BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 12:08 PM

Your concerns about poverty in Canada are well-founded, Sawzaw. It's particularly dire in Native Canadian communities in the rural North where there is a terribly high suicide rate, unemployment, juvenile crime, and other family problems, not to mention a lot of drug use.

My town of Orillia has quite a reputation for its high population of unwed mothers. You see these waifs pushing their babies around in little carriages downtown. Where are the teenage fathers? God knows...but they probably wouldn't be any good at raising their offspring anyway in most cases, so perhaps it's better that those young mothers are on their own.

Then there's the problem of jobs. There ain't many! You can get a job flipping burgers, mind you, although the competition is fierce.

Yes, the financial strains that are afflicting the entire western world have certainly made their presence known in this country, no doubt about it.

The ever-sinking American dollar has caused our Canadian dollar to get stronger and stronger. It's now at about parity with the American dollar. You might think that would be good for Canada....it's not. It causes all our exports (the majority of which are to the USA) to become less competitive and it causes Canadian to buy more American goods. The more threadbare and shaky the American economy gets, the stronger our Canadian dollar gets, and the worse that makes it for everybody.

Yuck. I imagine the Chinese are not so happy about it either, as it must be affecting them in a similar manner.

When did you ever get the idea that I think everything is perfect in Canada??? ;-) It's just relatively kind of nice here, what with our universal health care, but it's certainly not perfect.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 11:46 AM

pour Hawk Petite:

Some Canadian Humor:

Mr. Speaker, speaking about homelessness and the vulnerable, winter is here. Thirty-two thousand people in Toronto, 4,779 children, stayed in a shelter last year. In Calgary 3,400 people live in a shelter and four people have died. In Vancouver, 2,174 people live on the streets, including 22 families with children. There are 700 homeless people in Victoria.

In 1998 our large city mayors declared homelessness a national disaster. In view of this alarming and tragic reality in our country, will the government declare a state of emergency?


Oh Canada! Too Many Children in Poverty For Too Long

In 1989, the House of Commons unanimously resolved to "seek to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000." Yet, close to 1.2 million children - almost one child out of every six in Canada - still live in poverty.


Although, I am a Canadian - a lot of Canadians are faced with the same circumstances. Dyslexia is a 4-letter word in some spots across North America. Take advantage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act laws and what other posters have advised. I just wish Canada would have laws like it.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 11:01 AM

Dear Amos:

Do you have the guts to explain this claim that you made or is echoing chain email letters your only talent?

which we had under Glass-Steagal, but which Reagan eradicated under pressure from adventurous and irresponsible money men.

I have asked you to explain this several times but you avoid answering like a true poltroon.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 10:47 AM

Well well well Amos. While admonishing others for cutting and pasting things in this thread, you triumph in doing the same thing.

The difference however is that you do not know if the things you paste are true or not. You act as if it is someone else's responsibility while you want others to prove responsibility.

Evidently you do not have the ability to distinguish the truth because you avoid any questions asking you if it is true or not. Is there any positive purpose in posting things that are not true?

"your own proclivity for deluging this and other threads with interminable and inaccurate pastings from much more bizarre sources."

Can you give me an example Amos?

Here is a sterling example of the crap that Amos deluges this and other threads with interminable and inaccurate pastings more bizarre sources:

"George W. Bush has abused the authority that we, the people, entrusted to him as commander-in-chief of our military forces.


Bush has expressed his desire to keep our military forces in Iraq. Consider what has happened to our economy, plus all of the American casualties in this "Bush conflict," which has cut off our crude oil imports from the big oil-producing nations, which has caused the totally unreasonable oil prices to get out of hand.

The Iraqi government and the Iraqi people don't want America in their nation, just as the people from Georgia do not want Russia in their nation. Bush is squealing like a stuck pig at Russia for doing the same thing he did to Iraq.

We American citizens do not want Russia to control Georgia, and we certainly do not want our armed forces or our tax money wasted in Iraq.

The "Bush government" is totally un-American. In my 81 years, Bush is the only president who promoted torture of prisoners. Our economy has gone to pot during this Bush watch.

I would be in favor of having Bush impeached before he leads us into World War III."

