took forever to get to the point….he did say a few things that were to the point and spot on….like…..

(Applause.)  I’m here in Kansas to reaffirm my deep conviction that we’re greater together than we are on our own.  I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, when everyone plays by the same rules.  (Applause.)  These aren’t Democratic values or Republican values.  These aren’t 1 percent values or 99 percent values.  They’re American values.  And we have to reclaim them.  (Applause.)

Obama has seem to acknowledge the OWS Movement with his reference of the 99% thing…..could this be the voice of a candidate realizing that the movement is not going away and trying to co-opt it into the Dems running strategy?

And then there were parts that I do NOT agree with……like this point…..

In today’s innovation economy, we also need a world-class commitment to science and research, the next generation of high-tech manufacturing.  Our factories and our workers shouldn’t be idle.  We should be giving people the chance to get new skills and training at community colleges so they can learn how to make wind turbines and semiconductors and high-powered batteries.  And by the way, if we don’t have an economy that’s built on bubbles and financial speculation, our best and brightest won’t all gravitate towards careers in banking and finance.  (Applause.)   Because if we want an economy that’s built to last, we need more of those young people in science and engineering.  (Applause.)  This country should not be known for bad debt and phony profits. We should be known for creating and selling products all around the world that are stamped with three proud words:  Made in America.  (Applause.)

The part I disagree with is the innovation part…..why?  Well, let’s look at Steve Jobs……a great innovator but almost all the jobs he created were in China….I agree with the parts about speculation and especially the “Made In America”….but innovation is not enough!

And there are the cutesy bumper sticker moments……

This isn’t about class warfare.  This is about the nation’s welfare.  It’s about making choices that benefit not just the people who’ve done fantastically well over the last few decades, but that benefits the middle class, and those fighting to get into the middle class, and the economy as a whole.

He is WRONG!  It is ALL about class warfare….when one class does everything to keep another class immobile….then it is class warfare.  Period!

All in all, as usual, he gave a good speech even if the crowd glazed over at minute number 10….but that is all it was….A SPEECH!  If nothing changes or there is NO advancement toward the future it will have been a waste of a perfectly good afternoon.

“Pass This Bill”

“Pass the bill….Pass the bill…..Pass the bill”

Reminds me of “Yes We Can….Yes We Can”………

Remember the feel good slogan of 2008?  Let me help…..”Yes We Can”  That was what it was a feel good slogan….how about another?  Change We Can Believe In!  Remember that one?

Guess what?  We have a new one!  “Pass The Bill”.  That is right after about 3 years of trying the Dems have a new slogan….a new bumper sticker……they could not find a hook for health care or financial regulation….but when needed they arose to the occasion….”Pass The Bill”…..

Obama is making the rounds….connecting with the people….and of course, getting in a little campaigning…..he has his new hook…he has the mindless and optimistic throngs of Dems chanting at each stop…”Pass The Bill”…..and though it is only about a week old it is already as irritating as some of the other tag lines…like 24/7…..or boots on the ground….or the most irritating off slogans…”kick The Can Down The Road”……

But with all that said, how about the line?

“Pass The Bill” has NO shot of passing, perhaps parts of it, but NOT the whole thing.  Why?  You may ask.

All money bills must originate in the House of Representatives….(pause here for thought)…..With Boehner the Speaker and Cantor the majority leader does passing sound like a possibility?  And then, even if by some miracle the bill makes it out of the House and on to the Senate where it would need just 41 senators to block it…….a Senate that has 47 Repubs….a Senate leader that has stated that the sole purpose of the Senate is to see that Obama is NOT re-elected…….now does that sound like it has a chance in Hell?

It is a great slogan….a great bumper sticker…..but a thoroughly waste of energy to chant it….it is NOT a jobs bill….it is, however, a good piece of campaign strategy…..will create few jobs and give away even more revenue that is needed….so by all means….chant your butts off…..but do NOT expect any chance of a massive jobs creation bill…..

Eventually, Americans will learn that chants, slogans and bumper stickers do NOTHING for the country!

But all means…..chant your butts off!

