Think back to 2008 and all of Obama's promises.
He was going to change the way things were done in Washington. His election meant a new era of politics in America. Everything would be different. Everything would be better. Obama, the savior, was going to change Washington.
He promised transparency. He promised "sunlight before signing."
From Obama's 2008 campaign website:
Sunlight Before Signing: Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them. As president, Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.
Well. That turned out to be a load of crap.
PolitiFact long ago declared Obama's "sunlight before signing" promise broken. It was the first broken promise of Obama's presidency.
When he signed the tax deal into law on Friday, Obama once again failed to give "sunlight before signing."
From the Wall Street Journal:
U.S. President Barack Obama, with congressional Republicans and Democrats looking on, Friday signed into law the most significant tax legislation in nearly a decade, hailing a "substantial victory" after a hard-fought battle with his own party.
The legislation, hammered out by White House officials and Senate Republican leaders, will extend the income and investment tax cuts of George W. Bush for two years, including those benefiting families earning more than $250,000. It also extends unemployment benefits for a year, cuts Social Security taxes and extends a bevy of tax cuts for low-income and middle-class workers.
Victory, shmictory.
Obama failed to deliver on his "tax the rich" promise and he failed to deliver on his government ethics promise.
4 comments:
Agree with critique on "sunset" and lack of timely review issues. But disagree with your assessment of "Obama failed to deliver on his "tax the rich" promise and he failed to deliver on his government ethics promise." The failure was not just the President but rather Congress - both GOP and Dem. GOP Senators annouced that'd block all legislation unless they got their way on extending the tax cuts, continuing their abuse of the fillibuster. The rhetoric is just sickening. Consider the flap not covered on Fox News about the spending bill:
Mitch McConnell requested and received millions of dollars in earmarks for this year’s omnibus spending bill, but then hypocrically denounced the measure. Overall, Republican Senators submitted nearly $2 billion in earmarks, and acted as if the spending bill was hatched in some secret Democratic controlled backroom. Sen John Cornyn (R-TX) and John Thune (R-SD) denounced earmarks and the omnibus bill, despite requesting hundreds of millions of dollars of earmarks between them. “I support those projects, but I don’t support this bill,” reasoned Thune. Ha, crystal clear logic. GOP Senators Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran (R-MS) were responsible for 405 earmarks costing over $865 million. And they're hardly the only Republicans guilty of this hypocrisy:
Charles Grassley (R-IA) 291 earmarks totaling over $770.5 million.
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) requested 116 earmarks costing $326.8 million.
Kay Bailey Hutchison’s (R-TX) tried to insert 119 earmarks into, at a cost of $770.9 million.
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) requested 122 earmarks totaling $492 million.
Richard Burr (R-NC) 82 earmarks, totaling $287.1 million.
John Ensign (R-NV) requested 32 earmarks this year, totaling $115.8 million.
And it's not just this year; in 2010:
Denny Rehberg (R-MT) 89 earmarks in the 2010 omnibus totaling $103.5 million.
Chris Lee (R-NY) 36 earmarks totaling over $33.3 million.
Joe Wilson (R-SC) 15 earmarks costing over $23.3 million.
It is the height of hypocrisy for these Republicans — all of whom have a long history of earmarking, and in most cases requested and received earmarks in this very bill — to suddenly oppose it because of a newly found opposition to “wasteful” spending.
(sources: http://taxpayer.net/earmarks.php and www.abcnews.com)
And no, Harvey, I am not a advocate of earmark spending - I'm glad it got voted down - my point is simply to point out and highlight the double standards which prevail even after the 'cleansing' that took place in November. It's all BS. It has nothing to do with doing what is right for the country - and Obama is hardly the only one who's broken a pledge. If you're going to call someone out, Mary, you need to expose 'em all, not just trash a President you don't like.
Just one of millions of examples of combined hypocrisy and backtracking on a pledge: "House GOP Leader Signals He’s Open to Obama Tax Cut - NY TIMES - The House Republican leader, John A. Boehner, on Sunday opened the door to a compromise on the contentious issue of the Bush-era tax cuts, saying he would vote to maintain lower rates for families earning less than $250,000 even if President Obama and Democrats insisted on ending the cuts for wealthier Americans." September 12, 2010.
