Barack Obama and 2012 Election News

Rick Perry: 'I'd Send Troops Back to Iraq'

2012-01-10T01:34:00.000-05:00

If you think Newt Gingrich got a bad plan for wars over-seas, and if you are frustrated with Pres. Obama's approach, wait until you get a load of Rick Perry. On Saturday night debate, Perry said, "I'd send troops back to Iraq. The idea that we allow Iranians to come back to Iraq and take over that country."

In October, 75% of Americans were firmly against the war in Iraq. Actually Obama wanted to stay longer in Iraq, but it was that Iraqi Administration that insisted US on pulling troops out by the end of the year.

Rick Perry, and other Republicans running for 2012 election, are total idiots. Only guy who gets this is Ron Paul.

Unemployment Drops to 8.5%

2012-01-07T01:27:00.000-05:00

New unemployment numbers are out today, and it's a good news. 200 000 jobs were created in December of 2011. With this, unemployment has dropped to 8.5%.

The Obama Administrations and Pres. Obama are very happy with the news, but of course the Republicans running for the office won't be much happy.

Unemployment hasn't been quite this low in a very long time. Here's a solid fact for Pres. Obama and his re-election campaign: since January 2010, 2.7 jobs have been added to the economy. It's a lot of months adding jobs to the economy, not destroying like the Bush Administration and the Republicans did.

Mitt Romney, who is running seeking presidency in 2012, has a tax plan that would double-down on Bush Era policies. If he was elected, economy would return back to what it was in 2007/2008. In fact, the biggest beneficiaries of Romney's tax plan are millionaires.

Rick Santorum also has a dumb explanation as to why the economy is getting better: he thinks unemployment rate is dropping because of 'optimism that Republicans will take the White House.'

Three-way Race to Headline Iowa Caucus

2012-01-01T17:55:00.000-05:00

Three way Race to Headline Iowa Caucus. Are you excited?!

Republican candidates in the race to outset President Barack Obama in 2012 will face their first hurdle tomorrow in Iowa. Four years ago, Hawkeye propelled then Senator Obama into the White House. Obama won the Iowa Caucasus pretty comfortably, which put him in a strong footing against the formidable Clinton Machine.

Fast forward four year later... this year the contest is to be highlightted in a three-way race between Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. Three-way is always better than two way, if you know what I mean :-).

Rick Santorum may be the odd man out. In a Des Moines Register poll puts him in second place behind Romney with 22%. Romeny is at 24%,while Ron Paul is at 18%.

Newt Gingrich has all but faded away to the black ( no pun intended ). He's at 12%. This is the same guy who said a couple of weeks ago that "I'll be the nominee."

"I don't think it matters who wins it here," said Davenport-based GOP strategist Steve Grubbs. "The real issue is who wins that conservative spot coming out of Iowa. We are going to have a libertarian slot, a moderate one and a conservative one. And ultimately it's going to be Romney versus one of those conservatives."

If Romeny does win in Iowa, then he'll likely to win in New Hampshire. If he can 'somehow' make Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry kneel down in South Carolina and Florida, this year long Republican primary would be over in the month of January. That's why it's so important for a Romeny-alternative to win the state.

Rick Santorum will definitely stretch primary well in to the Summer.

Weekly Address: Working Together in the New Year

2011-12-31T11:51:00.000-05:00

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Honolulu, HI
Saturday, December 31, 2011

Hello, everybody. As 2011 comes to an end and we look ahead to 2012, I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.

The last year has been a time of great challenge and great progress for our country. We ended one war and began to wind down another. We dealt a crippling blow to al-Qaeda and made America more secure. We stood by our friends and allies around the world through natural disasters and revolutions. And we began to see signs of economic recovery here at home, even as too many Americans are still struggling to get ahead.

There’s no doubt that 2012 will bring even more change. And as we head into the New Year, I’m hopeful that we have what it takes to face that change and come out even stronger – to grow our economy, create more jobs, and strengthen the middle class.

I’m hopeful because of what we saw right before Christmas, when Members of Congress came together to prevent a tax hike for 160 million Americans – saving a typical family about $40 in every paycheck. They also made sure Americans looking for work won’t see their unemployment insurance cut off. And I expect Congress to finish the job by extending these provisions through the end of 2012.

It was good to see Members of Congress do the right thing for millions of working Americans. But it was only possible because you added your voices to the debate. Through email and Twitter and over the phone, you let your representatives know what was at stake. Your lives. Your families. Your well-being. You had the courage to believe that your voices could make a difference. And at the end of the day, they made all the difference.

More than anything else, you are the ones who make me hopeful about 2012. Because we’ve got some difficult debates and some tough fights to come. As I’ve said before, we are at a make-or-break moment for the middle class. And in many ways, the actions we take in the months ahead will help determine what kind of country we want to be, and what kind of world we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in.

As President, I promise to do everything I can to make America a place where hard work and responsibility are rewarded – one where everyone has a fair shot and everyone does their fair share. That’s the America I believe in. That’s the America we’ve always known. And I’m confident that if we work together, and if you keep reminding folks in Washington what’s at stake, then we will move this country forward and guarantee every American the opportunities they deserve.

Thanks for watching, and from Michelle, Malia, Sasha, Bo and myself, Happy New Year.

Michele Bachmann's Campaign in Hot Water

2011-12-30T14:43:00.000-05:00

Michele Bachmann's Campaign in Hot Water

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann's campaign chairman Sen. Kent Sorenson of Iowa suddenly jumped on Ron Paul's bandwagon.

Rep. Bachmann is only beating Former Governor Jon Huntsman in the polls, the man who hasn't campaign whatsoever in the Hawkeye state.

The tea-party darling is furious at all of this. She is vigorously campaigning in what has become a must-win state for her. She said Sorenson went to Ron Paul's campaign because he was offered a larger sum of money. This was flatly denied by Sorenson on Fox News yesterday. Well someone's lying, and we don't have time to find out who it is because the Iowa caucus is only four days away.

"I had a conversation with Kent Sorenson and in the direct conversation that I had with him, he told me he was offered money. He was offered a lot of money by the Ron Paul campaign to go and associate with the Ron Paul campaign," she said at a tour stop in Battle. "No one else knows about that conversation other than Kent Sorenson and myself and I know what he said to me about that."

Ron Paul is tied with Mitt Romeny for the first place in the recent polls. Newt Gingrich's surge has fades away as he's down from 33% to only 14%, while Rick Santorum has surged to 16%.

Although the caucus is only few days away, given rises and falls of candidates, we may see a lot in the coming days and beyond to New Hampshire primary. In all of this, bad news for the Bachmann Campaign is that she has to win the state of Iowa to convince the Republicans, Tea-Party and especially her donors to help keep her campaign rolling.

If Mitt Romeny wins in Iowa, he'd go on the win New Hampshire decisively, but the Republican establishment die-hard conservatives would be clearly outrage at his. If Ron Paul wins Iowa, we could see a long primary battle between Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Mitt Romeny. If Gingrich wins the state, he would win most of other early primary states including South Carolina and Florida.

Rick Perry is not part of this equation - sad but true.

Pres. Obama's Victory over Republicans on Payroll Tax cut

2011-12-23T20:41:00.000-05:00

This week the White House got more than it could have hoped for in the payroll tax cut extension showdown.

Republicans handed President Barack Obama an opportunity to turn his jobs campaign narrative into a real-life drama.

Since September when the president delivered his jobs speech to a joint session of Congress, he's been trying to sell a twofold message:

One - as president he's fighting for "working Americans."

Or, as he said on September 22: "I'm a warrior for the middle class" and "I'm happy to fight for working Americans."

Two - Congress is in his words "dysfunctional," standing in the way of policy that could improve the economy.

That's the message but the reality looked different. From the outside it appeared as though the president has been locked in battle with Congress with all sides deserving blame.

Speaker John Boehner on Thursday accepted a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut

2011-12-22T19:55:00.002-05:00

Speaker John Boehner on Thursday accepted a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut.

President Barack Obama immediately congratulated congressional leaders on the deal, while Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell -- who increased the pressure on Boehner earlier in the day with a call for such an agreement -- said it was a "sigh of relief" for American taxpayers.

Under the deal, the payroll tax assessed American workers will remain at the current 4.2% rate instead of reverting to the 6.2% rate before the cut enacted last year. Without congressional action, the higher rate would have returned on January 1, meaning an average $1,000 tax increase for 160 million Americans.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/22/politics/congress-payroll-tax-cut/index.html

Mitt Romney Admits Flip-Flops

2011-12-16T02:21:00.001-05:00

During Thursday night's GOP presidential debate, moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News questioned former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on his history of flip-flops. Citing position switches on issues such as gay rights and abortion, Wallace asked Romney if they were a matter of "principle or politics."

Romney cast his history on gay rights thusly: he said he was "firmly in support" of protecting the LGBT community from discrimination, but he was never in favor of same-sex marriage. On the matter of abortion, he said he simply changed his mind on the matter, and that "every decision [he] made as governor was on the side of life."

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/mitt-romney-gay-marriage-abortion_n_1152738.html

Weekly Address: Ensuring a Fair Shot for the Middle Class

2011-12-10T17:25:00.000-05:00

President Obama calls on Congress to do what's right for the American people by extending the payroll tax cut and confirming Richard Cordray to lead a new consumer-watchdog agency that will protect families from dishonest business practices.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 10, 2011
WEEKLY ADDRESS: Ensuring a Fair Shot for the Middle Class

WASHINGTON— In this week’s address, President Obama told the American people that the United States succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, does their fair share, and engages in fair play. This is why the President nominated Richard Cordray to lead a new consumer-watchdog agency designed to protect families from being taken advantage of, but Republicans in Congress have blocked the nomination. They have also stood in the way of a balanced plan to extend the payroll tax cut for working families – and the President made clear he believes that elected officials should not go home for the holidays until they’ve done what is right for the American people and for the economy by extending this tax cut.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
The White House
Saturday, December 10, 2011

Today, America faces a make-or-break moment for the middle class.

After the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes, some still want to return to the same policies that got us into this mess. They’re the same policies that have stacked the deck against working Americans for too long. They’re part of a philosophy that says we’re better off when everyone is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules.

But I have a different vision. I believe that we are greater together than we are on our own. I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone engages in fair play.

To ensure fair play, last year, we passed the toughest financial reform in generations.

See, for too long, the rules weren’t the same on Wall Street as they were on Main Street. Risky bets were made with other people’s money. Some folks made a lot of money taking advantage of consumers. It was wrong. And this irresponsible behavior on the part of some contributed to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

So this financial reform refocuses the financial sector on what’s really important: getting capital to entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses, and financing to millions of families who want to buy a house or send their kids to college.

A key part of that was putting in place the first-ever consumer watchdog – someone whose job it is to protect American families from being taken advantage of by mortgage lenders, payday lenders, and debt collectors.

Tens of millions of Americans use these services. Protecting them from unscrupulous practices is an important job. And that’s why I nominated Richard Cordray to serve as the head of this consumer watchdog agency.

As the former Attorney General of Ohio, Richard helped recover billions of dollars on behalf of retirees and stood up to dishonest lending practices. He has the support of most Attorneys General across the country, both Democrats and Republicans. Members of Congress from both parties say he’s more than qualified for the job. And yet on Thursday, Republicans blocked his nomination. They refused to even allow it to come up for a vote.

That doesn’t make any sense. Do Republicans in Congress think our financial crisis was caused by too much oversight of mortgage lenders or debt collectors? Of course not. And every day America has to wait for a new consumer protection watchdog is another day that dishonest businesses can target and take advantage of students, seniors, and service members.

So I refuse to take “no” for an answer. Financial institutions have plenty of high-powered lawyers and lobbyists looking out for them. It’s time consumers had someone on their side.

And while they’re at it, Republicans in Congress should stop the games and extend the payroll tax cut for working Americans. Because if they don’t, nearly 160 million Americans will see their taxes go up at the end of this month.

Congress can’t end the year by taking money out of the pockets of working Americans. Now is not the time for playing politics. Now is the time to do what’s right for the American people.

No one should go home for the holidays until we get this done. So tell your Members of Congress, don’t be a Grinch. Tell them to do the right thing for you and for our economy. Thank you.

Obama Adviser Axelrod Slams Gingrich: "Godfather Of Gridlock"

2011-12-06T01:39:00.000-05:00

David Axelrod, senior campaign adviser to President Barack Obama, called former House Speaker Newt Gingrich the "godfather of gridlock."

"Jon Huntsman is attacking him in New Hampshire," Axelrod said. "I was amused by the Newt Gingrich ad because he talked about how he's going to bring the country together to solve problems. You talk about the godfather of gridlock here. The guy who two decades ago really invented the kind of tactics that have now become commonplace in Washington. So, this is a whole new Newt," he said.

Herman Cain Goes Off the Rail

2011-12-03T23:04:00.001-05:00

Herman Cain has dropped out of the race. I correctly predicted this yesterday. Now that it's done, other Republican candidates can't wait to get Herminators ( Herman Cain supporters )on their side.

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann

"Herman Cain provided an important voice to this process. His ideas and energy generated tremendous enthusiasm for the conservative movement at a time it was so desperately needed to restore confidence in our country. I wish Herman, his wife Gloria, and his family all the best."

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman

"Herman Cain offered a unique and valuable voice to the debate over how to reform our country's uncompetitive tax code and turn around the economy. I understand his decision and wish him and his family the best."

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich

“Herman Cain’s 999 plan got our country talking about the critical issue of how to reform our tax code and he elevated the dialogue of the Republican presidential primary in the process. I am proud to know Herman Cain and consider him a friend. I know from having worked with him for more than a decade he will continue to be a powerful voice in the conservative movement for years to come.”

Texas Gov. Rick Perry

"I know this was a difficult decision for Herman Cain, his family and his supporters. He helped invigorate conservative voters and our nation with a discussion of major tax reform. Anita and I wish him and his entire family all the best."

Extending and Expanding the Payroll Tax Cut

2011-12-03T06:40:00.001-05:00

In this week’s address, President Obama told the American people that although the United States has created private sector jobs for the past 21 months in a row, that is not enough for struggling Americans. We must continue growing the economy by passing the payroll tax cut, which will give the middle class a tax cut of $1,500 and provide small businesses more money to hire workers by cutting their payroll taxes in half. The President urges all Americans to tell Congress not to raise taxes during the holidays and act in the best interests of middle class families and pass the tax cuts now.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
December 3, 2011

This week, we learned that our economy added another 140,000 private sector jobs in November. Despite some strong headwinds this year, America’s economy has now created private sector jobs for the past 21 months in a row – almost three million new jobs in all, more than half a million of them in the past four months alone.

We need to keep this growth going and strengthen it. That’s why we’ve been fighting to pass a series of jobs bills through Congress – bills that independent economists say will create more jobs and grow the economy even faster. Because now is the time to step on the gas, not slam on the brakes.

Unfortunately, too many Republicans in Congress don’t seem to share that same sense of urgency. Over the last few months, they’ve said “no” to most of these jobs bills. “No” to putting teachers and firefighters back to work. “No” to putting construction workers back on the job. And this week, they actually said “no” to cutting taxes for middle-class families.

You see, last year, both parties came together to cut payroll taxes for the typical middle-class family by about $1,000. But that tax cut is set to expire at the end of this month. If that happens, that same family will see its taxes go up by $1,000. We can’t let that happen. In fact, I think we should cut taxes on working families and small business owners even more.

And we’re going to keep pushing Congress to make this happen. They shouldn’t go home for the holidays until they get this done. And if you agree with me, I could use your help.

We’ve set up a simple tax cut calculator on WhiteHouse.gov so that you can see exactly what the stakes are for your family. Try it out. Then let your members of Congress know where you stand.

Tell them not to vote to raise taxes on working Americans during the holidays. Tell them to put country before party. Put money back in the pockets of working Americans. Pass these tax cuts.

We’re all in this together. The more Americans succeed, the more America succeeds. And if we remember that and do what it takes to keep this economy growing and opportunity rising, then I’m confident that we’ll come out of this stronger than before.

Republicans Admit Defeat on Wall Street

2011-12-03T03:54:00.000-05:00

The Republican Governors Association met this week in Florida to give GOP state executives a chance to rejuvenate, strategize and team-build. But during a plenary session on Wednesday, one question kept coming up: How can Republicans do a better job of talking about Occupy Wall Street?

"I'm so scared of this anti-Wall Street effort. I'm frightened to death," said Frank Luntz, a Republican strategist and one of the nation's foremost experts on crafting the perfect political message. "They're having an impact on what the American people think of capitalism."

Luntz offered tips on how Republicans could discuss the grievances of the Occupiers, and help the governors better handle all these new questions from constituents about "income inequality" and "paying your fair share."

Yahoo News sat in on the session, and counted 10 do's and don'ts from Luntz covering how Republicans should fight back by changing the way they discuss the movement.

1. Don't say 'capitalism.'

"I'm trying to get that word removed and we're replacing it with either 'economic freedom' or 'free market,' " Luntz said. "The public . . . still prefers capitalism to socialism, but they think capitalism is immoral. And if we're seen as defenders of quote, Wall Street, end quote, we've got a problem."

