A website called www.Freedomalliance.org is launched in 1991 which is about the Freedom Alliance. This website is an official website for Freedom alliance and was created by Oliver North, a non-profit organization which has devoted to move forward the American legacy of freedom by honoring and encouraging military service, defending the sovereignty of the United States and promoting a strong national defense.
Oliver Laurence North an American Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel is being known for to show her concern about the Iran-Contra Affair and is a reviewer in War Stories, Oliver North in Fox News has also received a position as a Best Selling author at New York Times.
The political scandal of Iran-Contra affair in the late 1980’s brought Oliver North to the notice, when he was a National Security Council member, and was drawn in the secret sale of fire arms and weapons to Iran. The intention of this affair was to encourage the release of U.S. hostages from Lebanon. Oliver North including some of his comrades was charged with several offenses, which were dismissed in 1991.
His latest book “American Heroes” presents the readers an extensive knowledge of U.S. military units which are engaged in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Philippines. Oliver North a 66 year old man who was born on October 7, 1943. He is a graduate and has his diploma from the United States Naval Academy in 1968 when he was 25 and was ranked as an officer in the Marine Corps. At the age of 45 Oliver North was retired with the ranking as a Lieutenant Colonel which he received from his hard work and determination for 20 years.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Friday, April 17, 2009
Freedomalliance.org By Oliver North
A website called www.Freedomalliance.org is launched in 1991 which is about the Freedom Alliance. This website is an official website for Freedom alliance and was created by Oliver North, a non-profit organization which has devoted to move forward the American legacy of freedom by honoring and encouraging military service, defending the sovereignty of the United States and promoting a strong national defense.
Oliver Laurence North an American Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel is being known for to show her concern about the Iran-Contra Affair and is a reviewer in War Stories, Oliver North in Fox News has also received a position as a Best Selling author at New York Times.
His latest book “American Heroes” presents the readers an extensive knowledge of U.S. military units which are engaged in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Philippines. Oliver North a 66 year old man who was born on October 7, 1943. He is a graduate and has his diploma from the United States Naval Academy in 1968 when he was 25 and was ranked as an officer in the Marine Corps. At the age of 45 Oliver North was retired with the ranking as a Lieutenant Colonel which he received from his hard work and determination for 20 years.
The political scandal of Iran-Contra affair in the late 1980’s brought Oliver North to the notice, when he was a National Security Council member, and was drawn in the secret sale of fire arms and weapons to Iran. The intention of this affair was to encourage the release of U.S. hostages from Lebanon. Oliver North including some of his comrades was charged with several offenses, which were dismissed in 1991.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Oliver Laurence North an American Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel is being known for to show her concern about the Iran-Contra Affair and is a reviewer in War Stories, Oliver North in Fox News has also received a position as a Best Selling author at New York Times.
His latest book “American Heroes” presents the readers an extensive knowledge of U.S. military units which are engaged in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Philippines. Oliver North a 66 year old man who was born on October 7, 1943. He is a graduate and has his diploma from the United States Naval Academy in 1968 when he was 25 and was ranked as an officer in the Marine Corps. At the age of 45 Oliver North was retired with the ranking as a Lieutenant Colonel which he received from his hard work and determination for 20 years.
The political scandal of Iran-Contra affair in the late 1980’s brought Oliver North to the notice, when he was a National Security Council member, and was drawn in the secret sale of fire arms and weapons to Iran. The intention of this affair was to encourage the release of U.S. hostages from Lebanon. Oliver North including some of his comrades was charged with several offenses, which were dismissed in 1991.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Freedom Alliance - Oliver North
Oliver Laurence North an American Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel is being known for to show her concern about the Iran-Contra Affair and is a reviewer in War Stories, Oliver North in Fox News has also received a position as a Best Selling author at New York Times.
His latest book “American Heroes” presents the readers an extensive knowledge of U.S. military units which are engaged in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Philippines. Oliver North a 66 year old man who was born on October 7, 1943. He is a graduate and has his diploma from the United States Naval Academy in 1968 when he was 25 and was ranked as an officer in the Marine Corps. At the age of 45 Oliver North was retired with the ranking as a Lieutenant Colonel which he received from his hard work and determination for 20 years.
The political scandal of Iran-Contra affair in the late 1980’s brought Oliver North to the notice, when he was a National Security Council member, and was drawn in the secret sale of fire arms and weapons to Iran. The intention of this affair was to encourage the release of U.S. hostages from Lebanon. Oliver North including some of his comrades was charged with several offenses, which were dismissed in 1991.
A website called www.Freedomalliance.org is launched in 1991 which is about the Freedom Alliance. This website is an official website for Freedom alliance and was created by Oliver North, a non-profit organization which has devoted to move forward the American legacy of freedom by honoring and encouraging military service, defending the sovereignty of the United States and promoting a strong national defense.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
His latest book “American Heroes” presents the readers an extensive knowledge of U.S. military units which are engaged in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Philippines. Oliver North a 66 year old man who was born on October 7, 1943. He is a graduate and has his diploma from the United States Naval Academy in 1968 when he was 25 and was ranked as an officer in the Marine Corps. At the age of 45 Oliver North was retired with the ranking as a Lieutenant Colonel which he received from his hard work and determination for 20 years.
The political scandal of Iran-Contra affair in the late 1980’s brought Oliver North to the notice, when he was a National Security Council member, and was drawn in the secret sale of fire arms and weapons to Iran. The intention of this affair was to encourage the release of U.S. hostages from Lebanon. Oliver North including some of his comrades was charged with several offenses, which were dismissed in 1991.
A website called www.Freedomalliance.org is launched in 1991 which is about the Freedom Alliance. This website is an official website for Freedom alliance and was created by Oliver North, a non-profit organization which has devoted to move forward the American legacy of freedom by honoring and encouraging military service, defending the sovereignty of the United States and promoting a strong national defense.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Monday, April 13, 2009
Impotent U.N.
Impotent means feeble, weak or lack of power. The term was recently used to portray the lack of action from the UN, after North Korea’s rocket launch.
The Security Council deadlock over North Korea’s rocket launch is turning into an early test of the Obama administration’s U.N.-focused multilateralism. After 6 days of U.S. President Barack Obama’s swift punishment of North Korea, the Security Council hasn’t acted.
Japan has been critical and is sending call for quick response for U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, they have also tried to downplay opportunity of immediate progress.
China and Russia has opposed the draft Security Council declaration, which is put forth by the U.S. and Japan that would at a minimum enforce military and financial sanctions imposed on North Korea after its underground nuclear weapons test in October 2006.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
The Security Council deadlock over North Korea’s rocket launch is turning into an early test of the Obama administration’s U.N.-focused multilateralism. After 6 days of U.S. President Barack Obama’s swift punishment of North Korea, the Security Council hasn’t acted.
Japan has been critical and is sending call for quick response for U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, they have also tried to downplay opportunity of immediate progress.
China and Russia has opposed the draft Security Council declaration, which is put forth by the U.S. and Japan that would at a minimum enforce military and financial sanctions imposed on North Korea after its underground nuclear weapons test in October 2006.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Ashley Biden Scandal Video
The Ashley Biden (Vice President Biden’s daughter) Video released about her addiction to cocaine may be false. This came up to the notice when it was renowned that outlets who saw the video disagreed with the video.
The video was seen by 3 outlets, two of them provided the descriptions were Radar Online and the New York Post.
Radar Online affirmed that the video was taken by secreted camera and showed that Ashley Biden inhaling cocaine with a rolled up dollar bill. And The New York Post reported that the camera wasn’t hidden, and showed Ashley Biden snorting cocaine with a red straw.
AOL News claims that the man who was trying to sell the video had also tried to sell another Ashley Biden scandal video in August last year, but had no takers.
Radar Online is still standing by the video story, and is claiming that the man set Biden up, providing the cocaine and placing her in front of the camera.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
The video was seen by 3 outlets, two of them provided the descriptions were Radar Online and the New York Post.
Radar Online affirmed that the video was taken by secreted camera and showed that Ashley Biden inhaling cocaine with a rolled up dollar bill. And The New York Post reported that the camera wasn’t hidden, and showed Ashley Biden snorting cocaine with a red straw.
