On This Supreme Court Nominee

Presidential Administrations: A Comparison

Let's compare them, shall we?

Speaks for itself, really.

Congratulations, America

Yes, Congratulations, America. For 8 good, strong, building years, you had an intelligent, deliberative, thoughtful, educated leader you elected in the White House representing and leading you nationally and internationally.

Then, you elected and placed in charge a rash and brash, nearly unthinking, blustering, inexperienced, narcissistic, racist, sexist, misogynistic man to lead you who is also nearly completely lacking in nuance and familiarity with politics or international relations.

How on Earth?

Links:

The clear and present danger of Donald Trump

The Dangerous Normalization of Donald Trump

The Dangers of Donald Trump

Donald Trump's Muslim Ban Is Cowardly and Dangerous

Trump has a mental disorder that makes him a dangerous

Number 44 to 45: The Handoff

I never feared a new administration in the White House before. Ever. I may have not liked what was coming but be it Reagan or George W. Bush, no matter how bad I ever thought the person would be there, I never feared for the nation, for us all.

Not in 6 decades. This catches it.

God help us.

This Is It. Final Day

It's like he didn't even try...

Quote of the Day -- On Goodbyes

As we say goodbye to President Obama, the very bright to brilliant, educated and extremely talented Mr. Spacey has this so correct.

As President Obama Says Goodbye Today

For us.

For the people.



Yes we can.

Yes we did.

And we must do still more.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you and First Lady Michelle and your children and entire family. We have a nation of thanks.

Quote of the Day -- On Hope

"Given that the US just elected an idiotic and incompetent reality-show host, it's almost unimaginable that eight years ago the same country elected an acclaimed author and former president of Harvard Law Review. 

This is a reminder that history does not move in a straight line, and if enough people work hard enough, good times will come again."

--Andy Borowitz

Incredible Times

I just realized the incredible time in which we're living.

The first Black President of the United States, at the end of his two terms in office, two terms in the White House, against all odds, at the same time this incredible story is told, in incredible, ground-breaking style and fashion.

And we're about to elect the first woman to that same office.

Incredible.

Quote of the Day

An unusual yet oh-so-true and accurate description of that one political party. This is from at least a year ago. Not only is it still true but it's gotten worse, with their running the most infantile, irresponsible candidate for the presidency possibly, if not quite likely, in the nation's entire history. Note, too, that the quote comes, not from inside the country, but from clear across the world. It's an international opinion.

"Let's be blunt and acknowledge the biggest threat to the world's biggest economy are the cranks and crazies that have taken over the Republican party. Despite President Obama's goodwill and strong efforts, the national interest there was held hostage by the rise of the extreme Tea Party wing of the Republican Party. There can be few things more alarming in public policy than a political movement which was genuinely prepared to see the government of the United States default on its obligations in order to score a political point."

--Australia's deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, Wayne Swan

President Obama, Ruining America

Happy Birthday, President Obama!

Yessir. Today, Tuesday, August 4 is President Obama's 54th birthday. And while part of this is to wish him well on his day, part of it for me and a lot of us is to thank him for all his work these last 7 years.

Herewith, some links to pages showing just some of his accomplishments for we, the people. Each has citations and links to their sources:

14 Facts About Obama's Presidency Most People Don’t Know

A List of 305 Accomplishments by President Obama so far

Like did you know...

• We've now had 65 straight months of economic expansion.
• We are currently enjoying the longest period of private sector job creation in American history.
• Unemployment has dropped from 10.1% in October of 2009 to 5.4% by Spring of 2015.
• The stock market continues to set new record highs since President Obama took office.
• The Federal budget deficit is shrinking. It’s been reduced by two-thirds since 2009.
• Under President Obama, government spending has increased only 3.3% annually, the lowest rate since Eisenhower was president.
• For 95% of American taxpayers, income taxes are as low or lower than they were at almost any point in the last 50 years.
• Nearly 20 million more Americans now have health insurance that didn't have it before President Obama. More Americans have health insurance, and fewer are without, in at least decades.

And that's just a short, very short list. There's lots more.

And then there's these, from the world community:

President Obama Named ‘Most Admired Man In The World

Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton Extend Run as Most Admired

Barack Obama is most admired man for 7th year in a row...

And as if that isn't enough for the Right Wing, there's this, too, from that same article:  Hillary Clinton is most admired woman for 17 th time in 18 years.

Like it, all of it--or accept it--or not.

So here's to you, President Obama, on your day.

Thanks, very much, for all your work.

Democrats, Progressives, Bringing America Forward

So we Americans, through the Democrats, gave America our first black president. It's been outstanding.

Next up?

The first female president, to follow and carry on the progress.

Then? After that?

Obama Could Become Supreme Court Justice After Presidency

Be still, my heart.

On Where We Are, Nationally and Politically

I see so many times online, people saying, the Republicans or the Right Wing or the wealthy just want to wreck the nation or economy. 

It's ridiculous. 