2. Don't say that the government 'taxes the rich.' Instead, tell them that the government 'takes from the rich.'

"If you talk about raising taxes on the rich," the public responds favorably, Luntz cautioned. But "if you talk about government taking the money from hardworking Americans, the public says no. Taxing, the public will say yes."

3. Republicans should forget about winning the battle over the 'middle class.' Call them 'hardworking taxpayers.'

"They cannot win if the fight is on hardworking taxpayers. We can say we defend the 'middle class' and the public will say, I'm not sure about that. But defending 'hardworking taxpayers' and Republicans have the advantage."

4. Don't talk about 'jobs.' Talk about 'careers.'

"Everyone in this room talks about 'jobs,'" Luntz said. "Watch this."

He then asked everyone to raise their hand if they want a "job." Few hands went up. Then he asked who wants a "career." Almost every hand was raised.

"So why are we talking about jobs?"

5. Don't say 'government spending.' Call it 'waste.'

"It's not about 'government spending.' It's about 'waste.' That's what makes people angry."

6. Don't ever say you're willing to 'compromise.'

"If you talk about 'compromise,' they'll say you're selling out. Your side doesn't want you to 'compromise.' What you use in that to replace it with is 'cooperation.' It means the same thing. But cooperation means you stick to your principles but still get the job done. Compromise says that you're selling out those principles."

7. The three most important words you can say to an Occupier: 'I get it.'

"First off, here are three words for you all: 'I get it.' . . . 'I get that you're angry. I get that you've seen inequality. I get that you want to fix the system."

Then, he instructed, offer Republican solutions to the problem.

8. Out: 'Entrepreneur.' In: 'Job creator.'

Use the phrases "small business owners" and "job creators" instead of "entrepreneurs" and "innovators."

9. Don't ever ask anyone to 'sacrifice.'

"There isn't an American today in November of 2011 who doesn't think they've already sacrificed. If you tell them you want them to 'sacrifice,' they're going to be be pretty angry at you. You talk about how 'we're all in this together.' We either succeed together or we fail together."

10. Always blame Washington.

Tell them, "You shouldn't be occupying Wall Street, you should be occupying Washington. You should occupy the White House because it's the policies over the past few years that have created this problem."

BONUS:

Don't say 'bonus!'

Luntz advised that if they give their employees an income boost during the holiday season, they should never refer to it as a "bonus."

"If you give out a bonus at a time of financial hardship, you're going to make people angry. It's 'pay for performance.'"

From Yahoo News: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/republicans-being-taught-talk-occupy-wall-street-133707949.html

Inflammatory Remarks Between Obama and Romney Camps Over New Unemployment Numbers

2011-12-02T20:46:00.000-05:00

The Labor Department on Friday announced the nation's unemployment rate fell to 8.6% last month, the lowest level since March of 2009, with employers adding 120,000 jobs, marking a pick up in hiring from October.

President Obama's re-election campaign all of the sudden has bragging rights - not much, needless to say. But Mitt Romney swiftly attack all of that with this press release:

"Today’s unemployment figures bring to 34 the number of months that unemployment in the United States has been over 8 percent, the longest such spell since the Great Depression. The Obama administration may have come to accept such a high level of joblessness as the new normal. I will never accept it. To me, the fact that so many millions of Americans are unemployed only highlights the urgent need for a fundamental change in the direction of our country. We can’t afford another year of President Obama’s failed economic policies. And we certainly can’t afford five more years. This is not exactly the hope and change that the American people bargained for."

This statement has been on website for 2 days now, and there are 0 tweets and facebook shares of it. You can make up your mind on that however you want :-)

The White House applauded the new numbers, but said more work remains.

"Today's employment report provides further evidence that the economy is continuing to heal from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, but the pace of improvement is still not fast enough given the large job losses from the recession that began in December 2007," said Alan Krueger, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, in a statement.

Herman Cain Will End His Campaign Tomorrow - Prediction

2011-12-02T19:07:00.000-05:00

I, David Thomson, can say, without fear of contradiction, tomorrow Herman Cain will in fact end his campaign to seek the presidency in 2012.

Latest on this whole "mess", as Herman calls it, is that many credible news outlets now report that Herman Cain and is wife had marriage problems dating way back.

"It never felt like a real marriage when I was around them," someone close to the family told the Daily Beast. "Mostly he was always gone and his wife seemed to be OK with it. Not being together seemed the norm for their marriage, and Gloria didn't seem to mind. His kids didn’t seem to mind either."

“He was king of his castle and no one questioned him," says the friend. “It was an uncomfortable set-up for an outsider like me to be around. He was so indifferent to everyone. But I liked Gloria. She was warm and kind.”

“This is a very arrogant man,’’ says the friend. “It probably never occurred to him that all these women would eventually come out. It’s funny to see him talk about the toll on his wife. He never thought of that before.’’

Ron Paul Goes After Gingrich, Says "Counterfeit Conservative."

2011-12-02T18:40:00.000-05:00

"Most people realize that I keep saying the same thing over again, whereas in (Gingrich's) case, he tries to catch up and change his position to fit the particular time in which he's speaking," Paul said on CNN's "The Situation Rom."

I was more energized to do something when I found these things he had said. I thought they were more meaningful," Paul said.

"He made money off the bailout, you know, if you add up the numbers and put it all together," Paul charged. "So that to me was rather annoying because it was something I worked so hard to prevent."

He continued: "It's ironic that the American people are seriously considering that he's supposed to come in and straighten things out. That sort of is bewildering to me."

watch web ad:

Herman Cain Campaign Coming to Close?

2011-12-02T18:35:00.000-05:00

Herman Cain while acting on Matrix Reloaded

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain said Friday he will address the future of his presidential campaign Saturday at the scheduled opening of a Georgia campaign headquarters.

"Tomorrow in Atlanta, I will be making an announcement," he said at a town hall meeting in Rock Hill, South Carolina. "But nobody's going to get me to make that prematurely, that's all there is to that."

He said the announcement will "clarify ... exactly what the next steps are" for the campaign.

Cain's once-surging bid for the Republican presidential nomination has become hobbled in recent weeks by allegations of sexual harassment and, most recently, an Atlanta woman's claim that they carried on a 13-year affair.

At Friday's town hall, Cain said he was reassessing his campaign "because of all this media firestorm stuff," adding, "my wife and family comes first."

But he gave no indication during the session that he planned to suspend his campaign, which he had said Thursday in an interview with the New Hampshire Union Leader's editorial board was an option.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/02/politics/cain-accusation-affair/index.html

Unemployment Rate Dropped to 8.6% In November

2011-12-02T18:31:00.000-05:00

The Labor Department reported Friday that the unemployment rate dropped to 8.6% in November, the lowest since March 2009 and a sharp improvement from 9.0% in October. All the Republican candidates running for presidency in 2012 can take this news and stick it right up in their big,fact corporate asses!

But President Obama, the White House and fellow Democrats should be reminded one thing: there are still millions of Americans seeking jobs, or underemployed. Simply put, improve from nine percent to 8.6 is not good enough. Just consider this stat: No president since Franklin D. Roosevelt has won re-election with an unemployment rate over 7.2%.

It is certainly not good enough for Barack Obama to decisively win 2012 general election. Economy should be better than this. According to a CNN/ORC International poll released last week, only 15% say economic conditions are good, while six out of seven say conditions are poor, with a majority saying they are "very poor."

First step to building upon this improvement is to pass the American Jobs Act. This would put millions of teachers, construction works and police officers back to work.

Mitt Romney Defends Ad Quoting Obama Out Of Context

2011-11-25T01:41:00.003-05:00

The ad which began airing in New Hampshire Tuesday uses audio of then-Sen. Obama campaigning in the state in 2008, saying: "If we keep talking about the economy, we're going to lose.

The ad omits any acknowledgement that Obama was quoting the campaign of his opponent, 2008 GOP nominee John McCain. Instead, the ad leaves the impression that it is Obama who does not want to discuss the economy.

Romney told reporters in Des Moines his campaign distributed the ad with a press release noting the words were originally from Obama's opponent.

"There was no hidden effort on the part of our campaign. It was instead to point out that what's sauce for the goose is now sauce for the gander," Romney said, after addressing more than 300 employees of a downtown insurance company. "This ad points out, now, guess what, it's your turn. The same lines used on John McCain are now going to be used on you, which is that this economy is going to be your albatross."

It's a more aggressive tone for Romney, who all along in his second bid for the GOP nomination has cast himself as the field's most prepared candidate to tackle the economy. Now, he is signaling that he'll pull no punches with Obama.

source:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/23/mitt-romney-obama-ad_n_1110884.html?ref=politics

Newt Gingrich is done on arrival

2011-11-23T04:06:00.002-05:00

In his first debate as the Republican frontrunner, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich took a political gamble Tuesday by wading into the volatile issue of limited amnesty for long-time illegal immigrants.

"If you've been here 25 years and you got three kids and two grandkids, you've been paying taxes and obeying the law, you belong to a local church, I don't think we're going to separate you from your family, uproot you forcefully and kick you out," Gingrich said near the end of the CNN debate on national security.

source: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/22/gingrich-shows-humane-side-on-immigration/

Obama: Unemployment and Re-Election

2011-11-21T02:52:00.001-05:00

So long as the unemployment rate is stuck at 9%, President Obama's reelection chances are in doubt.

Obama isn't likely to produce nearly enough jobs before the 2012 election to greatly improve his prospects. What he can do in the absence of an unexpected burst of economic growth is demonstrate that the jobless rate is a special focus.

That's no easy feat on a tour of the Asian-Pacific, which Obama wrapped up on Saturday. The trip was a blur of summits, state dinners, arrival ceremonies, bilateral meetings, speeches and news conferences — many held in gorgeous tropical settings.

How would Obama persuade voters that his week away was connected to their everyday concerns?

Through image and message.

For starters, Obama ditched a tradition dating back two decades in which leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit donned silly-looking shirts and paraded before the cameras.

read the rest: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politicsnow/la-pn-obama-trip-20111120,0,595674.story

Newt Gingrich all over the place

2011-11-19T18:22:00.002-05:00

The GOP’s latest presidential frontrunner Newt Gingrich drew a stark contrast between the Tea Party and Occupy movements at a campaign stop in Jacksonville, Florida yesterday. “I would like everyone in the news media to look at the difference between the destructive, hostile, anti-civilization behaviors of the so-called Occupy Wall Street crowd and the serious studying of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the federalist papers, and all the things the Tea Party is doing which are constructive, designed to get America back on track,” he declared. “They want to tear down our country, we love our country and we want to rebuild our country. That’s the difference.”

GINGRICH: There is a strain of hostile people on the left organized across the country who believe in trashing things, believe in destroying things. Who do they think paid for the park they are sleeping in? Who do they thing paid for the bathroom they want to use? Who do they think paid for the food they’re eating? America wasn’t created by people who woke up every morning saying, ‘You owe me.’ America was created who woke up every morning and said ‘I’m going to go to work and I’m going to do something positive, and I’m going to contribute.’ I think we ought to confront them head on. [...]

PROTESTER: Mic-Check!

PROTESTERS: Mic-Check!

PROTESTER: The 99 percent…

GINGRICH: Hold On. I want to answer you very directly. There is no such thing in America as 99 percent! We are 100 percent Americans! We are all part of America!”

Weekly Address: Creating an Economy Built to Last

2011-11-19T15:04:00.000-05:00

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Bali, Indonesia
Saturday, November 19, 2011

Today, I’m speaking to you from Indonesia as I finish up my trip to the Asia Pacific – the region where we do most of our trade and sell most of our exports. And over the past week, the progress we’ve made in opening markets and boosting exports here will help create more jobs and more growth in the United States.

Here in Indonesia, I was proud to join leaders from some of our nation’s top companies as they announced trade deals that will support nearly 130,000 American jobs and potentially increase U.S. exports by up to $39 billion. Boeing, for example, will sell more than 200 planes to Indonesia that are built with parts from suppliers in more than 40 states. And a deal to export GE engines will support jobs at plants in Ohio and North Carolina.

These agreements will help us reach my goal of doubling American exports by 2014 – a goal we’re on pace to meet. And they’re powerful examples of how we can rebuild an economy that’s focused on what our country has always done best – making and selling products all over the world that are stamped with three proud words: “Made In America.”

This is important, because over the last decade, we became a country that relied too much on what we bought and consumed. We racked up a lot of debt, but we didn’t create many jobs at all.

If we want an economy that’s built to last and built to compete, we have to change that. We have to restore America’s manufacturing might, which is what helped us build the largest middle-class in history. That’s why we chose to pull the auto industry back from the brink, saving hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process. And that’s why we’re investing in the next generation of high-tech, American manufacturing.

But building an economy that lasts isn’t just about making things – it’s about opening new markets for people to buy them. After all, 95% of the world’s consumers live outside our borders. And as the fastest-growing region in the world, no market is more important to our economic future than the Asia Pacific – a region where our exports already support five million American jobs.

This is why we recently signed a landmark trade agreement with South Korea that will support tens of thousands of American jobs. And it’s why I traveled here this week. In Hawaii, I hosted leaders from across the Asia Pacific, and we agreed to make it easier for American companies to do business overseas. I also worked with President Medvedev of Russia to pursue trade that would increase exports and jobs for American manufacturers and farmers. And working with other leaders, we made progress toward our most ambitious trade agreement yet – a partnership with Pacific nations that holds the potential for more exports and more jobs in a region of nearly three billion consumers.

We may be going through tough times, but as I’ve said time and time again, the United States still has the world’s most dynamic economy, the finest universities, the most innovative companies, and the hardest-working people on Earth. We can compete against anybody – and we can win. As President, I intend to make sure that happens by doing everything I can to give American workers and businesses the chance to succeed.

Michele Bachmann: 'I Haven't Had A Gaffe'

2011-11-19T00:59:00.000-05:00

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann said Thursday that her campaign is helped by the fact that she hasn't "had a gaffe," an interesting -- though perhaps not surprising -- claim considering her knack for making misstatements.

"As people are looking at the candidate that is the most conservative and the most consistent candidate, I've been that candidate. I haven't had a gaffe or something that I've done that has caused me to fall in the polls," Bachmann told Greta van Susteren in a Fox News interview. "People see in me someone who's genuinely a social conservative, a fiscal conservative, a national security conservative and a Tea Partier. I'm the whole package."

While Bachmann may be correct that she hasn't suffered from a substantive stumble on the main stage of late, like her rivals Texas Governor Rick Perry or former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, her comments nonetheless appear to gloss over a past that is rife with controversial distortions and slip-ups.

Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/18/michele-bachmann-i-havent_n_1101362.html#s483186&title=Obama_Very_AntiAmerican

Occupy Wall Street Two Month Anniversary

2011-11-19T00:54:00.000-05:00

Occupy Wall Street Movement celebrates its two month anniversary yesterday. 23 people have been arrested yesterday as well.

Rick Perry Attacks Obama, Says He's "Privileged"

2011-11-17T19:20:00.000-05:00

Ok, here we go again with Rick Perry. He's latest attempt to bump his poll numbers was to call President Obama a "privileged" person.

"This president has never felt that angst that [the nation's 14 million unemployed] have in their heart," Perry told Fox News host Sean Hannity. "And I think he's always, when he has had problems, he's always pointed to somebody else and said it's their fault, not mine."

"His thinking that he's the smartest guy in the room has hurt America around the world, particularly when it comes to foreign policy. And I think that mentality of 'I'm the smartest guy in the room and therefore it couldn't be my fault' is really hurting America. And we need a president who has been through their ups and downs in life, and understands what it's like to have to deal with the issues in our economy that we have today in America."

Michele Bachmann Says She's a Man!

2011-11-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

Bachmann: am I a man or a woman? I don't know, you tell me!

This is Michele Bachmann's latest attempt to climb back up the poll numbers. "If we want to change this country up…I'm your man," Bachmann said in Webster City, Iowa, on Wednesday. "When people think of the president, they think of who is that individual. And I'm willing to 'man up,' so to speak, for the job and do what needs to be done… I'm a very strong woman."

On Tuesday, Bachmann announced the release of a hard-hitting Web ad, specifically for Iowa, which strikes at her GOP opponents. Among other things: the video uses old clips of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney defending abortion rights, reminds viewers that Texas Gov. Rick Perry supports in-state tuition rates for children of illegal immigrants, shows former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Nancy Pelosi together for a "global warming campaign," and swipes at Ron Paul and Herman Cain on foreign policy.

Romney Criticizes Obama, Calls 'Lazy'

2011-11-16T03:02:00.000-05:00

This is Mitt Romney's latest stupid remark: "Sometimes I just don't think that President Obama understands America," Romney told spectators at a South Carolina factory that produces corporate signs. "Now I say that because this week, or was it last week, he said that Americans are lazy. I don’t think that describes America."

Obama delivered his "lazy" remark on Saturday to a group of CEOs at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Hawaii, where he labeled America as lacking the necessary fire to promote itself in the global arena.

"We've been a little bit lazy over the last couple of decades," Obama said. "We've kind of taken for granted -- 'Well, people would want to come here' -- and we aren't out there hungry, selling America and trying to attract new businesses into America."

Breaking: Newt Gingrich Works For Freddie Mac

2011-11-16T02:55:00.002-05:00

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said during a Nov. 9 debate that he earned a $300,000 fee to advise Freddie Mac as a “historian” who warned that the mortgage company’s business model was “insane.”