Gordon Lukkasson, Salem, MA [actually it was Oregon Amos]

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 09:37 PM

More Americans now favor than oppose the health care overhaul that President Obama signed into law Tuesday, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds Ñ a notable turnaround from surveys before the vote that showed a plurality against the legislation.

By 49%-40%, those polled say it was "a good thing" rather than a bad one that Congress passed the bill. Half describe their reaction in positive terms Ñ as "enthusiastic" or "pleased" Ñ while about four in 10 describe it in negative ways, as "disappointed" or "angry."

The largest single group, 48%, calls the legislation "a good first step" that needs to be followed by more action. And 4% say the bill itself makes the most important changes needed in the nation's health care system.

"After a century of striving, after a year of debate, after a historic vote, health care reform is no longer an unmet promise," Obama declared in a celebration at the Interior Department auditorium with members of Congress, leaders of advocacy groups and citizens whose personal stories were cited during the debate. "It is the law of the land."


USA Today

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 07:45 PM

I think we forget where and when the Repubs decided that "No" was going to be their strategy... It was way back a long time ago when Obama met with them and asked for their ideas... Geeze, that was a year ago... Since then they have done nothing but play games and politics... They don't want Obama to have any success and they are willing to let the country suffer in an attempt to regain power...

BTW, they have had power purdy much for 30 years and proved that they are no capable or governing... That is an important concept that the Dems should not be shy in talking about...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 07:18 PM

Breakthrough Is Reported in U.S. Arms Pact With Russia

President Obama and his Russian counterpart, President Dmitri
A. Medvedev, have broken through a logjam in their arms
control negotiations and expect to sign a new treaty slashing
American and Russian nuclear arsenals in Prague next month,
officials from both nations said Wednesday.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com?emc=na

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 07:09 PM

That's BS, Bruce. The Republicans were invited in over and over and many of their suggestions are in the Bill. Yet they still insisted they had to stop it at an cost, for political reasons not related to the good of the nation. Pretending otherwise doesn't change that.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: beardedbruce
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 06:35 PM

"striving to honor all citizens as participants in the effort to build a more perfect Union."

You mean like keeping the Republicans locked out of the meeting to write the Health Bill?


I judge Democrats by the actions of this administration and Congress- and find them lacking most if not all of the attributes YOU have claimed for them.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 05:37 PM

Actually, Bruce, I think you know that being democratic means striving to honor all citizens as participants in the effort to build a more perfect Union.



A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 04:30 PM

No, being a Democrat (for most of the elected ones) means pretending that you're really almost the same as a Republican, because you haven't got the guts to actually BE a Democrat and do what the people who voted for you ELECTED you to do!

(exception to the above: Dennis Kucinich)

To be a Canadian, on the other hand, means you're not afraid to make fun of your nation, your culture, and yourself...and you do so quite frequently. ;-) Canadian humour, in fact, is almost entirely based on making fun of Canadian culture, and we love it.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: beardedbruce
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 03:43 PM

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Gap-in-health-care-laws-apf-4272209396.html?x=0&.v=1

"Obama made better coverage for children a centerpiece of his health care remake, but it turns out the letter of the law provided a less-than-complete guarantee that kids with health problems would not be shut out of coverage.

Under the new law, insurance companies still would be able to refuse new coverage to children because of a pre-existing medical problem, said Karen Lightfoot, spokeswoman for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the main congressional panels that wrote the bill Obama signed into law Tuesday."

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: beardedbruce
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 03:41 PM

And being Democratic means never considering the unintended consequences of your actions.



Or is it never having to pay for your mistakes?

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 02:52 PM

Right. Being Republican, on the other hand, means never having to say "I understand".

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: beardedbruce
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 01:23 PM

I thought that was

"Being Canadian means never having to say you're sorry."

Ey?

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 11:56 AM

"Being Republican means never having to say you're sorry."

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 10:38 AM

"Mr. Brooks is right. The Democrats should proudly rejoice after their success in passing the health care reform bill. Congratulations to President Obama and his team for standing by what they believed to be right and necessary.

The Republicans, on the other hand, should hang their heads in shame that they could not muster enough common sense to contribute to the most important piece of social legislation of this generation.

It is incredible that national health care reform has taken so long and been fought so bitterly. When the health care reform bill finally passed, I was reminded of a comment attributed to Winston Churchill: "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing, after they've exhausted all the alternatives."