AOL News claims that the man who was trying to sell the video had also tried to sell another Ashley Biden scandal video in August last year, but had no takers.
Radar Online is still standing by the video story, and is claiming that the man set Biden up, providing the cocaine and placing her in front of the camera.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Presidential Press Conference
The President Barack Obama’s speech will be telecasted in all the major networks and cable news outlets. Catch the President Obama’s national primetime news conference in the evening which will carried out LIVE to more than six million MobiTV subscribers on AT&T Wireless, Sprint and Alltel networks in the U.S. on March 24, 2009, beginning at 8 p.m. (5 p.m. PDT).
MobiTV subscribers will telecast this on more than 350 devices and also you can tune into the coverage from major networks including FOX News ABC News NOW CSPAN
MSNBC
MobiTV.com will bring live TV to mobile devices for the first time, draws on its proven knowledge to continuously anticipate, develop and deliver a compelling mobile media experience to more than 6 million subscribers worldwide. MobiTV is shaping the mobile media landscape with a passion for delivering a compelling consumer experience.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
MobiTV subscribers will telecast this on more than 350 devices and also you can tune into the coverage from major networks including FOX News ABC News NOW CSPAN
MSNBC
MobiTV.com will bring live TV to mobile devices for the first time, draws on its proven knowledge to continuously anticipate, develop and deliver a compelling mobile media experience to more than 6 million subscribers worldwide. MobiTV is shaping the mobile media landscape with a passion for delivering a compelling consumer experience.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Barack Obama Press Conference
Barack Obama, the President has expectations of using a prime-time press conference tonight to endorse both his administration's solutions for the recession and the new budget that he proposes, will call the $3.55-trillion spending plan part of the solution.
"We've put in place a comprehensive strategy designed to attack this crisis on all fronts,'' will be the starting remarks of the president at 8 pm EDT White House news conference. "It's a strategy to create jobs, to help responsible homeowners, to re-start lending, and to grow our economy over the long-term. And we are beginning to see signs of progress.''
There are many people or supporters who are praising the budget plans of the president as an ambitious in its initiatives, but it is also said as the Democratic dose of big-spending by the critics which has a deficit of more than $1 trillion next year, but Obama also promises to halve it by the end of the term he is serving.
"The budget I submitted to Congress will build our economic recovery on a stronger foundation, so that we do not face another crisis like this ten or twenty years from now,'' "We invest in the renewable sources of energy that will lead to new jobs, new businesses, and less dependence on foreign oil,'' the president plans to say of his budget.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
"We've put in place a comprehensive strategy designed to attack this crisis on all fronts,'' will be the starting remarks of the president at 8 pm EDT White House news conference. "It's a strategy to create jobs, to help responsible homeowners, to re-start lending, and to grow our economy over the long-term. And we are beginning to see signs of progress.''
There are many people or supporters who are praising the budget plans of the president as an ambitious in its initiatives, but it is also said as the Democratic dose of big-spending by the critics which has a deficit of more than $1 trillion next year, but Obama also promises to halve it by the end of the term he is serving.
"The budget I submitted to Congress will build our economic recovery on a stronger foundation, so that we do not face another crisis like this ten or twenty years from now,'' "We invest in the renewable sources of energy that will lead to new jobs, new businesses, and less dependence on foreign oil,'' the president plans to say of his budget.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Friday, March 20, 2009
President Obama's Special Olympics
A report from Jake Tapper says that Barack Obama pulled a Joe Biden and finished it by sarcastically speaking about the Special Olympics in an attempt to make fun of his weak bowling skills. But of course, the White House says he “in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics.”
The president of the United States was he guest of honor on “The Tonight Show” may well end up being the last. President Obama, in his taping with Jay Leno on Thursday afternoon, was trying to be a funnyman, but ended up insulting the disabled.
The president was presenti n the show for around 40 minutes and he talked about his bowling practices in the White House bowling alley.
He bowled a 129, the president said.
“That’s very good, Mr. President,” Leno said sarcastically.
It’s “like the Special Olympics or something,” the president said.
When asked about the remark, the White House said the president did not intend to offend. “The president made an off-hand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics,” said Bill Burton White House deputy press secretary
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
The president of the United States was he guest of honor on “The Tonight Show” may well end up being the last. President Obama, in his taping with Jay Leno on Thursday afternoon, was trying to be a funnyman, but ended up insulting the disabled.
The president was presenti n the show for around 40 minutes and he talked about his bowling practices in the White House bowling alley.
He bowled a 129, the president said.
“That’s very good, Mr. President,” Leno said sarcastically.
It’s “like the Special Olympics or something,” the president said.
When asked about the remark, the White House said the president did not intend to offend. “The president made an off-hand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics,” said Bill Burton White House deputy press secretary
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Friday, March 13, 2009
What Is "Snollygoster"?
Snollygoster is defined as a politician who is interested in personal gain of wealth and not in helping the voters who have elected him.
It is also the name given to a mythic monster which is found in Maryland and eats children. So indirectly the word Snollygoster is used for a political monster who is attacking the voters and comforting himself. It can also be used to describe an unprincipled or shrewd person.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
It is also the name given to a mythic monster which is found in Maryland and eats children. So indirectly the word Snollygoster is used for a political monster who is attacking the voters and comforting himself. It can also be used to describe an unprincipled or shrewd person.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Friday, March 6, 2009
Sanjay Gupta Has Withdrawn
The CNN reports that Sanjay Gupta has detached himself from the management for Surgeon General.
Sanjay Gupta the CNN correspondent has taken back his name from the consideration for the next surgeon general of the nation. He has opted dedicate his time by reporting and concentrating on his medical career.
Gupta will be discussing his career decision tonight on CNN'c Larry King Live along with the president's health care agenda. Jerry Farrell, who is the head of the Commissioned Officers Association, noted to FOXNews.com on Thursday that CNN's chief medical correspondent is known to have taken himself out of consideration.
"The general consensus from everybody is Gupta is no longer in contention ... it's more he's withdrawing himself," Farrell said, citing conversations he's had with "well-placed" individuals.
According to Farrell, Gupta had misgivings about both the pay cut he would have to take and the fact that he could be reporting to two high-level bosses: both the health secretary and health reform office director. When Gupta's name surfaced, President Obama had planned to have former Sen. Tom Daschle fill both of those roles. After Daschle withdrew from consideration, the president named two separate nominees for the posts.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Sanjay Gupta the CNN correspondent has taken back his name from the consideration for the next surgeon general of the nation. He has opted dedicate his time by reporting and concentrating on his medical career.
Gupta will be discussing his career decision tonight on CNN'c Larry King Live along with the president's health care agenda. Jerry Farrell, who is the head of the Commissioned Officers Association, noted to FOXNews.com on Thursday that CNN's chief medical correspondent is known to have taken himself out of consideration.
"The general consensus from everybody is Gupta is no longer in contention ... it's more he's withdrawing himself," Farrell said, citing conversations he's had with "well-placed" individuals.
According to Farrell, Gupta had misgivings about both the pay cut he would have to take and the fact that he could be reporting to two high-level bosses: both the health secretary and health reform office director. When Gupta's name surfaced, President Obama had planned to have former Sen. Tom Daschle fill both of those roles. After Daschle withdrew from consideration, the president named two separate nominees for the posts.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Former First Lady Barbara Bush
Barbara Bush the Former First Lady and the mother of former President George W. Bush has undergone an open heart surgery and is now recovering. This was the information which was provided by the elder President Bush's Chief of Staff, Jean Becker, who also described the surgery as a routine.
Barbara Bush had also undergone a surgery in late November for a perforated ulcer and was released from the hospital on December 2. And now Jean Becker confirmed that she spoke with Barbara Bush who is now in the ICU with her husband. She described the former first lady as "alert and funny."
Spokesman Jim McGrath said the surgery was taken as precautionary step after doctors found hardening on one part of her aorta last week. Doctors had been following the hardening and determined they didn't want to wait.
The doctors of the hospital said she was "awake and alert as she recovers" in the intensive care unit. Gerald Lawrie the surgeon said "I expect her to recover fully and soon resume her normal activities." She will remain in the hospital for up to 10 days.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Barbara Bush had also undergone a surgery in late November for a perforated ulcer and was released from the hospital on December 2. And now Jean Becker confirmed that she spoke with Barbara Bush who is now in the ICU with her husband. She described the former first lady as "alert and funny."