More: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-15/gingrich-said-to-be-paid-by-freddie-mac-to-win-republican-allies.html

Perry's New Plan: "uproot, tear down and rebuild" Washington

2011-11-16T02:32:00.000-05:00

Rick Perry is desperate to get traction. He debuted at the top of the polls past summer when entered into the Republican presidential race to challenge Pres. Obama in 2012 general election. THEN, he started to speak, in doing so, he opened up his big can whoopas$. He said stuff like Social Security is a Ponzi-scheme. This stuff even concerned the Republican primary voters.

Now he's trying to rediscover his thunder by launching a new wave of attacks against Washington - after all, if you don't have new plans, then attack Washington. This always works. "Uproot, tear down and rebuild" Washington is the way Rick Perry's going to change Washington.

"It is time to tear down the monuments to bureaucratic failure, and in their place build a smaller, more efficient federal government that puts the American people first," Perry said at a manufacturing facility in Bettendorf. "The Washington insiders won't address Beltway decay, they won't try a totally new way, because they like things as they are."

"It is time to tear down the monuments to bureaucratic failure, and in their place build a smaller, more efficient federal government that puts the American People first," Perry said, declaring himself the only true outsider in the Republican presidential field.

Democrats on the Congressional super committee are willing to continue Bush tax cuts

2011-11-16T00:35:00.000-05:00

Democrats on the Congressional super committee are willing to continue Bush tax cuts

Middle class again gets hammered by both the Republicans and Democrats.

So good luck folks - whoever voted for the Republicans or Democrats. Keep up for good work America!

Scott Walker Recall Effort Begins

2011-11-15T16:05:00.000-05:00

Opponents of Republican Gov. Scott Walker, spurred by anger over his successful push to take away nearly all public worker collective bargaining rights, blanketed the state Tuesday to launch an unprecedented effort to gather 540,000 signatures and force a recall election.

The petition drive began in the early morning hours with rallies and pajama parties. More than 100 events were planned across Wisconsin as supporters tried to collect an average of 9,000 signatures a day to meet the target.

Lisa Tareski of Milwaukee, who voted for Walker, was one of eight people who won a contest sponsored by the Democratic Party to be the first to sign the petitions.

"I want to fix my mistake and be one of the first to tell Scott Walker that he did not have my full support in 2010 and he never will," Tareski said in a statement.

Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/15/scott-walker-recall-wisconsin_n_1094469.html

Obama ranks low among recent incumbents

2011-11-15T15:38:00.000-05:00

President Barack Obama's overall approval rating remains in the mid-40s, where it has been since July, and he continues to receive much higher marks for foreign policy than for domestic issues, according to a new national survey out one year before he is up for re-election.

A CNN/ORC International Poll released Tuesday indicates that 52% of all Americans approve of how the president is handling the situation in Iraq, an indication that Americans tend to favor Obama's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from that country by year's end. Forty-eight percent of those questioned approve of how he is handling the war in Afghanistan. By contrast, only 35% have a positive view of his economic track record, and just 38% approve of how he is handling health care policy.
- CNN: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/15/cnn-poll-obama-ranks-low-among-recent-incumbents/

Rick Perry's OOPS Moment at the Republican Debate

2011-11-10T02:35:00.000-05:00

Going into the Republican Debate, all eyes were on Herman Cain as he was in this lewd sexual harassment scandal, but Rick Perry stole the spotlight away from Cain with a verbal-gaffe of his own. LOL.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry unwittingly stole the spotlight from his rival with a potentially fatal verbal fumble that he punctuated with a feeble “oops,” neatly making Mr. Cain's woes look minuscule in comparison in a debate that was already paying them short shrift.

Perry, whose past debate performances raised questions about his readiness for the national stage, stumbled badly in the course of naming three federal agencies he would eliminate.

In the course of promising to repeal job-crushing government regulations, Perry said he would eliminate three government agencies. But in an excruciating minute-long answer full of pauses, he could not remember the third.

"Commerce, Education, and the -- what's the third one there? Let's see," Perry said, looking puzzled and searching his notes.

When he finally named the Environmental Protection Agency after another candidate mentioned it as a possibility, Harwood followed up.

"Seriously, is the EPA the one you were talking about?" he asked.

"No sir, no sir. We were talking about the agencies of government -- the EPA needs to be rebuilt," Perry responded. "There's no doubt about that."

"But you can't name the third one?" Harwood pressed.

Finally, Perry gave up.

"Commerce and, let's see," he said. "I can't. The third one, I can't. Sorry. Oops."

The moment was so problematic that the Perry campaign made the rare decision to bring the candidate himself into the spin room to explain himself. It turned out the agency he was searching for was the Department of Energy

"I'm sure glad I had my boots on because I sure stepped in it out there," Perry told a pack of reporters. "The bottom line is, I may have forgotten Energy, but I didn't forget my conservative principles."

Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom let the moment speak for itself.

"There is nothing I could say that could darken the night that Rick Perry had," he told reporters. "I would prefer to talk about Gov. Romney's performance."

- CNN http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/09/politics/gop-debate/index.html

Herman Cain Says NO - Team Obama'12 Reports

2011-11-08T21:34:00.000-05:00

Republican presidential candidate and front runner Herman continues to say no to all the allegations. "They simply didn't happen. They simply did not happen," Cain insisted of the accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior, and at least one incident of alleged sexual groping, when he was head of the National Restaurant Association from 1996 to 1999.

But Karen Kraushaar, one of the women who have made allegations, told CNN Tuesday night that Cain is a "serial denier." She declined direct comment on Cain's Tuesday remarks, but said she wanted to meet with the other accusers about their cases.

At a news conference he held to respond to the latest accusation, made Monday by Sharon Bialek, a Chicago woman who once worked at the restaurant group, Cain described her as a "troubled" woman put up to making false allegations by forces trying to derail his presidential bid.

Cain said it could be the "Democrat machine" behind the allegations but added that he didn't know for sure. He also said he expected further attempts to smear his name and reputation, and vowed that he would not be deterred.

"As far as these accusations causing me to back off and maybe withdraw from this presidential primary race? Ain't going to happen," Cain said.

partial source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/08/politics/cain-allegations/index.html

Joe Biden: We Have to Act Now

2011-11-05T17:06:00.000-04:00

Speaking from the University of Pittsburgh, Vice President Biden argues that this month's jobs numbers demonstrate that Congress should pass the American Jobs Act to strengthen our economy and create jobs right away.

Remarks of Vice President Joe Biden
Weekly Address
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Saturday, November 5, 2011

Hi, this is Joe Biden. I’m speaking to you from the University of Pittsburgh, where I just spoke to students here about what we’ve done to help ease the burden on them when it comes to the rising cost of tuition and the accumulating student debt and what we’re going to do to help create jobs when they graduate.

Today we found out we’ve had the 20th month in a row where we’ve increased private sector jobs -- 104,000 this month, 104,000 private sector jobs. And as all you know, that's not nearly enough. We have to increase the pace. We have to act now to do everything in our power to keep this economy moving and to grow jobs.

President Obama is on his way back from France where he just met with the leaders of the 20 largest economies in the world, where he urged our European friends to step up and stabilize their own economies because if they fail, it will affect the whole world.

Too many Americans are still struggling. Too many college students here at the University of Pittsburgh and elsewhere are worrying about the rising cost of their tuition, and the increasing accumulation of debt. And too many of their parents are in stagnant jobs or out of work, wondering if they're going to be able to send their child back to college next semester.

My dad used to have a saying. He said, a job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It’s about dignity. It’s about respect.

And too many Americans have been stripped of their dignity through no fault of their own. So we can't wait to help them. The President and I believe we have to act now. That's why we’ve introduced the jobs bill which independent validators said would create 2 million new jobs.

Although 51 senators voted for that jobs bill, our Republican colleagues in the Senate used a procedural requirement that requires it to have 60 votes, so it failed.

And since then we’ve taken every important piece of the jobs bill and demanded that we have a separate vote. But our Republican colleagues in the Senate have voted unanimously to vote down each and every part so far: to restore 400,000 jobs for teachers, police officers, firefighters, putting them back in classrooms, on the streets and in the fire houses.

And then on Thursday, they unanimously voted down the second part of our program: to rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges, which would have created more than 400,000 good-paying jobs.

These are all programs that the Republicans in the past have supported, but once again, every Republican voted no -- blocking the majority will to put these folks back to work.

I think the assumption is that they're voting no because of the way we would pay for these jobs, and we do pay for them. We think everybody should pay their fair share, so that's why we put a small surtax on the first dollar after a person has already made $1 million. That seems fair to us, and it pays for the bill. It’s a small price to pay to put hundreds of thousands of people back to work.

So, look, we can't wait. We can't wait for the Congress to start acting responsibly, and that's why the President has used his executive power to announce that hundreds of thousands of people will be able to refinance their homes from 6 percent interest rates to 4 percent, saving them an average of $2,000 a year. That's why the President announced that beginning next year, no student will have to pay back more than 10 percent of their discretionary income toward their student debt. He also announced new regulations regarding prescription drugs to prevent price gouging. And there’s more to come.

If the Republican Congress won’t join us, we’re going to continue to act on our own to make the changes that we can to bring relief to middle-class families and those aspiring to get in the middle class.

Look, it’s simple: We refuse to take no for an answer. We know these steps taken alone are not going to solve all of our problems, but they will make a difference in the lives of millions of American families struggling to hold on. And you know and I know if the Republicans would just let the Congress do its job, let it step up and meet its responsibilities, we could do so much more, and we could do it immediately.

That's why the President and I need your help to tell your Republican congressmen and senators to step up. Tell them to stop worrying about their jobs and start worrying about yours because we’re all in this together, and together is the way we’re going to bring America back even stronger than it was before.

Obama'12 Opinions

2011-11-02T03:38:00.000-04:00

You ideas regarding President Barack Obama and 2012 election cycle:

Michael Paul -
I want to join Barack Obama in retirement in 2013. However, I won't be able to do that. Four years are enough. We are not entitled to anything but those rights in the Bill of Rights, Health care is not a "right", it is a service provided by someone or an entity. Forget the birth certificate, I want to see his Passport from 25 years ago. I am a member of the top 5% and I worked hard and took responsibility for myself to get there.

Gilbert Lama -
Your back is to the wall, Boss. You need a home run in your upcoming address. We need a specific, concise and targeted course of action. Otherwise, I fear support for you within the base will continue to erode. We desperately need you to be reelected. The radical agenda of most in the republican field is frightening. O'B you're our only hope!

Seth Cohen -
Obama is doing the right thing. Cutting social security will screw people like teachers, and the economy wil be in worse shape. I don't want my mom to pay more in taxes but those entitlement programs is what keeps every american off the streets and into homes. If the republicans get into office, especially Bachman, then we are screwed cause she will put all her stupid ideas into effect and the economy will plummet. Keep the Democrats into office, republicans will economically kill everyone but the wealthy.

Rick Perry Drunk at New Hampsire Event

2011-11-02T03:33:00.000-04:00

Rick Perry, Gov. of Texas, running for White House in 2012. Was he Rick Perry drunk or not drunk?

IF you look at his debate performance, you probably couldn't tell whether he was drunk or not.

"I can tell you unequivocally he wasn't drinking at the event and he hadn't been drinking prior to the event," said Kevin Smith, executive director of conservative group Cornerstone Action, which organized the event, told The Hill. "I was sitting with him, and I found him to be very engaging with all of the people he was talking with, he was very articulate."

According to Smith, Perry drank "only water" in the period leading up to his address. He also said that the general reaction by the Granite State audience had been, "wow, he hit it out of the park" with the speech.

Barack Obama: We Can’t Wait to Create Jobs

2011-10-29T15:20:00.001-04:00

President Obama says that we can’t wait for Congress to take action to grow the economy and create jobs -- and highlights actions he took to help families refinance their mortgages, put veterans to work, and lower the cost of student loans.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
Saturday, October 29, 2011

This week, a new economic report confirmed what most Americans already believe to be true: over the past three decades, the middle class has lost ground while the wealthiest few have become even wealthier. In fact, the average income for the top one percent of Americans has risen almost seven times faster than the income of the average middle class family. And this has happened during a period where the cost of everything from health care to college has skyrocketed.

Now, in this country, we don’t begrudge anyone wealth or success – we encourage it. We celebrate it. But America is better off when everyone has had the chance to get ahead – not just those at the top of the income scale. The more Americans who prosper, the more America prospers.

Rebuilding an economy where everyone has the chance to succeed will take time. Our economic problems were decades in the making, and they won’t be solved overnight. But there are steps we can take right now to put people back to work and restore some of the security that middle-class Americans have lost over the last few decades.

Right now, Congress can pass a set of common-sense jobs proposals that independent economists tell us will boost the economy right away. Proposals that will put more teachers, veterans, construction workers and first responders back on the job. Proposals that will cut taxes for virtually every middle class family and small business in America. These are the same kinds of proposals that both Democrats and Republicans have supported in the past. And they should stop playing politics and act on them now.

These jobs proposals are also paid for by asking folks who are making more than a million dollars a year to contribute a little more in taxes. These are the same folks who have seen their incomes go up so much, and I believe this is a contribution they’re willing to make. One survey found that nearly 7 in 10 millionaires are willing to step up and pay a little more in order to help the economy.

Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress aren’t paying attention. They’re not getting the message. Over and over, they have refused to even debate the same kind of jobs proposals that Republicans have supported in the past – proposals that today are supported, not just by Democrats, but by Independents and Republicans all across America. And yet, somehow, they found time this week to debate things like whether or not we should mint coins to celebrate the Baseball Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, they’re only scheduled to work three more weeks between now and the end of the year.

The truth is, we can no longer wait for Congress to do its job. The middle-class families who’ve been struggling for years are tired of waiting. They need help now. So where Congress won’t act, I will.

This week, we announced a new policy that will help families whose home values have fallen refinance their mortgages and save thousands of dollars. We’re making it easier for veterans to get jobs putting their skills to work in hospitals and community health centers. We reformed the student loan process so more young people can get out of debt faster. And we’re going to keep announcing more changes like these on a regular basis.

These steps will make a difference. But they won’t take the place of the bold action we need from Congress to get this economy moving again. That’s why I need all of you to make your voices heard. Tell Congress to stop playing politics and start taking action on jobs. If we want to rebuild an economy where every American has the chance to get ahead, we need every American to get involved. That’s how real change has always happened, and that’s how it’ll happen today.

Thank you.

Obama 2012 Campaign: We can't wait

2011-10-25T14:12:00.001-04:00

Now that each and every Senate Republican has vowed to block measures that would create jobs, President Obama is not going to wait for them to rebuild the economy and bring financial security back to the middle class.

Today, he announced new rules on federal mortgages to prevent more families from losing their homes to foreclosure. And that's just the beginning -- the President said he would continue to make the changes he can by executive action, while continuing to urge Congress to act on legislation to strengthen the economy and create jobs.

If Congress doesn't act, he will -- because millions of Americans can't just wait for Congress to do their jobs. That's why thousands of you have been calling and tweeting your representatives over the past month, joining the President in sending a message to lawmakers in Washington that they need to act now.

We're not just going to continue to wait -- and we'll be keeping up the pressure by making sure they're hearing from folks across the country every day about why they need to act.

Will you share your story -- and join President Obama in telling Congress that we can't and won't wait?

Republicans in Congress have repeatedly filibustered the President's ideas to create jobs now -- ideas that until recently were supported by Republicans.

The President's action today also stands in stark contrast to the positions of the Republicans running for president. Mitt Romney even told a newspaper last week that we actually shouldn't act; we should let the housing crisis "run its course" and "hit the bottom" so that "investors" can come in and buy up these homes at cheap prices. He's saying to homeowners that they are on their own, forcing thousands of families to explain to their kids why they have to give up their homes.

Doing nothing while families struggle: that's the opposite of what this president and this campaign stand for. President Obama isn't going to let Congress' inaction stop him from doing what he can right now.

So here's what the President's announcement means:

    -- More families whose homes are under water will get help and save money on their monthly mortgage payment through the Home Affordable Refinance Programs.

    -- If the value of your mortgage is $100,000 and your house is valued at $75,000, you previously weren't able to refinance to save your home -- forcing many families to pay higher interest rates. As a result of today's announcement, many more responsible homeowners will be able to lower their rates and pay their debts.

    -- And this is just one of the incremental changes to come. Next, the President will announce new steps to help young people manage their federal student loan debt while they look for a job and get on their feet. He'll also take action to help small businesses and entrepreneurs, spur the engines of job growth, create new jobs, and assist veterans in finding them.

These measures alone are not a comprehensive solution to the economic challenges we face. That needs to come out of Congress -- and if they're going to finally put party aside, they're going to need to keep hearing from us. President Obama is stepping up the pressure, and he's counting on us to keep going, too.

Get the President's back and keep the heat on Congress -- tell your story of why we can't wait any longer:

http://my.barackobama.com/We-Cant-Wait

Thanks,

James

James Kvaal
Policy Director
Obama for America

Rick Perry Pokes Fun at Obama's Birth Certificate

2011-10-25T14:03:00.000-04:00

"Look I haven't seen his, I haven't seen his grades. My grades ended up on the front page of the newspaper, so let's you know, if we're going to show stuff, let's show stuff, but look that's all a distraction, I mean I get it. I'm really not worried about the president's birth certificate. It's fun to poke at him a little bit and say 'Hey, how about let's see your grades and your birth certificate," said Perry

Perry of course did horribly bad while he was in University. He failed Organic Chemistry, and got a C in gym. Who in the world would get C in gym?

