Obama Caves

I don't know where to start with my response to Obama's cave in last night to extending the Bush tax cuts for the rich.


Even though I knew he would give in to the Republican demands for tax cuts, I felt sick to my stomach when he made the announcement last night.  My feeling was one of betrayal.  


Remember what he ran on?  NO TAX CUTS FOR THOSE WHO MAKE OVER $250,000.


Another campaign promise broken.


Here is a partial list of campaign promises that Obama has not kept:

• End of tax cuts for families making over $250,000 a year - Obama said he will support an extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans for two years
• No taxes for seniors who make less than $50,000 a year - since Obama was elected president there has been no mention of this campaign promise
• Withdrawal from Iraq - we're still there
• End of DADT - Obama's Justice Department appeals court rulings that attempt to stop expulsion of gay service members until if and when Congress repeals the DADT law 
• Withdrawal from Guantanamo Bay - we're still there
• End of wireless wiretapping of American citizens - we're still doing it
• End of torture - we're still doing torturing

Obama and his administration touts their "accomplishment" the health care bill.  This is the same health care bill in which they didn't even fight for the public option which would keep costs down by competition.  Obama promised in his campaign that all negations would be conducted in public over C-SPAN.  Didn't happen.  Negotiations with the drug and insurance companies were done behind closed doors.  A deal was worked out where the insurance companies would get 43 million new customers with the mandatory provision of the health care bill but without the public option.  Again, Obama supported a bill that made it look like something was "being done" but in effect it is a lousy bill because the insurance companies will only raise their rates to cover the provisions of the bill that requires insurance companies not to cap their maximum payout and turn down people because or prior medical conditions.  

It is obvious now that Obama the president is not the same Obama the candidate. 

"Change that you can believe in?"  

No, Obama has proven by his performance the past two years that he takes the course of least resistance. 

Bill Clinton was right, Obama gives a good speech. 

Mark this date on your calendar.  Obama will be a one term president.  After last night's action, in which he didn't even fight for his campaign promise not to give tax cuts for those who make over $250,000, he has lost his base.  

The terrorists Republicans have won.

Christmas = Family

As you all probably know, I have no trouble coming up with subjects for my blog postings.  I try to keep my postings positive, upbeat and happy.  But sometimes this is hard to do because of the constant state of crises or near crises that we all live in these days.

The past several days I have been very upset over what I see as he impending cave in by Obama to the Republican demands to extend the Bush tax cuts for the very rich.  I wanted to write a blog about my profound disappointment in Obama in the weakness that he has constantly shown in his dealings with the Republicans.  But I hesitated because do I really want to add on all that angst here in this wonderful holiday season?  Others are doing it already.

Then there is the subject of the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy of excluding gays from the military.  I wanted to write about the Angry Old Man of the right whose hatred of Obama is so intense that he is totally out of touch with reality that he is threatening to filibuster any vote to repeal this ridiculous, unfair and discriminatory 17 year old law.  Of course I am speaking about John McCain.  This man literally makes me gag when I see his face appear on television and when he speaks.  Do I really want to vent my disgust (war hero or not) against this Angry Old "Get Off My Lawn!" Man?  Others are doing it already.

Then there is the subject of Wikileaks, where Julian Assange has released hundreds of thousands of State Department documents thus embarrassing the United States government.  Now we're all hearing how this is threatening the lives of our service members and state department employees and others in foreign lands who cooperate with our State Department.  Mike Huckabee, the former governor or Arkansas and future presidential candidate is calling for the death penalty for Julian Assange.  Funny, I don't remember the likes of Huckabee calling for the death penalty for former Vice President Cheney or Karl Rove when they outed Wilson's wife as a CIA agent.  Where was the outrage then?   Do I really want to pile on my outrage against this obvious double standard?  Others are doing it already.

No, what I'll do in this blog posting is express my appreciation for the fine people I work with at the hotel where I work part-time.  Pictured on this blog is my boss (the young man lying on the floor and yes, he is young enough to be my grandson) and his family - his wife and daughter and his parents.  This to me is what Christmas is all about, families.

Merry Christmas Mike and family!