Spokesman Jim McGrath said the surgery was taken as precautionary step after doctors found hardening on one part of her aorta last week. Doctors had been following the hardening and determined they didn't want to wait.
The doctors of the hospital said she was "awake and alert as she recovers" in the intensive care unit. Gerald Lawrie the surgeon said "I expect her to recover fully and soon resume her normal activities." She will remain in the hospital for up to 10 days.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Mr Smith Goes To Washington
The President Obama, who was a Senator for only two years before becoming President of the United States, is similar to the popular cinematic figure Mr. Smith, who went to Washington to represent the common man.
President Obama in his first address to Congress on February 24th had reminded all Americans that working together with hope to pull ourselves out of the mire of this economic crisis are very important. Along with that he had focused on what our citizens expect of Congress and from this administration.
He has challenged the Americans to enrich their education not just for private gain but for the good of our country. He made it clear that this crisis like so many others in our history is an opportunity we have been waiting for.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
President Obama in his first address to Congress on February 24th had reminded all Americans that working together with hope to pull ourselves out of the mire of this economic crisis are very important. Along with that he had focused on what our citizens expect of Congress and from this administration.
He has challenged the Americans to enrich their education not just for private gain but for the good of our country. He made it clear that this crisis like so many others in our history is an opportunity we have been waiting for.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Nancy Pelosi - The Speaker Of The House
The MSNBC reports says that the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, while speaking to reporters supposed that the discussion over the federal government's newest moves to support the banks is simply "semantics." She also added that any positions in the banks held by the government will be midway.
The movement towards nationalize the banking industry, or part of the banking industry, has been gaining steam of late. She said “Mike has been a trusted and valuable advisor to me for many years and I deeply appreciate his dedication and expertise in defense, intelligence and foreign affairs. He has helped shape the agenda this Congress has taken to develop and strengthen ties with other countries.”
Last Sunday, Nouriel Roubini, Paul Krugman and George Will, who appeared on a panel on ABC's "This Week," all uttered either support for the idea or resignation that it was already occurring.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
The movement towards nationalize the banking industry, or part of the banking industry, has been gaining steam of late. She said “Mike has been a trusted and valuable advisor to me for many years and I deeply appreciate his dedication and expertise in defense, intelligence and foreign affairs. He has helped shape the agenda this Congress has taken to develop and strengthen ties with other countries.”
Last Sunday, Nouriel Roubini, Paul Krugman and George Will, who appeared on a panel on ABC's "This Week," all uttered either support for the idea or resignation that it was already occurring.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Obama's Speech On Feb 24
Below is the speech which was delivered by Mr. President, Obama Yesterday which addressed the joint session of Congress.
Madame Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, and the First Lady of the United States:
I’ve come here tonight not only to address the distinguished men and women in this great chamber, but to speak frankly and directly to the men and women who sent us here.
I know that for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others. And rightly so. If you haven’t been personally affected by this recession, you probably know someone who has – a friend; a neighbor; a member of your family. You don’t need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy is in crisis, because you live it every day. It’s the worry you wake up with and the source of sleepless nights. It’s the job you thought you’d retire from but now have lost; the business you built your dreams upon that’s now hanging by a thread; the college acceptance letter your child had to put back in the envelope. The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere.
But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this:
We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation. The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more.
Now, if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that for too long, we have not always met these responsibilities – as a government or as a people. I say this not to lay blame or look backwards, but because it is only by understanding how we arrived at this moment that we’ll be able to lift ourselves out of this predicament.
The fact is, our economy did not fall into decline overnight. Nor did all of our problems begin when the housing market collapsed or the stock market sank. We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy. Yet we import more oil today than ever before. The cost of health care eats up more and more of our savings each year, yet we keep delaying reform. Our children will compete for jobs in a global economy that too many of our schools do not prepare them for. 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.
In other words, we have lived through an era where too often, short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity; where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election. A surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future. Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market. People bought homes they knew they couldn’t afford from banks and lenders who pushed those bad loans anyway. And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day.
Well that day of reckoning has arrived, and the time to take charge of our future is here.
Now is the time to act boldly and wisely – to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity. Now is the time to jumpstart job creation, re-start lending, and invest in areas like energy, health care, and education that will grow our economy, even as we make hard choices to bring our deficit down. That is what my economic agenda is designed to do, and that’s what I’d like to talk to you about tonight.
Obama State Of The Unionon Daymix
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It’s an agenda that begins with jobs.
As soon as I took office, I asked this Congress to send me a recovery plan by President’s Day that would put people back to work and put money in their pockets. Not because I believe in bigger government – I don’t. Not because I’m not mindful of the massive debt we’ve inherited – I am. I called for action because the failure to do so would have cost more jobs and caused more hardships. In fact, a failure to act would have worsened our long-term deficit by assuring weak economic growth for years. That’s why I pushed for quick action. And tonight, I am grateful that this Congress delivered, and pleased to say that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is now law.
Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs. More than 90% of these jobs will be in the private sector – jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges; constructing wind turbines and solar panels; laying broadband and expanding mass transit.
Because of this plan, there are teachers who can now keep their jobs and educate our kids. Health care professionals can continue caring for our sick. There are 57 police officers who are still on the streets of Minneapolis tonight because this plan prevented the layoffs their department was about to make.
Because of this plan, 95% of the working households in America will receive a tax cut – a tax cut that you will see in your paychecks beginning on April 1st.
Because of this plan, families who are struggling to pay tuition costs will receive a $2,500 tax credit for all four years of college. And Americans who have lost their jobs in this recession will be able to receive extended unemployment benefits and continued health care coverage to help them weather this storm.
I know there are some in this chamber and watching at home who are skeptical of whether this plan will work. I understand that skepticism. Here in Washington, we’ve all seen how quickly good intentions can turn into broken promises and wasteful spending. And with a plan of this scale comes enormous responsibility to get it right.
That is why I have asked Vice President Biden to lead a tough, unprecedented oversight effort – because nobody messes with Joe. I have told each member of my Cabinet as well as mayors and governors across the country that they will be held accountable by me and the American people for every dollar they spend. I have appointed a proven and aggressive Inspector General to ferret out any and all cases of waste and fraud. And we have created a new website called recovery.gov so that every American can find out how and where their money is being spent.
So the recovery plan we passed is the first step in getting our economy back on track. But it is just the first step. Because even if we manage this plan flawlessly, there will be no real recovery unless we clean up the credit crisis that has severely weakened our financial system.
I want to speak plainly and candidly about this issue tonight, because every American should know that it directly affects you and your family’s well-being. You should also know that the money you’ve deposited in banks across the country is safe; your insurance is secure; and you can rely on the continued operation of our financial system. That is not the source of concern.
The concern is that if we do not re-start lending in this country, our recovery will be choked off before it even begins.
You see, the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy. The ability to get a loan is how you finance the purchase of everything from a home to a car to a college education; how stores stock their shelves, farms buy equipment, and businesses make payroll.
But credit has stopped flowing the way it should. Too many bad loans from the housing crisis have made their way onto the books of too many banks. With so much debt and so little confidence, these banks are now fearful of lending out any more money to households, to businesses, or to each other. When there is no lending, families can’t afford to buy homes or cars. So businesses are forced to make layoffs. Our economy suffers even more, and credit dries up even further.
That is why this administration is moving swiftly and aggressively to break this destructive cycle, restore confidence, and re-start lending.
We will do so in several ways. First, we are creating a new lending fund that represents the largest effort ever to help provide auto loans, college loans, and small business loans to the consumers and entrepreneurs who keep this economy running.
Second, we have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and re-finance their mortgages. It’s a plan that won’t help speculators or that neighbor down the street who bought a house he could never hope to afford, but it will help millions of Americans who are struggling with declining home values – Americans who will now be able to take advantage of the lower interest rates that this plan has already helped bring about. In fact, the average family who re-finances today can save nearly $2000 per year on their mortgage.
Third, we will act with the full force of the federal government to ensure that the major banks that Americans depend on have enough confidence and enough money to lend even in more difficult times. And when we learn that a major bank has serious problems, we will hold accountable those responsible, force the necessary adjustments, provide the support to clean up their balance sheets, and assure the continuity of a strong, viable institution that can serve our people and our economy.