But the real point here is that he thinks it's perfectly fine to poke fun at President Barack Obama's birth certificate. In so doing, Perry also associated himself with likes of Donald Trump, the father of the "birther" movement.

Donald Trump, and other radical far-right Republicans like himself, is vastly unpopular among the mainstream Americans. Perry has done a lot of damage to himself already by calling Social Security ponzi-scheme, many more such stupid stuff. How does poking fun at Pres. Obama's birth certificate help candidate Perry? Well that only makes sense in the idiotic mind of Perry!

photo courtesy of http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/funnypictures/ig/Republican-Clowns/Rick-Perry--Republican-Clown.htm

Democrats Planning Major Capitol Hill Rally To Push Obama's Jobs Bill - HuffPost

2011-10-18T02:39:00.000-04:00

Huffington Post reports:

Hoping to put political pressure on Republicans and provide a few sympathetic visuals for reporters, congressional Democrats are planning to host a rally on Capitol Hill this week to push a major component of President Barack Obama's jobs plan.

A Democratic source says that on Wednesday, the party is likely to host firefighters, cops and other first responders along with teachers who face the threat of being laid off should lawmakers not send additional funds to states. Another source confirmed that preparations are underway for a rally.

The purpose of the affair is straightforward. It aims to put a human face on a legislative effort that would see $30 billion or so spent on education-related jobs and another $5 billion on first responders, all of which would be paid for by placing a tax on income above $1 million. By bringing those individuals who stand to benefit from the bill to Washington D.C., Democrats are practically doing the national press corps' homework for them.

The extent to which the White House will be involved in the affair remains unclear. But the administration does see the contrast drawn by both the bill and the rally as an advantageous one for the president.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/17/obama-jobs-bill-rally-teachers-firefighters-cops_n_1016335.html

Obama Blasts Republicans Opposition on Jobs Bill

2011-10-17T20:10:00.000-04:00

My "bill will help put people back to work and give our economy a boost right away," Obama told a morning crowd at Asheville Regional Airport. "But apparently, none of this matters" to GOP leaders.

"I've gone out of my way to find areas of cooperation" with congressional Republicans, the president declared. "We're going to give members of Congress another chance to step up to the plate and do the right thing."

But "if they vote against these proposals again ... then they're not going to have to answer to me. They're going to have to answer to you," he said.

In Asheville, the crowd repeatedly chanted "four more years" before and during Obama's remarks.

"I appreciate the 'four more years,' but right now, I'm thinking about the next 13 months," the president said. "We don't have time to wait. We've got a choice right now."

Obama's senior strategist, David Axelrod, vowed Sunday that every part of the bill will eventually have a vote.

"The American people support every single plank of that bill, and we're going to vote on every single one of them," Axelrod said on ABC's "This Week."

Is It Obama vs Cain in November 2012?

2011-10-15T16:06:00.001-04:00

Herminator is clearly surging in the polls.

A CNN poll of polls indicates that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is on top of the GOP field of candidates at 23%, and Cain is just three points behind. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was a front-runner in the national polls from late August through much of September, trails Cain at 14%. The CNN poll of polls is an average of the latest four national surveys in the GOP race. It was compiled and released Thursday,

Other polls indicate that Cain is in fact ahead of Romney. Conan O'Brain joked about this program by saying, "Americans don't understand Mormonism, but they do understand pizza." Cain also has is 9-9-9 plan. Even though that is not practical, it's good enough for the Republicans.

While "9-9-9" has put Cain at the center of the GOP's debate over the economy, it is perhaps too simple an explanation for Cain's recent rise.

"Herman Cain is surprising us all," Amy Kremer, chairman of the Tea Party Express, told CNN recently. Kremer quickly added that her organization is not ready to support a candidate yet and the tea party movement "hasn't really coalesced behind anybody."

"But," continued Kremer, "Herman Cain is doing a major thing right now. He's got a lot of momentum. A lot of people like him. He's a straight talker. He's a businessman. And that's what people like. He knows how to run a business. He knows how to create jobs. He knows about profits."

Obama Angry at Republicans for Inaction on Jobs Bill

2011-10-15T15:31:00.000-04:00

President Obama took it to his Weekly Address to express dissatisfaction of the Republicans in Congress for failure to pass the American Jobs Act that would put millions of cops, teachers and construction works back to work. Pres. Obama also said, next week the Congress will have another chance to vote the bill that put teachers and cops back work. "And if they vote “no” on that, they’ll have to tell you why. They’ll have to tell you why teachers in your community don’t deserve a paycheck again. They’ll have to tell your kids why they don’t deserve to have their teacher back. They’ll have to tell you why they’re against commonsense proposals that would help families and strengthen our communities right now."

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
October 15, 2011

I’m here in Detroit visiting workers at a GM plant in the heart of a resurgent American auto industry. And I brought a guest with me – President Lee of South Korea.

We’re here because this week, Congress passed landmark trade agreements with countries like Korea, and assistance for American workers that will be a big win for our economy.

These trade agreements will support tens of thousands of American jobs. And we’ll sell more Fords, Chevys and Chryslers abroad stamped with three proud words – “Made in America.”

So it was good to see Congress act in a bipartisan way on something that will help create jobs at a time when millions of Americans are out of work and need them now.

But that’s also why it was so disappointing to see Senate Republicans obstruct the American Jobs Act, even though a majority of Senators voted “yes” to advance this jobs bill.

We can’t afford this lack of action. And there is no reason for it. Independent economists say that this jobs bill would give the economy a jumpstart and lead to nearly two million new jobs. Every idea in that jobs bill is the kind of idea both parties have supported in the past.

The majority of the American people support the proposals in this jobs bill. And they want action from their elected leaders to create jobs and restore some security for the middle class right now. You deserve to see your hard work and responsibility rewarded – and you certainly deserve to see it reflected in the folks you send to Washington.

But rather than listen to you and put folks back to work, Republicans in the House spent the past couple days picking partisan ideological fights. They’re seeing if they can roll back clean air and water protections. They’re stirring up fights over a woman’s right to make her own health care choices. They’re not focused on the concrete actions that will put people back to work right now.

Well, we’re going to give them another chance. We’re going to give them another chance to spend more time worrying about your jobs than keeping theirs.

Next week, I’m urging Members of Congress to vote on putting hundreds of thousands of teachers back in the classroom, cops back on the streets, and firefighters back on the job.

And if they vote “no” on that, they’ll have to tell you why. They’ll have to tell you why teachers in your community don’t deserve a paycheck again. They’ll have to tell your kids why they don’t deserve to have their teacher back. They’ll have to tell you why they’re against commonsense proposals that would help families and strengthen our communities right now.

In the coming weeks, we’ll have them vote on the other parts of the jobs bill – putting construction workers back on the job, rebuilding our roads and bridges; providing tax cuts for small businesses that hire our veterans; making sure that middle-class families don’t see a tax hike next year and that the unemployed and our out-of-work youth have a chance to get back in the workforce and earn their piece of the American Dream.

That’s what’s at stake. Putting people back to work. Restoring economic security for the middle class. Rebuilding an economy where hard work is valued and responsibility is rewarded – an economy that’s built to last. And I’m going to travel all over the country over the next few weeks so that we can remind Congress that’s their job. Because there’s still time to create jobs and grow our economy right now. There’s still time for Congress to do the right thing. We just need to act.

Thank you.

DNC Goes After Mitt Romney's Flip-Flops

2011-10-10T16:33:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that Mitt Romney, and many other Republicans running for the White House in 2012, have flip-flopped on many issues. But Mitt Romney is the master of the art of flip-flopping. So DNC has put together a website - http://www.whichmitt.com - that showcases most of his flip-flops, and there's a video attached to each flip-flop to prove the point!

Here are some of Romney's flip-flops featured on http://www.whichmitt.com:

On Government Auto Industry Loans:
“I'm not willing to sit back and say, 'Too bad for Michigan, too bad—too bad for the car industry, too bad for the people who've lost their jobs. They're gone forever.”

“That's exactly what I said. The headline you read which said ‘let Detroit go bankrupt' points out that those companies needed to go through bankruptcy to shed those costs.”

On Health Care:
In Massachusetts, “[I] was able to put in place a plan that helped get health insurance premiums down, and gets all of our citizens insured. If we can do that nationally, we help ... the entire nation."”

“One thing I’d never do is impose a state’s plan on the entire nation, that makes no sense. I’ll repeal Obamacare.”

Barack Obama: Senate Should Pass America Jobs Act

2011-10-08T18:34:00.000-04:00

President Obama urges Congress to pass the American Jobs Act to put more people to work, put more money in the pockets of working Americans and give the economy the jolt it needs right now.

Next week, the Senate will vote on the American Jobs Act. It’s a bill that will put more people to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. And it will provide our economy with the jolt that it really needs right now

This is not the time for the usual games or political gridlock in Washington. The challenges facing financial markets around the world could have very real effects on our own economy at a time when it’s already fragile. But this jobs bill can help guard against another downturn here in America.

This isn’t just my belief. This is what independent economists have said. Not just politicians. Not just people in my administration. Independent experts who do this for a living have said that this jobs bill will have a significant effect for our economy and middle-class families all across America. But if we don’t act, the opposite will be true – there will be fewer jobs and weaker growth.

So any Senator out there who’s thinking about voting against this jobs bill needs to explain why they would oppose something that we know would improve our economic situation. If the Republicans in Congress think they have a better plan for creating jobs right now, they should prove it. Because one of the same independent economists who looked at our plan just said that their ideas, quote, wouldn’t “mean much for the economy in the near term.”

If their plan doesn’t measure up, the American people deserve to know what it is that Republicans in Congress don’t like about this jobs plan. You hear a lot of our Republican friends say that one of the most important things we can do is cut taxes. Well, they should love this plan. The American Jobs Act would cut taxes for virtually every worker and small business in America. And if you’re a small business owner that hires new workers, raises wages, or hires a veteran, you get an additional tax cut.

Right now, hundreds of thousands of teachers and firefighters and police officers have been laid off because of state budget cuts. This jobs bill will put a lot of these men and women back to work. Right now, there are millions of laid-off construction workers who could be repairing our bridges and roads and modernizing our schools. Why wouldn’t we want to put these men and women to work rebuilding America?

The proposals in this bill are steps we have to take if we want to build an economy that lasts; if we want to be able to compete with other countries for jobs that restore a sense of security for the middle-class. But we also have to rein in our deficit and start living within our means, which is why this jobs bill is paid for by asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share.

Some see this as class warfare. I see it as a simple choice. We can either keep taxes exactly as they are for millionaires and billionaires, or we can ask them to pay at least the same rate as a plumber or a bus driver. And in the process, we can put teachers and construction workers and veterans back on the job. We can either fight to protect their tax cuts, or we can cut taxes for virtually every worker and small business in America. But we can’t afford to do both. It’s that simple.

There are too many people hurting in this country for us to simply do nothing. The economy is too fragile for us to let politics get in the way of action. The people who represent you in Washington have a responsibility to do what’s best for you – not what’s best for their party or what’s going to help them win an election that’s more than a year away. So I need you to keep making your voices heard in Washington. I need you to remind these folks who they work for. And I need you to tell your Senators to do the right thing by passing this jobs bill right away. Thank you.

Get a load of Rick-Santorum dipping sauce

2011-10-07T21:24:00.000-04:00

Herman Cain, also known as Herb Cain and also happened to be the flavor of the week - phrase coined by Sandra Palin, who's is the clown of the decade - is rising in polls. So Rick Santorum cannot stand that, and he took some jabs as Cain.

Rick Santorum introduced us to his new idiotic economic plan, worse than the one of Cain, the "0-0-0" plan. This is a swipe at Cain's "9-9-9" plan.

"Zero corporate income tax on any manufacturer processor in this country… Zero corporate tax on all of that money brought back if invested in plant and equipment in this country… And zero – we will zero out and repeal every single regulation the Obama administration has put in place that is 100 million dollars in business or more,” said Santorum, a former Republican Senator from Pennsylvania.

Fact is Cain is at 17% of CNN's Poll of Polls, which is an average of all other major polls. Santorum is at 3%. So his sauce is not as hot as Cain. That means Santorum needs to come-up with even crazier ideas than his 0-0-0 plan. It should be more like minus five, minus five, and minus five.

Obama on Fire at Human Rights Campaign Fundraising Dinner

2011-10-02T12:20:00.000-04:00

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Human Rights Campaign Gala at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. October 1, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

Yesterday night, President Barack Obama gave a speech at the HRC Fundraising Dinner, entirely consisting of gays and lesbians. The crowd strongly applaud Obama when he mentioned the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

But the most electric reaction, however, came when Obama sharply criticized the GOP presidential candidates for staying silent when audience members at a debate booed a gay soldier who asked a question about DADT.

"We don't believe in the kind of smallness that says it's okay for a stage full of political leaders -- one of whom could end up being the president of the United States -- being silent when an American soldier is booed. We don't believe in that," said Obama to loud cheers and a standing ovation.

"We don't believe in standing silent when that happens. We don't believe in them being silent since. You want to be commander in chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it's not politically convenient. We don't believe in a small America. We believe in a big America -- a tolerant America, a just America, an equal America -- that values the service of every patriot."

Hermain Cain Has a Good Point on Christie

2011-10-02T12:13:00.000-04:00

Herman Cain said other day that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is "too liberal" to win the Republican nomination in 2012, or ever defeat Pres. Obama in the general election. Mr. Cain has a good point, because if Christie were to actually throw his hat in the race, he and Jon Huntsman would be the most common-sense and intelligent candidates in the Republican field.

As Governor,Christie appointed a Muslim lawyer to be a New Jersey Superior Court judge. This would be his dirtiest secret in today's tea-party fueled Republican Party.

“Most of the conservatives believe that we should enforce our borders. They do not believe people should be here without documentation. They do not believe global warming is a crisis or a threat,” Cain said on “Fox News Sunday.” “As you go right down the line, he's going to turn off a lot of conservatives with those positions.”

“I believe that a lot of conservatives, once they know his position on those things that you delineated, they're going to not be able to support him,” Cain said.

President Obama: Fighting for the American Jobs Act

2011-10-01T11:02:00.000-04:00

In this week’s address, President Obama told the American people that it has been nearly three weeks since he sent Congress his jobs bill, and now it is time for Congress to send it back so that it can be signed into law. Economists agree that the American Jobs Act will spur hiring and boost the economy, and it will give workers and small businesses tax cuts, get construction workers back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges, and put more teachers in classrooms and cops on the streets. Too many Americans are struggling and need help now, and so Republicans and Democrats should come together without delay to pass the American Jobs Act.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
October 1, 2011

Hello, everyone. It’s been almost three weeks since I sent the American Jobs Act to Congress – three weeks since I sent them a bill that would put people back to work and put money in people’s pockets. This jobs bill is fully paid for. This jobs bill contains the kinds of proposals that Democrats and Republicans have supported in the past. And now I want it back. It is time for Congress to get its act together and pass this jobs bill so I can sign it into law.

Some Republicans in Congress have said that they agree with certain parts of this jobs bill. If so, it’s time for them to tell me what those proposals are. And if they’re opposed to this jobs bill, I’d like to know what exactly they’re against. Are they against putting teachers and police officers and firefighters back on the job? Are they against hiring construction workers to rebuild our roads and bridges and schools? Are they against giving tax cuts to virtually every worker and small business in America?

Economists from across the political spectrum have said that this jobs bill would boost the economy and spur hiring. Why would you be against that? Especially at a time when so many Americans are struggling and out of work.

This isn’t just about what I think is right. It’s not just about what a group of economists think is right. This is about what the American people want. Everywhere I go, they tell me they want action on jobs. Every day, I get letters from Americans who expect Washington to do something about the problems we face.

Destiny Wheeler is a sixteen year old from Georgia who wants to go to college. She wrote to me saying, “Now-a-days it is hard to see myself pushing forward and putting my family in a better position, especially since the economy is rough and my starting situation is so poor. Yet, the American Jobs act gives me hope that I might start to receive a better education, that one day job opportunities will be open for me to grasp, and that one day my personal American Dream will be reached.” Destiny needs us to pass this jobs bill.

Alice Johnson is an Oregon native who, along with her husband, has been looking for a job for about two years. She writes, “I have faithfully applied for work every week…Of the hundreds of applications I have put in, I received interview requests for about 10…I too, am sick of all the fighting in Washington DC. Please tell the Republicans that people are hurting and are hungry and need help, pass the jobs bill.” Alice Johnson needs our help.

Cathleen Dixon sent me pictures of the aging bridge she drives under when she takes her kids to school in Chicago every day. She worries about their safety, and writes, “I am angry that in this country of vast resources we claim that we cannot maintain basic infrastructure. How can we ever hope to preserve or regain our stature in this world, if we cannot find the will to protect our people and take care of our basic needs?”

I also heard from Kim Faber, who told me about the small carpet business her husband owns in New Jersey. “We hang on by a shoe String,” she writes, “my husband worries every day about if checks might bounce, he uses our home loan to put money in the business so they will be covered. Please pass this jobs bill! This is the job creating we need right now! It breaks my husband’s heart when he has to let people go! Pass the bill!”

