Alot of developments/political things happened over the weekend. June 2, 2008
Posted by baxtersbrother2 in Election 2008, Fiscal, Illinois, Race Relations, The press, US Government.Tags: Barack Obama, Bob Dole, DNC, Election 2008, Former Press Secretary Scott McClellan, Frank Rich, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Puerto Rico Primary, RNC, South Dakota Primary
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There was a lot of political things that completely happened over the weekend.
Well, we determined how the States of Michigan and Florida would count in The Democratic Primaries. Even though the primaries were held in January, we finally determined how this would work. And, all the hype was one of the most stupidest things in political discourse. When everything was planned out, everyone wanted to be viewed (The States) in the same lights as Iowa & New Hampshire. We thought that the primary was going to be finalized by the National Super Tuesday on February 5th and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton would be the nominee. So much for that. Here is the press release from the DNC. Is the primary over? No. Hillary Clinton won the Puerto Rico Primary by a decisive margin and there are two primaries tomorrow. Will it make a difference? Maybe yes, because of the “Super-delegates” concept, ( you know Next to the Super duper delegates, etc). There is another thing that no one has noticed. No one has caught up on here? When was the last time besides 2008, did we pay attention to the Puerto Rico Primary or the South Dakota Primary? Seriously? The answer is Never. Or Once in a Generation. The Democrats are imploring a 50 state strategy and it was important because of all the media hype that she continue. Besides Ego, that is why Hillary Rodham Clinton chose to stay in. But, by Wednesday. It is over. To Harold Ickes, Mrs Clinton’s campaign manager when the decision was made, “GROW UP!” We need to see what is in the best interest of the country and have a general election debate. Not a Hillary and Barry show.
The second thing is the book by Former Press Secretary Scott McClellan. And, yes, the authors of this blog have actually purchased this book. Originally, the claims were laughable but actually reading the book, there is substance. Former Senator Bob Dole, a statesman who this blog is always a fan, went to a pissy child-like rant. However, NO ONE is discussing the merits of the book, only personally attacking. Now, this blog still thinks that the “I was tricked, I am the victim strategy is just stupid.” The merits of the book were not even discussed. Frank Rich goes into detail here. It was damaging for McClellan to go into detail, but I do not think that It will be hugely influencial on Election 2008. McCain is Not President Bush. Iraq has really changed the political discourse.
The third event was that Barack Obama Quit Trinity United Church in Chicago. This is a non-event that gets turned into an event. On Hannity’s America last night on Fox News, it was interesting of how Hannity was trying to label Barack Obama as a “radical.” But, time will tell. But the story is getting old, and if there is not more of a substantive argument, then by election day, the statement will be ” I quit the church, this is re-hashing of old issues, people are living in the past.”
The Farm Bill, The Farm Bill, The Farm Bill. May 16, 2008
Posted by baxtersbrother2 in Fiscal, Just Ranting, Social Discourse, Tax Policy., US Government, Uncategorized.Tags: Farm Bill, Farmers, Farming, NYTimes, President Bush, Senate, US Congress
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Once every 5 years or so, there is a package from the US Congress that is commonly called “The Farm Bill.” Typically, the farm bill contains agricultural programs for the nations farmers and Food Stamp money for the nations hungry. As illustrated in the NYTimes, even though it is a bi-partisan bill, and almost veto-proof, President Bush should veto this bill. The present package is a $307 billion dollar package that is full of pork for very wealthy farmers who are benefiting from the Ethanol revolution and increases in Net income. In the fine details, there is tax breaks for racehouse breeders in Kentucky by Senator McConnell. They pay the farmers not to farm!! If they are farmers who do not farm, what are they?
Also:
- Continues to subsidize millionaires. Currently, all full-time farmers may be eligible for farm subsidies regardless of income (part-time farmers must earn less than $2.5 million annually). President Bush reasonably proposed limiting farm subsidies to those who earn less than $200,000 a year.
- It pays people to farm dirt or do not farm at all! Here is a article from The Washington Post.
- It goes to school nutrition programs which I think is great. However, many of the school programs are corporate run, and they are feeding the children garbage with sugar that is creating a bigger obesity crisis.
- Many of the farmers do not like the bill and believe that it is fraud. The Grand Island Independent reported the passage of the bill and how Senator Chuck Hagel voted against it. “We must reconnect our policy to its original purpose: providing a true safety net to real farmers when they need it most, while limiting government involvement in producers’ decisions,” Hagel said.
- Senator Chuck Hagel also said “It will continue to distort land valuations and inflate food prices, while jeopardizing our trade agreements,” he said. “We need a farm bill that significantly reforms our current policy. Agriculture is far too important to Nebraska and America for it to continue on such a misguided path.” As a person who has traveled thru Nebraska at 100 mph, I completely agree.
- Fewer than half of America’s farms benefit from our current farm policy and nearly 66 percent of farm payments go to only 10 percent of producers. It is unwise and wrong to continue these policies. The real farmers and taxpayers lose. The big guys win.
- The average food stamp receipts receives an average $1.10 per meal. That is it. At the local Safeway, you can barely buy a box of Mac and Cheese for that price.
Regardless of ones political philosophy, WE DESERVE BETTER!