I understand that on any given day, Wall Street may be more comforted by an approach that gives banks bailouts with no strings attached, and that holds nobody accountable for their reckless decisions. But such an approach won’t solve the problem. And our goal is to quicken the day when we re-start lending to the American people and American business and end this crisis once and for all.
I intend to hold these banks fully accountable for the assistance they receive, and this time, they will have to clearly demonstrate how taxpayer dollars result in more lending for the American taxpayer. This time, CEOs won’t be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over.
Still, this plan will require significant resources from the federal government – and yes, probably more than we’ve already set aside. But while the cost of action will be great, I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater, for it could result in an economy that sputters along for not months or years, but perhaps a decade. That would be worse for our deficit, worse for business, worse for you, and worse for the next generation. And I refuse to let that happen.
I understand that when the last administration asked this Congress to provide assistance for struggling banks, Democrats and Republicans alike were infuriated by the mismanagement and results that followed. So were the American taxpayers. So was I.
So I know how unpopular it is to be seen as helping banks right now, especially when everyone is suffering in part from their bad decisions. I promise you – I get it.
But I also know that in a time of crisis, we cannot afford to govern out of anger, or yield to the politics of the moment. My job – our job – is to solve the problem. Our job is to govern with a sense of responsibility. I will not spend a single penny for the purpose of rewarding a single Wall Street executive, but I will do whatever it takes to help the small business that can’t pay its workers or the family that has saved and still can’t get a mortgage.
That’s what this is about. It’s not about helping banks – it’s about helping people. Because when credit is available again, that young family can finally buy a new home. And then some company will hire workers to build it. And then those workers will have money to spend, and if they can get a loan too, maybe they’ll finally buy that car, or open their own business. Investors will return to the market, and American families will see their retirement secured once more. Slowly, but surely, confidence will return, and our economy will recover.
So I ask this Congress to join me in doing whatever proves necessary. Because we cannot consign our nation to an open-ended recession. And to ensure that a crisis of this magnitude never happens again, I ask Congress to move quickly on legislation that will finally reform our outdated regulatory system. It is time to put in place tough, new common-sense rules of the road so that our financial market rewards drive and innovation, and punishes short-cuts and abuse.
The recovery plan and the financial stability plan are the immediate steps we’re taking to revive our economy in the short-term. But the only way to fully restore America’s economic strength is to make the long-term investments that will lead to new jobs, new industries, and a renewed ability to compete with the rest of the world. The only way this century will be another American century is if we confront at last the price of our dependence on oil and the high cost of health care; the schools that aren’t preparing our children and the mountain of debt they stand to inherit. That is our responsibility.
In the next few days, I will submit a budget to Congress. So often, we have come to view these documents as simply numbers on a page or laundry lists of programs. I see this document differently. I see it as a vision for America – as a blueprint for our future.
My budget does not attempt to solve every problem or address every issue. It reflects the stark reality of what we’ve inherited – a trillion dollar deficit, a financial crisis, and a costly recession.
Given these realities, everyone in this chamber – Democrats and Republicans – will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars. And that includes me.
But that does not mean we can afford to ignore our long-term challenges. I reject the view that says our problems will simply take care of themselves; that says government has no role in laying the foundation for our common prosperity.
For history tells a different story. History reminds us that at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas. In the midst of civil war, we laid railroad tracks from one coast to another that spurred commerce and industry. From the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age. In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle-class in history. And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world.
In each case, government didn’t supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise. It created the conditions for thousands of entrepreneurs and new businesses to adapt and to thrive.
We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril, and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again. That is why, even as it cuts back on the programs we don’t need, the budget I submit will invest in the three areas that are absolutely critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education.
It begins with energy.
We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we’ve fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.
Well I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders – and I know you don’t either. It is time for America to lead again.
Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years. We have also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history – an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine, science, and technology.
We will soon lay down thousands of miles of power lines that can carry new energy to cities and towns across this country. And we will put Americans to work making our homes and buildings more efficient so that we can save billions of dollars on our energy bills.
But to truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. And to support that innovation, we will invest fifteen billion dollars a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks built right here in America.
As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices. But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.
None of this will come without cost, nor will it be easy. But this is America. We don’t do what’s easy. We do what is necessary to move this country forward.
For that same reason, we must also address the crushing cost of health care.
This is a cost that now causes a bankruptcy in America every thirty seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes. In the last eight years, premiums have grown four times faster than wages. And in each of these years, one million more Americans have lost their health insurance. It is one of the major reasons why small businesses close their doors and corporations ship jobs overseas. And it’s one of the largest and fastest-growing parts of our budget.
Given these facts, we can no longer afford to put health care reform on hold.
Already, we have done more to advance the cause of health care reform in the last thirty days than we have in the last decade. When it was days old, this Congress passed a law to provide and protect health insurance for eleven million American children whose parents work full-time. Our recovery plan will invest in electronic health records and new technology that will reduce errors, bring down costs, ensure privacy, and save lives. It will launch a new effort to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American by seeking a cure for cancer in our time. And it makes the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that is one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control.
This budget builds on these reforms. It includes an historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform – a down-payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American. It’s a commitment that’s paid for in part by efficiencies in our system that are long overdue. And it’s a step we must take if we hope to bring down our deficit in the years to come.
Now, there will be many different opinions and ideas about how to achieve reform, and that is why I’m bringing together businesses and workers, doctors and health care providers, Democrats and Republicans to begin work on this issue next week.
I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. It will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.
The third challenge we must address is the urgent need to expand the promise of education in America.
In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite.
Right now, three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require more than a high school diploma. And yet, just over half of our citizens have that level of education. We have one of the highest high school dropout rates of any industrialized nation. And half of the students who begin college never finish.
This is a prescription for economic decline, because we know the countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow. That is why it will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education – from the day they are born to the day they begin a career.
Already, we have made an historic investment in education through the economic recovery plan. We have dramatically expanded early childhood education and will continue to improve its quality, because we know that the most formative learning comes in those first years of life. We have made college affordable for nearly seven million more students. And we have provided the resources necessary to prevent painful cuts and teacher layoffs that would set back our children’s progress.
But we know that our schools don’t just need more resources. They need more reform. That is why this budget creates new incentives for teacher performance; pathways for advancement, and rewards for success. We’ll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools meet high standards and close achievement gaps. And we will expand our commitment to charter schools.
It is our responsibility as lawmakers and educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country – and this country needs and values the talents of every American. That is why we will provide the support necessary for you to complete college and meet a new goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.
I know that the price of tuition is higher than ever, which is why if you are willing to volunteer in your neighborhood or give back to your community or serve your country, we will make sure that you can afford a higher education. And to encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations, I ask this Congress to send me the bipartisan legislation that bears the name of Senator Orrin Hatch as well as an American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country – Senator Edward Kennedy.
These education policies will open the doors of opportunity for our children. But it is up to us to ensure they walk through them. In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child. I speak to you not just as a President, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children’s education must begin at home.
There is, of course, another responsibility we have to our children. And that is the responsibility to ensure that we do not pass on to them a debt they cannot pay. With the deficit we inherited, the cost of the crisis we face, and the long-term challenges we must meet, it has never been more important to ensure that as our economy recovers, we do what it takes to bring this deficit down.
I’m proud that we passed the recovery plan free of earmarks, and I want to pass a budget next year that ensures that each dollar we spend reflects only our most important national priorities.
Yesterday, I held a fiscal summit where I pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term in office. My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs. As you can imagine, this is a process that will take some time. But we’re starting with the biggest lines. We have already identified two trillion dollars in savings over the next decade.
In this budget, we will end education programs that don’t work and end direct payments to large agribusinesses that don’t need them. We’ll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq, and reform our defense budget so that we’re not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don’t use. We will root out the waste, fraud, and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn’t make our seniors any healthier, and we will restore a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code by finally ending the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas.
In order to save our children from a future of debt, we will also end the tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. But let me perfectly clear, because I know you’ll hear the same old claims that rolling back these tax breaks means a massive tax increase on the American people: if your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime. In fact, the recovery plan provides a tax cut – that’s right, a tax cut – for 95% of working families. And these checks are on the way.
