REALITY- Yesterday The Obama Administration cut a deal with congressional Republicans to continue long term extended unemployment benefits through 2011. As part of the arrangement, President Obama agreed to continue the Bush Tax-Cuts for Americans earning over $200,000 per year.
Many democrats and independents are outraged that President Barack Obama would go back on his campaign promise to end the Bush Tax-cuts for the top two percent of wage earners in America. But the fact is that he had no choice.
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| "We understand don't we Chewie? He had no choice." |
Governing is compromising, governing is prioritizing. Barack Obama was forced by the Republicans in Congress to compromise on tax-cuts for the wealthy because his priority was not campaign promises. Instead President Obama's priority was keeping Americans warm in the winter time. His loyalty was not to election rhetoric but to the people of America who need his help now.
"You know I studied under a nobel prize winning economist and do you know what he taught me?"
'Never let people go hungry and cold during Christmas.'
The priority of The Republican Party was clearly to play politics for the sake of politics while American citizens went hungry on Christmas.
I'm not making this up, it is what their stated position is. Republicans in Congress, were it up to them, would allow unemployed American citizens, who would otherwise be working and hence providing for their own needs, to continue to suffer the consequences of the actions, inactions and ineptitudes of the most recent Republican President George W. Bush.
Actions, inactions, and ineptitudes that have left The United States of America flailing in the largest economic crisis since The Great Depression. People call this "The Great Recession" I suspect because they're afraid of applying the "D" word to current economic circumstances.
Either that or Rupert Murdoch will have them shot on the spot for uttering the phrase.
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| Republicans: Sen. Mitch McConnell, Rep. John Boehner, Gov. Haley Barbour |
The exact opposite of the famous character of Robin Hood who would steal from the rich and give to the poor, The Republicans are actually those who steal from all of us and give, literally give, to the wealthy.
So that's how they became wealthy in the first place.
Governing is prioritizing and compromising, this is what Barack Obama was elected to do.
If John McCain had become president, the Bush-era Tax-Cuts for the wealthiest Americans would have been a slam dunk, it's possible that we'd be invading Russia over START, and when it comes to major health care reform the Republican Party would have three words for you.
Don't Get Sick!
However, with Barack Obama as President, in two years he and The Democrats in Congress have passed landmark legislation reforming health care and the way Wall Street does business. The 700 Billion dollar bailout of Wall Street will apparently only cost about 30 billion. A nice bit of bargain shopping there.
And, as I mentioned above, unemployed Americans, if the deal with Congressional Republicans is honored, will be able to buy their kids Christmas dinner. They'll be able to eat that dinner in a room that is warmer than the season would prefer. And maybe, just maybe, there will be a little something in everyone's Christmas stocking this year thanks to the gutsy deal that President Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress were forced to make.
Forced by Republicans who only represent the wealthy, apparently heartless, and of course themselves.
And As Always,
Happy Holidays Everybody
