Weekly Address: Obama’s Agenda Saving Us?

Here is the transcript from the latest Weekly Address:

After promoting the “great work” he did oversees, President Obama says,

my thoughts are on the state of our economy at home.  And that’s what I want to talk to you about today.

Hasn’t the majority of these addresses been about your thoughts on our economy here at home?

At the time, we were losing, on average 700,000 jobs a month.

You know the problems with averages is they are skewed to serve the one speaking about them.

We also passed the largest and most sweeping economic recovery plan in our nation’s history.

Please read this as, “Largest debt in the nation’s history”.

The Recovery Act wasn’t designed to restore the economy to full health on its own

Please read this as, “So don’t blame me that things haven’t picked up like I promised they would”.

And it’s led to new jobs building roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects, thousands of which are only beginning now.  In the months to come, thousands more projects will begin, leading to additional jobs.

Then why is it that the national unemployment rate is going up? Where are these new jobs? What is the basis of the NUR? And a few months? In a few months people will be out of everything.

I realize that when we passed this Recovery Act, there were those who felt that doing nothing was somehow an answer.

I don’t remember anyone saying they felt doing nothing was the answer; I do remember people saying your plan was not the answer. They wanted to act, just not in such an extreme way.

Today, some of those same critics are already judging the effort a failure although they have yet to offer a plausible alternative.

Which is what the Democrats did when the Republicans were in power. It’s always a give and take with the two parties. You blame the other for the tricks you did in the past yourselves.

And the rest of the address is more of the same old blather we’ve heard ever since President Obama took office so I won’t dive into it.

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S INTERVIEW WITH NOVAYA GAZETA

You can click here to read the full transcript. Below we’ll dissect the interview and add our two cents.

President Obama gave this interview in the context of U.S – Russia relations:

Question #1 Do you agree with the opinion expressed by many Russian and European politicians that the United States is primarily responsible for the economic difficulties that their countries are now living through?

Obama’s response:

No.

So even though he’s been talking to us about recovering from this mess, he doesn’t believe we are primarily at fault? Let’s read on.

This crisis resulted from a culture of irresponsibility regarding financial matters that took hold over a number of years in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.

So you named two continents with the United States first; and you don’t think we’re primarily at fault?

We need to spend less time thinking about who is to blame and more time working together to do what needs to be done to get all of our economies moving in the right direction.

Well I agree with that. So why don’t you, Mr President, stop speaking about how the past policies failed us. “Spend less time thinking about talking about who is to blame” please.

Question #2 Do you agree that lies and greed – -  lies about the state of markets and greed of their participants — are the main reasons for the current economic crisis?

And the response:

our economy did not fall into decline overnight.

So is that a “yes” or “no”?

And though all these challenges went unsolved, we still managed to spend more money and pile up more debt, both as individuals and through our government, than ever before.

Of which, your administration continues to do. This is incredible – the idea that the debt we piled up is higher than what is currently there because of what your administration has invoked.

Question #3 Many experts believe that the 21st Century Financial Regulatory Reform you proposed may become the most significant innovation in the U.S. financial system since the era of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  What do you consider to be the most important element of this reform?  Are we at the doorstep of new transparency of business and finances?

Obama answers:

The plans include three important components. First, we’re proposing a set of reforms to require regulators to look not only at the safety and soundness of individual institutions, but also — for the first time — at the stability of the financial system as a whole. Second, we’re proposing a new and powerful agency charged with just one job: looking out for ordinary consumers. Third, we’re proposing a series of changes designed to promote free and fair markets by closing gaps and overlaps in our regulatory system — including gaps that exist not just within but between nations.

Did you get all that? You will be protected by the federal government now.

Skip the boring question and moving to Questions #5

“Restarting” the relationship implies cooperating with Russia in those areas where it is possible. Does this mean weaker attention to Russia’s observation of civil rights and liberties, and to persecution against and murders of journalists? Specifically, to [the need to] apprehend and punish those who ordered and committed the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya?

Obama says:

Of course not.

Finally, a quick answer. But followed by:

I seek to reset relations with Russia because I believe that Americans and Russians have many common interests, interests that our governments recently have not pursued as actively as we could have.

For instance?

For instance, I believe that Americans and Russians both would benefit from fewer nuclear weapons in the world, greater control over nuclear materials around the world, a defeat of extremist elements in Afghanistan and Pakistan, an Iran that produces nuclear energy but not nuclear weapons, and a North Korea that refrains from launching missiles and exploding nuclear weapons and instead returns to the negotiating table.

All of this sounds great. The only problem is implementing these changes. Who’s gonna trust us?

Here’s a good question in #6

Will you sign the new START treaty if Russia conditions its signing upon non-deployment of the U.S. missile defense system in Central Europe?

Obama responds:

Given the threats around the world, especially those growing from North Korea and Iran, our goal is to enhance missile defense for the United States and our allies in Europe and elsewhere.

