Posts Tagged ‘President’

Respect the Office

Read this on the reader opinion page of today’s Oakland Press.

President Bush deserves respect

It amazes me the hatred expressed in the media for our president.

Here is a man trying to win a war despite the best efforts of treasonous Democrats to betray our country at every turn.

He has stood strong in the war on terror whether liberals like it or not. The ungrateful rabble should hit their knees every day and thank God he is our president.

The idea of Obama in office, a man who defines himself as a hyphenated American, sends shivers up my spine and the thought of that spoiled, angry woman as your first lady baffles the minds of all patriots.

The fact that country’s ills fall squarely on the Democrats’ shoulders and is conveniently overlooked by their cronies in the news networks is proof that neither can be trusted with our future.

George Bush’s two mistakes were believing he could find a true patriot on the Democrat side to actually help America win the war and spending money. I hope people remember and give the Democrats the same cooperation that they gave us.

We shall see how history judges the outgoing and incoming President.

Fallout!

Yes, fallout!  Now there’s a couple of current subjects that this could address…

First is snow!  Yes, snow has fallen in places that snow normally doesn’t.  First, it was New Orleans, now Southern California and Las Vegas is getting dumped on with the white stuff.  Where is Algore’s Global Warming mantra?

Next is the apparent fallout of the automotive loans.  First, a bridge loan from the House, then it died in the Senate.  Then the President states that time is of the essense, and now after a week’s delay from that implied promise, more study is needed.  In the meantime, plants are closing down, GM halts construction on the engine plant for the much vaunted Volt, and time is running out.  Is anyone going to be able to come back from Christmas vacation?

While the automakers have themselves to blame for the current situation, our politicians deserve their fair share of the blame.  While I’ve chronicled much of the blame in current articles, what is now important is the problem before us.

There is a guest opinion in The Oakland Press that follows that states my thoughts in a fairly straightforward manner.

GOP senators’ actions almost treasonous

What about subsidies given to foreign manufacturers to locate there? Doesn’t foreign support detrimental to the American auto industry have the flavor of treason?

Strong words? No stronger than would be the cry for “HELP” if suppliers, dealers and other companies that depend on American auto companies go down.

Decades ago, another General Motors president, “Engine Charley” Wilson said, what was good for GM was good for the U.S. However arrogant that might have been, the opposite is also true. Down with GM would go one of 10 U.S. manufacturing jobs, plus three more service jobs. Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow testified before a Senate Committee that “Midwesterners make and grow things.”

Paraphrasing Spiro Agnew, there is an effete Eastern culture favoring the financial industry and paper pushers, i.e. “service.”

Ross Perot’s “great sucking sound” of American dollars leaving for foreign banks is now accompanied by the roar of the tornado that picks up Dorothy’s factory in Kansas and drops it in a Chinese wonderland.

Off-shoring guts Kansas and American productivity. More economic stimulus checks will not do it either. Most would go to Wal-Mart and then to China.

We all saw it coming. Whatever benefits the UAW wanted it got, and then management too. Pay whether working or no, the best health care in the world, generous retirement packages, all seemed too good to be true. It was. It all went into the price of a car, which foreign competitors soon found they could make better and sell for less. But Michigan did wake up and corrective measures were soon underway.

So what to do now? Chapter 11 bankruptcy is a bad idea. The entangled legal process alone would sound the death knell. Who would buy a car from a company in bankruptcy?

However, given that bankruptcy itself is a legislative process, a Congressional solution was underway until the Senate killed it. Debt was to be cut and other measures put in place for the long-term survival of U.S. auto companies. But the U.A.W. wouldn’t agree to “a date certain” to make wage cuts.

Long ago Japan and many European companies recognized that to retain their vital industries, they needed to make them “champions.” They gave them support similar to that we give to U.S. farmers. It’s high time we make champions of our auto industry.

Try again Senators. This time consider tariffs on imported foreign cars and tax incentives to “buy American.” It might indeed be as good for the U.S. as it is for General Motors.

I think that says it all…

Delegate Counts After Super Tuesday

Counts from Real Clear Politics:

Democrats:

• Clinton: 1012 Delegates with 211 Super Delegates
• Obama: 933 Delgates with 128 Super Delegates

Republicans:

• McCain: 697 Delegates
• Romney: 244 Delegates
• Huckabee: 187 Delegates
• Paul: 14 Delegates

The interesting part of the Democratic counts is that if the Super Delegates are removed from the count, Obama is leading HRC 805 to 801. Just goes to show that friends in high places (along with political strong-arming & blackmail) will get you just about anything…

I am surprised at how close the Democratic primary really is. Just a few months ago, it looked like HRC was going to run away with the nomination with the rest of the candidates just along for the ride to make it look good. Now she has some real competition, the gloves have come off, and she looks desperate. Those shenanigans have not helped her, and Obama has narrowed the gap. The remaining primaries and caucuses will certainly have an impact, but I do wonder if the super delegates will really represent the people of the party or the will of the leadership of the DNC. Only time will tell.

On the Republican side, it appears that unless some miracle happens, John McCain will be the nominee of the Party. I’m really not sure if I like that or not – he has been described as a loose cannon by several of his counterparts. I also remember that he has supported the failed immigration bill and other pieces of legislation that I do not think were in the best interest of this country. Yes, he appears to be Liberal in his leanings.

So at this point in time, barring a lightning strike at the ballot box for a third-party president, it looks like no matter who you vote for in the upcoming Presidential election, we will end up getting a Liberal President. That’s not good for those of us with conservative leanings.

So what is now important is voting for conservative Senate and House candidates. These Congress-critters are the ones that will introduce legislation, ratify treaties, and confirm Supreme Court Justice candidates. If anything, it will be these representatives that will be important, not necessarily the President.

Yes, the 2008 election is more important than ever, and it’s not just about electing another President. It’s about who is going to represent you.