Thus Spake Barack–Part 2

All the prayer have been said and tears shed….and now it is time to return to the problems that are the reality…….a new week….a new jobs speech…..much like the one for the joint session…..

After the original Obama speech I said it was a good speech but that was all the further I would go…..and I said that his proposals were anemic and a waste of time for it would create few, if any jobs,,,,,,,in case you missed my analysis it can be read here…..http://wp.me/pclTd-5b9

So he makes it again….and again it is anemic and a waste of time…….let me explain why I say this….

1 The payroll tax cuts are going to cost more than anything else in the plan, but they will do very little to create jobs.

#2 Obama’s plan to extend unemployment assistance is going to cost about $49 billion but it is not going to do much to create any jobs.

#3 Obama is proposing $50 billion in “immediate” infrastructure spending and $10 billion for a new infrastructure bank that will be dedicated to raising private capital to finance infrastructure projects around the country.

#4 According to the fact sheet on the jobs plan released by the Obama administration, direct financial aid to state governments will prevent up to 280,000 teacher layoffs, and it will also help states retain more police and firefighters.

#5 There are a bunch of other minor things in Obama’s proposal such as “modernizing” public schools and helping more Americans refinance their mortgages, but it is not entirely clear how those things will help create a lot more jobs.

#6 The Obama jobs plan does next to nothing to prevent jobs from being shipped out of the country.

#7 The Obama jobs plan does nothing about the unfair trade practices that are absolutely killing America on the global economic stage.

#8 The Obama jobs plan does nothing about the gigantic mountains of ridiculous regulations that are absolutely killing small business in this country.

#9 The Obama jobs plan does nothing about the negative effects of Obamacare.  Obamacare is going to absolutely slaughter U.S. businesses.  Look, when most other nations do not burden their businesses with providing health care and we force our businesses to comply with the nightmare that Obamacare represents, who do you think has the advantage?

#10 The Obama jobs plan makes our national debt worse.  Yes, Obama insists that his plan will be “100%” paid for, but he has not told us how it will be paid for.

(Once again I thank Michael Synder for all his research and his list….makes life easier for people like me)

Once again you heard about all the jobs…..we heard that it would be paid for……and once again it is an anemic attempt to placate the voices of the unemployed……this sounds good but it will do little to help put our people back to work.

Thus Spake Barack!

Are you ready for some football?  But first, a few words from the President of the United States of America.

Everybody from the President to the House to the Senate to presidential candidates has a plan….a plan to create jobs….those elusive things that is needed to make our economy strong again…..so far ALL ideas revolve around spending cuts and tax cuts…..and I mean ALL….Repub and Dem alike….the same ideas…..but tonight will be different….the Prez will offer a new way of thinking about job creation….just wait and see….

The prediction before the fact was……

President Obama plans tomorrow to unveil a $300 billion jobs strategy that will involve tax relief for workers and spending on public works projects such as road repair and school renovations to put America back to work, according to sources familiar with the plan. Half of the stimulus will come from tax cuts, including a year-long extension of a Social Security payroll tax reduction for workers and a possible cut in payroll taxes paid by employers, according to Bloomberg. The plan also involves the extension of unemployment benefits, offering job training for the unemployed, and a program to prevent teacher layoffs, reports the Los Angeles Times.

And after spake the Prez we have…….the heavens opened up and the healing light from above shown on the country and its people…….(pause)……(sorry, I cannot go on….that was too mushy even for my sarcasm)……..okay, the points leaked and quoted above were very accurate…..

I have been re-reading the speech…..because there is something in it that is disturbing to me…..please read it for yourself……http://tpm.ly/pK5qXo

I do not see these moves that will do much to lower unemployment much…..it is full of tax cuts……..more spending cuts……and then there is the part about helping small business (tomorrow I will explain small business)……he talked anout infrastructure without ever mentioning the term infrastructure……I do not see this as anything but a proposal that will get Repub support….it is just empty in my mind…….

But the part that concerned me the most was Obama’s insistence on the passing of the free trade agreements…..this from his speech…..