Basically “no”. All this diplomatic speak is hard on the eyes.

We are not building and will not build a system that is aimed to respond to an attack from Russia.

Stop being afraid of us!

Then there’s a stupid question about his political relationship with Secretary of State Clinton. So we’ll ignore that.

Weekly Address: Angry at President Obama

Below is our take on the address President Obama gave this past weekend. You can read it here.

I want to take a moment today to reflect on what I believe is the meaning of this distinctly American holiday.

Here we go. Are you ready to read what he believes the meaning of July 4th is for The United States?

That is the spirit we are called to show once more. We are facing an array of challenges on a scale unseen in our time. We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession. And our economy – and our nation itself – are endangered by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long: spiraling health care costs; inadequate schools; and a dependence on foreign oil.

He is basically calling our challenges today similar to those the founders faced. How pathetic! And let me say this here and now: the economic troubles are now the fault of The Obama Administration. Too long his team has pointed the finger to the past and said, “They’re the reason we’re like this”. Well we’ve approved of your so-called recovery plan and where has it taken us so far? I’ve seen the unemployment number JUMP! We’re going in the wrong direction and spending more money doing it. Stop blaming the past Mr. President! We’re sick of hearing it from your mouth!

Now is the time to lay a new foundation for growth and prosperity. Now is the time to revamp our education system, demand more from teachers, parents, and students alike, and build schools that prepare every child in America to outcompete any worker in the world.

Translation: I have nothing new to say. I have no new agenda, no words of wisdom so I’ll continue to be like President Bush and repeat myself until I get all of you to believe it.

No more talk. No more delay.

He said it. Right there. The man who only knows how to talk just laid down the gauntlet. Take the pill of your own advice, sir.

I must be in a bad mood because I have nothing but criticism for our President today. Start giving us the results you promised or your job will be over come 2012!

President Obama Claps & Laughs At Gays

Here is the transcript. While the title may be misleading, I hope you’ll forgive me. Let’s look at his speech to the LGBT reception. You’ll notice there was quite a bit of nervous joking and laughter at first. Could it be there was some unrest here? Judge for yourself.

Welcome to your White House.

Here you go – proof that President Obama told the lesbian and gay community that the White House is theirs!

And you have my thanks for the work you do every day in pursuit of equality on behalf of the millions of people in this country who work hard and care about their communities — and who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

I think this is funny. President Obama gives thanks for how hard they work in their communities and as an afterthought, “Oh yeah – that you’re homosexual too.”

There are unjust laws to overturn and unfair practices to stop.

Unfair practices to stop? I would like to know what practices are unfair.

who fail to see your families like their families

There are some pretty dramatic differences, sir.

And that real, transformative change never begins in Washington.

Ironic that they’ve all gathered in Washington…or is this the President’s sly way of saying he won’t assist them in the federal law-making process?

Now, I want to add we have a duty to uphold existing law, but I believe we must do so in a way that does not exacerbate old divides.  And fulfilling this duty in upholding the law in no way lessens my commitment to reversing this law.

Clever little double speak there Mr President.

As I said before — I’ll say it again — I believe “don’t ask, don’t tell” doesn’t contribute to our national security.

But you backed away from any real kind of change Mr President.

Weekly Address: Obama Promotes Fear

Here is the transcript of Saturday’s address.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a historic piece of legislation that will open the door to a clean energy economy and a better future for America.

It would be interesting if Presidents gave the whole truth. What if he were to add the fact that it barely passed.

The energy bill that passed the House will finally create a set of incentives that will spark a clean energy transformation in our economy.

The businesses that take on these incentives will tax the consumer (us) and we will pay more. So the question is, do you want to pay more for cleaner air?

And most importantly, it will make possible the creation of millions of new jobs.

You know, we’ve heard this phrase over and over with The Obama Administration. Has anyone experienced this creation of new jobs? As far as I know, people are still losing their jobs. I’m (with many Americans) getting fed up with being told the same lies from this President.

Make no mistake:  this is a jobs bill.

Lie #2. This is a tax bill.

In California, 3000 people will be employed to build a new solar plant that will create 1000 permanent jobs.

So 2000 of those people will be out of work?

this legislation will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy.

I’ll believe it when my senses tell me (i.e. see it, smell it, taste it).

Don’t believe the misinformation out there that suggests there is somehow a contradiction between investing in clean energy and economic growth.  It’s just not true.

Words no longer mean what they used to Mr President. They were the magic button on the campaign trail, but now that you’re our President, we want to see the facts and results. I won’t believe a word of it until I experience it.

to our constituents, to our children, to God’s creation, and to future generations.

Because they’re the ones who will be paying out the wazoo!

New Path – Second Breath

Yesterday I was talking with our regional secretary and decided to put my name into the hat for people willing to be CEOs of businesses within the region. We have branches all over and I used to just be an Associate but with the economy and the way finances are, I decided to take a leap and see if I am CEO material.

We shall see where this adventure takes me.