Kim said it best: Pass the bill. I know one Republican was quoted as saying that their party shouldn’t pass this jobs bill because it would give me a win. Well this isn’t about giving me a win, and it’s not about them. This is about Destiny Wheeler and Alice Johnson. It’s about Cathleen Dixon’s children, and the Fabers’ family business. These are the people who need a win, and I will be fighting for this jobs bill every day on their behalf. If anyone watching feels the same way, don’t be shy about letting your Congressman know. It is time for the politics to end. Let’s pass this jobs bill.

New Fundraising Mission: Help Fight Tea Baggers

2011-10-01T00:25:00.002-04:00

Over the month of October, Team Obama'12 is planning on raising $1000 to help spread the truth about the Tea Party smears, and Pres. Obama's record on creating jobs.

But We can't do this alone. We need your support to fuel Obama'12 Blog. Please take a minute to contribute whatever amount you can afford - $5, $10, $25, $50, $100.

http://www.chipin.com/contribute/id/60a6c4ebfa214f2b

Thanks in advance,

David

David Thomson

ILLUSTRATION OF WHO INCREASED THE DEBT?

2011-09-28T17:48:00.003-04:00

A picture so simple even tea baggers can understand it.

Weekly Address: Passing the American Jobs Act

2011-09-17T12:39:00.001-04:00

In this week’s address, President Obama urged Congress to pass the American Jobs Act without delay so that businesses will be able to hire more workers and every American who wants a job will be able to find one. The President’s jobs bill keeps cops on the streets and teachers in the classrooms, cuts taxes for small businesses, and puts construction workers back to work without adding to the deficit. All Americans who agree with the President’s plan should call their elected officials and tell them that it’s time to pass the jobs bill, which will ensure that everyone pays their fair share and that we live within our means as we help the economy continue to grow.

I’ve spent some time lately traveling the country and talking with folks outside of Washington. And the number one issue for the people I meet is how we can get back to a place where we’re creating good, middle-class jobs that pay well and offer some security.

That’s the idea behind the American Jobs Act. It’s a jobs bill that does two simple things: put more people back to work, and more money back in the pockets of people who are working.

This jobs bill puts construction workers back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges and modernizing our schools.

This jobs bill puts teachers back in the classroom, and keeps cops and firefighters on our streets.

This jobs bill gives tax credits to companies that hire our veterans, because if you sign up to fight for our country, the last thing you should have to do is fight for a job when you come home.

This jobs bill connects the long-term unemployed to temporary work to keep their skills sharp while they look for a job, and it gives hundreds of thousands of young people the hope of a job next summer.

This jobs bill cuts taxes for every small business owner in America. It cuts them even more for small business owners that hire new workers and raise workers’ salaries. And it cuts taxes for every working family in America so that you’ll have more money in your pockets, and businesses know they’ll have customers to buy what they sell.

That’s the American Jobs Act, and you can check it out for yourself on WhiteHouse.gov.

It will create new jobs. It will cut taxes for every worker and small business in the country. And it will not add to the deficit. It will be paid for.

On Monday, I’ll lay out my plan for how we’ll do that – how we’ll pay for this plan and pay down our debt by following some basic principles: making sure we live within our means and asking everyone to pay their fair share.

But right now, we’ve got to get Congress to pass this jobs bill. Everything in the American Jobs Act is the kind of idea that’s been supported by Democrats and Republicans before. And if they’re ideas you agree with, too, every one of you can help make it happen by telling your congressperson to pass this jobs bill right away.

I know some of them would rather wait another year to wage another election than work together right now. But most Americans don’t have the luxury of waiting. It was three years ago this week that a financial crisis on Wall Street made things much more difficult for working folks on Main Street. And too many are still hurting as a result.

So the time for action is now. No more games or gridlock. No more division or delay. It’s time for the people you sent to Washington to put country before party – to stop worrying so much about their jobs and start worrying more about yours.

It’s time to get to work and show the world once again why the United States of America remains the greatest nation on Earth.

Republican Debate: Obama vs Romney vs Perry vs You

2011-09-08T22:11:00.001-04:00

Fact: Throughout the night, the word "middle class" was spoken twice - both times by Mitt Romney. But he offered no solutions to help you the middle class American. All he did was taking constant swipes at Pres. Obama focusing on 2012 election.

Needless to say, every one of the Republican last night said he/she would repeal Obama-care if elected President! Health-care is going to be a big focus of the 2012 general election. In the sate of Texas alone, where Rick Perry has been the governor for the last decade, 25% of its population doesn't have insurance.

On the economic front, all the Republicans displayed no leadership at all - none of them showcased any ideas to get the American economy moving again. Rick Perry said, along with many other idiotic things, government doesn't create a single job. News-flash: in Texas, over 300 000 jobs are government or public-sector related jobs.

On Social Security, Mitt Romney wants to give full power to the Wall Street, let them gable with your Social Security, and in turn you lose money whenever the stock market spiral down. Rick Perry, however, has the worst mindset on Social Security. As he previously wrote in his book, Perry said the program is a "Ponzi Scheme." Neither one of these has a clear plan to strengthen SS, but they both know how to get rid of what has worked so well to keep the seniors out of poverty.

Romney Unveils Jobs Plan, Bashes Obama with His Magical Job-Creating Machine

2011-09-06T22:48:00.000-04:00

Mitt Romney was in Nevada today to introduce his impractical jobs plan to the world. This comes at the wake of President Obama's plan to create jobs - which Obama will unveils this Thursday.

Not once in his 30-minite speech did Romney mention the fact that Nevada has an unemployment rate of over 13%, and how his plan would help heal it. Instead he took plenty of time to take jabs at Barack Obama.

Mitt Romney also introduced to his magical "job creating machine." And how will this jobs machine would looks like if become the president? "In the first four years, this will grow the economy at approximately at 4% a year. It'll add 11.5 million new jobs for Americans."

But his most favorite job creating ideas was, of course, giving more tax-cuts to the corporations. "The average of developed nations' tax rate for corporations is 25%. Ours is 35%. We've got to bring that tax rate down to that same 25% level."

He said he would do that on day one, which is definitely impossible because the President Obama the United States doesn't dictate the tax rates for anybody America, Congress does, and what makes you think that the Congress will do that one the day of his inauguration.

Robert Reich, Former Treasury Secretary to the Clinton Administration cut through all Romeny's bull-crap on MSNBC's Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell.

"It's kind of an odd idea. It's like calling corporations people. It's not clear what this are. Mitt Romeny has kind of an bizarre idea that, at time when corporations are scoring record profits, at a time where you got them sitting on 2 trillion dollars of cash that they don't even know what to do with, that some how if you give more tax-cuts to them, then they will create jobs."

Reich went on to say that, in fact, corporations are doing extremely well because they are selling well in abroad, and they are also cutting wages, "but that is not a job machine by anybody's definition of a job's machine."

"[corporations] don't need more money. Companies are doing very well. People who need more money in their pockets are not corporations, they are people - they are Americans. The reason that corporations don't create enough jobs in United States is because they don't have enough customers in United States."

Your Expectations For Obama's Jobs Speech

2011-09-06T00:29:00.001-04:00

We asked you to send us your expectations for President Obama's jobs speech that he'll deliver this Thursday. We got hundreds of responses and below are some of what you the voters had to say:

Sharon -

I would like to hear President Obama point out how much money U.S. big businesses have been making for the past 4 years, then point out how many jobs that they have created. I would like to hear about new jobs in science and technology, advanced study and job creation in alternative energy, job creation in advanced medical research and health care, new jobs in homeland security, jobs in infrastructure improvement, jobs that will help improve our education system, jobs building affordable homes, jobs should pay a living wage (enough to raise a family on and live comfortable, provide health care, help pay for continuing education, provide a pension or retirement package.

I would like to hear that the President intends to stand up to the Republicans , no more Mr. Nice Guy! The Republicans intentions are to make Obama look like a failure. It is GET TOUGH ON REPUBLICAN TIME!! No more favors, no more bowing down or giving in to them, take the lead instead of being led around.

I am very proud of President Obama and Vice President Biden and I support them in 2012

Warren -

I would like to hear the President tell us that his repeated caving in to corporate special interests and right wing ideology is not some cynical strategy on his part. Does he really think that by betraying his core support and pandering to the right he is guaranteed my vote simply because the Republican candidate is even worse? Think again. At this point I will either vote for a third party candidate or not vote at all. I am completely and utterly disgusted.

Donald -

I have been unemployed for a year now. I am 59 and have a college degree in Mathematics. I am now looking for part-time jobs. I want to know what will be done immediately to create jobs in the next week, not the coming months. I have worked since I was 12 and have never felt so much discrimination because of my age or experience. What will be done to tell American employers that their attitude against over-qualified or older workers has got to stop. It is evil pure and simple.

Republican Candidates at South Carolina Tea Party Forum

2011-09-05T23:57:00.002-04:00

Five Republicans running for the presidnecy of the United States took part in South Carolina Tea Party Forum, hosted by Jim DeMint, who's another tea party idiot.

The five Republicans were: Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Mr. Pee Wee Herman Cain.

They all, except for Ron Paul, had to say some eye popping nonsensical comments regarding top issues. They all said they hated Obama, and that Obama is the worst president! Newt said Obama, "is the most successful food-stamp president." What a racist comment to make!

Mitt Romney said he'd repeal Obama-care. Obviously this isn't something he said during his 2008 presidential run. In fact, at one point,in a 2008 debate, Romney said he was the only who provided comprehensive healthcare to his constituents. Moreover, Jim DeMint endorsed Romney in 2008, when RomenyCare had already passed, but Jim was a little but high at the moment so he couldn't see what he was doing... Irony on top of irony.

Michele Bachmann, who always tires to top Rick Perry in stupid-comments-marathon, said Federal Government has no role in your kids' education, and that parents are responsible for it. Well, it's true if you have kids 10 years or younger, and remains as such, because college tuition expenses are very costly because there's lack of Government Funds to those who actually want to make something out of their lives for the better of the world. But certainly the government got the back of the big oil and gas companies. What a Shame!

Other candidates also made horrendous comments. But Ron Paul made the most sense. He said, as he has been saying, he'd bring troops home if elected president.

Herman Cain was at the forum, but Rick Sanatorium was not. Interesting...

All of them took enough time to blame Pres. Obama for economy, Obama-care, and the Obama White House for being unconstitutional. However, in any of these incidents, none of them gave concrete examples to back their point, and they didn't need because it was forum filed with tea-bag-5-year-old-brianers.

For what it's worth, Rick Perry wasn't able to take part because he had to go to Texas to extinguish wildfires. We all wish him good luck with, because if he's good at that, he should be a fire-fighter - do some actual good for the society instead of running his reckless "treasonous" mouth with no shame.

Pres. Obama's Jobs Speech

2011-09-05T00:10:00.000-04:00

Tell us what you need to hear from Pres. Obama's speech this Thursday.
This is what I'd like to hear: Obama has to clearly differentiate the definitions between the rich and job-creators, and also has to say that he's willing to tax the rich, and give tax breaks to the job-creators.

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Extending the Transportation Bill to Keep America Moving

2011-09-03T18:11:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Obama called on Congress to do what it has done seven times over the past two years and pass a clean extension of the transportation bill. Failure of Congress to act would be disastrous for the economy, costing nearly one million workers their jobs over the next year and almost $1 billion in highway funding after the first ten days alone.

August Unemployment Report: No Jobs Added

2011-09-02T10:51:00.000-04:00

In the month of August, the US economy saw a growth of 0% - no jobs were added to the economy. This is yet another indication showing the rough summer we had to weather over past three months. Despite all that private sector payrolls increased by 17,000 jobs. That means the private sector has been adding jobs to economy for 18 straight months.

The report was partially helped by 22,000 state workers in Minnesota returning to work after a temporary government shutdown in July, but was also hurt by 45,000 Verizon workers on strike in August.

Republicans were the first to accuse President Barack Obama for the poor job growth over the summer. They didn't mention the tsunami in Japan or the Arab Spring that affected oil prices. And you know, Summer is generally hot and people usually stay home. That also a significant impact on the job growth.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus put out a statement saying, "...[Obama] spent his summer fundraising and golfing, promising to lay out a jobs plan only after his Martha's Vineyard vacation-all while nearly 14 million Americans remained jobless." This guy never wakes up before noon, but today put this statement out before anybody even had the time to analyze it. He's a complete joke.

The republicans presidential candidates also took low-blow jabs at Barack Obama. Michele Bachmann said in a statement that doesn't make sense, "Mr. President – we gave you $2.4 trillion in new spending and the American people got nothing in return. Today's jobs report showing that the economy created no jobs in the last month and unemployment at 9.1 percent is further evidence that President Obama's failed economic policies are not working and have completely stalled job growth."

Scheduling Problem With Obama Speech

2011-08-31T20:42:00.000-04:00

As you all Obama supporters, and non-Obama supporters know by now, President is schedule to address the nation next Wednesday to layout his Jobs Plan in front of a Joint Session of Congress. But the problem is, its the same time and date as the Republican debate, which will be Rick Perry's first. So there's a little bit of tension of this issue. Earlier today, President Obama requested John Boehner permission to address US in the Congress:

"I respectfully request the opportunity to address a Joint Session of Congress on September 7, 2011, at 8 PM. It is my intention to layout series of bipartisan proposals that the Congress can take immediately to continue to rebuild the American economy by strengthening small business , helping Americans to get back to work, and putting more money in the paychecks of the Middle Class and working Americans, while still reducing our deflect and getting our fiscal house in order."

President Barack Obama made this letter public before John Boehner could even respond. John Boehner allowed the President to make his address the following day - Thursday. Technically the President of the United States cannot address a Joint Session OF Congress whenever he wants. But public denial, as such, is unprecedented.

New Details on Pres. Barack Obama's Job Plan

2011-08-30T20:23:00.000-04:00

- Extending the pay-roll tax cut that already exists for employees.

- Extending the pay-roll tax cuts for employers to encourage them to hire new workers. Furthermore, giving them a tax break if they hire people who have been unemployed for six months or more, for instance.

- Democrats are pushing for plan that creates new funding to renovate the broken-down schools around the country. That means investing in our infrastructure and rebuilding in your community, which would definitely put those unemployed construction crews back to work. It also helps education in the long run.

- Jobs training program for the long term unemployed that lets them keep their unemployment benefits while getting some jobs-training.

Now, Barack Obama and the Democrats are clear on that fact that the Republicans may not go along with all the details on this plan. So what they are trying to do is chop this huge plan up to pieces, modify parts if necessary, and then proceed forward. Also, there's a not a lot of expectation in Washington, and in the Obama White House, that this plan will get passed. The Obama Administration is also making an attempt to separate spending cuts as part of Obama's recommendations to the Super-Committee that would off-set any new costs in the jobs plan, so it would end up being neutral. But the Republicans are already opposed to that plan, which why some people, including myself, are not very optimistic about this plan. Nevertheless, there's nothing wrong with trying to get something done, right? Bottom-line is that if the Republicans opposed this plan, President Barack Obama can go on the road taking the case directly to the American people. After all, they are the ones that are going to re-elect Pres. Obama in 2012.

Michele Bachmann's not-so-funny humor

2011-08-30T13:26:00.000-04:00

Prior to Hurricane Irene and following the earth quake, Michele Bachmann said those natural disasters are a message from God to Washington.

"Washington, D.C. you'd think by now they'd get the message," Bachmann said at a town hall in Florida Saturday to laughs. "An earthquake, a hurricane, are you listening? The American people have done everything they possibly can, now it's time for an act of God and we're getting it."

In that statement she proved that God actually punishes people with earthquakes and hurricanes. After realizing that millions affected from the hurricane didn't find so humorous, she back-paddled.

"I have a great sense of humor and I think it's important to exhibit that humor sometimes when you are talking to people as well," Bachmann said Monday at a campaign event in Miami. "Of course I was being humorous when I said that."

This is one many idiotic things Michele Bachmann has said since entering to the presidential race. Couple of weeks ago she said he would bring the price gas below $2 a gallon. It seems she gets her kicks from running her mouth openly, hoping that to energize those tea baggers, and in return expecting votes in the primaries. Well, if that's the case, she's not alone, because there's some else playing the same game: Rick Perry. It's interesting to see who's going to come on top of that battle. Should be fun! ( not pun intended, especially if you're in the North-East )

Latest on Republican Candidates: Romney, Perry, Huntsman

2011-08-26T23:43:00.002-04:00

The Texas governor picked up a sizable jump in a national Gallup poll this week after shaking up the primary field when he entered the race two weeks ago. His August 13 announcement in South Carolina hijacked political headlines that otherwise would have been devoted that day to Michele Bachmann's narrow win over Ron Paul in the Ames straw poll in Iowa. A July Gallup survey of Republican and Republican-leaning independents showed that Perry had the potential to close in on Romney, coming in second with 18%, not far behind the former Massachusetts governor's 23%.

Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman will announce his jobs plan this Wednesday, a week before his rival for the GOP presidential nomination Mitt Romney and President Obama unveil their own competing plans to jumpstart the nation's economy. "Governor Huntsman is going to lay-out an economic agenda that would turn our economy around and allow entrepreneurs to thrive and create jobs - just as he did in Utah, where the state led the nation in job growth," Huntsman spokesman Michael Levoff said.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry chastised Mitt Romney's health care plan Thursday, but said he believes the former governor of Massachusetts is beginning to see the light. "I think Mitt is finally recognizing that the Massachusetts health care plan that he passed is a huge problem for him," he told conservative radio talk show host Laura Ingraham in an interview.

Warren Buffett Fundraises For Obama

2011-08-25T15:36:00.001-04:00

CNN MONEY reporters that billionaire Warren Buffett will host series of fundraisers for President Obama's re-election campaign at the Four Seasons restaurant in New York next month. Expect to see some high profile people taking part of the event.

The event will bring in a pretty penny for the campaign. The base price is $10,000, while a $35,800 donation will buy a VIP reception with Buffett, according to the schedule.

"My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It's time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice," Buffett wrote in his opinion piece on New York.

Mr. Buffett paid $6,938,744 in taxes last year.

“That sounds like a lot of money. But what I paid was only 17.4 per cent of my taxable income - and that’s actually a lower percentage than was paid by any of the other 20 people in our office. Their tax burdens ranged from 33 per cent to 41 per cent and averaged 36 per cent,” he responded.

“Americans are rapidly losing faith in the ability of Congress to deal with our country’s fiscal problems. Only action that is immediate, real and very substantial will prevent that doubt from morphing into hopelessness,” Mr. Buffett said.

Pres. Obama in a tough re-election fight against GOP frontrunners.

2011-08-25T03:23:00.001-04:00

2012 election is going to be tough, President Obama - just at the numbers below:

The Gallop Poll indicates that the GOP frontrunners, which include Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry, all giving Obama a tough fight against in 2012 general election.

Here are the numbers: in a potential 2012 re-election campaign against,

Romney - Pres. Obama is losing 48% to 46%
Perry - Pres. Obama is tied at 47%
Bachmann - Pres. Obama is winning 48% to 44%
Ron Paul - Pres. Obama is winning 47% to 45%

Barack Obama's re-election message has been (yes, they are already crafting it - and we know enough inside detail about it, but not putting out too much of it right now) Americans have a choice between going backwards or going forward. In other words, although Obama himself may be not so good at handling the economy, the Republicans are worse because they want to pursue failed Bush policies, and do it worse than Bush did.

Apparently this message is not working because the above listed numbers suggests otherwise, don't they?

Take a minute to look at the numbers of a potential Obama vs. Bachamann showdown. Pres. Obama is beating Michele Bachmann only by 4 points. She's a complete idiot. Other day she said she would bring price of gas below $2.

It that's not amusing, Obama is in a dead heat against Perry. This is the guy who wrote Social Security is unconstitutional, and he would completely eliminate it if elected president. His campaign is run by cooperation. Two days ago when he was at an event, a Bank of America lobbyist came over to him and said, "we will help you out."

These are the kind of the people Pres. Obama running against in a potential 2012 general election, and he should be currsing them with at least a margin of 20% - 30%. But he's not, why? Because his message doesn't work.

He's come out and say what has already worked, the fact the they managed to add at least one more job to the economy given the horrible conditions on ground. Also, they managed to pass heath-care despite an overwhelming opposition by the REPUBLICANS. And Obama and the fellow Democrats are committed to protecting Social Security and other entitlement programs. The President has to draw sharp contrast against the Republicans on these key issues, and do so vigorously.

Tell us what you think, feel free to share your comments and suggestions. Also take a minute to connect with our facebook page:

Bank of America to Rick Perry: "We will help you out"

2011-08-23T23:22:00.000-04:00

It's no coincident that Bank of America is trying to help Rick Perry out. In fact they already have helped him by donating in massive sums of money to his PAC. Perry wrote in his book that if elected president, he would impose NO regulations on banks. surprised?

He was out of the planet on vacation in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis that took place due to lack of oversight on banks from the Bush Administration. Otherwise no one in their right mind would such say/write such radical stuff. In fact, he is the most radical far-right Republican in the field as of now, well it might be a toss-up between himself and Michele Bachmann. Nevertheless, this much is clear: this is crazy, completely out of touch - worse than Bush.

Lately ( after Sunday ), in his defense of the stuff he wrote in his book, his staffers issued this statement: "Fed Up! is not meant to reflect the governor's views on how to fix the program," referring to Social Security, which Perry described in his book as unconstitutional, and thus vowed to get rid if elected president. The statement continues, "[book] is a look back, not a path forward."

Vote for Perry if your name is Bank of America, if not at least vote from in the Republican primaries to help him win the nomination. They we are going to have fun in a Clown Perry vs. President Obama showdown in the 2012 general election.

photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30835791@N07/6045984842/

Thank President Obama Saving Libyan People!

2011-08-22T20:39:00.000-04:00

It was Pres. Obama who took the initiative to attack Gadahfi when he was killing peaceful Libyan protesters. Libyan people should thank Pres. Obama and the US forces for giving them some relief from the Gadahfi regime.

And as for the Republicans, they did nothing but criticized Pres. Obama on everything he did to save the lives of Libyan people. The Republicans should be given NO credit whatsoever. Pres. Obama and the US forces deserve enormous amount of gratitude from the Libyans and peace-loving people all around the world.

By the way, where are the Republicans now? They are busy saying stuff like the US treasure is treasonous, bringing gas prices below $2, and global warming is not scientifically proven. They are just idiots!

Update: finally some class from the Republicans. Today, Senator McCain gave Pres. Obama credit on a successful Libyan mission. "President deserves credit for stopping Gadhafi when he was at the gates of Benghazi, and vowed to go house to house and kill anyone who opposed him," said Sen. McCain appearing on CNN's Situation Room.

Jon Huntsman Blasts Michele Bachamann Over Her $2 Gas Comment

2011-08-22T04:09:00.001-04:00

2012 presidential candidate Jon Huntsman was on ABC's This Week, where he took on his other Republican rivals. In doing so, he completely steamrolled Michele Bachamann over her $2 gas comment.

Last week at a town hall meeting in South Carolina, Rep. Bachmann promised:

The day that the Pres. Obama became the president gasoline was $1.79 a gallon. Look at what it is today. Under President Bachmann, you will see gasoline come down below $2 a gallon again. That will happen.

In response to her comment, Huntsman said:

You know, I just -- I just don't know what -- what world that comment would come from, you know? We live in the real world. It's grounded in reality. And gas prices just aren't going to rebound like that. But just as we are in a static world, that is completely unrealistic. And, again, it's talking about things that, you know, may pander to a particular group or sound good at the time, but it just simply is not founded in reality.

Is this the only sane guy in the Republican race to challenge Pres. Obama for the White House in 2012?

Maxine Waters: The Tea Party Can Go Straight To Hell

2011-08-22T03:23:00.000-04:00

Maxine Waters, Democratic congresswomen from California, has risen to fame recently for out-speaking on behalf of Back Community. She said President Obama should come to Black Communities instead taking the bus tour in Mid-west because the unemployment among the African-American is the highest.

It turned out that she not silently going under anytime soon. Waters vowed to push Congress to focus on creating more jobs. "I'm not afraid of anybody," said Waters. "This is a tough game. You can't be intimidated. You can't be frightened. And as far as I'm concerned, the 'tea party' can go straight to hell," she said on Saturday during a forum in Inglewood.

Weekly Address: Putting Country Ahead of Party, Volume II

2011-08-20T13:56:00.001-04:00

In this week’s address, President Obama spoke to the American people from the Corner Country Farm in Alpha, Illinois on the need to create jobs and strengthen the economy. President Obama reminded the American people that we still have the best workers, entrepreneurs, and students in the world, and called on both parties to come together and act on a series of steps we can take right away to get our nation back to work.

Hello from the Country Corner Farm in Alpha, Illinois! For the past few days, I’ve been traveling to small towns and farm towns here in the heartland of this country. I sat down with small business owners in Gutenberg, Iowa; and ranchers and farmers in Peosta. I had lunch with veterans in Cannon Falls, Minnesota; and talked to plant workers at a seed distributor in Atkinson, Illinois. And to the girls volleyball team at Maquoketa High School, let me just say one thing: Go Cardinals.

Now, I’m out here for one reason: I think Washington, DC can learn something from the folks in Atkinson and Peosta and Cannon Falls. I think our country would be a whole lot better off if our elected leaders showed the same kind of discipline and integrity and responsibility that most Americans demonstrate in their lives every day.

Because, the fact is, we’re going through a tough time right now. We’re coming through a terrible recession; a lot of folks are still looking for work. A lot of people are getting by with smaller paychecks or less money in the cash register. So we need folks in Washington – the people whose job it is to deal with the country’s problems, the people who you elected to serve – we need them to put aside their differences to get things done.

There are things we can do right now that will mean more customers for businesses and more jobs across the country. We can cut payroll taxes again, so families have an extra $1,000 to spend. We can pass a road construction bill so construction crews – now sitting idle – can head back to the worksite, rebuilding roads, bridges, and airports. We’ve got brave, skilled Americans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Let’s connect them with businesses that could use their skills. And let’s pass trade deals to level the playing field for our businesses. We have Americans driving Hyundais and Kias. Well, I want to see folks in Korea driving Fords, Chevys and Chryslers. I want more products sold around the globe stamped with three words: Made in America.

These are commonsense ideas – ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans. The only thing holding them back is politics. The only thing preventing us from passing these bills is the refusal by some in Congress to put country ahead of party. That’s the problem right now. That’s what’s holding this country back. That’s what we have to change.

Because, for all the knocks we’ve taken, despite all the challenges we face, this is still the greatest country on earth. We still have the best workers and farmers, entrepreneurs and businesses, students and scientists. And you can see that here in Alpha. You can see it along the country roads that connect these small towns and farmlands.

These past few days, I’ve been seeing little kids with American flags and grandparents in lawn chairs. I’ve shaken hands with folks outside machine shops and churches, corner stores and farms. It reminds me why I got into public service in the first place. Getting out of Washington and spending time with the people of this country – seeing how hard you’re working, how creative you are, how resourceful you are, how determined you are – that only makes me more determined to serve you as best I can as President. And it only makes me more confident in our future.

That’s why it’s so important that folks in Washington put country before party. That’s why it’s so important that our elected leaders get past their differences to help grow the economy and put this nation back to work. Because here in Alpha it couldn’t be more clear: if we can come together, there’s no stopping the United States of America. There’s no doubt that our future is bright.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

Republicans slam Obama for going on vacation

2011-08-19T21:01:00.000-04:00

Expect another serious of bogus anti-Obama-vacation claims from the Republicans in the coming weeks. Being the president makes you a target, regardless of whether you're Democratic or Republican, and Pres. Obama is no exception.

His bus tour got slammed by saying Pres. Obama is already campaigning for his 2012 general election, so did the $1.1 million bus that was used on his tour. Fact is CIA brought two such buses, one for Pres. Obama and another for the presumptive Republican nominee.

If you consider the number of vacations previous presidents spent on, you find out that Ronald Reagan spent nearly one year of his eight years in office on vacation. George W. Bush spent more time out of Washington than any president since Reagan.

White House, understandably, did not heavily blast the Republicans on this. "There's no such thing as a presidential vacation," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a briefing last week. "The presidency travels with you. He will be in constant communication and get regular briefings from his national security team, as well as his economic team, and he will, of course, be fully capable, if necessary, of traveling back if that were required."

Michele Bachmann's Baseless Two Dollar ( $2 ) Gas Claim

2011-08-18T20:48:00.001-04:00

Michele Bachman was in South Carolina on Tuesday, and made this amusing campaign promise: "under President Bachamann, you will see gasoline come down below two dollars a gallon again. That will happen." Now before you get excited about her promise, keep in mind Bachmann has a vivid history of saying pretty idiotic things. Couple days back, she messed up Elvis' birthday with his date of death.

CNN's Chief Business Correspondent Ali Velshi cuts through Bachmann's BS and set the record straight: "[it's a ]baseless claim. Not doable. The only way you can bring gas price to two dollars is if you cut the price of a barrel of oil more than in half. And the likely way to get there is a global depression, not just a recession."

Rick Perry Doesn't Know How Old the Earth is

2011-08-18T16:22:00.000-04:00

"Hands of our medicare," and "stop attacking middle class families, Rick Perry" chants were all over when Rick Perry was in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the morning today.

The reception he received today was well deserved, as he outlined in his book "Fed Up!" that Social Security is a "ponzi scheme," implying that he would eliminate all entitlement program if elected president.

Learn more about what Perry wrote in his book about entitlement programs >

At the event, perry was asked by a kid how old the Earth is, to which Perry responded, "I don't have any idea. I know it's pretty old. So it goes back a long long way. I'm not sure anybody actually knows completely and absolutely how old the Earth is."

Governor Perry is no scientist, he's a career politician. We all understand that. But this exchange, along with many others he's had since jumping to the race, proves that he doesn't even has a brain of a 5th grader when it comes to sciences. Case in point, on Tuesday, Perry said scientists intentionally manipulate data to prove global warming is a threat.

God bless Rick Perry!
photo courtesy of http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/funnypictures/ig/Republican-Clowns/Rick-Perry--Republican-Clown.htm

Updates on Pres. Obama, Cain, Giuliani, and Republican Debates

2011-08-17T23:57:00.001-04:00

Herman Cain believes Pres. Obama should be impeached!

Five presidential debates are scheduled to be held in September and October, including two hosted and produced by CNN. A debate at the Reagan Presidential Library in southern California on September 7 is followed by a CNN debate in Tampa on September 12, and then followed by another Florida debate on September 22. A New Hampshire debate on October 11 is followed a week later by another CNN debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 18.

Romney has committed to all five debates, Bachmann, taking it a step at a time, has signed up through the September showdowns, but her campaign has said she will attend any debate Romney will attend. Perry, new to the race, has not yet committed to attending any of the debates.

Rudy Giuliani is still considering a presidential bid. "I don't think I've changed my thinking about it very much. I'm interested to see Gov. Perry's entrance into the race and what that does and what he has to say."

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain believes Pres. Obama should be impeached because of his opinion of Defense of Marriage Act.

"There are a number of things where a case could be made in order to impeach him, but because Republicans do not control the United States Senate, they would never allow it to get off the ground," Cain said on the call. "The president is supposed to uphold the laws of this nation … and to tell the Department of Justice not to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act is a breach of his oath."

President Obama finished his three day bus tour today in his home state of Illinois. "If everybody took an attitude of shared sacrifice ... we can solve our deficit and debt problem next week, and it wouldn't require radical changes. The fact that Speaker Boehner and folks in his caucus couldn't say yes to that (deficit deal) tells me that they're more interested in the politics ... than they are in solving the problem," Obama said.

Photo courtesy of http://images2.dailykos.com/i/user/2563/Herman_Cain.jpg

President Obama to Give a MAJOR Speech on Jobs and Unemployment

2011-08-17T18:37:00.000-04:00

President Obama will give a specific speech on creating jobs and reducing unemployment right after the Labor Day holiday. This is an opportunity for Pres. Obama to set the stage for the Republicans and Democrats who will come back and figure-out this so-called "Grand Bargain".

Team Obama'12 can safely bet that in his speech, President Obama will urge the two parties not only to include cuts, but also job creation,stimulus and revenue increases that would help reduce the burden on middle class families and grow the economy over the long term. We don't need a program that just cuts spending; we need a program that helps grow jobs.

Challenge, of course, for the President is to get the Republican-controlled House to pass a bill that includes revenue increases and spending. But the Republican's approval ratings across the board are so bad, that they might agree with the President on some sort of mild compromise.

Today, while he was on his bus tour, Pres. Obama was asked by a reporter as to why he wouldn't call the Congress back to Washington. Pres. Obama responded by saying, "last thing you'd expect from them is to come back to Washington and keep doing what they have been doing for the past couple of months." Pres. Obama also said he expected the House members to listen the frustrations of their constituents, and keep that in mind when returning back to Washington from recess.

As of now, this might be the best formula President Obama needed to hit the ground running after Labor Day holiday, and onward in September.

Rick Perry Despises Social Security and Entitlement Programs

2011-08-17T01:50:00.000-04:00

Texas Governor and 2012 presidential candidate Rick Perry clearly hates Social Security, Medicare, Medicare and other government regulations. The evidence is in a book he wrote in December of 2010 titled "Fed Up!"

In the book, Perry writes Social Security is "by far the best example" of a program "violently tossing aside any respect for our founding principles." So, here's a Governor of a state running for president believe that Social Security is unconstitutional. Guess what he'd do if he's elected President of the US?

Social Security is popular among the Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike. So, if Perry runs his campaign on a message of erasing Social Security, I'd be surprised to see him even becoming the presumptive Republican nominee for the President!

On Medicare, he has a similar opinion. Medicare is an example of "an irresponsible culture of spending in Washington."

Furthermore, Perry thinks almost all government regulations are unconstitutional. He might have been sleeping in the midst of the 2008 economic disaster because that took place due to lack of financial regulations of the Bush Administration. In other words, not only does he want to continue Bush's reckless fiscal policies, but he wants to double-down on them. Under a Perry Administration, there would be on Wall Street regulations.