So Mr. Brooks may admire the energy of the people and the vibrancy of the marketplace. Good for him; I do, too. But people are even more energetic and the market they create is even more vibrant when they are in good health. Like other nations, we should recognize that health care is an investment in people, not in a market.

Bill O'Reilly" (NYT Letter)

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 02:23 AM

Yeah, polls are usually designed to elicit certain responses. That is done by wording questions in such a way that you get the response you want from most people.

Some pollster called my Mother up the other day and asked her some political questions, then asked her which country she thought was the "worst country in the world" (politically speaking)....

My Mother said "The USA."

The woman at the other end of the line gasped in surprise...then said in a flustered way, "Uh...Thank you...well, that's all then. Goodbye!" and hung up in a hurry. It was quite clear that my Mother was not the kind of respondent that particular pollster was looking for... ;-) (I think she probably wanted to hear "Iran"...or maybe "North Korea").

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 07:40 PM

Polls... What a joke... Give me a couple recently graduated Psychology majors and I can devise a poll where Hitler would have a 50% approval rate in Isreal...

Ya'll oughtta just leave them polls alone... They are pablum...

b~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 06:40 PM

"The poll, which surveyed 2,230 people right at the height of the health-care reform debate, also clearly shows that education is a barrier to extremism. Respondents without a college education are vastly more likely to believe such claims, while Americans with college degrees or better are less easily duped. It's a reminder of what the 19th-century educator Horace Mann once too-loftily said: "Ignorance breeds monsters to fill up the vacancies of the soul that are unoccupied by the verities of knowledge."

The full results of the poll, which will be released in greater detail tomorrow, are even more frightening: including news that high percentages of RepublicansÑand Americans overallÑbelieve that President Obama is "racist," "anti-American" "wants the terrorists to win" and "wants to turn over the sovereignty of the United States to a one-world government." The "Hatriot" belief that Obama is a "domestic enemy" as set forth in the Constitution is also widely heldÑa sign of trouble yet to come. It's the same claim made by Marine Lance Corporal Kody Brittingham in his letter of intent to assassinate the President Obama.

This poll is the latest and most detailed evidence of the extent to which Wingnuts are hijacking our politics. It should be a wakeup call to all Americans and a collective reminder, as we move past health-care reform, that we need to stand up to extremism."

---

(From the link above)

This confirms something I suspected--the biggest hatred-and-fear buyers are the ones with the lowest degree of educamation or sompn.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: beardedbruce
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 06:04 PM

"Obama Administration Awarded Hundreds of Thousands in Airport Grants to Stupak's District Two Days Before Vote



Was this Yet Another Backroom Deal to Force Obama's Bill Down the American People's Throats?

Three airports in the district of infamous fence-sitting and ultimately kowtowing Democrat Bart Stupak were awarded $726,409 in grants by the Obama Administration just two days before a vote on Obama and Pelosi's government takeover of healthcare.

Did Stupak compromise his supposed principled stand against taxpayer funding of abortion in exchange for taxpayer dollars for pet projects?

Alpena County Regional Airport received a $85,500 grant, but had only 7,519 passenger boardings in 2008 (the most recent year for which there is information) according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data. Alpena County Regional Airport serves fewer passengers than even the late Rep. John Murtha's famous "Airport for Nobody."

Delta County Airport has even less customers than that, but still received a $179,209 grant.

Chippewa County International Airport received a $461,700 grant, but had only 13,733 passenger boardings in 2008.

Will Stupak come clean about this apparent backroom deal for his vote?"

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 05:58 PM

curmudgeon - It's not really all that surprising how negatively Republicans think about Obama. It means that Republicans hate and despise Obama about as much as Democrats used to hate and despise Bush and Cheney. That's tit for tat.

That is exactly what happens when one has an eternally divisive 2 party political system designed from the getgo on the "divide and conquer" principle...or what might better be termed "the politics of hatred".

Obama made great efforts to encourage bipartisanship, but there was almost no chance of any such thing occurring in the poisonous atmosphere of American partisan politics. The only time I've seen much in the way of genuine bipartisan spirit in the USA was immediately after a major foreign attack (or at least a perceived foreign attack...) on the USA. That is the one thing which appears to be capalbe of uniting Democrats and Republicans. Aside from that, they might as well be red ants and black ants living in neighbouring hives, because they live to destroy one another.