To preserve our long-term fiscal health, we must also address the growing costs in Medicare and Social Security. Comprehensive health care reform is the best way to strengthen Medicare for years to come. And we must also begin a conversation on how to do the same for Social Security, while creating tax-free universal savings accounts for all Americans.
Finally, because we’re also suffering from a deficit of trust, I am committed to restoring a sense of honesty and accountability to our budget. That is why this budget looks ahead ten years and accounts for spending that was left out under the old rules – and for the first time, that includes the full cost of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. For seven years, we have been a nation at war. No longer will we hide its price.
We are now carefully reviewing our policies in both wars, and I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war.
And with our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and combat extremism. Because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens half a world away.
As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy. To each and every one of them, and to the families who bear the quiet burden of their absence, Americans are united in sending one message: we honor your service, we are inspired by your sacrifice, and you have our unyielding support. To relieve the strain on our forces, my budget increases the number of our soldiers and Marines. And to keep our sacred trust with those who serve, we will raise their pay, and give our veterans the expanded health care and benefits that they have earned.
To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops defend – because there is no force in the world more powerful than the example of America. That is why I have ordered the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, and will seek swift and certain justice for captured terrorists – because living our values doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us safer and it makes us stronger. And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture.
In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand.
To seek progress toward a secure and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors, we have appointed an envoy to sustain our effort. To meet the challenges of the 21st century – from terrorism to nuclear proliferation; from pandemic disease to cyber threats to crushing poverty – we will strengthen old alliances, forge new ones, and use all elements of our national power.
And to respond to an economic crisis that is global in scope, we are working with the nations of the G-20 to restore confidence in our financial system, avoid the possibility of escalating protectionism, and spur demand for American goods in markets across the globe. For the world depends on us to have a strong economy, just as our economy depends on the strength of the world’s.
As we stand at this crossroads of history, the eyes of all people in all nations are once again upon us – watching to see what we do with this moment; waiting for us to lead.
Those of us gathered here tonight have been called to govern in extraordinary times. It is a tremendous burden, but also a great privilege – one that has been entrusted to few generations of Americans. For in our hands lies the ability to shape our world for good or for ill.
I know that it is easy to lose sight of this truth – to become cynical and doubtful; consumed with the petty and the trivial.
But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places; that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of Americans who are anything but ordinary.
I think about Leonard Abess, the bank president from Miami who reportedly cashed out of his company, took a $60 million bonus, and gave it out to all 399 people who worked for him, plus another 72 who used to work for him. He didn’t tell anyone, but when the local newspaper found out, he simply said, ”I knew some of these people since I was 7 years old. I didn’t feel right getting the money myself.”
I think about Greensburg, Kansas, a town that was completely destroyed by a tornado, but is being rebuilt by its residents as a global example of how clean energy can power an entire community – how it can bring jobs and businesses to a place where piles of bricks and rubble once lay. “The tragedy was terrible,” said one of the men who helped them rebuild. “But the folks here know that it also provided an incredible opportunity.”
And I think about Ty’Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina – a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She has been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this room. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, “We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters.”
We are not quitters.
These words and these stories tell us something about the spirit of the people who sent us here. They tell us that even in the most trying times, amid the most difficult circumstances, there is a generosity, a resilience, a decency, and a determination that perseveres; a willingness to take responsibility for our future and for posterity.
Their resolve must be our inspiration. Their concerns must be our cause. And we must show them and all our people that we are equal to the task before us.
I know that we haven’t agreed on every issue thus far, and there are surely times in the future when we will part ways. But I also know that every American who is sitting here tonight loves this country and wants it to succeed. That must be the starting point for every debate we have in the coming months, and where we return after those debates are done. That is the foundation on which the American people expect us to build common ground.
And if we do – if we come together and lift this nation from the depths of this crisis; if we put our people back to work and restart the engine of our prosperity; if we confront without fear the challenges of our time and summon that enduring spirit of an America that does not quit, then someday years from now our children can tell their children that this was the time when we performed, in the words that are carved into this very chamber, “something worthy to be remembered.” Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
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Madame Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, and the First Lady of the United States:
I’ve come here tonight not only to address the distinguished men and women in this great chamber, but to speak frankly and directly to the men and women who sent us here.
I know that for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others. And rightly so. If you haven’t been personally affected by this recession, you probably know someone who has – a friend; a neighbor; a member of your family. You don’t need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy is in crisis, because you live it every day. It’s the worry you wake up with and the source of sleepless nights. It’s the job you thought you’d retire from but now have lost; the business you built your dreams upon that’s now hanging by a thread; the college acceptance letter your child had to put back in the envelope. The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere.
But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this:
We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation. The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more.
Now, if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that for too long, we have not always met these responsibilities – as a government or as a people. I say this not to lay blame or look backwards, but because it is only by understanding how we arrived at this moment that we’ll be able to lift ourselves out of this predicament.
The fact is, our economy did not fall into decline overnight. Nor did all of our problems begin when the housing market collapsed or the stock market sank. We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy. Yet we import more oil today than ever before. The cost of health care eats up more and more of our savings each year, yet we keep delaying reform. Our children will compete for jobs in a global economy that too many of our schools do not prepare them for. 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.
In other words, we have lived through an era where too often, short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity; where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election. A surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future. Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market. People bought homes they knew they couldn’t afford from banks and lenders who pushed those bad loans anyway. And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day.
Well that day of reckoning has arrived, and the time to take charge of our future is here.
Now is the time to act boldly and wisely – to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity. Now is the time to jumpstart job creation, re-start lending, and invest in areas like energy, health care, and education that will grow our economy, even as we make hard choices to bring our deficit down. That is what my economic agenda is designed to do, and that’s what I’d like to talk to you about tonight.
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It’s an agenda that begins with jobs.
As soon as I took office, I asked this Congress to send me a recovery plan by President’s Day that would put people back to work and put money in their pockets. Not because I believe in bigger government – I don’t. Not because I’m not mindful of the massive debt we’ve inherited – I am. I called for action because the failure to do so would have cost more jobs and caused more hardships. In fact, a failure to act would have worsened our long-term deficit by assuring weak economic growth for years. That’s why I pushed for quick action. And tonight, I am grateful that this Congress delivered, and pleased to say that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is now law.
Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs. More than 90% of these jobs will be in the private sector – jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges; constructing wind turbines and solar panels; laying broadband and expanding mass transit.
Because of this plan, there are teachers who can now keep their jobs and educate our kids. Health care professionals can continue caring for our sick. There are 57 police officers who are still on the streets of Minneapolis tonight because this plan prevented the layoffs their department was about to make.
Because of this plan, 95% of the working households in America will receive a tax cut – a tax cut that you will see in your paychecks beginning on April 1st.
Because of this plan, families who are struggling to pay tuition costs will receive a $2,500 tax credit for all four years of college. And Americans who have lost their jobs in this recession will be able to receive extended unemployment benefits and continued health care coverage to help them weather this storm.
I know there are some in this chamber and watching at home who are skeptical of whether this plan will work. I understand that skepticism. Here in Washington, we’ve all seen how quickly good intentions can turn into broken promises and wasteful spending. And with a plan of this scale comes enormous responsibility to get it right.
That is why I have asked Vice President Biden to lead a tough, unprecedented oversight effort – because nobody messes with Joe. I have told each member of my Cabinet as well as mayors and governors across the country that they will be held accountable by me and the American people for every dollar they spend. I have appointed a proven and aggressive Inspector General to ferret out any and all cases of waste and fraud. And we have created a new website called recovery.gov so that every American can find out how and where their money is being spent.
So the recovery plan we passed is the first step in getting our economy back on track. But it is just the first step. Because even if we manage this plan flawlessly, there will be no real recovery unless we clean up the credit crisis that has severely weakened our financial system.
I want to speak plainly and candidly about this issue tonight, because every American should know that it directly affects you and your family’s well-being. You should also know that the money you’ve deposited in banks across the country is safe; your insurance is secure; and you can rely on the continued operation of our financial system. That is not the source of concern.
The concern is that if we do not re-start lending in this country, our recovery will be choked off before it even begins.
You see, the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy. The ability to get a loan is how you finance the purchase of everything from a home to a car to a college education; how stores stock their shelves, farms buy equipment, and businesses make payroll.