These facts, along with million others, questions us whether Mr. Perry is running for the White House to completely get rid of the White House, and then to succeed Texas from the rest of the US, as he once claimed.

It's not over yet. On global warming, Rick Perry wrote in his book, "we have been experiencing a cooling trend."

Hopefully this gives an ideas as to how Rick Perry's mind works, and also the type of president he would be. So in 2012, if he were the Republican nominee challenging President Obama, please vote for Perry because all along, President Obama has been un-American and unconstitutional, but Rick Perry is not!

photo courtesy of http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/funnypictures/ig/Republican-Clowns/Rick-Perry--Republican-Clown.htm

Politico: Herman Cain Near the End of His Campaign

2011-08-16T02:17:00.000-04:00

“With Rick Perry declared, Michele Bachmann coming out of Ames in strong shape and Mitt Romney pickup up the pace of his front runner campaign, Cain’s set to end this weekend as a campaign afterthought,” Politico reports.

According to Politico, the seams began to unravel because of internal troubles that plagued the campaign. Despite any momentum, his campaign had “an inexperienced staff, strong competition for the Tea Party mantle and an unfocused campaign strategy.” A former staffer of Cain’s even told reporters that he was “more interested in jet-setting than running a campaign that incorporates traditional grassroots techniques. ‘He’s not inquisitive. He wants to be in front of the adoring crowds, but he doesn’t seem to be interested in the issues,’” the staffer said.

source: http://atlantapost.com/2011/08/15/herman-cain-teeters-on-dropping-out/

Pres. Obama: Some Wants to See Opponents Lose Than America Win

2011-08-15T20:38:00.001-04:00

President Barack Obama addresses a town hall at Lower Hannah’s Bend Park in Cannon Falls, Minn. as a part of this Mid-Western bus tour. He said some in congress wants to see their opponents loose than America win.

Speaking with a crowd of 500 people at Hannah’s Bend Park in Cannon Falls, MN, the President discussed the “extraordinary challenges” our nation has faced over the last two and a half years, but extolled the “extraordinary hope that America represents” around the world, and reiterated his belief that there is “nothing wrong with America that can’t be fixed; what’s broken is our politics.”

Many of the questions focused on health care, Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, and the President stressed his commitment to making sure we preserve the integrity of these programs while ensuring they are still in place for future generations:

“The key -- and I want everybody to pay attention to this as the debate unfolds over the next couple of months -- the key is not to try to cut more out of programs for poor folks or programs for seniors. The key right now is to get a long-term plan for fiscal stability. And in the short term, we should actually make more investments that would put people to work and get the economy moving. And if you combine those two things, we can actually solve this problem and grow the economy at the same time.

Now, what some of the folks on the other side are proposing is actually to turn Medicare into a voucher program. So instead of fixing the system, they’d just completely overhaul it. And what would happen would be, is you’d get a voucher that says, you’re allowed to get X amount -- spend X amount on health care, and if your health care costs keep on going above that, you’re out of luck. And it was estimated that under their plan the average senior would pay about $6,000 more per year for their Medicare when it kicked in. I think that’s a bad idea. I think there are better ways for us to manage the Medicare problem than to put a burden on seniors.”

The President once again called on Congress to put people back to work rebuilding America. “What is needed is action on the part of Congress, a willingness to put the partisan games aside and say, we’re going to do what’s right for the country, not what we think is going to score some political points for the next election.”

From: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/08/15/president-obama-our-biggest-challenge-right-now-putting-people-work

Rick Perry and Mitt Romney Takes Jabs at Each Other

2011-08-15T19:58:00.000-04:00

Governor Perry came into the presidential race with a bang - he debuted at the top of the pack. Because of that, Romney and Perry are wasting no time taking jabs at each other.

On Sunday, Romney said, "I think understanding how the economy works by having worked in the real economy is finally essential in the White House and I hope people recognize that. I respect the other people in this race but I think the only other person that has that kind of extensive private sector experience besides me in the Republican race is Herman Cain, and I respect Herman Cain but I also think it's helpful to have that government experience that I've had," questioning Governor Perry's business credentials, to which Perry responded today by saying, "I think it's oranges and apples. Running a state is different from running a business. What I would say is go take a look at his [Romney's] record when he was governor and my record when I'm governor. Then you got some apples to apples."

Rick Perry is tea party favorite, but unlike Michele Bachmann, he's not portraying himself as a radical right-wing Republican, but rather a modest centrist, so that he can cut into both Ronmeny's and Bachamn's supporters.

I project!

2011-08-15T11:55:00.006-04:00

#EarlyProjection - President Barack Obama shall return to the White House, after winning the November, 2012 presidential election! Despite facing a difficult Washington & Congress, polls reflecting a frustrated electorate, and likely over looking the voters who actually brought him to power in 2008(YOUTHS, who due to schedule, generally don't take those calls or participate in political surveys), also, add all of those Republican candidates and strategists who find it fit to replace the name, "George W. Bush" with President Obama's name. How dishonest of them? But the biggest disappointment are those who will support and encourage them! My mother always thought me that, the upholder is just as bad as the "thief!"

But as far as I can see, thus far, there is no 'real' front runner in that other party's primary, and President Obama has the right message. So, I won't be surprised at all, that he performs remarkably well despite the odds against him, firing up every audence / crowd with an incredible stump speech, something he does exceptionally well! Best of luck Mr. President, you fight, I fight! God bless!

Governor Rick Perry Sucking up to Tim Pawlenty

2011-08-14T15:19:00.000-04:00

Now, before you go ahead and judge us here at Obama'12 Blog for coming up with such title, it is true that Rick Perry wants to take supporters away from established branch of the Republincans like Tim Pawlenty if he wants to challenge the front runner Mitt Romney.

In a press release, Rick Perry praised Tim Pawlenty as best as he could:

“Tim Pawlenty is a good friend and colleague who I have worked closely with over the years, including visiting our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a governor, Tim stuck to conservative principles despite leading a blue state like Minnesota. He and Mary are true patriots who are committed to our country, and ran an honorable campaign that reflected their integrity. Gov. Pawlenty’s common-sense conservative voice will remain prominent and influential as we work to beat President Obama in 2012 and get America working again.”

What Now For Tim Pawlenty, After Straw Poll

2011-08-14T01:04:00.000-04:00

Michele Bachmann was the winner of the Ames Straw Poll, and Ron Paul came in close second place. (click here for results) Tim Pawlenty was in third place. One question that everybody, including the Obama White House, is asking is what now?

As far as Pawlenty goes, his campaign is in deep heat. Look at the results of top three finishers, which includes Pawlenty.

1     Michele Bachmann     4,823     28.5%
2     Ron Paul                  4,671     27.6%
3     Tim Pawlenty       2,293     13.6%

Pawlenty said finishing at first of second place would solidify his campaign, but the results show otherwise. There's over 2000 plus voter gap between himself and Ron Paul. It's shocking considering the fact that many Republican pundits said Ron Paul was a big looser at the Ames debates because he bashed Israel and defended Iran's nuclear program. Despite all that out-spoken talk from Ron Paul at the debate on Thursday, on Saturday he came in a strong second place. That means Pawlenty has to battle Ron Paul out to defeat Bachmann. Good luck with that, Tim!

In a statement released through his campaign, Pawlenty put on a brave face.

“Congratulations to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann for her victory in today's straw poll,” he said. “We made progress in moving from the back of the pack into a competitive position for the caucuses, but we have a lot more work to do. This is a long process to restore America - we are just beginning and I'm looking forward to a great campaign.”

“Pawlenty now goes through the stages of death in the next 24 hours,” said Republican strategist Alex Castellanos. “Denial. Can he stay in the race like John McCain? Anger. Pawlenty people start throwing people under the bus and start pointing fingers. And then reality. Can they raise the money to stay in this thing? And the answer is probably no. So what is left for Pawlenty? A graceful exit.”

Other Republicans were slightly more charitable.

“He has got to reassess whether he has got a viable campaign,” said Gentry Collins, a veteran Republican operative in Iowa. “The straw poll has not always picked the nominee, but it has been a winnowing event. And it has been a good indicator of how much energy we have in the grassroots of our party.”

Ames Straw Poll Winner is.... Michele Bachmann

2011-08-13T20:33:00.000-04:00

Rep. Michele Bachmann won the Ames straw poll today, but only by 152 votes over fellow Rep. Ron Paul.

Tim Pawlenty came in third with only about half the votes of Paul. Rick Santorum was fourth followed by Herman Cain (scroll down for vote totals).

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who wasn't on the Ames ballot and declared his candidacy only this afternoon in Charleston, S.C., before conservative writers, pulled something of an upset.
From: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/08/ames-straw-poll-.html

The Ames Straw Poll, says Mike Huckabee, is the “most important meaningless event in American politics.” Never have so few generated so much hoopla from so many, except possibly the more than 800 voters who wrote in Rick Perry’s name today.

Place	Candidate	Votes	Percentage
1	Michele Bachmann	4,823	28.5%
2	Ron Paul	4,671	27.6%
3	Tim Pawlenty	2,293	13.6%
4	Rick Santorum	1,657	9.8%
5	Herman Cain	1,456	8.6%
6	Rick Perry (write-in)	718	4.3%
7	Mitt Romney	567	3.4%
8	Newt Gingrich	385	2.3%
9	Jon Huntsman	69	0.4%
10	Thaddeus McCotter	35	0.2%
—	Scattering	162	1.0%

Ames Straw Poll doesn't mean much, but as of right now, it means a world to Michele Bachmann. She actually put effort into winning the Straw Poll; she repeatedly mentioned it in the debates as well as throughout the campaign. Not to mentioned the fact that she's a Iowa native - which also played into her advantage - and accordingly, results paid off. What if it were to be otherwise? What if she came in third or forth? Of course this poll doesn't mean much, but coming behind the likes of Santorum and Cain would definitely put her fundraising machine out of gas.

Michele Bachmann now has new tool to prove that fact that she's a legitimate candidate, and could urge previously unconvinced Republicans to take her seriously. As far as defeating President Obama in 2012 general election, well that's another thing. This is the Republican primary, and getting the nomination is what's on everybody's mind. So, congratulations to Michele Bachmann, and in fact, Obama'12 Blog and fellow Obama supporters would warmly welcome you as the presumtive Republican nominiee to face President Obama in 2012, because the hard truth is, you are also the most dumbest, ignorant and idiotic candidate among all the declared Republicans, thus the easiest to beat in 2012 general election ( considering Palin wouldn't jump into the race ). So, once again, congratulations! Go home and have fun. We know we will!

WEEKLY ADDRESS: Putting the American People First

2011-08-13T07:43:00.000-04:00

In this week’s address, President Obama told the American people that although the United States leads the world in new ideas, innovative businesses and creative entrepreneurs, too many Americans are still struggling to get by. It is time for Congress to act on the President’s proposals, including extending the payroll tax cut, cutting red tape, and getting our construction workers back to work, so that we can get our economy on firmer ground and ensure that anyone who wants a job can find one. President Obama believes the American people deserve more than political brinksmanship, and urges anyone who is frustrated by the gridlock in Washington to let their elected officials know that it is time to put aside partisanship and act in the best interests of the country.

While there’s nothing wrong with our country, there is something wrong with our politics, and that’s what we’ve got to fix. Because we know there are things Congress can do, right now, to get more money back in your pockets, get this economy growing faster, and get our friends and neighbors back to work.

The payroll tax cut that put $1,000 back in the average family’s pocket this year? Let’s extend it. Construction workers who’ve been jobless since the housing boom went bust? Let’s put them back to work rebuilding America. Let’s cut red tape in the patent process so entrepreneurs can get good ideas to market more quickly. Let’s finish trade deals so we can sell more American-made goods around the world. Let’s connect the hundreds of thousands of brave Americans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan to businesses that need their incredible skills and talents.

These are all things we can do right now. So let’s do them. And over the coming weeks, I’ll put forward more proposals to help our businesses hire and create jobs, and won’t stop until every American who wants a job can find one.

But we can no longer let partisan brinksmanship get in our way – the idea that making it through the next election is more important than making things right. That’s what’s holding us back – the fact that some in Congress would rather see their opponents lose than see America win.

President Obama: 'Put Country Ahead of Party'

2011-08-13T01:54:00.000-04:00

Highlight of the week: speaking in Michigan on August 11th, President Obama called on Congress to act on a number of measures to create jobs and grow our economy:

“[T]here are more steps that we can take to help this economy [grow] faster. There are things we can do right now that will put more money in your pockets; will help businesses sell more products around the world; will put people to work in Michigan and across the country. And to get these things done, we do need Congress.

“They’re common-sense ideas that have been supported in the past by Democrats and Republicans… The only thing keeping us back is our politics. The only thing preventing these bills from being passed is the refusal of some folks in Congress to put the country ahead of party. There are some in Congress right now who would rather see their opponents lose than see America win.

“And that has to stop. It’s got to stop. We’re supposed to all be on the same team, especially when we’re going through tough times. We can’t afford to play games—not right now, not when the stakes are so high for our economy.”

You can find out more about the measures the President has proposed here.

Bold Prediction About Obama And Super Committee

2011-08-12T20:56:00.001-04:00

The leaders of the both houses have put the "Super-committee" together with their respective members from both the Senate and House.

We wrote an article on this yesterday, but since this is on the final phase, we thought we should make a bold prediction about this committee. There are several possible outcomes from this committee, and of course, they are all equally disastrous if you are a middle-class guy. One is that Republicans not budging on tax-cuts at all, and if that's the case, all we are going to have it spending cuts. Second scenario is the so-called Grand-bargain, which would cut taxes for corporations, take their tax loopholes away, and also cut social security and medicare. So middle class people pay more taxes and the corporations pay less. Other possibility is, if they is a stalemate, there would be equal cuts to spending and entitlements, and defense. Out of all the three possibilities, last approach would the be the best, but President Obama would go along with any of the three listed above. You might be asking yourself when Obama is in change, why there's no progressive outcomes, like increasing taxes on the rich, part of this deal. The fact of the matter is, because of President Obama's and Democrats lack of leadership on progressive principles, there wouldn't be a progressive deal.

Here's the bold prediction about all of this: the final deal comes out this committee would be largely favor the Republicans, but President Obama would sign it into law, because all along, Obama has been urging the both sides to compromise - but we've seen how compromise worked in the past. President Obama should say constructive compromise, not otherwise. Bottom-line is this deal is going to disastrous for President Obama, and it's going to massively weaken his presidency. Barack Obama going to be a weak president come 2012 general election, and it'd be interesting to see how he's going to defend himself.

Democrats on the Supper-committee a Disaster ?

2011-08-11T19:46:00.001-04:00

Breaking: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has selected Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) for the so-called “supercommittee” on Thursday.

The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, chose Senators Jon Kyl of Arizona, Rob Portman of Ohio and Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania for the 12-member panel.

From: http://www.unitedliberty.org/articles/8584-super-committee-members-named

First of all, Mitch McConnell, senate minority leader, promised other day that he'll not choose any Republican senator to the Super-Committee who's willing to put revenue on the table. This came when President Barack Obama clearly said nothing is off the table, that includes revenues. So in the midst of this, what did Harry Reid do? He went ahead and chose his Democrats senators because he was, " serious about forging a bi-partisan deal." Yeah that's right, the Republicans are serious about making this a bi-partisan deal. What a classy guy?

Super-Committee. Photo courtesy of http://www.rentadrone.org/

Let's compare the three Republican and Democratic senators. On the Democratic side, we've got Patty Murray of Washington, Max Baucus of Montana and John Kerry of Massachusetts. At some point, any of these three could make a deal with the other side, and then game over, specially when you consider someone like Max Baucus. He has consistently agreed with the Republicans in the past, and he's proud of it. Case in the point, he voted in favor of Bush Tax-cuts. On the Republican side, Mitch McConnell has chosen Senators Jon Kyl of Arizona, Rob Portman of Ohio and Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania for the Super-Committee. Jon Kyl will never agree with the Democrats unless it's something exactly what the Republicans want, and same with other the two Republicans.

If you think the first version of this deal was horrible, wait till the second part comes along. It's going be disaster of epic proportions for President Obama and the Democrats alike.

Republican Presidential Candidates Debate Tonight

2011-08-11T19:07:00.000-04:00

Thursday night the eight major GOP candidates face off in the first presidential debate since a CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader showdown nearly two months ago. There will be a lot on the line at the debate for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota as it's the first head to head clash for the candidates in Iowa, the state that votes first in the primary and caucus calendar.

Just about all the White House hopefuls are also making stops at the state fair, which is a picture perfect example of retail politics. From taking questions directly from Iowa voters at the famous Soap Box, to walking the fair grounds and shaking hands, to eating fried Twinkies and any kind of meat on a stick, the Iowa State Fair has become a top item on the to-do list for presidential candidates.

From: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/11/crucial-three-days-in-iowa/

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Rise and Fall of Stock Markets

2011-08-09T23:29:00.000-04:00

Last week and on Monday, North American, English and German stock markets went though a serious smouldering. The Republicans were quick to point out it was because of S&P downgrading US credit rating from AAA to AA+, and blame President Barack Obama and Obama's fellow supporters.

The fact of the mater cannot be further from the truth, that it the markets experienced a mini-crashed because of two main reasons. One of which had nothing to do with the US debt crisis, and that was Central Bank of Europe had to "bailout" Spain and Italy out their economic calamities after Greece was taken care of. This clearly lowered the confident of investors.

