The Golden Arple

Apparently if you’re bad, you not only miss out on presents form Santa, but you will also find yourself on Obama’s enemy list. Didn’t know that existed did you? Well, you can find the story, provided by Reuters, here.

One of the top Republicans Senators, Lamar Alexander, told Obama, and I quote: “suggesting that the president back up” and “don’t start an enemies list.” Of course the comments were made at the Reuters Washington Summit, in preparation for a speech he will give later today. He gives the White House clashes with the health insurance providers and the Fox News Network as examples of Obama adopting attitude to Richard Nixon.

What do I think of this whole thing? With the recent Washington Post-ABC News Poll showing that 57 percent of Americans support the government option (more on that here) and Democrats threatening to take away the anti-trust exemption from the health insurance providers, I think this is another crony taking a shot at Obama. His opponents have called him a communist, socialist, and a nazi, and now they’re trying to compare him to a Republican President who resigned to avoid impeachment. Nothing more than another Republican Senator trying to attach another negative connotation to Obama.

Anyone else has a different opinion?

Comments | In: Obama | tags: Lamar Alexander, Nixon, Obama, republicans, smear campaign. | #

Anyone who is interested in knowing what exactly Obama has accomplished so far in his nine months in office should head over to Politifact.com. If you’re a Republican, you can also head to that website and see what campaign promises he hasn’t delivered on, or failed to live up to altogether. However, the accomplishments so far outweigh the failures.

With 48 campaign promises fulfilled, 12 compromised on (I’m surprised the number is so low to be honest), 7 broken, and 13 stalled, it appears Obama has very long and very busy three years and three months ahead of him. I do hope he manages to push the majority of those promises into the accomplished pile.

Comments | In: Obama | tags: campaign promises, Obama. | #

I saw a funny video on Real Clear Politics today, you can find it here, where Obama compares many things he’s trying to do to mopping.

A few quotes:

OBAMA: What I reject is when some folks say we should go back to the past policies when it was those very same policies that got us into this mess in the first place. (Applause.)

Another way of putting it is when, you know, I’m busy and Nancy busy with our mop cleaning up somebody else’s mess — we don’t want somebody sitting back saying, you’re not holding the mop the right way. (Applause.) Why don’t you grab a mop, why don’t you help clean up. (Applause.) You’re not mopping fast enough. (Laughter.) That’s a socialist mop. (Laughter and applause.) Grab a mop — let’s get to work.

I have to admit, the socialist mop bit got me.

Comments | In: Obama | tags: democrat, freedom, Obama, republican.. | #

When I started this blog I swore that I would be open respectful of everyone’s opinion, and would do my best to promote a civil debate, without over-committing to either the left or the right. However, as I immerse myself more and more in the world of political news and blogs, I am beginning to fear that that is an impossible dream.

I agree with conservatives on a few issues. The issues I disagree on, I still sympathize and try to see the reasons why someone take such a view. Many true conservative ideas are very attractive and have the potential to be beneficial. The problem is that United States does not have a Conservative party.

The Republican Party has turned into the Anti-Obama Machine. They celebrate his every failure. Indeed, they even try to spin his achievements, although few so far, as failures. Paul Krugman wrote an in Opinion Piece on how the Republican Party adjusts their views on Medicare to work against Obama’s Healthcare Overhaul. Not only that, but many things that Obama had no control over have been attributed to him as his failures, the economic depression for one. And that’s not even the worst.

The petty lies and rumors that go around are just terrible. At this point people just use any negative political connotation they know to describe him. A Nazi.. Socialist.. Communist.. Muslim.. Terrorist.. I question how many actually know what each of those things is and stands for. I would not be surprised if before long someone calls him a cannibal or a pedophile. The level of disrespect is stunning. How many of us would call our neighbor that? Or our co-worker? Obama isn’t that different from them.

The most disappointing thing about all this is that it’s the self-respecting, church going Americans who add to this. You don’t have to agree of like his views, but is it that difficult to respect enough not to call him a Nazi?

Comments | In: Obama | tags: Obama, republicans, smear campaign. | #

Obama’s Nobel has definatly garnered a lot of head scratching. Many people I talked to, Democrats and Republicans alike, thought it was an awful idea. Many felt that he received that award without actually accomplishing anything. Heck, he himself even said that.

I disagreed with them though. I felt that Nobel was not only appropriate, but also needed. In this particular instance I don’t see Obama’s Nobel as an award (although maybe it’s deserved after all). I see it as a call to action. I see it as a call for change and new responsibility. Not just to the President, but to our nation as a whole.

Obama, as our President, is the most prominent symbol of the United States. However, he is only the extension of our country, a single man who has to deal with a very divided legislature, and an unsure and scared populace. He cannot change the world alone.

Ever since Soviet Union collapsed nearly two decades ago, United States has been the sole super power in the world. Other countries have develop greatly since, but in terms of political, military, and cultural influence United States is alone at the top. It is a status we are very much aware off. And while we seem to embrace being the ‘best’ in the World, we have turned our back on the responsibilities that title carries.

To me, this Nobel Award is a reminder of those duties. Instead of arguing over whether or not it is earned and deserved, WE need to live up to that Award. I say we because that responsibility doesn’t fall on Obama or the Congress alone, we all need to contribute.

Comments | In: Obama | tags: bipartisanship, Democrats, Obama, republicans. | #