Obama didn't think that way...but I bet he's learning to now in the wake of this health care bill. You either get tough in that shark pool or you don't survive long.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: curmudgeon
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 04:42 PM

What Republicans really "think" about Obama.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 04:23 PM

Click here to find out more!
D.C. Now
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Obama's poll numbers rise a bit
March 23, 2010 | 12:04 pm LA Times

It would seem unlikely that an event as historic -- by both sides' accounts -- as the passage of a healthcare bill would pass unnoticed in the opinion polls that measure the temperature of a presidency.

The immediate effect of the past few days' events in Washington has been a gradual increase in President Barack Obama's job approval in the daily tracking surveys of the Gallup Poll. It stood at 51% today, a report of the last three days' surveys.
Just last week, the March 14-17 measures had put Obama's approval at 46% in the Gallup Poll, a term low.

We heard one of the pundits over the weekend suggest that people may not know all about the healthcare bill, but people like winners.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: beardedbruce
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 03:09 PM

http://blogs.investors.com/capitalhill/index.php/home/35-politicsinvesting/1563-20-ways-obamacare-will-take-away-our-freedoms

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 03:01 PM

The Ten Most Outrageous Histrionic Right-Wing Responses from Limbaugh to Zed. I am happy too see Rush is planning to move to Costa Rica, though.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: beardedbruce
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 02:57 PM

March 22, 2010
CNN poll: Majority disapprove of Obama for first time
Posted: March 22nd, 2010 11:07 PM ET

From CNNMoney.com Deputy Managing Editor Rich Barbieri


A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll reveals that 51 percent of respondents disapprove of President Obama's job performance.
Washington (CNN) – For the first time, a CNN poll has found that a majority of Americans disapprove of President Obama's job performance.

According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Monday, 51 percent of respondents disapprove of Obama's job performance and 46 percent approve of it.

Full results (pdf)

Obama's approval rating has dropped steadily each month since December, when it was 54 percent. His highest approval rating in a CNN poll was 76 percent in February 2009 shortly after he took office.

The new poll was conducted before the House on Sunday narrowly approved the Obama administration's signature domestic policy proposal: health care reform.


The measure, which Obama plans to sign on Tuesday, represents the biggest expansion of federal health care guarantees since Medicare and Medicaid were enacted more than four decades ago.

In fact, health care was the policy area that drew the second highest negative rating, with 58 percent registering disapproval. The highest negative rating was 62 percent for his handling of the federal deficit.

While his performance ratings have slid, Americans personally like Obama. The poll found that 70 percent of respondents approve of him as a person, and only 25 percent disapprove.

On the economy overall, 54 percent disapprove of his work and 43 percent approve. He scored well for his handling of the environment and education, as well as on national security.

"Obama scores some of his best numbers on 'commander-in-chief' issues - Afghanistan, Iraq, and terrorism," said Keating Holland, CNN polling director. "In January, 51% approved of Obama's handling of Afghanistan; that number is now 55%, an indication that the public has a positive view of the latest military offensive in that country."

The CNN poll was conducted on March 19-21 through telephone interviews with 1,030 adult Americans. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 01:13 PM

Fooled by hype? After eight years of completely disingenuous misrepresentation by the military adventurer dry-drunk frat-boy? Oh, pot! Oh, kettle!

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 12:53 PM

I don't know, BB. But I should amend what I said about the 59% being too ignorant. Half of them are probably against the bill because it's not progressive enough and it doesn't bring in a public option.

If so, that would mean that only about 29 or 30% of the American public is "too damn ignorant to realize how outrageously they've been screwed and lied to for decades by the private health insurance companies, and that they'd rather just remain that way because it feels "safer" to change nothing in the status quo..."

That I could easily believe. If only 30% of your population is too damn ignorant to have any idea how to help themselves escape their corporate oppressors, you're doing better than I thought.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: beardedbruce
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 12:32 PM

Hawk,,

"So, you're saying that 59% of the American public are too damn ignorant..."

And what percentage voted for Obama?? A lower one- so I will presume that they were all fooled by the hype and/or scared of being labeled racist, and that their votes should have been ignored.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 12:13 PM

An email I received recently cited this essay by Robert P. Watson, Ph.D. who is Coordinator of American Studies at Lynn University.   

