Scare Tatics From The Left: Racism

Before I get started I am announcing now that this will be last "political" post (in quotes because I will still probably post about my stance on the environment). This hiatus will last until the next Presidential election. No Meet The Press, talk radio, or cable news networks.

What has gotten me so upset is the fact that The Left, Liberals, Blue Dogs, Democrats, are using the term "Racist" to label the opposition. If it's legitimate or not. I'm not naive to believe there are not racists out there. I was naive enough to believe that a black President would unite the country. It's done the opposite and the evidence is right in front of us. It's the low road but the Democrats have to do something in order to get Health Care Reform (#hcr) passed. Making the Republicans out as a racist covers up the fact there are several Democrats against #hcr as well.

How as a Republican, or anyone opposing, going to be able to defend them self from this scarlet letter? Because when you do your words will be twisted to make you sound guilty.

I'M DONE! Just thinking about this level of politics playing out in the media make me sick. I guess I am supposed to find comfort in the fact that this bullying is for the greater good? This administration wasn't going to put up with the scare tactics… two wrongs don't make a right.

I might consider lifting this hiatus if OBAMA HIMSELF confronts the American people that the opposition is not racist but in fact a valid opposition. Actually, screw that. I would rather hear Bill Cosby's take.

Posted via email from A Distraction Happens Daily

State of the Union

The election is over. For many it went as hoped. For others a disappointment. I personally did not vote for Obama, not because of his determination, not because of his views on a united people, but simply over policy differences. I simply believe in an open market system, a balanced federal budget, decreased deficit and that lower investment tax actually generates greater tax revenue. However, while I may not have voted for our next President, I am still happy. Happy, not becaue of the outcome, but inspite of the outcome. Happy, not because I am optimistic that Obama’s plans will help America, but because others are optimistic that Obama’s plans will help America. I have seen numerous election results televised, but rarely have I seen so many people as passionate and excited. I am happy, because they are happy. I am hopeful, because they are hopeful. I do not agree with the outcome, but I will forever defend the people’s right to choose. Our ability to pick our own destiny as a country is one that few others have. Our right to voice our support for a candidate or political view without fear is beyond any other people on Earth. I have been blessed to be a part of the greatest nation that has existed and in doing so I exercise rights that few others have. In exchage I must respect and defend the rights others have exerised. So yes, I am happy because others are happy. I am hopeful because others are hopeful. Tonight I say good-bye to John McCain, a candidate I have supported for over 10 years. He is too old to consider another run. Congratulations to all those who supported President-elect Obama. After tonight it is no longer “us vs. them”. President-elect Obama is now the President WE have elected. I pray we have choosen wisely.

Obama-mercial

I’ve watched. I’ve Listened. I have heard promises of how, if I would believe in this product, my life will be easier. All of my worries will ‘melt’ away. Just like those late night infomercials, of a product that seems to good to be true, you have a hesitation. That hesitation is my signal not to hand over my credit card.

Unfortunately, the product in this infomercial I do not have that choice.

I get it. One after another every hesitation and worry was acknowledged by Obama. I believe he understands what every American is worried about. Understanding is one thing, solving is another. The ability to solve every worry of every American as President is not possible.

How much did this 30 minute, during prime time television, campaign commercial cost? Do you find comfort in the fact that Obama will spend ANY amount of your money to be elected?

Presidential Debates II & III

[photo via current.com]

How does that song go? …This verse the same as the first…

I believe Obama won. Not hard to come in with confidence when you have a commanding lead. His attitude has been noticable different from the first debate and the final one last night.

I haven’t been impressed with McCain’s debating abilities. He comes across as angry. When he tries to lighten the mood it is with a bad joke he has been using on the campaign trail. Then he flub’s the punchline.

I can deal with his grumpy demeanor. It comes with being old. What really sets me off though is his instance at trying to match Obama’s “give away” plan. Don’t say we should buy-out those bad mortgages. What is the benchmark for deciding that one? Never mind…

Why didn’t McCain come in and kill us with logic?

Obama, you say your administration is based on a pay as you go administration. Isn’t that misleading? Isn’t it really tax and spend? Because in order for your energy policy to work you would need to illegally take $150 billion dollars from the oil companies windfall profits. By the way, is that just once or every year? I know they have made an obscene amount of money, but will it stop with just oil companies? What about drug companies? What about Google? What will the benchmark be?

How are  you going, or are we going to decide, who is evil? Well not exactly evil, just enough to not feel bad to take their money?

You have said you want to reverse Bush’s Tax Cuts. How can you reverse the Bush Tax Cuts and still say you’re going to give a tax cut to 95% of Americans?

