Showing posts with label President Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label President Obama. Show all posts
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
MSNBC Video: President Obama's tribute to Ted Kennedy
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
The Obama Way
Every one of us likes to be a back seat driver, to second guess the coach, to think we have a better way.
I have been an Obama supporter since he started what most people thought was an impossible dream; his quixotic campaign for the presidency. No one really thought he had a chance, not even me.
After 9/11 who would vote for an Obama? or Osama?, or someone with the middle name Hussein. Laughable. What about the Reverend Wright controversy, or the charge he "pals around with terrorists"?
What drew so many of us to support him financially and with our "blood, sweat and tears"? How did he topple two unconquerable political forces, first the unstoppable Clintons who fought it out to the last primary; and then immediately turn to duel it out with the dirty political jugernaught created by Karl Rove and Dick Cheney.
This is what I believe about our President:
a) He is 10 times smarter than I think he is and 100 times smarter than I am. In his mind he is way ahead of all of us. When he has dinner by himself in the West Wing there is more brain power in that room than was in Independence Hall when our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence.
b) As he has made clear since he started the campaign for President, he will change Washington and there will be no more politics as usual.
What is so frustrating to us is that NONE OF US can imagine any OTHER KIND OF POLITICS than "business as usual". Unfortunate as it is, we all believe in MAJORITY RULE. Although we don't like to admit it we believe that Dick Cheney is right when he says that all you need to govern is 50% plus one vote and the rest of America can go to Hell.
It will take time to abolish the mindset of "business as usual" in Washington. Liberals, Conservatives, Democrats, and Republicans are all shaking their head thinking President Obama is a nut case. Its one thing for this man with an Islamic sounding name, a mutt with a black father and a white mother, to beat TWO unstoppable political machines to become president. Now this NAIVE greenhorn thinks he can actually change how Washington DC works.
Cossacks and Rednecks, Wall Street and Main Street, Peace Activists and Neo-Cons beware. Politics as usual is on its last breath. Partisanship is dying and the consensus that only a community organizer can bring to a society is the NEW POLITICS.
c) President Obama does not run from a fight. He gave 'em as much as he took in the 2008 Election. He won't be pushed around. He listens to everyone, until he sees consensus and once he has a plan that is supportable by ALL "sane" people regardless of party, and he agrees with it, HE WON"T BACK DOWN and he is unstoppable.
As far as Health Care, by the end of the year, President Obama WILL negotiate an agreement reconciling the work of the five committees of Congress. All credible, thoughtful Representatives and Senators regardless of party will agree with it. As a good community organizer, President Obama will not talk specifics on any of the plans until he negotiates a final agreement that Congress passes. However, if the leaders of the Republican Party abandon common sense, and take the side of the wing nuts, that is their death wish and they have to suffer heavy consequences.
Health Care this year is ESSENTIAL and WILL HAPPEN. But the way it is achieved will be the "Obama Way", which does bring on THE END OF POLITICS AS USUAL IN WASHINGTON.
I have been an Obama supporter since he started what most people thought was an impossible dream; his quixotic campaign for the presidency. No one really thought he had a chance, not even me.
After 9/11 who would vote for an Obama? or Osama?, or someone with the middle name Hussein. Laughable. What about the Reverend Wright controversy, or the charge he "pals around with terrorists"?
What drew so many of us to support him financially and with our "blood, sweat and tears"? How did he topple two unconquerable political forces, first the unstoppable Clintons who fought it out to the last primary; and then immediately turn to duel it out with the dirty political jugernaught created by Karl Rove and Dick Cheney.
This is what I believe about our President:
a) He is 10 times smarter than I think he is and 100 times smarter than I am. In his mind he is way ahead of all of us. When he has dinner by himself in the West Wing there is more brain power in that room than was in Independence Hall when our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence.
b) As he has made clear since he started the campaign for President, he will change Washington and there will be no more politics as usual.
What is so frustrating to us is that NONE OF US can imagine any OTHER KIND OF POLITICS than "business as usual". Unfortunate as it is, we all believe in MAJORITY RULE. Although we don't like to admit it we believe that Dick Cheney is right when he says that all you need to govern is 50% plus one vote and the rest of America can go to Hell.
