The Worthington Post - Four More Years - Please?
I want Barack Obama to continue as our president for the next four years. "Oh, my goodness, I am SO SHOCKED to hear this!" said no one who has met me ever.
Reasons range from shallow to profound, and from micro-specific to enormously broad. Let's start with the obvious.
1. Obama is a friend of groups who have historically been ignored, dismissed, abused and refused basic rights of equality.
- He signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law. This broadened the ability of those (mostly women) suffering from pay discrimination to take action against their employers.
- He endorses marriage equality. He's strong enough to stand up for and take ownership in protecting rights of the LGBT community.
- He renewed the Combating Autism Act, landmark reform "assuring continued federal support for critical autism research, services and treatment."
- He supports and defends a woman's right to determine her own healthcare and family planning choices. He *gasp* TRUSTS them! He *gasp* RESPECTS their right to determine their future and what goes on in their uteruses!
2. Obama has stopped the economic bleeding for many (not all) segments of the population.
- He revived the auto industry with strong support from the Federal government. After facing disaster, all three American auto makers are "increased sales of vehicles and have posted a profit." (see link.)
- He's enacted truly historic healthcare reform. Pre-existing conditions are now covered, and so is birth control. I'm not saying this won't cost certain segments of the population or provide hardship for some - I know some small business owners struggling with these requirements. It isn't perfect. It does, however, take a large burden off so many who had to choose between treating their cancer and feeding their families. It's a step in the right direction.
- The economy has improved for many, many people. Private sector jobs have increased for the last 31 months straight. I agree with the author of this GQ article that it's risky to tie Obama's performance so tightly to a chart (requiring upward arrows always to convince), I still think it demonstrates how low we had sunk with the previous administration and how far we have come with the current one.
3. Obama has a calm, assured and proven foreign policy.
- He's improved our image which was so devastated by eight years of George W. Bush. There's no question that Obama's global popularity has taken a hit as a result of his policy on drone strikes, and the perception that the U.S. still does whatever the hell it wants to. Yet, even though he's less popular than he was four years ago, the Pew Research Trust survey shows the strong majority of the 20 countries polled want Obama elected over Romney.
- The capture and killing of Osama Bin Laden was more than symbolic - it was reflective of the job the Obama administration has done in weakening and dismantling much of Al-Quaida.
- He is withdrawing troops from Iraq and Afghanistan - just like he said he would. He's closing that horrible chapter.
Please don't get me wrong. I don't delude myself into thinking he is the messiah or hasn't made colossal blunders. Operation Fast and Furious was awful in that it put weapons in the hands of arms traffickers - some of which have been used against Americans. I'm not ready to say his handling of the Benghazi attack was a blunder or involved a cover-up, but I recognize the possibility that with time evidence might support that analysis (I really think it's too soon to tell.) Let's not talk about his performance in the first debate. I realize many of the jobs created are part-time jobs with few or no benefits. I know under his administration the number of people on food stamps has risen instead of dropped. I get it.
When I compare his record, however, to Romney's history and his proposals for our future, I have no question that he is the right choice for the job.
1. Romney said, and I really think he believes, that people who pay no income tax are parasites and victims. Never mind his protests to the contrary after the infamous 47% video was revealed. That he said it AT ALL is profoundly troubling, and I feel it reflects a disdain for half the population that is not only unfair and unfounded, but borders on perverse.
2. The New York Times wrote a fascinating article about Romney's management style. I thought there were many things in the article that humanized him - even managed to muster up a sense of empathy in me for him. He's described as conflict-avoidant (many of us are), socratic (wades into details, loves to debate), and fiercely loyal, as represented in a quote I love: "As head of the private equity firm Bain Capital, he was so uncomfortable cutting loose struggling employees that a legend grew: executives sent in to his office to be fired emerged thinking they had been promoted." (Of course, he had no problem firing people he'd never met or had any relationship with...) Yet the very things that humanize him in this article also make me think he'd not be an effective president. Loyalty is great, but an inability to fire people who aren't getting the job done could weaken his administration. Avoiding conflict is understandable, but the Oval Office isn't exactly a conflict-free zone. And these two qualities have played themselves out in his campaign with his refusal to reveal details about his tax policies, his inability to separate himself from the crazies in his party, and his saying whatever his audience needs to hear, regardless of whether or not it contradicts previous stances of his. Doesn't bode well, in my opinion.