You are going to give 95% of Americans a tax cut. Is that every American or just those that actually pay taxes? If you weren’t aware, about 30-40% of Americans don’t pay ANY taxes. He is going to raise the taxes of those making more than $250K a year. Those individuals have to pay for the tax break to the 95% of Americans.

Is the $250K crowd also responsible for the cost of your health plan?

How many people don’t make $250/yr after the roller coaster ride of the stock market? Will you bail them out?

If the economy has been so bad, how did the market climb to 14,000 over the last 8 years? If the market doesn’t go down, how can it go back up? When it’s down how many more people get a chance to get in and benefit?

Obama, when you say you are for those couples worried about when they are going to be able to retire. The family trying to save for their kids college education. The guy who has worked in a plant for 20 years who’s job has been shipped over seas. Besides words of comfort, what are you going to do? That has a record of working?

As far as the war in Iraq, you wouldn’t redeploy troops if things were not going well. Right? Things are going well in Iraq because of the surge. So if you redeploy troops are you not justifying the surge?

Can you explain redeploying troops to send them to Afghanistan?

I’m sure Obama would have been able to answer all these questions easily. So McCain would have to go the fear card… When Obama can’t get all the funding from the ultra rich (those making more than $250K a year) or the evil oil companies to pay for all your new entitlements who do you think he will turn to? You? No, the House and the Senate. They will pass a bill and make you pay for them.

Spin War

So I seem to be doing nothing be getting irritated with McCain and Obama.  Today’s irritation just happens to be aimed at Obama.  I’m sure there are instances where McCain has done something like this, but it’s Obama I caught.  As I was driving into work there was a radio commercial talking about McCain’s proposed tax credit for families to purchase health insurance.  The Obama ad goes on and on about how families would be “taxed” on this credit, so for the first time ever Americans would be “taxed” for their health benefits.  The point obviously being “bad McCain for taxing Americans for their health insurance.”  I sat there a second and then thought, what the hell are they talking about?  We get taxed on EVERY credit.  Whether it’s child care tax credit, earned income tax credit, the “stimulus” tax credit, etc… Every credit that results in a refund is required to be included in your tax return as “income” and therefore theoretically gets taxed.  The reason we haven’t had our “health benefits” taxed in the past is because we’ve never had a credit for them.  So look at it this way – right now if you spend $5,000 a year purchasing health insurance you are out $5,000.  If you fall within the category of people who can deduct that amount you’ll get to deduct about $1,200 of that at most (though we’ve never qualified for the deduction, so this is unlikely at best).  It’s not a credit, so you don’t get refunded on it.  But best case – you have spent $3,800 (worst case you’ve spent $5,000).  Now, with the new credit proposed, you would get the entire $5,000 deducted/refunded (depending on your tax liability).  WORST case is you get it all refunded, but then you’ll have to pay taxes on it, so we’ll say $1,200 in taxes.  You still take home $3,800.  So the worst case situation under the McCain plan results in you paying $1,200 for health insurance and the best case under the current system results in you paying $3,800 for the same health insurance.  There are lots of variations (most of them making this distinction even greater), but no matter how you cut it up, call it a tax or some other spin, you still come out ahead with the McCain proposal (assuming you buy your own health insurance).  Now, whether you like the idea of a new unfunded credit/benefit program is a whole other question…

Emergency Economic Recovery Blah Blah Blah

I am not educated enough to confidently say that we do not need the bail-out. However I do believe there are alarmist forcing our billfolds.

Can’t we put something in place that will be available IF Armageddon does approach as predicted. Until then you allow the free markets shake things out.

These thoughts maybe naive, but is it… While I listened to the debate on the floors of both the Senate and Congress supporters continually warned me there will not be money available for loans for cars, homes, college, and credit cards. They would take it further to explain that people, with fair credit, could be denied loans for a car.

This confuses me.
Our representitives are selling me the need for this bail-out with examples of loans being denied to those who shouldn’t be? Are these the same people that started this snowball down the hill by purchasing a home they couldn’t afford?

This started, as most “biggest mistakes” often do, with our heart in the right place. Everyone, regardless of their credit rating, deserves the right to own a home. I know there are possiblities of fraud and misleading of the innocent, but we have also given a convenient excuse for the guilty. We also have to give some weight to greed. The ARM loan helped to prolong the breaking of the housing bubble.

Back to my point.
Would we be doing this for say… the oil companies? Of course not because they take advantage of the poor. They also take advantage of charging what they want for a necessity.
Maybe that is not a fair comparisson. We are talking about institutions that are in control of our savings and retirment accounts.