It will take time to abolish the mindset of "business as usual" in Washington. Liberals, Conservatives, Democrats, and Republicans are all shaking their head thinking President Obama is a nut case. Its one thing for this man with an Islamic sounding name, a mutt with a black father and a white mother, to beat TWO unstoppable political machines to become president. Now this NAIVE greenhorn thinks he can actually change how Washington DC works.
Cossacks and Rednecks, Wall Street and Main Street, Peace Activists and Neo-Cons beware. Politics as usual is on its last breath. Partisanship is dying and the consensus that only a community organizer can bring to a society is the NEW POLITICS.
c) President Obama does not run from a fight. He gave 'em as much as he took in the 2008 Election. He won't be pushed around. He listens to everyone, until he sees consensus and once he has a plan that is supportable by ALL "sane" people regardless of party, and he agrees with it, HE WON"T BACK DOWN and he is unstoppable.
As far as Health Care, by the end of the year, President Obama WILL negotiate an agreement reconciling the work of the five committees of Congress. All credible, thoughtful Representatives and Senators regardless of party will agree with it. As a good community organizer, President Obama will not talk specifics on any of the plans until he negotiates a final agreement that Congress passes. However, if the leaders of the Republican Party abandon common sense, and take the side of the wing nuts, that is their death wish and they have to suffer heavy consequences.
Health Care this year is ESSENTIAL and WILL HAPPEN. But the way it is achieved will be the "Obama Way", which does bring on THE END OF POLITICS AS USUAL IN WASHINGTON.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
President Obama's Op-Ed to the World on Global Economic Cooperation
Barack Obama: A time for global action
By Barack Obama
Tribune Media Services
Monday, March 23, 2009
WASHINGTON: We are living through a time of global economic challenges that cannot be met by half measures or the isolated efforts of any nation. Now, the leaders of the Group of 20 have a responsibility to take bold, comprehensive and coordinated action that not only jump-starts recovery, but also launches a new era of economic engagement to prevent a crisis like this from ever happening again.
No one can deny the urgency of action. A crisis in credit and confidence has swept across borders, with consequences for every corner of the world. For the first time in a generation, the global economy is contracting and trade is shrinking.
Trillions of dollars have been lost, banks have stopped lending, and tens of millions will lose their jobs across the globe. The prosperity of every nation has been endangered, along with the stability of governments and the survival of people in the most vulnerable parts of the world.
Once and for all, we have learned that the success of the American economy is inextricably linked to the global economy. There is no line between action that restores growth within our borders and action that supports it beyond.
If people in other countries cannot spend, markets dry up — already we've seen the biggest drop in American exports in nearly four decades, which has led directly to American job losses. And if we continue to let financial institutions around the world act recklessly and irresponsibly, we will remain trapped in a cycle of bubble and bust. That is why the upcoming London Summit is directly relevant to our recovery at home.
My message is clear: The United States is ready to lead, and we call upon our partners to join us with a sense of urgency and common purpose. Much good work has been done, but much more remains.
Our leadership is grounded in a simple premise: We will act boldly to lift the American economy out of crisis and reform our regulatory structure, and these actions will be strengthened by complementary action abroad. Through our example, the United States can promote a global recovery and build confidence around the world; and if the London Summit helps galvanize collective action, we can forge a secure recovery, and future crises can be averted.
Our efforts must begin with swift action to stimulate growth. Already, the United States has passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — the most dramatic effort to jump-start job creation and lay a foundation for growth in a generation.
Other members of the G-20 have pursued fiscal stimulus as well, and these efforts should be robust and sustained until demand is restored. As we go forward, we should embrace a collective commitment to encourage open trade and investment, while resisting the protectionism that would deepen this crisis.
Second, we must restore the credit that businesses and consumers depend upon. At home, we are working aggressively to stabilize our financial system. This includes an honest assessment of the balance sheets of our major banks, and will lead directly to lending that can help Americans purchase goods, stay in their homes and grow their businesses.