"I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.

As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years.

Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did).

________________________________________

1.. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending

2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices

3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women

4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq

5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB

6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information

7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family

8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act

9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible

10. Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House

11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration

12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date

13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated
weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan

14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research

15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research

16. New federal funding for science and research labs

17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards

18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect

19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
20. New funds for school construction

21. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out

22. US Auto industry rescue plan


23. Housing rescue plan

24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan

25. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying

26. US financial and banking rescue plan

27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed

28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards

29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops

30. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010

31. Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols

32. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
33. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
34. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
35. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
38. Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales
39. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
40. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
41. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
42. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones
43. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
44. Expanding vaccination programs
45. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
46. Closed offshore tax safe havens
47. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
48. Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
49.. Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices
50. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
51. Lower drug costs for seniors
52. Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
53. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
54. Improved housing for military personnel
55. Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
56. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
57. Increasing student loans
58. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
59. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy
60. Established a new cyber security office
61. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force; this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.
62. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
63. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
65. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
66. Improving benefits for veterans
67. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
68. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
69. The FDA is now regulating tobacco
70. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
71. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
72. Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
73. Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
74. Making more loans available to small businesses
75. Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
76. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
77. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
78. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
79. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
80. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
81. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
82. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
84. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
85. Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket
86. Held first Seder in White House
87. Attempting to reform the nation's healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under insured
88. Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform
89. Has announced his intention to push for energy reform
90. Has announced his intention to push for education reform

Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office"

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 12:00 PM

From WaPo:

"Waterloo for whom?

David Frum issued his blistering critique of the Republican Party in the health-care debate on Sunday. But his words should clang in the ears of the GOP as it watches President Obama sign the biggest piece of social welfare legislation in decades. Republicans might have thought this was going to be his Waterloo, but they messed up -- and they messed up big.

Frum reminds his fellow Republicans that "[t]he Obama plan has a broad family resemblance to Mitt Romney's Massachusetts plan. It builds on ideas developed at the Heritage Foundation in the early 1990s that formed the basis for Republican counter-proposals to Clintoncare in 1993-1994." Still, GOP "leaders" adopted the hell-no approach. "We followed the most radical voices in the party and the movement and they led us to abject and irreversible defeat," Frum wrote.

That may be just a tad overwrought. If history is a guide, the Republicans are bound to pick up seats in the House. Maybe even in the Senate, too. As we all know, the party that wins the White House in a presidential election year loses seats in congress in the mid-term elections. But Charlie Cook told Politics Daily's Jill Lawrence that, as of right now, the Democrats are not in danger of losing control of the House.

Cook also told Lawrence that he didn't think health care would necessarily be a vote winner for the Democrats. I disagree. Mark Halperin asked the right question yesterday, "Can the G.O.P. succeed running against health care?" Given all the popular provisions in the legislation, no, it can't. And as Frum, Halperin and Jay Newton Small point out, attempts to repeal the law are a fool's errand...."

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 11:46 AM

The very voice of reason!! Well posted, Sir Hawk.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 11:35 AM

A great many liberals and progressives did not support the bill, Sawzaw, because they felt it didn't go far enough and that it was a giveaway to the insurance companies (which it is).

Therefore I think it probable that about half of that 60% you refer to in the polls were people who disagree radically with the conservative viewpoint that I presume you espouse, and who opposed the bill for the diametrically opposite reason: not because they thought it was a government takeover, but because they were bitterly disappointed that it did not provide universal healthcare and did not bring in a public option such as exists in virtually every other country in the developed world now.

That's why Dennis Kucinich was opposed to the bill. That's why Michael Moore is disgusted with it. That's why I'm disgusted with it.

Nevertheless, Kucinich, Moore, and many others like them finally came to the conclusion that the bill as it exists was better than no changes at all, therefore they gave it their unenthusiastic endorsement.

I think you are misinterpreting the poll results to mean that everyone who didn't like the bill thinks the same way. I very much doubt that is the case.

There are huge reasons for liberals and progressives to be very disappointed in this bill's failure to provide a universal public health system...but it's still better than nothing.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 10:12 AM

I wonder whose copy that is you are reciting?


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 01:09 AM

"hailed by supporters"

Well I guess they would have to pat themselves on the back but what about the 60 % that do not support it?