They're merely trying to support their own political party. 

The fact is, they're putting their party first, nation be damned. They'll deny that, sure, but they're scared as hell of Barack Obama becoming the next FDR and thereby setting up for the next, say, 40 years of Democratic control of government. 

The natural outgrowth of that is gerrymandering votes and Jim Crow-like voter ID laws and buying every election they can and not writing, proposing or passing any such infrastructure/jobs bill because the LAST thing they want is a roaring, successful economy. At least they don't want it and don't want to allow it unless or until one of their own, a Republican, is back in the White House. 

So screw you, America. You have to wait. 

And not enough people are on to their game to call them out on it. And Democrats aren't wise or tough enough, or whatever to do so. 

So here we are.

The Things from the State of the Union Address I Think We Can All Support

Of all the things said last night in President Obama's annual State of the Union address, it seems these, at least, are things you'd think everyone and anyone, from any political affiliation, would surely support. Everyone, anyway, but the people who simply hate Barack Obama for being Barack Obama, anyway, and it certainly seems they're out there. (No worries, too. It's a short list. I don't think we Americans agree on much). 

No. 1--

"...nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages. That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work. Really. It’s 2015. It’s time. We still need to make sure employees get the overtime they’ve earned. And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise."

No. 2--

"...as a new generation of veterans comes home, we owe them every opportunity to live the American Dream they helped defend. Already, we’ve made strides towards ensuring that every veteran has access to the highest quality care. We’re slashing the backlog that had too many veterans waiting years to get the benefits they need, and we’re making it easier for vets to translate their training and experience into civilian jobs. Joining Forces, the national campaign launched by Michelle and Jill Biden, has helped nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses get new jobs. So to every CEO in America, let me repeat: If you want somebody who’s going to get the job done, hire a veteran."

No. 3--

"21st century businesses need 21st century infrastructure – modern ports, stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest internet. Democrats and Republicans used to agree on this. So let’s set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline. Let’s pass a bipartisan infrastructure plan that could create more than thirty times as many jobs per year, and make this country stronger for decades to come."

No. 4--

"I want Americans to win the race for the kinds of discoveries that unleash new jobs – converting sunlight into liquid fuel; creating revolutionary prosthetics, so that a veteran who gave his arms for his country can play catch with his kid; pushing out into the Solar System not just to visit, but to stay. "

No. 5--

""Let’s close loopholes so we stop rewarding companies that keep profits abroad, and reward those that invest in America. Let’s use those savings to rebuild our infrastructure and make it more attractive for companies to bring jobs home. Let’s simplify the system and let a small business owner file based on her actual bank statement, instead of the number of accountants she can afford. And let’s close the loopholes that lead to inequality by allowing the top one percent to avoid paying taxes on their accumulated wealth. We can use that money to help more families pay for childcare and send their kids to college. We need a tax code that truly helps working Americans trying to get a leg up in the new economy, and we can achieve that together."

No. 6--

"No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets, or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids. We are making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism."

No. 7--

"A better politics is one where we appeal to each other’s basic decency instead of our basest fears.

A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues, and values, and principles, and facts, rather than “gotcha” moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people’s daily lives...

...If we’re going to have arguments, let’s have arguments – but let’s make them debates worthy of this body and worthy of this country. "

No. 8--

"I want this chamber, this city, to reflect the truth – that for all our blind spots and shortcomings, we are a people with the strength and generosity of spirit to bridge divides, to unite in common effort, and help our neighbors, whether down the street or on the other side of the world.

I want our actions to tell every child, in every neighborhood: your life matters, and we are as committed to improving your life chances as we are for our own kids."

And that's it. Eight fairly brief things out of an entire hour of speech I think we can all agree on, as a nation. There are a few spots where I think we might have come a bit closer to agreeing on a few things but not very much. When I thought there was any chance of a person or group disagreeing or having reservations, I left it out.

Here's hoping we can come back together as a nation, as a people and that we address our questions and issues and problems of the country and go forward as one.

Hey, we can hope, can't we?

On Ending the Afghanistan War (guest quote)

The Afghanistan War quietly ended Sunday in a small ceremony reminiscent of Obama's end of the Iraq War. No pomp, no banners reading "Mission Accomplished," no John McCain screaming for more death and war.

Obama has almost come full circle in curing America of the Bush cancer that almost destroyed us. He now has only to close Guantanamo Bay and the coffin should be shut on the Bush era. I see signs he is trying really hard to close that embarrassing prison that symbolizes American atrocities.

--Mike Nesbit, FB friend

And this is a failed presidency

Right.

And in case anyone out there isn't aware or convinced of more of the successes of this administration:

Updated! A List of 276 Accomplishments by PresidentObama with Citations!

Wait for it...

For all the Obama haters out there

And keep in mind, this isn't including more recent improvements since 2008. This is a partial list of benefits for and to America (click on picture for easier viewing).

On that immigration issue?