This must continue to be amplified by the actions of our G-20 partners. Together, we can embrace a common framework that insists upon transparency, accountability and a focus on restoring the flow of credit that is the lifeblood of a growing global economy. And the G-20, together with multilateral institutions, can provide trade finance to help lift up exports and create jobs.
Third, we have an economic, security and moral obligation to extend a hand to countries and people who face the greatest risk. If we turn our backs on them, the suffering caused by this crisis will be enlarged, and our own recovery will be delayed because markets for our goods will shrink further and more American jobs will be lost.
The G-20 should quickly deploy resources to stabilize emerging markets, substantially boost the emergency capacity of the International Monetary Fund and help regional development banks accelerate lending. Meanwhile, America will support new and meaningful investments in food security that can help the poorest weather the difficult days that will come.
While these actions can help get us out of crisis, we cannot settle for a return to the status quo. We must put an end to the reckless speculation and spending beyond our means; to the bad credit, over-leveraged banks and absence of oversight that condemns us to bubbles that inevitably bust.
Only coordinated international action can prevent the irresponsible risk-taking that caused this crisis. That is why I am committed to seizing this opportunity to advance comprehensive reforms of our regulatory and supervisory framework.
All of our financial institutions — on Wall Street and around the globe — need strong oversight and common sense rules of the road. All markets should have standards for stability and a mechanism for disclosure. A strong framework of capital requirements should protect against future crises. We must crack down on offshore tax havens and money laundering.
Rigorous transparency and accountability must check abuse, and the days of out-of-control compensation must end. Instead of patchwork efforts that enable a race to the bottom, we must provide the clear incentives for good behavior that foster a race to the top.
I know that America bears our share of responsibility for the mess that we all face. But I also know that we need not choose between a chaotic and unforgiving capitalism and an oppressive government-run economy. That is a false choice that will not serve our people or any people.
This G-20 meeting provides a forum for a new kind of global economic cooperation. Now is the time to work together to restore the sustained growth that can only come from open and stable markets that harness innovation, support entrepreneurship and advance opportunity.
The nations of the world have a stake in one another. The United States is ready to join a global effort on behalf of new jobs and sustainable growth. Together, we can learn the lessons of this crisis, and forge a prosperity that is enduring and secure for the 21st century.
Barack Obama is president of the United States. A Global Viewpoint article distributed by Tribune Media Services.
The op-ed ran in the following 31 papers:
By Barack Obama
Tribune Media Services
Monday, March 23, 2009
WASHINGTON: We are living through a time of global economic challenges that cannot be met by half measures or the isolated efforts of any nation. Now, the leaders of the Group of 20 have a responsibility to take bold, comprehensive and coordinated action that not only jump-starts recovery, but also launches a new era of economic engagement to prevent a crisis like this from ever happening again.
No one can deny the urgency of action. A crisis in credit and confidence has swept across borders, with consequences for every corner of the world. For the first time in a generation, the global economy is contracting and trade is shrinking.
Trillions of dollars have been lost, banks have stopped lending, and tens of millions will lose their jobs across the globe. The prosperity of every nation has been endangered, along with the stability of governments and the survival of people in the most vulnerable parts of the world.
Once and for all, we have learned that the success of the American economy is inextricably linked to the global economy. There is no line between action that restores growth within our borders and action that supports it beyond.
If people in other countries cannot spend, markets dry up — already we've seen the biggest drop in American exports in nearly four decades, which has led directly to American job losses. And if we continue to let financial institutions around the world act recklessly and irresponsibly, we will remain trapped in a cycle of bubble and bust. That is why the upcoming London Summit is directly relevant to our recovery at home.
My message is clear: The United States is ready to lead, and we call upon our partners to join us with a sense of urgency and common purpose. Much good work has been done, but much more remains.
Our leadership is grounded in a simple premise: We will act boldly to lift the American economy out of crisis and reform our regulatory structure, and these actions will be strengthened by complementary action abroad. Through our example, the United States can promote a global recovery and build confidence around the world; and if the London Summit helps galvanize collective action, we can forge a secure recovery, and future crises can be averted.
Our efforts must begin with swift action to stimulate growth. Already, the United States has passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — the most dramatic effort to jump-start job creation and lay a foundation for growth in a generation.