Retirement Accounts
Actually I just reached my point or question:
Is this pandering to our ever increasing and aging population? The same way our represenitives have been with universal healthcare. Are our politicians trying to buy our votes? By appearing to be looking out for our retirement funds.

Again I am afraid to say we should not support this bail-out but haven’t our represenitives shown us they question it too?

Taxing Economy

So I saw yet another email outlining quotes and comparisons between Obama and McCain. It really wasn’t much different, just lots of opinions and unsupported claims all put forward as “fact”. This was a bit different in that it tried to appear legitimate by putting footnotes to sources. Only problem is those “sources” were other articles and blogs of other people’s opinions. I don’t know if it truly has sunk in to them that citing someone else’s opinion does not make your opinion a fact. What really irritated me was one of the quotes “cited” the Tax Policy Center, a non-partisan organization that simply analyzes tax policies (I know, I’m thinking of crashing their next Christmas party too!!!) Well, turns out the quote was crap, just a cite to someone else’s article giving their “take” on what the Tax Policy Center said. So, screw them all, I went and read the report myself – well I tried, it’s really boring. Fortunately there is an Executive Summary that was prepared and issued September 15, 2008. Great, up to date summaries of the impact of McCain and Obama’s tax policies. If you want the actual numbers, go read it (ok, I really did read it), but if you want the USA Today/ADD version, here are the direct quotes from the Abstract and Intro:

Both John McCain and Barack Obama have proposed tax plans that would substantially increase the national debt over the next ten years, according to a newly updated analysis by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center. Compared to current law, TPC estimates the Obama plan would cut taxes by $2.9 trillion from 2009-2018. McCain would reduce taxes by nearly $4.2 trillion. Obama would give larger tax cuts to low- and moderate-income households and pay some of the cost by raising taxes on high-income taxpayers. In contrast, McCain would cut taxes across the board and give the biggest cuts to the highest-income households.

Both John McCain and Barack Obama have proposed tax plans that would substantially increase the national debt over the next ten years, according to a newly updated analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
Neither candidate’s plan would significantly increase economic growth unless offset by spending cuts or tax increases that the campaigns have not specified.

CRAP! I don’t want MORE debt, who the hell thinks that’s a good idea? How about we cut back on the freakin’ crab mating studies or consolidate federal agencies (do we really need 20+ intelligence agencies, I’m guessing they would work better with fewer too). There are just way too many ineffeciencies and ridiculous expenditures so that we are looking at increasing debt. People all around the United States are cutting back on “luxury” expenses (i.e. coffee, extra trips in the vehicle), some have lost food, shelter, etc… I’m all for cutting taxes, but maybe we should do it by cutting back on unnecessary expenses in the federal government or even reducing parts of the government. Or MAYBE we can not spend billions of dollars bailing out companies that had poor business models. They are called SUB-PRIME for a reason idiots!!!!

Obama and Biden 2008

I’ve been quite. Listening. Thinking. Not worrying but wondering, “What is it going to be like with Obama and Biden in the White House?”

Last week I was relieved when Obama picked Biden as his running mate. I thought for sure he would have to succumb and nod to the 18 million voters that wanted the first Woman President. and a chance at Nationalized Health Care. A Biden pick shows he is more worried about a weakness exposed by the Republicans then changing Health Care.

And not until today, this evening… a couple of hours ago, We’ve seen the roadmap that Obama is going to follow to become President. Obama’s speech was inspiring. After the ahhh moments have cleared, and you have come down from the clouds, letting it soak in. It also left him exposed. Hopefully the McCain Campaign took note of everyone of Obama’s issures to conter-attack. I didn’t keep notes but….

Answer these:

1. Tax-cuts for 95% of Americans. This one is great. The Democrats have been criticizing the Republicans about both Bush Tax Cuts and how they have contributed to our record defecit. Obama has been holding McCain to contributing to the defecit. Now make it clear how Obama is doing the same.

2. More affordable Health Care. How? Take from the rich? Sounds great. Make him define who is rich. Then make him explain how much he is going to take and for how long. When the rich stop giving where will the burden go?

3. End the war in Iraq. Then let’s go to Afganistan…. “McCain likes to say, I’d follow Osama into the gates of Hell, why don’t we just follow him into his cave in Afganistan!” is a paraphrased quote from Obamas speech: This one really bug’s me. How can Democrat’s jeer at the war in Iraq and cheer for a war in Afganistan? Follow Osama into a cave. A cave he hid in for decades while the Russians went after him and LOST! Let’s follow the cowards into the innocent civilians homes. Then attack U.S. Troops from there. Then demonize U.S. Troops for fighting back. Will you protest “another Vietnam War” if Obama starts it? Won’t we still be spending billions on a war?