But credit has stopped flowing the way it should. Too many bad loans from the housing crisis have made their way onto the books of too many banks. With so much debt and so little confidence, these banks are now fearful of lending out any more money to households, to businesses, or to each other. When there is no lending, families can’t afford to buy homes or cars. So businesses are forced to make layoffs. Our economy suffers even more, and credit dries up even further.
That is why this administration is moving swiftly and aggressively to break this destructive cycle, restore confidence, and re-start lending.
We will do so in several ways. First, we are creating a new lending fund that represents the largest effort ever to help provide auto loans, college loans, and small business loans to the consumers and entrepreneurs who keep this economy running.
Second, we have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and re-finance their mortgages. It’s a plan that won’t help speculators or that neighbor down the street who bought a house he could never hope to afford, but it will help millions of Americans who are struggling with declining home values – Americans who will now be able to take advantage of the lower interest rates that this plan has already helped bring about. In fact, the average family who re-finances today can save nearly $2000 per year on their mortgage.
Third, we will act with the full force of the federal government to ensure that the major banks that Americans depend on have enough confidence and enough money to lend even in more difficult times. And when we learn that a major bank has serious problems, we will hold accountable those responsible, force the necessary adjustments, provide the support to clean up their balance sheets, and assure the continuity of a strong, viable institution that can serve our people and our economy.
I understand that on any given day, Wall Street may be more comforted by an approach that gives banks bailouts with no strings attached, and that holds nobody accountable for their reckless decisions. But such an approach won’t solve the problem. And our goal is to quicken the day when we re-start lending to the American people and American business and end this crisis once and for all.
I intend to hold these banks fully accountable for the assistance they receive, and this time, they will have to clearly demonstrate how taxpayer dollars result in more lending for the American taxpayer. This time, CEOs won’t be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over.
Still, this plan will require significant resources from the federal government – and yes, probably more than we’ve already set aside. But while the cost of action will be great, I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater, for it could result in an economy that sputters along for not months or years, but perhaps a decade. That would be worse for our deficit, worse for business, worse for you, and worse for the next generation. And I refuse to let that happen.
I understand that when the last administration asked this Congress to provide assistance for struggling banks, Democrats and Republicans alike were infuriated by the mismanagement and results that followed. So were the American taxpayers. So was I.
So I know how unpopular it is to be seen as helping banks right now, especially when everyone is suffering in part from their bad decisions. I promise you – I get it.
But I also know that in a time of crisis, we cannot afford to govern out of anger, or yield to the politics of the moment. My job – our job – is to solve the problem. Our job is to govern with a sense of responsibility. I will not spend a single penny for the purpose of rewarding a single Wall Street executive, but I will do whatever it takes to help the small business that can’t pay its workers or the family that has saved and still can’t get a mortgage.
That’s what this is about. It’s not about helping banks – it’s about helping people. Because when credit is available again, that young family can finally buy a new home. And then some company will hire workers to build it. And then those workers will have money to spend, and if they can get a loan too, maybe they’ll finally buy that car, or open their own business. Investors will return to the market, and American families will see their retirement secured once more. Slowly, but surely, confidence will return, and our economy will recover.
So I ask this Congress to join me in doing whatever proves necessary. Because we cannot consign our nation to an open-ended recession. And to ensure that a crisis of this magnitude never happens again, I ask Congress to move quickly on legislation that will finally reform our outdated regulatory system. It is time to put in place tough, new common-sense rules of the road so that our financial market rewards drive and innovation, and punishes short-cuts and abuse.
The recovery plan and the financial stability plan are the immediate steps we’re taking to revive our economy in the short-term. But the only way to fully restore America’s economic strength is to make the long-term investments that will lead to new jobs, new industries, and a renewed ability to compete with the rest of the world. The only way this century will be another American century is if we confront at last the price of our dependence on oil and the high cost of health care; the schools that aren’t preparing our children and the mountain of debt they stand to inherit. That is our responsibility.
In the next few days, I will submit a budget to Congress. So often, we have come to view these documents as simply numbers on a page or laundry lists of programs. I see this document differently. I see it as a vision for America – as a blueprint for our future.
My budget does not attempt to solve every problem or address every issue. It reflects the stark reality of what we’ve inherited – a trillion dollar deficit, a financial crisis, and a costly recession.
Given these realities, everyone in this chamber – Democrats and Republicans – will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars. And that includes me.
But that does not mean we can afford to ignore our long-term challenges. I reject the view that says our problems will simply take care of themselves; that says government has no role in laying the foundation for our common prosperity.
For history tells a different story. History reminds us that at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas. In the midst of civil war, we laid railroad tracks from one coast to another that spurred commerce and industry. From the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age. In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle-class in history. And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world.
In each case, government didn’t supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise. It created the conditions for thousands of entrepreneurs and new businesses to adapt and to thrive.
We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril, and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again. That is why, even as it cuts back on the programs we don’t need, the budget I submit will invest in the three areas that are absolutely critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education.
It begins with energy.
We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we’ve fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.
Well I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders – and I know you don’t either. It is time for America to lead again.
Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years. We have also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history – an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine, science, and technology.
We will soon lay down thousands of miles of power lines that can carry new energy to cities and towns across this country. And we will put Americans to work making our homes and buildings more efficient so that we can save billions of dollars on our energy bills.
But to truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. And to support that innovation, we will invest fifteen billion dollars a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks built right here in America.
As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices. But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.
None of this will come without cost, nor will it be easy. But this is America. We don’t do what’s easy. We do what is necessary to move this country forward.
For that same reason, we must also address the crushing cost of health care.
This is a cost that now causes a bankruptcy in America every thirty seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes. In the last eight years, premiums have grown four times faster than wages. And in each of these years, one million more Americans have lost their health insurance. It is one of the major reasons why small businesses close their doors and corporations ship jobs overseas. And it’s one of the largest and fastest-growing parts of our budget.
Given these facts, we can no longer afford to put health care reform on hold.
Already, we have done more to advance the cause of health care reform in the last thirty days than we have in the last decade. When it was days old, this Congress passed a law to provide and protect health insurance for eleven million American children whose parents work full-time. Our recovery plan will invest in electronic health records and new technology that will reduce errors, bring down costs, ensure privacy, and save lives. It will launch a new effort to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American by seeking a cure for cancer in our time. And it makes the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that is one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control.
This budget builds on these reforms. It includes an historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform – a down-payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American. It’s a commitment that’s paid for in part by efficiencies in our system that are long overdue. And it’s a step we must take if we hope to bring down our deficit in the years to come.
Now, there will be many different opinions and ideas about how to achieve reform, and that is why I’m bringing together businesses and workers, doctors and health care providers, Democrats and Republicans to begin work on this issue next week.
I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. It will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.
The third challenge we must address is the urgent need to expand the promise of education in America.
In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite.
Right now, three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require more than a high school diploma. And yet, just over half of our citizens have that level of education. We have one of the highest high school dropout rates of any industrialized nation. And half of the students who begin college never finish.
This is a prescription for economic decline, because we know the countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow. That is why it will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education – from the day they are born to the day they begin a career.
Already, we have made an historic investment in education through the economic recovery plan. We have dramatically expanded early childhood education and will continue to improve its quality, because we know that the most formative learning comes in those first years of life. We have made college affordable for nearly seven million more students. And we have provided the resources necessary to prevent painful cuts and teacher layoffs that would set back our children’s progress.
But we know that our schools don’t just need more resources. They need more reform. That is why this budget creates new incentives for teacher performance; pathways for advancement, and rewards for success. We’ll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools meet high standards and close achievement gaps. And we will expand our commitment to charter schools.
It is our responsibility as lawmakers and educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country – and this country needs and values the talents of every American. That is why we will provide the support necessary for you to complete college and meet a new goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.
I know that the price of tuition is higher than ever, which is why if you are willing to volunteer in your neighborhood or give back to your community or serve your country, we will make sure that you can afford a higher education. And to encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations, I ask this Congress to send me the bipartisan legislation that bears the name of Senator Orrin Hatch as well as an American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country – Senator Edward Kennedy.