Other members of the G-20 have pursued fiscal stimulus as well, and these efforts should be robust and sustained until demand is restored. As we go forward, we should embrace a collective commitment to encourage open trade and investment, while resisting the protectionism that would deepen this crisis.
Second, we must restore the credit that businesses and consumers depend upon. At home, we are working aggressively to stabilize our financial system. This includes an honest assessment of the balance sheets of our major banks, and will lead directly to lending that can help Americans purchase goods, stay in their homes and grow their businesses.
This must continue to be amplified by the actions of our G-20 partners. Together, we can embrace a common framework that insists upon transparency, accountability and a focus on restoring the flow of credit that is the lifeblood of a growing global economy. And the G-20, together with multilateral institutions, can provide trade finance to help lift up exports and create jobs.
Third, we have an economic, security and moral obligation to extend a hand to countries and people who face the greatest risk. If we turn our backs on them, the suffering caused by this crisis will be enlarged, and our own recovery will be delayed because markets for our goods will shrink further and more American jobs will be lost.
The G-20 should quickly deploy resources to stabilize emerging markets, substantially boost the emergency capacity of the International Monetary Fund and help regional development banks accelerate lending. Meanwhile, America will support new and meaningful investments in food security that can help the poorest weather the difficult days that will come.
While these actions can help get us out of crisis, we cannot settle for a return to the status quo. We must put an end to the reckless speculation and spending beyond our means; to the bad credit, over-leveraged banks and absence of oversight that condemns us to bubbles that inevitably bust.
Only coordinated international action can prevent the irresponsible risk-taking that caused this crisis. That is why I am committed to seizing this opportunity to advance comprehensive reforms of our regulatory and supervisory framework.
All of our financial institutions — on Wall Street and around the globe — need strong oversight and common sense rules of the road. All markets should have standards for stability and a mechanism for disclosure. A strong framework of capital requirements should protect against future crises. We must crack down on offshore tax havens and money laundering.
Rigorous transparency and accountability must check abuse, and the days of out-of-control compensation must end. Instead of patchwork efforts that enable a race to the bottom, we must provide the clear incentives for good behavior that foster a race to the top.
I know that America bears our share of responsibility for the mess that we all face. But I also know that we need not choose between a chaotic and unforgiving capitalism and an oppressive government-run economy. That is a false choice that will not serve our people or any people.
This G-20 meeting provides a forum for a new kind of global economic cooperation. Now is the time to work together to restore the sustained growth that can only come from open and stable markets that harness innovation, support entrepreneurship and advance opportunity.
The nations of the world have a stake in one another. The United States is ready to join a global effort on behalf of new jobs and sustainable growth. Together, we can learn the lessons of this crisis, and forge a prosperity that is enduring and secure for the 21st century.
Barack Obama is president of the United States. A Global Viewpoint article distributed by Tribune Media Services.
The op-ed ran in the following 31 papers:
1. Al Watan (Gulf States)
2. Arab Times (Gulf States)
3. Asharq Al Awsat (Arab-wide paper in Arabic)
4. The Australian (Australia)
5. Baltimore Sun (United States)
6. Bangkok Post (Thailand)
7. Chicago Tribune (United States)
8. Clarin (Argentina)
9. Corriere della Sera (Italy)
10. Die Welt (Germany)
11. El Pais (Madrid)
12. El Mercurio (Chile)
13. Eleftyropiea (Greece)
14. Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil)
15. Gulf News (Gulf States)
16. The Hindustan Times/ The Hindu (India)
17. International Herald Tribune (London)
18. Kristeligt Dagblad (Denmark)
19. Le Monde (Paris)
20. Lidove Noviny (Czech)
21. Los Angeles Times (United States)
22. The News (Pakistan)
23. NRC Handelsblad (Netherlands)
24. Saudi Gazette (Saudi Arabia)
25. South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
26. Straits Times (Singapore)
27. Sunday Times (South Africa)
28. Svenska Dagbladet (Sweden)
29. Syndey Morning Herald (Australia)
30. WProst (Poland)
31. Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
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