3. Romney has a need to privatize things that borders on pathological. Consider his stance on FEMA - many agree it's an agency greatly in need of overhaul. Some (including me) even see the potential virtue in having responses to disaster be controlled by the individual states. Romney? He wants it to be privatized. Does he think there is ANYTHING the government does that should not be morphed into a for-profit venture???
4. He is incapable or unwilling of separating himself from the nut jobs. He continues to support Richard Mourdock for office. (To paraphrase Jon Stewart, "Yeah, we disagree on rape and incest, but...meh? Not a deal breaker!") He chose a running mate whose stances on reproductive rights are so extreme, women are essentially reduced to incubators, and microscopic clumps of cells have more freedom than do their mothers. His stance on gay marriage is medieval and absurd. While he used to be considered a moderate, and is contorting his candidacy now to appear like one again, he is catering and pandering to the parts of his party who are driving out any moderate Republican voices. And they DO exist - moderate Republicans. There are thinking, compassionate, strong Republicans who no longer feel they have a place in their party. Think Olympia Snowe. Think Richard Lugar - the candidate for Congress who LOST to Mourdock in the primaries. Very, very bad to lose these voices, people.
There are so many more reasons I support Obama and reject Romney. I'm sure many of you can come up with as many reasons why you feel the opposite way. Here's what I ask myself, though, when I step back and take the larger view into account. Between the two candidates, who is more likely to want to compromise? Who is more likely to WANT to work in a bipartisan way? Because that's how things get done. The Republican leadership's stated refusal to allow Obama to accomplish anything at all is embarrassing. Yet Obama manages to walk the line of true governing by standing firmly in the center, angering people on both sides - conservatives AND liberals. Extreme conservatives think he's doing too much, extreme liberals think he's not doing enough. Oddly enough, that tells me he is doing something right.
This post also available on my blog, The Worthington Post.
Joe
3:52 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
He saved the auto industry or saved the UAW?
One company now is owned by the Italian Fiat. They are moving Jeep production to china or Italy. So instead of the Big 3 American companies, we now have the Big 2.
GM is far from doing well. they still face financial trouble and after the election we may actually hear more about it then with the silence we hear now.
"Obama has a calm, assured and proven foreign policy."
Sure does. When he wanted to get UBL he called the Seals. When the Seals needed him he hung up the 3AM phone call and 4 Americans are murdered.
He abandoned Americans in Benghazi and allowed those he armed and supported in the Libyan overthrow to murder our people and has LIED about it to this day.
He was fast to give out all the details on the UBL killing to make him look good but has not been as forthcoming on Benghazi Gate.
Steve
2:55 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
They aren't moving Jeep production anywhere.
The SEALS never needed the President. The two guys killed in Libya were private security contractors aka mercenaries. They knew what they were getting into when they travelled there.
Joe
4:45 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
"Let's set the record straight: Jeep has no intention of shifting production of its Jeep models out of North America to China. It's simply reviewing the opportunities to return Jeep output to China for the world's largest auto market. U.S. Jeep assembly lines will continue to stay in operation," said Chrysler spokesman Gualberto Ranieri.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121028/POLITICS01/210280314#ixzz2AuZsaTF1
Every auto built in China for the Chinese market is one American auto not EXPORTED to China and one less auto built by Americans here.
No Jeeps are now being built in china so any new plant in china will be taking away American jobs.
Joe
4:47 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
"Fiat Says Jeep Output May Return to China as Demand Rises
By Craig Trudell - Oct 22, 2012 11:10 AM ET
Fiat SpA (F), majority owner of Chrysler Group LLC, plans to return Jeep output to China and may eventually make all of its models in that country, according to the head of both automakers’ operations in the region.
