Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
“We will rebuild, we will recover”
President Barack Obama gave his first speech before a joint session of Congress tonight. In language that often channelled Franklin Delano Roosevelt, he urged the government and the American people to act "boldly and wisely" in the face of our current economic crisis.His performance was impressive and he showed that he still has an ambitious, yes even audacious, program to confront America's most serious problems.
Most viewers will likely conclude that the tone of the speech was what it needed to be: serious and sober in recognizing the problems confronting the nation, yet inspirational and optimistic about the ability of the American spirit to rebuild anew.
What did you think? In case you missed it, click below:
Friday, February 20, 2009
Our State's Budget is in big trouble
The estimated size of the deficit keeps getting larger and larger? This is going to mean a lot of budget cuts that will hurt a lot of us.
$8 billion shortfall forecast for Washington state budget Seattle Times Newspaper
$8 billion shortfall forecast for Washington state budget Seattle Times Newspaper
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Stimulus Bill Passes
I'm happy it passed, but I'm disappointed that it got watered down in order to make three Republicans happy.
Senators Olympia Snowe, Arlen Spector, and Susan Collins were the only Republicann Senators who voted for the package; the number of Republican members of the House that voted for it: zero. Not one. Thanks for the bipartisan effort G.O.P.
What we need now, is to lean harder on the Congress (especially the Republicans) to stop using the same old tired political rhetoric about governement wasting tax dollars. (Many of these people are the same ones that blew over a trillion dollars on the Iraq War, tax cuts for the rich, and a Wall Street bailout that held almost none of the companies or executives receiving the money accountable.) Those who voted for change and for Obama need to remember that he never said that he could accomplish anthing without us. We need to be engaged - writing lettters, making phone calls - whatever it takes to make our government understand that we demand action, and demand action now.
We cannot allow conservatives to dominate the debate in this nation by carping on relatively small provisions of otherwise important legislation. All of us will have to pay for the consequences of the misguided pressure they are putting on our government.
STAY INVOLVED PEOPLE!!!
If you didn't hear or see the President's weekly radio address, I've included it here. He closes with a nice quote from John F. Kennedy:
Senators Olympia Snowe, Arlen Spector, and Susan Collins were the only Republicann Senators who voted for the package; the number of Republican members of the House that voted for it: zero. Not one. Thanks for the bipartisan effort G.O.P.
What we need now, is to lean harder on the Congress (especially the Republicans) to stop using the same old tired political rhetoric about governement wasting tax dollars. (Many of these people are the same ones that blew over a trillion dollars on the Iraq War, tax cuts for the rich, and a Wall Street bailout that held almost none of the companies or executives receiving the money accountable.) Those who voted for change and for Obama need to remember that he never said that he could accomplish anthing without us. We need to be engaged - writing lettters, making phone calls - whatever it takes to make our government understand that we demand action, and demand action now.
We cannot allow conservatives to dominate the debate in this nation by carping on relatively small provisions of otherwise important legislation. All of us will have to pay for the consequences of the misguided pressure they are putting on our government.
STAY INVOLVED PEOPLE!!!
If you didn't hear or see the President's weekly radio address, I've included it here. He closes with a nice quote from John F. Kennedy:
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks
equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks."
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Obama'a First Press Conference
Barack Obama took back control of the debate over the economy, and I believe, will have convinced a lot of Americans that he is leading us in the right direction in the face of the economic crisis.
He showed a mastery of the issues at hand that was refreshing compared to what we have been used to hearing the last eight years.
Some other analysis and coverage out there:
News Analysis - Taking on Critics, Obama Puts Aside Talk of Unity - NYTimes.com
At His First Prime-Time News Conference, Obama Is Serious and Expansive - Howard Kurtz
The Fighting Conciliator
The News Conference: The Same, and Different
He showed a mastery of the issues at hand that was refreshing compared to what we have been used to hearing the last eight years.
Some other analysis and coverage out there:
News Analysis - Taking on Critics, Obama Puts Aside Talk of Unity - NYTimes.com
At His First Prime-Time News Conference, Obama Is Serious and Expansive - Howard Kurtz
The Fighting Conciliator
The News Conference: The Same, and Different
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