Dumb as we wanna be is just that—Dumb April 30, 2008
Posted by baxtersbrother2 in Economy, Election 2008, Fiscal, Resources, Social Discourse, The press, US Government.Tags: , Economy, Energy Policy, Friedman, Gas Taxes, Housing Crisis, NYTimes
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Thomas Friedman gets it completely wrong in his article Dumb as We Wanna Be, in Today’s NY Times. The NY Times Reporter, typical pandering to people and talking down to others, illustrates how he completely misunderstands the McCain and Clinton proposal to suspend the Federal Gas Tax of 18.4 cents per gallon. Obviously he is not concerned with making ends meet and pandering to the public. The average family of a husband, wife and children. Each Husband and Wife have a car that contains a 16 gallon tank, and fill up twice a week for the simple pleasure of going to work and activities with their children. Simple Math if you are filling up a 16 gallon tank twice a week for 2 cars, that is 64 gallons of gas that is consumed per week, or 256 gallons per month. 256 gallons multiplied by 18.4 cents per gallon is $48 per month. That may sound small to a highly paid columnist like Mr Friedman, but to the average American family, it may be the difference between being in and not being in default.
He illustrates that Government is fighting over renewables, which I support renewable forms of energy. However, he panders and talks that the leadership “refused to get all the adults together in a room and work out a compromise.” First of All, that is condescending, but this is an election year and few key pieces of legislation are typically completed. He illustrated that other nations are getting involved and making the investment, but their economy’s have not had the dramatic impact of the housing crisis. Then he ties it together & indicates that 100,000 new jobs would be created. Not necessarily true and sounds like campaign spin. Until you really know, and understand if our people have the skills necessary, can you make that assumption.
Barack Obama’s Bitterness on an overall spectrum April 15, 2008
Posted by baxtersbrother2 in Economy, Election 2008, Fiscal, Just Ranting, Resources, Social Discourse, Tax Policy..Tags: , , Barack Obama, Economy, Election 2008, Fiscal
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Well, it was bound to happen eventually, Barack Obama officially fumbled and was off message last week when he indicated that “It’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or antitrade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations” during an event in San Francisco. In today’s NYTimes, one of their columnist indicates there is racial undertones present. Personally, I believe that it is more simpler than that. Many, Many Americans are finding it difficult in challanging economic times not to be angry. There was a poll that was conducted that 81% of the American electorate believes that the nation is in the wrong direction. Everyone is talking about how much gasoline has increased, how much food prices have increased, how much utilities have increased. They see their investments deflating, jobs being offsourced. They see their friends going thru the same thing. This is not believe that it is a “working class” thing but what is present regardless of socioeconomic status.
Lou Dobbs, on his nightly program, states that there is “A War on the Middle Class.” I partly agree. People are frustrated and wanted to just know why. Questions of “Why is this happening to me?” And, they want someone/something to blame, whether it be the Government, illegal immigration, or trade policies.
Barack Obama was politically stupid to make this statement because it appears that he is completely out of touch with the American electorate. Plus, he is apparently out of touch. Americans are NOT domestic simpletons that cling to God and Guns. They need leadership and resolve.
There has been a comment that has been all OVER the place yesterday. The phrase of “elitist” was prevelant. There were many that believe that Barack Obama, by making the stupid comments, is an elitist. However, America, do not buy it. This is a divide and conquer strategy used to distract people from the real issues. The GOP has to present a solution that is different than what they have produced thru the leadership of President Bush. They haven’t. The Democratic Party needs to present something that will captivate and motivate. They have not. Instead, we have stories about Pastors and some of the comments that they present, the “pimping” (Now this was stupid) of Chelsea Clinton, and so forth. What I would like to know is what are these people going to do or not do to change the quality of life of the American people and if those solutions simply do not work, then change them to a more libertarian approach.
Happy Tax Day everyone!!! Most have probably spent their refunds to survive. But, nonetheless, Happy Tax Day. I have also included the schedule of when people get their “economic stimulus” checks.This is the infamous Bi-Partisan “Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.” The interesting thing is that this does not truly impact the economy. This is not “free money.” This is an advance on your refund for when you file the 2008 return, and the bad part of all of this: IT IS PURE DEFICIT SPENDING. Many of us, will take the funds when they see it online in their accounts, go over to the billpay section of their banks website and pay something. In the act, there were some investment credits, but not enough to make a difference. It is exactly the same in theory as the Stimulus Acts that were done in 2001, and 1975. The net impact was that there was minor, if any stimulus to the economy.
Now this is just getting out of touch. April 1, 2008
Posted by baxtersbrother2 in Economy, Election 2008, Fiscal, Uncategorized.add a comment
Either the economy is doing lousy or great but a “Media Myth” is really stretching it. Read the article. This is bordering on the line of senility and out of touch. There are alot of homes being foreclosed on, it is harder and harder for families to make ends meet when faced with $4 dollar fuel costs ( In Chicago, it is $3.799). Why blame the media? That is ridicious. We are taking and making excuses for bad decisions and it is a common pattern. More and More, there is indication that people that are just out of touch with reality.
Needing to address the entitlement crisis March 28, 2008
Posted by baxtersbrother2 in Fiscal.Tags: Medicare, NYTimes
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The New York Times has a decent article regarding Medicare. We need to do something about entitlements and realize that we may not afford the items that have been in the past. Here is the article.
Barack’s mortgage program March 27, 2008
Posted by baxtersbrother2 in Fiscal.Tags: barack
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Barack Obama spoke today regarding the mortgage crisis. Link is here from the NYTimes. Do you seriously think that it is going to make a difference or create jobs “in the government.” The government already backs loans thru the VA and FHA. Here is the speech. But my question is this, some of the issues have been happening for a long time now, and now that he wants to be president, he has to do a large speech for issues that he could have made impact on. There is enough blame to go around for all. But the people I don’t have sympathy for are the CEOs who made 9 digit salaries, drilled the organization into the ground and walked away with a golden parachute. Not only is it market tainting, but, it rewards incompetence.
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