Other primary reason is for loosing investor-confidence in the markets is that there's lack of consumer confidence here in US. USA accounts 70% of its GDP for consumer spending. Consumers can't spend if they don't have money, thus preventing companies from selling their products. One one wants to invest in a company that's unable to sell their products, and quite frankly, investors don't care as to why companies can't sell. If companies don't perform up their god-damn expectations, they simply walk away. And that's exactly what happened last week and on Monday.

Today, however, and to everyone's surprise, markets rebounded. Dow closed above 400 points. This further proves the fact that S&P downgrade had minimal effect on investors. If any Republican were to say, or as they have already, that credit downgrading caused the crash, they are completely and utterly false!

Disapproved Republicans All Over America

2011-08-09T21:47:00.001-04:00

Really nice approval ratings of Republican governors, taken from Rachel Maddow Show

Nationwide more people disapprove the Republicans than the Democrats. Consider the debt ceiling debate we just had. 48% disapprove how President Barack Obama handled the debt crisis. 58% disapprove how the Democrats handled the crisis, whereas, 78% disapprove how the Republicans handled the debt crisis.

Prime reason for such large margin of people to disapprove the Republicans is because of Tea Party surge that took place in 2010. In that midterm election, a new wave of Tea Party Republicans came into Congress. CNN has a poll up in which there's only 37% gives an approval as to the way Tea Parties are doing their job.

2010 also an increase in the number of Republicans governors. All of them subscribe to the Tea Party agenda. As a result, as of now, large majority of the American people disapprove them as well. Look at the approval rating of Rick Scott, the Governor of Florida. Scott Walker, who stripped the right to bargain in the state of Wisconsin, not doing any better either.

Speaking of Wisconsin, tonight there are 6 recount state senate elections. All of these are held in heavily Republican favored parts of the state. In fact, in 2008 where Barack Obama won the state by 13 points over McCain, these Republicans were elected to the State House from these dark red 6 districts. But the Democrats have vowed to get back at least 3 or 4 seats away from the incumbent Republicans. Good for them, if you live in any of these 6 districts in Wisconsin, make sure you go vote, and also tell your friends.

Out come of these 6 races could set scene for 2012 election, also for the Democrats to find some much needed self-esteem.

Pres. Obama, Republicans and Democrats Play in Iowa

2011-08-09T04:54:00.000-04:00

This week is very important for Republican presentational candidates because of the Ames Straw Poll of 2011, which takes place in Ames Iowa this Saturday. It gives an early indication as to who can draw the most support from the Republican/ Tea Part base. Tea Part is the New World Order of the Republican Party.

The following six candidates are actively campaigning in the event: U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter (R-Mich.), U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). Three additional GOP contenders who are not aggressively seeking to lock up support in the straw poll will appear on the ballot: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah governor Jon Huntsman and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

Meanwhile, following this weekend, President Obama will be in Iowa as a part of his Bus tour. The White House says its Presidential "stuff", but we can confirm Barack Obama will be campaigning and promoting his Obama'12 message.

The Democratic National Committee is rolling out an "Extreme Aims" campaign ahead of Saturday's straw poll in Iowa.

"In the run up to Thursday’s Republican debate in Iowa and Saturday’s Ames straw poll, we’re launching a new project that will help voters better understand the positions of the 2012 Republican field. These candidates have been overtaken by the Tea Party and are pushing an agenda that would end Medicare as we know it, give millionaires the tax cuts they don’t deserve, and dismantle programs critical for education and economic growth." As a part they released this Youtube ad:

Rick Perry to Challenge President Obama in 2012

2011-08-08T22:31:00.000-04:00

Boxed face, Jesus praying Governor of Texas Rick Perry will make his 2012 presidential intentions clear this weekend in South Carolina. In other words, he will give a speech to hint his candidacy for the president of the United States, not a formal announcement. As of this writing, Team Obama'12 cannot confirm from its sources as why he won't formally announce. Nevertheless, a formal declaration of candidacy is expected sometime before Labor Day, but Perry's advisers have not revealed a specific announcement date.

Perry recently held a prayer rally in Texas. The purpose of that was in this time of crisis, we all need God's help to guide us. He also said we need to, "pray fast, like Jesus did." Well, if President Perry were to govern US like God, he would tax the rick at one hundred percent, and give all the benefits to the poor. Imagine that! That's certainly not how he governs Texas.

The Texas governor has been meeting with donors and talking to activists in key caucus and primary states for weeks as he lays groundwork for a potential campaign.

Perry is a tea party favorite, just like Michele Bachmann, but she has been in the race for couple of months now. Thus within the Tea Baggers, she has ahead start, but political pundits believe that Perry will take much of Bachmann's tea party momentum away from her. Polls in Iowa put Bachmann ahead of both Romney and undeclared Perry, but Perry could easily change the dynamics in Iowa, which in turn could benefit Romney.

If any tea baggers reading this, are you excited about Rick Perry as a Republican candidate to challenge President Obama in 2012? Let us know.

President Obama on Downgrade of US Credit Ratings

2011-08-08T19:12:00.000-04:00

President Barack Obama delivers a statement to the press in the State Dining Room of the White House, Aug. 8, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

On Friday, we learned that the United States received a downgrade by one of the credit rating agencies -- not so much because they doubt our ability to pay our debt if we make good decisions, but because after witnessing a month of wrangling over raising the debt ceiling, they doubted our political system’s ability to act. The markets, on the other hand, continue to believe our credit status is AAA. In fact, Warren Buffett, who knows a thing or two about good investments, said, “If there were a quadruple-A rating, I’d give the United States that.” I, and most of the world’s investors, agree.

That doesn’t mean we don’t have a problem. The fact is, we didn’t need a rating agency to tell us that we need a balanced, long-term approach to deficit reduction. That was true last week. That was true last year. That was true the day I took office. And we didn’t need a rating agency to tell us that the gridlock in Washington over the last several months has not been constructive, to say the least. We knew from the outset that a prolonged debate over the debt ceiling -- a debate where the threat of default was used as a bargaining chip -- could do enormous damage to our economy and the world’s. That threat, coming after a string of economic disruptions in Europe, Japan and the Middle East, has now roiled the markets and dampened consumer confidence and slowed the pace of recovery.

So all of this is a legitimate source of concern. But here’s the good news: Our problems are eminently solvable.* And we know what we have to do to solve them. With respect to debt, our problem is not confidence in our credit -- the markets continue to reaffirm our credit as among the world’s safest. Our challenge is the need to tackle our deficits over the long term.

Last week, we reached an agreement that will make historic cuts to defense and domestic spending. But there’s not much further we can cut in either of those categories. What we need to do now is combine those spending cuts with two additional steps: tax reform that will ask those who can afford it to pay their fair share and modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare.

Making these reforms doesn’t require any radical steps. What it does require is common sense and compromise. There are plenty of good ideas about how to achieve long-term deficit reduction that doesn’t hamper economic growth right now. Republicans and Democrats on the bipartisan fiscal commission that I set up put forth good proposals. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate’s Gang of Six came up with some good proposals. John Boehner and I came up with some good proposals when we came close to agreeing on a grand bargain.

So it’s not a lack of plans or policies that’s the problem here. It’s a lack of political will in Washington. It’s the insistence on drawing lines in the sand, a refusal to put what’s best for the country ahead of self-interest or party or ideology. And that’s what we need to change.

I realize that after what we just went through, there’s some skepticism that Republicans and Democrats on the so-called super committee, this joint committee that’s been set up, will be able to reach a compromise, but my hope is that Friday’s news will give us a renewed sense of urgency. I intend to present my own recommendations over the coming weeks on how we should proceed. And that committee will have this administration’s full cooperation. And I assure you, we will stay on it until we get the job done.

Of course, as worrisome as the issues of debt and deficits may be, the most immediate concern of most Americans, and of concern to the marketplace as well, is the issue of jobs and the slow pace of recovery coming out of the worst recession in our lifetimes.

And the good news here is that by coming together to deal with the long-term debt challenge, we would have more room to implement key proposals that can get the economy to grow faster. Specifically, we should extend the payroll tax cut as soon as possible, so that workers have more money in their paychecks next year and businesses have more customers next year.

We should continue to make sure that if you’re one of the millions of Americans who’s out there looking for a job, you can get the unemployment insurance that your tax dollars contributed to. That will also put money in people’s pockets and more customers in stores.

In fact, if Congress fails to extend the payroll tax cut and the unemployment insurance benefits that I’ve called for, it could mean 1 million fewer jobs and half a percent less growth. This is something we can do immediately, something we can do as soon as Congress gets back.

We should also help companies that want to repair our roads and bridges and airports, so that thousands of construction workers who’ve been without a job for the last few years can get a paycheck again. That will also help to spur economic growth.

These aren’t Democratic proposals. These aren’t big government proposals. These are all ideas that traditionally Republicans have agreed to, have agreed to countless times in the past. There’s no reason we shouldn’t act on them now. None.

I know we’re going through a tough time right now. We’ve been going through a tough time for the last two and a half years. And I know a lot of people are worried about the future. But here’s what I also know: There will always be economic factors that we can’t control –- earthquakes, spikes in oil prices, slowdowns in other parts of the world. But how we respond to those tests -- that’s entirely up to us.

Markets will rise and fall, but this is the United States of America. No matter what some agency may say, we’ve always been and always will be a AAA country. For all of the challenges we face, we continue to have the best universities, some of the most productive workers, the most innovative companies, the most adventurous entrepreneurs on Earth. What sets us apart is that we’ve always not just had the capacity, but also the will to act -- the determination to shape our future; the willingness in our democracy to work out our differences in a sensible way and to move forward, not just for this generation but for the next generation.

And we’re going to need to summon that spirit today. The American people have been through so much over the last few years, dealing with the worst recession, the biggest financial crisis since the 1930s, and they’ve done it with grace. And they’re working so hard to raise their families, and all they ask is that we work just as hard, here in this town, to make their lives a little easier. That’s not too much to ask. And ultimately, the reason I am so hopeful about our future -- the reason I have faith in these United States of America -- is because of the American people. It’s because of their perseverance, and their courage, and their willingness to shoulder the burdens we face -– together, as one nation.

One last thing. There is no one who embodies the qualities I mentioned more than the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. And this weekend, we lost 30 of them when their helicopter crashed during a mission in Afghanistan. And their loss is a stark reminder of the risks that our men and women in uniform take every single day on behalf of their county. Day after day, night after night, they carry out missions like this in the face of enemy fire and grave danger. And in this mission –- as in so many others -– they were also joined by Afghan troops, seven of whom lost their lives as well.

So I’ve spoken to our generals in the field, as well as President Karzai. And I know that our troops will continue the hard work of transitioning to a stronger Afghan government and ensuring that Afghanistan is not a safe haven for terrorists. We will press on. And we will succeed.

But now is also a time to reflect on those we lost, and the sacrifices of all who serve, as well as their families. These men and women put their lives on the line for the values that bind us together as a nation. They come from different places, and their backgrounds and beliefs reflect the rich diversity of America.

But no matter what differences they might have as individuals, they serve this nation as a team. They meet their responsibilities together. And some of them -- like the 30 Americans who were lost this weekend –- give their lives for their country. Our responsibility is to ensure that their legacy is an America that reflects their courage, their commitment, and their sense of common purpose.

Thank you very much.

David Axelrod Responds To US Credit Down Grading

2011-08-08T18:59:00.000-04:00

Appearing on Face the Nation on Sunday, David Axelrod said Tea Party is directly responsible for the downgrade of US's Triple A credit rating. He's right, because they idiotic tea party d-bags held the US economy hostage, and didn't even voted with their fellow Republicans on the final house vote.

what I'm saying is review the history of what happened here. I think first of all people are less concerned about that then where we go moving forward. But let's look at the history of this. The fact of the matter is that this is essentially a tea party downgrade. The Tea Party brought us to the brink of a default, and by the way, you said before - well the president said this wouldn't --- if we had defaulted on our debt the consequences would have been dramatic and lasting. And so it was the right thing to do to avoid that default. It was the wrong thing to do to push the country to that point. And it's something that should never had happened. And that clearly is on the backs of those who were willing to see the country default, those very strident voices in the Tea Party. And by the way Bob, let me say one other thing - not one of the Republican presidential candidates stood out in opposition to that. Not one of them said let's compromise and be responsible about this.

Movie Stars Get Behind Obama 2012 Campaign

2011-08-06T22:17:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that Movie Stars are one of the key constituents of President Barack Obama. They massively supported him in the general election of 2008, and in a followup, it's no different this time around. It's definitely a good news for Obama Camp.

Since April, big-screen stars George Clooney, Will Ferrell and Tom Hanks have all contributed to Obama's re-election campaign, as have Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner, Michael Keaton and Eddie Murphy.

Pres. Obama has two main donation streams: Obama For America (OFA) fund and the Obama Victory Fund (OVF). OFA is the direct campaign account ( i.e. when you donate through BarackObama.com, your money goes to OFA, and donations are limited for $2500 ). OVF is a Super Pac, and has a donation limit of $35,800.

Big Hollywood names like Ferrell, Paltrow, Clooney, Hanks, Smith, DeGeneres, Murphy, Taylor, Spielberg, Glazer, Katzenberg and Joyner all gave $35,800 to the OVF. Lynch and Pierce each gave $10,000. President Obama and many other 2012 presidential candidates will continue to take trips to L.A. for fundraising parties.

Speaking of donations, if you haven't donated to our blog, Obama'12 Blog, please take a minute to do so. Thanks in advance.

Weekly Address: Getting the Economy Growing Faster

2011-08-06T13:25:00.000-04:00

In this week’s address, President Obama called on Democrats and Republicans to work together to grow the economy and get Americans back to work. The President has outlined a number of steps Congress can take right now to spur growth and create jobs, including extending tax cuts for working and middle class families, cutting red tape to encourage new businesses to grow and hire, passing trade deals that will support tens of thousands of jobs, and giving our out-of-work construction workers opportunities to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure.

We need Democrats and Republicans to work together to help grow this economy. We’ve got to put politics aside to get some things done. That’s what the American people expect of us. And there are a number of steps that Congress can take right away, when they return in September.

We need to extend tax cuts for working and middle class families so you have more money in your paychecks next year. That would help millions of people to make ends meet. And that extra money for expenses means businesses will have more customers, and will be in a better position to hire.

Yesterday, I proposed a new tax credit for companies that hire veterans who are looking for work after serving their country. We’ve got a lot of honorable and skilled people returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and companies that could benefit from their abilities. Let’s put them together.

We need to make sure that millions of workers who are still pounding the pavement looking for jobs are not denied unemployment benefits to carry them through hard times.

We’ve got to cut the red tape that stops too many inventors and entrepreneurs from quickly turning new ideas into thriving businesses – which holds back our whole economy.

Standard & Poor Downgrades US Credit Ratings

2011-08-05T22:36:00.000-04:00

Today S&P (Standard & Poor) downgraded the U.S. credit rating from the top score of AAA to AA+. The Obama Administration official came out ripping S&P's decision.

"This is a facts-be-damned decision," the official said. "Their analysis was way off, but they wouldn't budge."

"A judgment flawed by a $2 trillion error speaks for itself," a Treasury Department spokesperson said.

In announcing the downgrade, S&P cited "political risks, rising debt burden; outlook negative."

"The downgrade reflects our opinion that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the administration recently agreed to falls short of what, in our view, would be necessary to stabilize the government's medium-term debt dynamics," the S&P said.

Pres. Obama Hits Campaign Trail To Sell Debt Plan

2011-08-04T03:23:00.000-04:00

Seeing that the Republican presidential candidates are mounting up the pressure on him on his economic policies in key battle ground states, President Obama has decided to hit the campaign trail.

On August 15th, President Obama will set out on a bus tour of the Midwest to refocus his attention on growing the flailing U.S. economy. The White House didn't clearly make an announcement as to which cities he'd be heading into, but it's quite clear that Obama will make stops in all the mid-west battle ground states.

It's hard to believe that he won all the mid-west battleground states in 2008, but now, he faces up hill battle against potential Republican nominees. Mid-west was hit hard by the recession, and Republicans are cleverly using it against President Obama. Most notably, Mitt Romney is campaigning on the message of "Obama isn't Working." Well, he should look himself in the mirror and ask what makes him think he'd be any better.

Aside from injecting the much needed enthusiasm to his supporters, President Obama's main focus of this bus tour is to put the best face on the debt deal he signed on August 2nd. It's no secret that majority of Obama supporters, which includes me, came out enraged, and rightly so. Because this debt deal does nothing to create jobs.

No wonder, Vice President Biden said right after the deal was signed, they'd thoroughly focus jobs. One would ask, HOW? If they didn't include job creating measures in this deal, what makes you think its going part of the second part of this deal. It's interesting to see how Pres. Obama going sell these points to people in mid-west - when most of them are actually looking for to put food on the table!

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Barack Obama and 2012 Election News

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Herman Cain Will End His Campaign Tomorrow - Prediction

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Ron Paul Goes After Gingrich, Says "Counterfeit Conservative."

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Unemployment Rate Dropped to 8.6% In November

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Mitt Romney Defends Ad Quoting Obama Out Of Context

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