“Now it’s time to clear the way for a series of trade agreements that would make it easier for American companies to sell their products in Panama, Colombia and South Korea — while also helping the workers whose jobs have been affected by global competition. If Americans can buy Kias and Hyundais, I want to see folks in South Korea driving Fords and Chevys and Chryslers. I want to see more products sold around the world stamped with three proud words: “Made in America.”

All I can say is to look at what NAFTA did to American jobs……stuff I have read about the Korean agreement would all the South to sell American goods to the North, something that is forbidden by Congress….the ones for Panama would allow corporations to hide money and stuff with extremely difficulty for the US to access the info for prosecutions……Free Trade Agreements in the past have done NOTHING to help American workers….why would labor support them?

Obama sounded forceful……Obama looked determined………Obama looked presidential and strong……but I believe that it was in appearance….ONLY!

Mr. Romney’s Grand Plan

Everybody has got to speak on their jobs plan….that way NO one can get ahead of them…..Huntsman has his plan…..Obama will unveil his plan….Perry has a plan…..Bachmann has God’s plan and then there is Gingrich….but….who cares?

Here is Mr. Romney’s plan……..besides…Reagan….Reagan….(pause)….Reagan……..

I will introduce a plan consisting of 59 specific proposals — including 10 concrete actions I will take on my first day in office — to turn around America’s economy,” Romney wrote. “Each proposal is rooted in the conservative premise that government itself cannot create jobs. At best, government can provide a framework in which economic growth can occur. All too often, however, government gets in the way. The past three years of unparalleled government expansion have retaught that lesson all too well.”Cutting red tape and eliminating regulations is a hallmark of any GOP candidate’s rhetoric, but Romney offered a novel proposal in the op-ed on this front: “I will direct every government agency to limit annual increases in regulatory costs to zero,” he wrote. “The impact of any proposed new regulation must be offset by removing another regulation of equivalent cost.”

On trade issues, Romney suggested creating a “Reagan Economic Zone” (yes, that’s what it’s called) that would include fellow capitalist nations, but there were few details on how exactly it would work.

The rest is largely boilerplate: Romney wants to expand oil drilling and nuclear energy while fighting the unions and the National Labor Relations Board at every turn. He also wants a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The op-ed is pretty vague on most issues, so it’s worth keeping an eye on how much further detail he offers later today in his speech and any accompanying white papers.

All of America’s problems can be solved by…….(wait for it)……..lower corporate taxes!

You know you are a political geek when you listen to something like Romney’s plan in its entirety…..first of all 59 points!  After about 5 the American voter glazes over and stops paying attention….second, his wordy explanation of his jobs proposal is nothing more than a lengthy diatribe on tired conserv talking points….tax cuts….end regulation….tax reform…..unions bad……drill baby drill…..balanced budget….and then there was a new twist, the trade zone, well new for Romney…..bet you have heard all his mindless ramblings before…..(pause here for thought)……..GW Bush comes to mind…(in case you were having a problem with the thinking process)…..

Mr. Romney was all wide eyed and faking passion and excitement……the few things that he lacks….he is about as boring as watching flies mate……and that is what the US really needs a president with all the personality of a turnip……

Now we await the master jobs plan from the President……..

A View From Waterloo

The sleepy time debate is over and the total waste of time, the Iowa Straw Poll, is also over……we gained a GOP candidate and we lost one….the candidates fed the voters, entertained the voters and then the voter made its mark and the winner was Bachmann….the biggest loser was Huntsman….and now I would like to give a few observations from the dinner that a couple of the GOPers showed up to talk at in Waterloo…that is Iowa if you were not sure……

First, the anointed frontrunner of the mainstream media….Bachmann….I watched her little performance in Iowa and found a quote that says it all….at least to me….Bachmann said…..”We need social conservs in the tent…..without them we have NO chance of beating Barak Obama”…..that says it all!  The GOP has NOTHING to offer the American people but social issues….you know like who gets married, who should smoke, who should pray and where….stuff like that….social conservs….they have NO answers to the economic crisis but they sure want to jump into the middle of your life and tell you what to do…..that statement by Bachmann should be the rallying point for Dems….