Having some proof that the statement is valid is proof that the statement is valid.

Not having proof is not proof.

Would you care to name an inaccurate pasting from a bizzare source?

Were the Pell grants cut in half or not? I could be wrong but from what I can find:

The administration is caught in a funding bind in large part because it made a miscalculation when it raised the ceiling for Pell grants to $5,300 from $4,800 last year as part of the stimulus bill. Combined with a surge in new Pell grant recipients, the higher ceiling has sharply driven up costs for the program, which has run a $19 billion deficit since 2008. An administration official said that about 800,000 more students than predicted have received Pell grants since last fall.

The administration now says it will have to lower the Pell grant ceiling for the 2011 academic year to $2,150, if the lending overhaul fails to pass.

The administration has argued the government stood to save $87 billion over the next 10 years by removing middleman lenders from the government-backed student-loan program. That money would then be used to ramp up Pell grants for poor students and to fund an array of other educational programs.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 11:20 PM

Sawz:

Ya know, if your cynicism and jaded bitterness was supported by a better set of facts, you might be worth listening to. I appreciate you raise questions, but do not pretend that having a question about a statement is proof the statement is invalid.

BTW, I assumed you understood that the post--and almost everything I place in this thread--is drawn from other sources. So stop pretending you do not realize that. We've discussed it before. Especially considering your own proclivity for deluging this and other threads with interminable and inaccurate pastings from much more bizarre sources.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 11:16 PM

"Legislation hailed by supporters as the most significant change to college student lending in a generation passed the House on Sunday night.

The student aid initiative, which House Democrats attached to their final amendments to the health-care bill, would overhaul the student loan industry, eliminating a $60 billion program that supports private student loans with federal subsidies and replacing it with government lending to students. The House amendments will now go to the Senate.

By ending the subsidies and effectively eliminating the middleman, the student loan bill would generate $61 billion in savings over 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Most of those savings, $36 billion, would go to Pell grants, funding an era of steady and predictable increases in the massive but underfunded federal aid program for needy students. Smaller portions would go toward reducing the deficit and to various Democratic priorities, including community colleges, historically black colleges and universities, and caps on loan payments.

The bill's greatest impact would fall on the more than 6 million students who rely on Pell grants to finance their education. Pell, launched in 1973, once covered more than two-thirds of total costs at a public university. It now covers about one-third."

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 11:12 PM

Seeing that you know so much about what is going on, I have a few questions that I hope you will be kind enough to answer Amos:

"Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions or to drop coverage when people become sick"
Does this mean they can raise their rates because of this or is there a some sort of controls in the bill?

"4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten"
Do I have your personal assurance on that Amos or are you the echo chamber that does not have the slightest idea if what you echo is true or not?

"paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies"
What business sector's stock gained the most today? You forgot the wheelchair tax. Do you think that will be passed along to people who need wheelchairs?

"the very wealthiest Americans"
That was people making over $250k when Obama was campaigning and now it is down to $200k.

"Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26."
What is the cut off age now Amos? Some states are up to 31 so are the students in those states fucked? Pell grants to students have been cut in half.

"By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade"
Caterpillar has announced it will cost them more and Thye will be moving more jobs offshore to stay competitive with other heavy equipment operators.

"Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs"
Up to $250 !!!! WOW. They can get them for $4 a month at Walmart.

"doubling the number of patients who can be treated"
By whom Amos? Are the number of doctors going to be doubled?

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 10:48 PM

So, you're saying that 59% of the American public are too damn ignorant to realize how outrageously they've been screwed and lied to for decades by the private health insurance companies, and that they'd rather just remain that way because it feels "safer" to change nothing in the status quo?

Why am I not surprised? ;-)

I built my mother's fat old dog a ramp, because he can hardly climb the stairs any more, but he won't use the ramp! Nothing can persuade him to use it. He's scared of all innovations, and would rather continue just doing exactly what he's always done...struggling and suffering, and not getting up the stairs.