These education policies will open the doors of opportunity for our children. But it is up to us to ensure they walk through them. In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child. I speak to you not just as a President, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children’s education must begin at home.
There is, of course, another responsibility we have to our children. And that is the responsibility to ensure that we do not pass on to them a debt they cannot pay. With the deficit we inherited, the cost of the crisis we face, and the long-term challenges we must meet, it has never been more important to ensure that as our economy recovers, we do what it takes to bring this deficit down.
I’m proud that we passed the recovery plan free of earmarks, and I want to pass a budget next year that ensures that each dollar we spend reflects only our most important national priorities.
Yesterday, I held a fiscal summit where I pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term in office. My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs. As you can imagine, this is a process that will take some time. But we’re starting with the biggest lines. We have already identified two trillion dollars in savings over the next decade.
In this budget, we will end education programs that don’t work and end direct payments to large agribusinesses that don’t need them. We’ll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq, and reform our defense budget so that we’re not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don’t use. We will root out the waste, fraud, and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn’t make our seniors any healthier, and we will restore a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code by finally ending the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas.
In order to save our children from a future of debt, we will also end the tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. But let me perfectly clear, because I know you’ll hear the same old claims that rolling back these tax breaks means a massive tax increase on the American people: if your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime. In fact, the recovery plan provides a tax cut – that’s right, a tax cut – for 95% of working families. And these checks are on the way.
To preserve our long-term fiscal health, we must also address the growing costs in Medicare and Social Security. Comprehensive health care reform is the best way to strengthen Medicare for years to come. And we must also begin a conversation on how to do the same for Social Security, while creating tax-free universal savings accounts for all Americans.
Finally, because we’re also suffering from a deficit of trust, I am committed to restoring a sense of honesty and accountability to our budget. That is why this budget looks ahead ten years and accounts for spending that was left out under the old rules – and for the first time, that includes the full cost of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. For seven years, we have been a nation at war. No longer will we hide its price.
We are now carefully reviewing our policies in both wars, and I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war.
And with our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and combat extremism. Because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens half a world away.
As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy. To each and every one of them, and to the families who bear the quiet burden of their absence, Americans are united in sending one message: we honor your service, we are inspired by your sacrifice, and you have our unyielding support. To relieve the strain on our forces, my budget increases the number of our soldiers and Marines. And to keep our sacred trust with those who serve, we will raise their pay, and give our veterans the expanded health care and benefits that they have earned.
To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops defend – because there is no force in the world more powerful than the example of America. That is why I have ordered the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, and will seek swift and certain justice for captured terrorists – because living our values doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us safer and it makes us stronger. And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture.
In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand.
To seek progress toward a secure and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors, we have appointed an envoy to sustain our effort. To meet the challenges of the 21st century – from terrorism to nuclear proliferation; from pandemic disease to cyber threats to crushing poverty – we will strengthen old alliances, forge new ones, and use all elements of our national power.
And to respond to an economic crisis that is global in scope, we are working with the nations of the G-20 to restore confidence in our financial system, avoid the possibility of escalating protectionism, and spur demand for American goods in markets across the globe. For the world depends on us to have a strong economy, just as our economy depends on the strength of the world’s.
As we stand at this crossroads of history, the eyes of all people in all nations are once again upon us – watching to see what we do with this moment; waiting for us to lead.
Those of us gathered here tonight have been called to govern in extraordinary times. It is a tremendous burden, but also a great privilege – one that has been entrusted to few generations of Americans. For in our hands lies the ability to shape our world for good or for ill.
I know that it is easy to lose sight of this truth – to become cynical and doubtful; consumed with the petty and the trivial.
But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places; that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of Americans who are anything but ordinary.
I think about Leonard Abess, the bank president from Miami who reportedly cashed out of his company, took a $60 million bonus, and gave it out to all 399 people who worked for him, plus another 72 who used to work for him. He didn’t tell anyone, but when the local newspaper found out, he simply said, ”I knew some of these people since I was 7 years old. I didn’t feel right getting the money myself.”
I think about Greensburg, Kansas, a town that was completely destroyed by a tornado, but is being rebuilt by its residents as a global example of how clean energy can power an entire community – how it can bring jobs and businesses to a place where piles of bricks and rubble once lay. “The tragedy was terrible,” said one of the men who helped them rebuild. “But the folks here know that it also provided an incredible opportunity.”
And I think about Ty’Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina – a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She has been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this room. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, “We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters.”
We are not quitters.
These words and these stories tell us something about the spirit of the people who sent us here. They tell us that even in the most trying times, amid the most difficult circumstances, there is a generosity, a resilience, a decency, and a determination that perseveres; a willingness to take responsibility for our future and for posterity.
Their resolve must be our inspiration. Their concerns must be our cause. And we must show them and all our people that we are equal to the task before us.
I know that we haven’t agreed on every issue thus far, and there are surely times in the future when we will part ways. But I also know that every American who is sitting here tonight loves this country and wants it to succeed. That must be the starting point for every debate we have in the coming months, and where we return after those debates are done. That is the foundation on which the American people expect us to build common ground.
And if we do – if we come together and lift this nation from the depths of this crisis; if we put our people back to work and restart the engine of our prosperity; if we confront without fear the challenges of our time and summon that enduring spirit of an America that does not quit, then someday years from now our children can tell their children that this was the time when we performed, in the words that are carved into this very chamber, “something worthy to be remembered.” Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
"Bobby Jindal"
Bobby Jindal was walking towards the microphone with a shine in the eyes and seemed hopped up on Red Bull as he trundled the Republican response speech to President Obama.
Bobby Jindal was supposed to launch his national political career, but he was about to end it. Some people even thought that he reminded them of Kenneth from 30 Rock. He did not even get his facts straight.
But the Democratic leaders in Congress rejected his approach. Instead of trusting us to make wise decisions with our own money, they agreed the largest government spending bill in history with a price tag of more than $1 trillion with interest. While some of the developments in the bill are essential, their legislation is larded with wasteful spending.
Which includes the $300 million to buy new cars for the government, $8 billion for high-speed rail projects, such as a 'magnetic levitation' line from Las Vegas to Disneyland, and $140 million for something called 'volcano monitoring.' Instead of monitoring volcanoes, what Congress should be monitoring is the eruption of spending in Washington, DC
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Bobby Jindal was supposed to launch his national political career, but he was about to end it. Some people even thought that he reminded them of Kenneth from 30 Rock. He did not even get his facts straight.
But the Democratic leaders in Congress rejected his approach. Instead of trusting us to make wise decisions with our own money, they agreed the largest government spending bill in history with a price tag of more than $1 trillion with interest. While some of the developments in the bill are essential, their legislation is larded with wasteful spending.
Which includes the $300 million to buy new cars for the government, $8 billion for high-speed rail projects, such as a 'magnetic levitation' line from Las Vegas to Disneyland, and $140 million for something called 'volcano monitoring.' Instead of monitoring volcanoes, what Congress should be monitoring is the eruption of spending in Washington, DC
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
New American Tea Party - Rick Santelli
Given attention around Rick Santelli's CNBC rage video and growing choral society of anti-stimulus folks, who are calling for the New American Tea Party and trying to stop the progress of the flow of government's cash to the troubled homeowners which kept in mind the interesting bit of history on the original Tea Party to be noticed.
Care of The New Pamphleteers blog and the D.C. Examiner said "And did you know that the price of tea would actually decrease under the parliamentary act that sparked the Boston Tea Party?"
...There's a consequence here. The let-them-fail attitude of Tea Partiers toward foreclosures could come with a hefty price tag. As Clive Crook pointed out last week, the bailout may be unfair but instead of pricier tea, doing nothing could mean more damage to home prices...
There is no doubt that Rick Santelli and everybody else in this video do have all the best interests of the country in their heart. If the Tea Partiers are aware of the risks of higher foreclosures, and are willing to sacrifice that "public interest" and watching their own homes lose value as foreclosures in their neighborhood increase, then the commitment can be considered a dignified position for a set of free-market ethics.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Care of The New Pamphleteers blog and the D.C. Examiner said "And did you know that the price of tea would actually decrease under the parliamentary act that sparked the Boston Tea Party?"