Obama is a total unmitigated 100% disaster.
This country needs a revolution to get restoration of the opportunity of the American Dream. There is so much poverty that it sickens me. Over 600 kids in the Chicago public school system killed over the summer of 2009, etc.
Obama and his idiotic juvenile wannabe radicalism of his buds, Bill and the Rev, has set back the USA for at least two generations in making any real progress.
You have got to get a buy-in from the citizens to do the right thing. You cannot just try to go in the back door and make some things happen that you hope will precipitate a catastrophe where afterwords you pick up the pieces and remake America the he wanted to. The country is too big for that kind of thinking unless you want to see things get completely out of control.
Figuring out ways to change this country doesn't happen during cocaine fueled discussions at Columbia. Unfortunately Obama was elected and he gave it a good shot but it fell flat on its face.
Now, he sees that to keep his major league vacation and party going he is going to have to play the game so he can get re-elected and still have the good life. Yes, it's all about Obama.
What's funny is the real liberals get it, that Obama is a disaster, but they don't have a clue as to how to bring meaningful change because their main supporters, the unions etc. are all in this to line their own pockets.
So yes, the USA is totally screwed for the next two generations, which is sad because I won't get to see it when it finally does turn the corner, and it will because what is coming cannot be avoided. (Did you watch 60 Minutes on Sunday?)
Merry Christmas.
Harvey: it's been awhile since I've read such an incoherent spew of negativity - all wrapped up with "Merry Christmas".
You say "Obama is a total unmitigated 100% disaster" but then do not site any basis for such a statement. You say this country needs a "revolution" in order to restore the American dream. Huh? What on earth are you talking about? Are you advocating violence?
Poverty sickens you - it saddens me. Poverty isn't something that was created just in the past 2-years Harvey - are you implying poverty was caused by the Obama administration?
"Over 600 kids in the Chicago public school system killed over the summer of 2009, etc." Another 'what-the-heck-is-he-talking about moment'? The Chicago Public Schools have killed 600 kids?
"Obama and his idiotic juvenile wannabe radicalism of his buds, Bill and the Rev, has set back the USA for at least two generations in making any real progress." In what way?
"You have got to get a buy-in from the citizens to do the right thing. You cannot just try to go in the back door and make some things happen that you hope will precipitate a catastrophe where afterwords you pick up the pieces and remake America the he wanted to. The country is too big for that kind of thinking unless you want to see things get completely out of control." huh? There is nothing in that sentence that makes any sense.
"Figuring out ways to change this country doesn't happen during cocaine fueled discussions at Columbia. Unfortunately Obama was elected and he gave it a good shot but it fell flat on its face." Ah, I see. Extending the Bush Tax Cuts wasn't a good thing? How about getting bipartisan support for ratifying the START nuke treaty? Ending DADT? Extending unemployment benefits to those out of work? And those pieces of legislation are just from the past few weeks.
"Now, he sees that to keep his major league vacation and party going he is going to have to play the game so he can get re-elected and still have the good life. Yes, it's all about Obama." You have a problem with the President taking a vacation?
"What's funny is the real liberals get it, that Obama is a disaster, but they don't have a clue as to how to bring meaningful change because their main supporters, the unions etc. are all in this to line their own pockets." Meaningful change has been steadily going on the past 2-years, Harvey. Who are these "real liberals" you refer to? I suppose you take issue with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act?
"So yes, the USA is totally screwed for the next two generations, which is sad because I won't get to see it when it finally does turn the corner, and it will because what is coming cannot be avoided." So the USA is in deep trouble for the next 2 generations (how so?) and this is something that you blame the Obama administration for?
"Did you watch 60 Minutes on Sunday?" Nope, afraid I missed it - what was it about - perhaps I can find it online.
"Merry Christmas" - same to you, Sir. May I suggest, however, that you refrain from the eggnog or any other beverage or substance that can alter ones' perception of reality?
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