Meaningful Connections

PRESIDENT OBAMA PUTS the CONGRESS ON the DEFENSIVE - HITS ANOTHER HOME RUN

                       OUR ELECTED LEADER LEADS

One would reasonably think you have to be somewhat daft to want to be the President of the United States. Yet - watching President Obama skillfully weave his way though the thicket of complicated questions at his press conference today I think not so for this particular president.

He is remarkably balanced - fair minded and reasonable - still maintains his sense of proportion, subtle good humor - understated confrontational style - He hit every question straight on - no evasions - and no equivocations.

He is direct, to the point, has convictions, calls it as he sees it - appeals to the highest and the best. Calls out both sides of congress for their partisan game playing and appeals to their better natures to rise above their natures to do all they can to get reelected by aiming at a higher goal to really do what is in the best interests of all not just some - of the American People.

It will be interesting to see how the individual members of congress respond to his challenge. It will be of particular interest to me to see how the Republican candidates for the presidency react and hopefully reflect.

I predict the Presidents' rating will rise and so will congress if they respond with good sense to Obama's challenge.

 

THE REPUBLICAN HYPOCRITICAL ROBOTS

Rep Weiner is the most current congressman caught up in the chaos of a self induced sex scandal. As predictable - there are multiple opinions as to whether or not his indiscretions should or should not constitute strong enough grounds for him to either be dismissed or for him to resign.

In the predictable media frenzy galvanized around this issue - it is noteworthy that an overlapping issue - perhaps of more importance than the Wiener issue per say - is the issue of the lick step morally superior positions of the leadership of the Republicans.

These Republicans are evidencing symptoms of a major memory dis-ease. One need only to google congressional sex scandals to note that the Republicans greatly outnumber the Democrats with respect to which party wins the greater sinners award. http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Republican_Sex_Scandals

How interesting it is that Eric Cantor re sex scandals in his own party said there would be a "zero tolerance policy" re sex scandals even among Republicans. Yet it is of equal interest that with respect to the recent spate of sexual scandals among Republican legislators there has been no hue and cry for them to resign. Indeed he has taken the position that it is up to the voters to decide the sinners fate. But when it comes to Weiner - who happens to be a Democrat - Cantor (and Prebus) have no difficulty in insisting that Weiner instantly resign.

Perhaps under the withering pressure Weiner will resign. However it would be only fair and reasonable that the Republicans turn equal fire power onto their own large list of sexual transgressors. And if not, why not?

 

 

 

DEBT REDUCTION VERSUS JOB CREATION - WHOSE PRIORITY SHOULD BE PRIORITY?

 

A LOOMING DEFINING DECISION in AMERICAS' HISTORY

There is little disagreement among reasonable people that our debt needs to be contained. However there is equal agreement that we are collectively in need of a widespread job creation program. In this connection it is difficult for me not to sink into a morass of frustration and cynicism listening to the daily absurdities re priorities issuing primarily from the collective Republican legislators.

Representative of these priority absurdities are:

• Way before and for a while after the President election the universal priority mantra of both parities was JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!
• At least for the Republicans the jobs priority has shifted to debt reduction, abortion reform, anti union and and anti collective bargaining on the state level, a wide spread voter suppression movement, and the most priority of all: dismantling the Medicare policy as we have known it.
• Job creation - for the Republicans is only mentioned in the context of President Obama's failure to have already implemented a plan to have solved this issue - much of it created by the Republican during the last ten years.
• The President has a plan that would generate millions of meaningful jobs but it requires that we adopt an attitude of more expansion at the risk of deepening our already staggering debt.
• In this connection the President asserts the reasonable and fair position that along with deficit reduction there needs to be an understandable increase in tax revenues.
• Reason and fairness be damed. NO NO NO to taxes - this should not and will ot be a priority shout the Republicans in a collective voice of enlightened governance.
• To me - it is transparent why the Republicans have shifted their priorities to anything but meaningful job creation. It is a calculated plan to ensure the economy will be even worse than it is now so the President and The Democrats will lose the next election. We all know it is the economy - stupid that wins or loses elections.
• In this cynical atmosphere it is gratifying to hear - just today - President Obama drawing a firm line in the sand. He will not go along with the expiration of the richest of the rich tax reductions - the major priority of the Republican Party.
• Assuming the President is unyielding - the stage is set for a looming confrontation between two alternative sets of priorities: debt reduction versus job creation.
• This inevitable confrontation needs to happen. Further it forces every American to take a stand as to what priority is the most important priority.
• I for one can tolerate debt but I cannot tolerate witnessing millions of my fellow citizens suffering from necessary work to provide for the necessities, to say nothing of the need for meaningful activity to provide a sense of self worth.
• It seems obvious to me that among the urgent priorities associated with job creation are a 2011 WPA program to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.
• There are many such ideas that could and should be implemented relatively quickly but they all require a shift in attitude concerning what priority should be priority.
• I am betting that if the conflict between debt reduction, increased taxes leading to the implementation of job creation comes to pass the majority of fair and reasonable American people will opt for a job creation priority

 

What is your priority?