4. Life or Choice: during a debate, make Obama explain to us again how determing when a life has rights as above his “pay rate’.

5. $150 Billion dollars toward cleaner and renewable energy. First, coal is never CLEAN. Second, Democrat’s are proud defenders of the Constitution and Civil Rights. Have Obama explain how the U.S. Government has the right to sieze a private companies profits?

Lastly, McCain if you want to ring true. Tell the American people:

The government has the right to tax 100% of your income. How much are you willing to give up? Will that be enough to pay for Obama’s promises?

One more thought I had during Obama’s speech… Here is a great guy, who is a product of his surroundings. His mother, grandparents, and even his father. They made who Obama is. The U.S. Government didn’t make him who he is.

Why do Democrat’s believe they, or the U.S. Government, can create inspirational people with more entitlements?

Don’t Call Him A Flip-Flopper, Refining

[phot via Politico] Obama pundits really don’t like it when you call him a flip-flopper. It’s so easy though, it’s a great word, especially when a person gives you a clear shot.

Today’s ‘refining’: Tapping America’s Oil Reserve

In July Obama was against the tapping of oil reserves during record prices for both gas at the pump and per barrel of crude. Obama believed that the price of oil was not a reason to tap a reserve that is intended to be used in an emergency. Today however [via Politico: Obama Calls For Tapping Oil Reserves]:

His proposal to release 70 million barrels of oil from the stockpile — a concept he rejected one month ago — follows his decision last week to support some offshore drilling if it were part of a comprehensive energy bill. The doubling of gas prices over the past year constitute a “crisis,” aides said, prompting Obama to reconsider his position on the oil reserve.

I believe this is a smart move. Like his refining of off-shore drilling on Friday. Both of which give the appearance of his campaign being proactive and trying to find a solution to your gasoline woes. Obama is not stopping there. He is also concerned about how you will be able to heat your home.

Today Obama continued to promote his Emergency Economic Plan where he proposes to give you $1000 to heat your home. This is in the form of a rebate from ‘Big Oil’s’ windfall profits. This rebate check is very different than the one you may have recieved in May. The main difference, this rebate will be paid for by the oil companies, not the returning of taxes you paid. Both of which is your money.

Obama’s purposal to give you your share of the oil companies profits is political pandering. There is NO chance you will get a check from the oil companies profits. Why?

It is un-American and un-Constitutional.

Do you think there is going to be a Senator or House Of Represenitive is going to stand-up and tell a corporation, especially if they are apart of the constinuency, we deserve your profits? Nancy Pelosi denied a vote on off-shore drilling, and leaving for vacation, in order to protect members of Congress. Protect them from being on the record of voting against off-shore drilling. A vote against has the potential of making them vulnerable for re-election. Nevermind wether or not your representive has the balls to stand-up against an oil company. Do you think an oil company is going to sit by and let the government take there without a fight in the Supreme Court?

If you don’t think it is pandering ask yourself this:

1. Why release oil from the reserve when oil prices are falling
2. How soon will you get a check? He won’t official take office until January ‘09. Then it needs to pass both the House and Senate. Bush’s stimulus package was ready, maybe, 3 months. So you’ll have a rebate check for energy costs in April?
3. After losing a 6 point advantage to McCain, why would Obama offer me $1000?

All of this and we aren’t into the general election cycle.

Drill Here. Drill Now. Flawed?

If you supported off-shore drilling you were characterized as not caring for the environment or supporting big oil. For weeks we have been told that off-shore drilling will not produce any tangible results for 10 years and only result in pennies of savings.

How could anybody get behind that? Let alone shift there campaign policies? Well, Obama believes his policy change, to support off-shore drilling, is an act of bipartisan compromise in order to advance alternative energy/fuel policies.

Really?

No.The fact of the matter is that a vote “against” off-shore drilling appears to the American public as not caring about the struggles at the pump. Obama’s change in policy is more a move for votes. So be it he is running for President. I just have to ask Obama supporters:

How many policy changes do you tolerate before questioning your support?

As far as the message that off-shore drilling will do nothing to elevated prices at the pump. Have we not learned anything from speculators this summer? oil doesn’t need to be out of the ground in order to affect the prices at the pump. The simple fact, easing off-shore drilling or even opening ANWAR increases the amount of supply available. Whether oil companies have increased the number of rigs or not.

Oil is not broken. How we us it is.

[photos via obama'08]