Obama: Guardian Of American Wallets

Here is the link to the transcript of this weekly address now let’s dig in:

As we continue to recover from an historic economic crisis

Right out of the bat. I see no recovery. I only see governmental jobs expanding. Where’s the private sector growth? Or are they the new Axis of Evil?

from Wall Street to Washington to Main Street

I grow weary of this overused phrase: Wall Stree to Main Street. News Flash!!! Get a new catch phrase PLEASE

We are going to promote markets that work for those who play by the rules.

Which rules are those? Whose rules are those?

We’re going to level the playing field for consumers.

Does that mean the rich lose their money and the poor get to mooch off their earnings? That’s what it sounds like to me.

And one of the most important proposals is a new oversight agency called the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

President Obama is creating so many new government agencies, everyone will be working for the government by the end of his first term.

It is true that this crisis was caused in part by Americans who took on too much debt and took out loans they simply could not afford.

How about amending that to saying “caused in LARGE part”. No need to pander to the poor and stupid.

It will have the power to set tough new rules so that companies compete by offering innovative products that consumers actually want – and actually understand.

This power to set new rules, will it come with Congress “ok” or will we have new rules every week? This is getting silly Mr President.

And I welcome a debate about how we can make sure our regulations work for businesses and consumers.

He forgot to add: “As long as I win”

President George W Bush Critical Of President Obama

Our latest former President gave a closed-door speech to CEOs in Pennsylvania. During this speech he made certain comments about what he believes the role of government should be.

You can spend your money better than the government can spend your money.

Government does not create wealth. The major role for the government is to create an environment where people take risks to expand the job rate in the United States

There are a lot of ways to remedy the situation without nationalizing health care, I worry about encouraging the government to replace the private sector when it comes to providing insurance for health care.

Now granted, these are tolerable when compared to what President Jimmy Carter said during the Bush years. But there’s a precedent set in which former Presidents do not speak out against current Presidents.

Some may see these words as not exactly critiques against President Obama. But seriously, let’s hear from only one President at a time in the national news.

Obama Deeply Troubled

When answering questions, President Obama had this to say about the election situation in Iran:

I am deeply troubled by the violence that I’ve been seeing on television.

What does that phrase even mean? If someone is deeply troubled does that mean they are saddened? They feel bad? I don’t understand what it means.

And whenever I see violence perpetrated on people who are peacefully dissenting, and whenever the American people see that, I think they’re, rightfully, troubled.

But I’m not sure if they were peacefully dissenting. I thought I read that they were storming militia buildings and causing riots – not the sort of acts that describe “peacefully”. But I agree, violence shouldn’t be the answer to quell the protests. Iran is getting a huge black eye in the face of world opinion.

But what I can say is that there appears to be a sense on the part of people who were so hopeful and so engaged and so committed to democracy who now feel betrayed.

It does seem odd that so many supporters of the opposition turned out for the election and watched their opponent win by a huge landslide. Very fishy workings going on over there.

And what I would say to those people who put so much hope and energy and optimism into the political process, I would say to them that the world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was.

Regardless of the outcome of the election? Are you kidding me? Stop being so “playing the middle of the road”. We don’t want to see the current President of Iran re-elected. We aren’t inspired regardless.

President Obama Trying to Sell His Health Insurance

Here’s the video of the weekly address. Below we’ll talk about it. You can find the transcript here.

Last week, I spoke to you about my commitment to work with Congress to pass health care reform this year. Today, I’d like to speak about how that effort is essential to restoring fiscal responsibility.

As if we should listen to the man who is racking up huge deficits!! So much for Liberal fiscal responsibility.

America spends nearly 50 percent more per person on health care than any other country.

Do these other countries make as much money as Americans? Do they have the access to such medical breakthroughs that Americans do?

Americans are being priced out of the care they need.

This I agree with. It does cost quite a bit to keep health insurance. Why doesn’t the other insurances go up? It must be a medical conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Medicare and Medicaid pose one of the greatest threats to our federal deficit, and could leave our children with a mountain of debt that they cannot pay.

Nevermind what you’re budget is going to do to our children.

And I have made a firm commitment that health care reform will not add to the federal deficit over the next decade.

That is a big commitment Mr. President. Care to tell us how that will work?

my Administration has already identified how to pay for the historic $635 billion down payment on reform detailed in our budget.

Okay. So how will your administration pay for it?

This includes over $300 billion that we will save through changes like reducing Medicare overpayments to private insurers, and rooting out waste in Medicare and Medicaid.

That’s less than half. What about the rest?

However, any honest accounting must prepare for the fact that health care reform will require additional costs in the short term in order to reduce spending in the long-term.

This is incredible. This President will go down in history as the “Spend It” President. I swear he is spending the United States into destruction.

If you like your plan and your doctor, you can keep them – the only changes that you’ll see are lower costs and better health care.

Why are people angry at President Obama if this plan is true? If you can keep your plan, why would you be angry for allowing others to get the coverage they need?