The President's Weekly Address: National Security Over Politics on START

From the White House blog:

President Obama urges the Senate to heed the calls from Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, every living Republican Secretary of State, our NATO allies, and the leadership of the military: ratify the New START Treaty with Russia.

The President's Weekly Address: Tax Cuts & Unemployment Insurance

This week we have a treat. VP Joe Biden is giving the address because the President is on his way back from Afghanistan.

From the White House blog:

With President Obama visiting troops in Afghanistan, Vice President Biden says Congress must extend both the middle class tax cuts and unemployment insurance for the sake of those families and the broader economy.

With the majority of Americans in favor of letting the upper income tax cuts expire, we have to wonder where the GOPers are who said they were going to listen to the people.

The votes are in and the majority of Democrats voted for the middle class cuts, while the GOPers voted against it. There were some Dems who voted with the GOPers... including that champion of progressives Russ Feingold. Why? Why are some of these Dems helping the GOPers block the tax cuts for middle class people?

If this doesn't show people who the GOPers are for and who they are against, there is no hope for the people in this country. We can't have a strong economy without a strong middle class.

The President's Weekly Address: Giving Thanks for Those Who Serve

From the White House blog:

The President expresses gratitude to America’s military men and women and their families, and discusses the steps his administration is taking to help create jobs so that next Thanksgiving, Americans can give thanks for a stronger economy.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Day and enjoy it with those you love. I am thankful for all of you. My friends, family and loved ones who read this meager effort of mine and for all of you just for being you!

The President's Weekly Address: Senators Opposing New START "Want to Trust But Not Verify"

From the White House blog:

In this week’s address, President Obama called ratifying New START this year “fundamental” to America’s national security. Failure to ratify the treaty this year not only would mean losing our nuclear inspectors in Russia, but also it would undermine the international coalition pressuring Iran, put to risk the transit routes used to equip our troops in Afghanistan, and undo decades of American leadership and bipartisanship on nuclear security. After six months, 18 hearings, and nearly one thousand questions answered and with the support of several Republicans including Colin Powell, George Schultz, Jim Baker, and Henry Kissinger, it is time for the Senate to act.

This is just another example of the Rethugs blocking anything this President wants done. There is no reason for anything but a straight vote on this.

Don't we have a lot to look forward to for the next 2 years?

The President's Weekly Address: President Obama Calls for Compromise and Explains his Priorities on Taxes

From the White House blog:

As Congress prepares to focus on taxes when it returns to work later this month, President Obama called on both parties to work together and focus on the areas where all sides agree. First, the President underscored that middle-class families need permanent tax relief, so Congress should permanently extend tax cuts for all families making less than $250,000 a year – 98 percent of the American people. And second, he noted that, with the nation’s challenging fiscal situation, the country simply cannot afford to borrow another $700 billion on permanent tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

I know, I know, no one wants the President to compromise with the Republicans. They all want him to yell and scream and stomp his feet in frustration over the obstruction that has happened the last 2 years and will probably continue.

However, you have to understand this President does not operate that way. He has laid out what he wants and he expects the grownups in the Congress to respond in kind.

He makes the valid point that if the Repubs really want to reduce the deficit the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy have to be allowed to expire. You don't add to the deficit if you want it reduced. Math just doesn't work that way.

Now maybe if we had a responsible media who would do their jobs and let the American People know the truth, instead of just letting the propaganda of the other party be the narrative, everyone would understand that.

Great Video From the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

This is great. A bunch of regular people reminding all of us, why it is so important to vote this Tuesday. Watch:



Do you Remember?

h/t Show Me Progress

The President's Weekly Address: President Obama Calls on GOP Leadership to Put Aside Partisan Politics and Focus on Strengthening the Economy

From the White House blog:

In his weekly address, President Obama called the recent comments by the GOP leadership, which put scoring political points over solving the problems facing the country, “troubling,” and asked Democrats and Republicans to work together to move the country forward. Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s elections, leaders on both sides of the aisle owe it to the American people to put aside politics and work together on a number of issues that have traditionally had bipartisan support, like tax breaks for middle-class families and investing in infrastructure.

The President:

That’s why I found the recent comments by the top two Republican in Congress so troubling. The Republican leader of the House actually said that “this is not the time for compromise.” And the Republican leader of the Senate said his main goal after this election is simply to win the next one.

I know that we’re in the final days of a campaign. So it’s not surprising that we’re seeing this heated rhetoric. That’s politics. But when the ballots are cast and the voting is done, we need to put this kind of partisanship aside – win, lose, or draw.

I only hope more people realize what the GOPers are promising. Endless investigations, constant filibusters, and the possibility of a complete shutdown of the Government.

Remind your friends and neighbors, especially if they are thinking of putting the GOPers back in power, what a shutdown would mean. No checks, no help for anything, If you live on disability or Social Security, no money coming in. All services from the VA, USDA, and every other department will stop.

Is this what they want? It's what we could potentially get, and with the idiots who are running, who knows how bad it will be.