And then there is the new guy on the political block……Rick Perry.  I did not know much about him other than the sound bites that the mainstream media wanted me to know….so I decided to watch his speech in Waterloo……after 30+ years of watching and listening to politicians and the manure they spread to get elected….I have this observation about Perry…..Watch his eyes when he speaks…..he is disingenuous and not even he believes the manure he shovels…..he is a cheap actor and a “snake oil” salesman…..

My view about these two so-called frontrunners……we will know after the first real debate held in September at the Reagan Library….if either one of these two are capable of being presidential material….my guess is that at least one of them falls on his/her face and will be nothing more than a flash in the pan…..

Obama’s Afghan Speech–2011

Well our prez made his much anticipated Afghan speech….the Right hated it…..the Left hated it…and the pundits analyze the crap out of it….all night and all day……

My take was that it was the worse speech this Prez has given….to me it was a political speech aimed at calming the independents that everyone says will control the next election…….there is token troop withdrawal and still NO ideas on what to do with the country….he patted himself on the back for Osama…..and went on and on about the closeness of the Karzai people and the way forward in Afghanistan…..it was fully of vague generalizations…..all in all …..a crappy speech……

In an analysis by Billy Van Auken……

In concrete terms, Obama’s withdrawal proposal was crafted to give the US military command nearly everything it wanted, while helping him to get through his next election in 2012.

It calls for a token force of 10,000 to be withdrawn by the end of 2011. The July deadline set by Obama in December 2009, when he unveiled his proposed “surge” that sent another 33,000 troops into Afghanistan, will apparently come and go with no change on the ground in the occupied country. The generals will be allowed to decide what troops will be withdrawn and when over the next six months.

At the time that Obama announced the surge, the American public was told that it was a temporary measure that would “allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011.”

In reality, if the so-called “withdrawal” plan is completed, it will pull out only the 33,000 troops that he ordered into Afghanistan 18 months ago. The second round of troop withdrawals is set to take place on the eve of the 2012 presidential election. Still, by the end of 2012, twice as many US troops will remain in the country as were deployed there when Obama first took office at the beginning of 2009.

Obama is doing what all politicians do…….kick the can down the road (there is that tired old cliche again)…..if the Afghan army is not ready after 10 years….then when?  Most likely NEVER!  Afghanistan has never had a central government and to think that the US and NATO can change that is just wishful thinking…..in the mean time death and destruction will continue and eventually we will leave and Afghanistan will revert back to the 14th century where it has been since the 14th century…..

The Cairo Promises

Well sports fans…the Pres will make another “major” Middle East speech….but will it make a difference or will it be just another speech?

Remember back some 17 months ago….Pres. Obama was in Cairo making an unforgettable speech….one of his best according to some sources….he talked about AQ and extreme Islam, Palestinians and a array of subjects…,.basically, saying that the US was going to do better in the Middle East over the last administration……after such a moving address…..how has he done in keeping his promises….an opinion piece in the Post of Pakistan touches on this subject……

President Barack Obama’s pledge on Wednesday to strive for better relations with the Muslim world drew skepticism in Cairo, where last year he called for a new beginning in the Middle East after years of mistrust. In a visit to Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, Obama acknowledged morSeventeen months after Obama’s Cairo University speech, al Qaeda is still threatening the West, peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians remain stalled over the issue of West Bank settlements and US troops remain in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many in the Middle East believe that Washington’s tight alliance with Israel makes it impossible to end the suffering of the Palestinians, breeding cynicism among Arab Muslims toward US intentions in the region. “It’s all speeches — in the end the same American politics, and Jewish politics, continues,” said Cairo retiree Mohamed Abdel.e needed to be done to repair ties with the Muslim world.

There you have it….seems that moving and inspirational speech made 17 months ago has done little to solve the problems of the US in the Middle East….like they say….it was nothing but a speech and no one in the area really consider for a moment that anything would change….SURPRISE!  Nothing has changed!

And yet Obama will try again….and once again NOTHING will change….he will make a good speech and that is about it…there will be NO change in Yemen or Syria or Bahrain or the Israeli/Palestinian conflict…..so I say again…NOTHING will change!