You sulk about the stimulus". "He promised the employment rate would not exceed 8%." How did you forget the Senators led by Sen. Susan Collins, Republicans and Democrats, who demanded cuts in spending in exchange for their support? They cut billions from the original stimulus .
They cut $40 billion for state fiscal stabilization. Just think, states would not have had the huge budget deficits, workers would not have been cut. They eliminated nearly $35 billion for school construction, retrofitting and neighborhood stabilization; $100 million from NASA and aeronautics. They rail about small business, but eliminated over a billion dollars in loan guarantees and working capital funds.
Who knows what the employment rate would have been? The only thing we know for sure is that tax cuts didn't employ anyone. Many believe the President has an insatiable desire to be liked, but he's up against the "Party of No", needs 60 votes and couldn't find them even when he had 60 Democrats"how is he supposed to get legislation passed?
Everyone has a bone to pick with the President. If he says left, they say right; up, they say down.
The Gay community complains even though he has moved more legislation in their favor than any President before him. No he has not committed to same-sex-marriage, but I can't imagine a stronger signal than the refusal to defend DOMA on Constitutional grounds. In the final analysis, his support means little if he can't gather the votes to pass legislation.
Latinos are furious because deportations persist at an escalated pace. I understand the anger, but upholding the law is the primary function of the President. It's hard but it's fair. Have you not been watching the fury surrounding the immigration issue? It's another political dog and pony show.
There are those who want him to issue an Executive Order to stop the deportations"so he can be accused of not doing his duty? Besides, an Executive Order cannot overturn an existing law and even if it could, would this Congress let it stand?
African Americans feel they have been neglected by a President who should have particular interest in their plight. Again, it's as if there has been no witness to what he has been up against.
It's a paradox, considering that "he isn't black enough" and "has a deep seated hatred for white people". I would suggest that Blacks learn about The Mississippi Plan and The Black Wall Street "keep them in mind as they watch events unfold across the country. Disenfranchisement and divide and conquer is the name of that game.
There are many things I would like to see the President accomplish. I'd like convictions for torture and to see the fat-cats on Wall Street hauled away, but I'm a pragmatist who recognizes that politics and principles don't always mix and timing is everything. What's called leadership is rhetoric; fist-shaking that makes one feel good, but accomplishes nothing. Besides, one has to wonder why grown-up men and women need so much prodding to do their jobs.
I know my history and my civics. I also know Presidents also have to sometimes make unpopular decisions for the greater good. It was Clinton who signed the repeal of banking regulations and Don't Ask, Don't Tell, yet few would deny that his presidency was exemplary. I remember Bill Clinton's messy first term in office and I recognize the Republican gamesmanship from as far back as Reagan. Republicans take credit for balancing a budget that not a single one of them voted for. How could you forget? None of this is new.
As we agonize over the debt ceiling, I would like to remind you it was raised 17 times under Reagan, 4 times under Clinton and 7 times under Bush without hesitation. Think about the fury surrounding the deficit that is $1.5 trillion. It was $2.6 trillion when Reagan left office; a debt that equaled more than the 200 years that preceded him".we're still here. The debt to GDP ratio is presently about 98%, it reached 121% during World War II".we're still here.
This recession is different because we are a global country now, but recessions are defeated by employment. Remember "Rosie the Riveter"? Yet, the Republicans have voted against or filibustered every piece of jobs legislation that has been offered and they have none of their own. Honestly, you're complaining about the wrong things and the wrong person.
I'm not suggesting there should not be disappointment or even anger, nor am I saying this Presidential term has been a pleasure to observe, but it's time to stop whining and get busy saving middle class America.
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