Sounds like a similar problem to your 59% to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Sawzaw
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 10:36 PM

Favor 39%
Oppose 59%
No opinion 2%

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 07:13 PM

10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM

1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.2

2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditionsÑor to drop coverage when people become sick.3

3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.4

4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.5

5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistanceÑpaid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.6

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.7

7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.8

8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.9

9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.10

10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.11

To share this list with your friends using Facebook or Twitter, visit:

http://pol.moveon.org/healthcare/tenthings/?id=19503-7901518-nmyPuNx&t=1

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 03:40 PM

That's how they get their jaded listeners to tune in.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 03:37 PM

Well, all of the razzy media who were going "Fight! Fight!! Terrible FIGHT!!" are now making their sales by yelling "Pyrrhic Victory!! Obama wins but at terrible future cost!! More fights ahead!! Blaaaaggggh!"

I had what the media have become in this country--pusillanimous shock-jocks and turmoil-mongers.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 12:04 PM

Boy, what a titanic struggle it has been! It's absolutely incredible that it would be that hard to make some small steps toward what the rest of the developed world already has.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 09:49 AM

"...(C)ynicism has been the hallmark of the whole campaign against reform.

Yes, a few conservative policy intellectuals, after making a show of thinking hard about the issues, claimed to be disturbed by reform’s fiscal implications (but were strangely unmoved by the clean bill of fiscal health from the Congressional Budget Office) or to want stronger action on costs (even though this reform does more to tackle health care costs than any previous legislation). For the most part, however, opponents of reform didn’t even pretend to engage with the reality either of the existing health care system or of the moderate, centrist plan â€" very close in outline to the reform Mitt Romney introduced in Massachusetts â€" that Democrats were proposing.

Instead, the emotional core of opposition to reform was blatant fear-mongering, unconstrained either by the facts or by any sense of decency.

It wasn’t just the death panel smear. It was racial hate-mongering, like a piece in Investor’s Business Daily declaring that health reform is “affirmative action on steroids, deciding everything from who becomes a doctor to who gets treatment on the basis of skin color.â€쳌 It was wild claims about abortion funding. It was the insistence that there is something tyrannical about giving young working Americans the assurance that health care will be available when they need it, an assurance that older Americans have enjoyed ever since Lyndon Johnson â€" whom Mr. Gingrich considers a failed president â€" pushed Medicare through over the howls of conservatives.

And let’s be clear: the campaign of fear hasn’t been carried out by a radical fringe, unconnected to the Republican establishment. On the contrary, that establishment has been involved and approving all the way. Politicians like Sarah Palin â€" who was, let us remember, the G.O.P.’s vice-presidential candidate â€" eagerly spread the death panel lie, and supposedly reasonable, moderate politicians like Senator Chuck Grassley refused to say that it was untrue. On the eve of the big vote, Republican members of Congress warned that “freedom dies a little bit todayâ€쳌 and accused Democrats of “totalitarian tactics,â€쳌 which I believe means the process known as “voting.â€쳌

Without question, the campaign of fear was effective: health reform went from being highly popular to wide disapproval, although the numbers have been improving lately. But the question was, would it actually be enough to block reform?

And the answer is no. The Democrats have done it. The House has passed the Senate version of health reform, and an improved version will be achieved through reconciliation.

This is, of course, a political victory for President Obama, and a triumph for Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker. But it is also a victory for America’s soul. In the end, a vicious, unprincipled fear offensive failed to block reform. This time, fear struck out. "

Paul Krugman, economist, NYT

Subject: HEALTH CARE BILL PASSES!
From: Amos
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 10:59 PM

House Approves Landmark Bill to Extend Health Care to Millions

Congress gave final approval on Sunday to legislation that
would provide medical coverage to tens of millions of
uninsured Americans and remake the nation's health care
system along the lines proposed by President Obama.

By a vote of 219 to 212, the House passed the bill after a
day of tumultuous debate that echoed the epic struggle of the
last year. The action sent the bill to President Obama, whose
crusade for such legislation has been a hallmark of his
presidency.

Democrats hailed the votes as historic, comparable to the
establishment of Medicare and Social Security and a long
overdue step forward in social justice.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Amos
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 10:56 PM

At this hour it looks very likely; the first phase of the voting is proceeding.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 09:51 PM

1800

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views: the Obama Administration
From: Little Hawk
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 08:16 PM

I realize your circumstances, Bobert, and I would describe them as "desperate". I sure hope it passes...and if it does, I hope it leads to further steps in that same direction until you have a new Bill of Rights which includes free and available health care for all.