...There's a consequence here. The let-them-fail attitude of Tea Partiers toward foreclosures could come with a hefty price tag. As Clive Crook pointed out last week, the bailout may be unfair but instead of pricier tea, doing nothing could mean more damage to home prices...
There is no doubt that Rick Santelli and everybody else in this video do have all the best interests of the country in their heart. If the Tea Partiers are aware of the risks of higher foreclosures, and are willing to sacrifice that "public interest" and watching their own homes lose value as foreclosures in their neighborhood increase, then the commitment can be considered a dignified position for a set of free-market ethics.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Bill O'Reilly And Helen Thomas
After the President Obama’s Press conference on Monday Bill O'Reilly called legendary White House reporter Helen Thomas the "wicked witch of the east".
"The White House press corps looked intimidated to me," O'Reilly said. "Except for that, what's her name? The old lady, Helen Thomas."
"It's like the wicked witch of the east! If I were Obama I would've poured water on her, and she'd dissolve," he said. Alan Colmes said "Bill, it's not nice to impersonate an old woman like that,”
"Why can't my mom ask a question?" O'Reilly asked, trashing Thomas' question. "Helen Thomas' fifteen minutes were up during the Lincoln administration," Bernie Goldberg added later. "It's time for Helen to find something else to do during press conferences."
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
"The White House press corps looked intimidated to me," O'Reilly said. "Except for that, what's her name? The old lady, Helen Thomas."
"It's like the wicked witch of the east! If I were Obama I would've poured water on her, and she'd dissolve," he said. Alan Colmes said "Bill, it's not nice to impersonate an old woman like that,”
"Why can't my mom ask a question?" O'Reilly asked, trashing Thomas' question. "Helen Thomas' fifteen minutes were up during the Lincoln administration," Bernie Goldberg added later. "It's time for Helen to find something else to do during press conferences."
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The President Obama On Bipartisanship
At the Press conference with the President Obama the recently asked question was about "bipartisanship," more specifically by Chip Reid:
Chip Reid asked President Obama that he has been saying about bipartisanship and its importance, but the house has no votes about the lack of bipartisanship so far. He wanted to know about the house which is moving away from the emphasis on bipartisanship and also if there is any underestimation been created.
The reply of The President Obama was: "Well, I don't think -- I don't think I underestimated it. I don't think the -- the American people underestimated it. They understand that there have been a lot of bad habits built up here in Washington, and it's going to take time to break down some of those bad habits.
You know, when I made a series of overtures to the Republicans, going over to meet with both Republican caucuses, you know, putting three Republicans in my cabinet -- something that is unprecedented -- making sure that they were invited here to the White House to talk about the economic recovery plan, all those were not designed simply to get some short-term votes. They were designed to try to build up some trust over time.
And I think that, as I continue to make these overtures, over time, hopefully that will be reciprocated.
But understand the bottom line that I've got right now, which is what's happening to the people of Elkhart and what's happening across the country. I can't afford to see Congress play the usual political games. What we have to do right now is deliver for the American people.
So my bottom line when it comes to the recovery package is: Send me a bill that creates or saves 4 million jobs. Because everybody has to be possessed with a sense of urgency about putting people back to work, making sure that folks are staying in their homes, that they can send their kids to college.
That doesn't negate the continuing efforts that I'm going to make to listen and engage with my Republican colleagues. And hopefully the tone that I've taken, which has been consistently civil and respectful, will pay some dividends over the long term. There are going to be areas where we disagree, and there are going to be areas where we agree.
As I said, the one concern I've got on the stimulus package, in terms of the debate and listening to some of what's been said in Congress, is that there seems to be a set of folks who -- I don't doubt their sincerity -- who just believe that we should do nothing.
Now, if that's their opening position or their closing position in negotiations, then we're probably not going to make much progress, because I don't think that's economically sound and I don't think what -- that's what the American people expect, is for us to stand by and do nothing.
So, you know, we -- we can differ on some of the particulars, but, again, the question I think the American people are asking is, do you just want government to do nothing, or do you want it to do something? If you want it to do something, then we can have a conversation. But doing nothing, that's not an option from my perspective."
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Chip Reid asked President Obama that he has been saying about bipartisanship and its importance, but the house has no votes about the lack of bipartisanship so far. He wanted to know about the house which is moving away from the emphasis on bipartisanship and also if there is any underestimation been created.
The reply of The President Obama was: "Well, I don't think -- I don't think I underestimated it. I don't think the -- the American people underestimated it. They understand that there have been a lot of bad habits built up here in Washington, and it's going to take time to break down some of those bad habits.
You know, when I made a series of overtures to the Republicans, going over to meet with both Republican caucuses, you know, putting three Republicans in my cabinet -- something that is unprecedented -- making sure that they were invited here to the White House to talk about the economic recovery plan, all those were not designed simply to get some short-term votes. They were designed to try to build up some trust over time.
And I think that, as I continue to make these overtures, over time, hopefully that will be reciprocated.
But understand the bottom line that I've got right now, which is what's happening to the people of Elkhart and what's happening across the country. I can't afford to see Congress play the usual political games. What we have to do right now is deliver for the American people.
So my bottom line when it comes to the recovery package is: Send me a bill that creates or saves 4 million jobs. Because everybody has to be possessed with a sense of urgency about putting people back to work, making sure that folks are staying in their homes, that they can send their kids to college.
That doesn't negate the continuing efforts that I'm going to make to listen and engage with my Republican colleagues. And hopefully the tone that I've taken, which has been consistently civil and respectful, will pay some dividends over the long term. There are going to be areas where we disagree, and there are going to be areas where we agree.
As I said, the one concern I've got on the stimulus package, in terms of the debate and listening to some of what's been said in Congress, is that there seems to be a set of folks who -- I don't doubt their sincerity -- who just believe that we should do nothing.
Now, if that's their opening position or their closing position in negotiations, then we're probably not going to make much progress, because I don't think that's economically sound and I don't think what -- that's what the American people expect, is for us to stand by and do nothing.
So, you know, we -- we can differ on some of the particulars, but, again, the question I think the American people are asking is, do you just want government to do nothing, or do you want it to do something? If you want it to do something, then we can have a conversation. But doing nothing, that's not an option from my perspective."
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
Prime Time News Conference Of President Obama's
President Obama's first prime-time news conference:
He started the conference by saying "Good evening. Before I take your questions tonight, I’d like to speak briefly about the state of our economy and why I believe we need to put this recovery plan in motion as soon as possible. "
The president took the longest extended Q&A for more than 50 minutes after his opening statement. There were many news organization at the conference, some of them are AP, Reuters, CBS, NBC, Bloomberg, ABC, CNN, the New York Times, Fox, the Washington Post, Helen Thomas, Huffington Post, and NPR - 13 questions.
The questions were meant mostly at the TARP (5 questions), foreign policy (3), bipartisanship and lessons learned (2), Joe Biden (1), Alex Rodriguez (1), investigating the Bush administration (1).
At the beginning his answers were quite long but later the president picked up his speed and the press conference went on very fast. Obama has sought after new momentum in the incentive fight by returning to his Washington outsider roots. He mentioned the town of Elkhart at least a half dozen times to reinforce the idea that while Washington and the media focus on the Congressional sausage-making, ordinary Americans just want quick action.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
He started the conference by saying "Good evening. Before I take your questions tonight, I’d like to speak briefly about the state of our economy and why I believe we need to put this recovery plan in motion as soon as possible. "
The president took the longest extended Q&A for more than 50 minutes after his opening statement. There were many news organization at the conference, some of them are AP, Reuters, CBS, NBC, Bloomberg, ABC, CNN, the New York Times, Fox, the Washington Post, Helen Thomas, Huffington Post, and NPR - 13 questions.
The questions were meant mostly at the TARP (5 questions), foreign policy (3), bipartisanship and lessons learned (2), Joe Biden (1), Alex Rodriguez (1), investigating the Bush administration (1).
At the beginning his answers were quite long but later the president picked up his speed and the press conference went on very fast. Obama has sought after new momentum in the incentive fight by returning to his Washington outsider roots. He mentioned the town of Elkhart at least a half dozen times to reinforce the idea that while Washington and the media focus on the Congressional sausage-making, ordinary Americans just want quick action.
"For more late breaking news about Politics, be sure to visit http://the-power-politics.blogspot.com/"
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