Fiat is in “very detailed conversations” with its Chinese partner, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (2238), about making Jeeps in the world’s largest auto market, said Mike Manley, chief operating officer of Fiat and Chrysler in Asia. Chrysler hasn’t built Jeeps there since before Fiat took control in 2009.
“The volume opportunity for us is very significant,” Manley, who is also president of the Jeep brand, said in an interview at Chrysler’s Auburn Hills, Michigan, headquarters. “We’re reviewing the opportunities within existing capacity” as well as “should we be localizing the entire Jeep portfolio or some of the Jeep portfolio.”
Chrysler, which entered an alliance with Turin, Italy-based Fiat as part of its U.S. government-backed bankruptcy, is relying on growth in China to counter weakness in Europe’s auto market. The automaker is targeting 500,000 annual sales outside North America by 2014, more than triple its overseas deliveries in 2009. "
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-21/fiat-says-china-may-build-all-jeep-models-as-suv-demand-climbs.html
Joe
4:49 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Someone leaned on someone to change the story for Obama!
That is no surprise at all.
Joe
4:09 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
"He is withdrawing troops from Iraq and Afghanistan -"
He had little choice in Iraq since the withdraw plan was set before he was inaugurated. He is just following the Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement signed in December of 2008.
As for Afghanistan, he just signed a 10 year agreement to be there. He has allowed our troops to be sitting ducks with his insane rules of engagement.
One good thing is Afghanistan is less dangerous to Americans than his home towm of Chicago with 440 some murders so far this year.
Joe
4:15 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
THIS is the type of Muslims Obama has been supporting around the world. Who else calls the terrorists who killed 4 American's in Benghazi "the folks"?
Somali comedian who poked fun at Islamists shot dead.
"Gunmen assassinated a well-known comedian and musician who poked fun at Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents in the Somali capital Mogadishu, police and colleagues said Tuesday.
Warsame Shire Awale, a famous composer who had worked with Somalia's national army band before joining Radio Kulmiye as a drama producer and comedian, was attacked by two gunmen late on Monday.
"Gunmen killed him... we are investigating the matter and the killers will be brought to justice," police chief Ahmed Hassan Malin told reporters."
Can we or the world afford 4 more years of Obama supporting Islamists around the world including the Muslim Brotherhood?
Joe
4:34 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
The Obama regime is now looking more and more like Nazi Germany with his use of children ad turning them against their parents. What a despicable ad and despicable human being the man is to allow such ABUSE of children and this is ABUSE.
These are the words to the song sung by these abused kids.
We’re the children of the future
American through and through
But something happened to our country
And we’re kinda blaming you
We haven’t killed all the polar bears
But it’s not for lack of trying
The Earth is cracked
Big Bird is sacked
And the atmosphere is frying
Congress went home early
They did their best we know
You can’t cut spending
With elections pending
Unless it’s welfare dough
We’re the children of the future
American through and through
But something happened to our country
And we’re kinda blaming you
Find a park that is still open
And take a breath of poison air
They foreclosed your place
To build a weapon in space
But you can write off your au pair
It’s a little awkward to tell you
But you left us holding the bag
When we look around
The place is all dumbed down
And the long term’s kind of a drag
We’re the children of the future
American through and through
But something happened to our country
And yeah, we’re blaming you
You did your best
You failed the test
Mom and Dad
We’re blaming you!
Aliza Worthington
6:21 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Wow, I got excited when I saw there were four comments, and then I saw they were all from one person. Also, Obama/Hitler comparisons are my fave.
Steve
2:56 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
You're lucky he stopped at 4 cut and paste jobs. Normally if somebody posts something he doesn't like he will Spam the board until it is unreadable.
Violet
8:01 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Ah, Joe...chill. Go ahead and vote for your guy--no need to get nasty or...surreal. Really, Chicago was a violent city long before Obama was born. Our country is looking more like Nazi, Germany? Because...what...we force children to say the Pledge of Allegiance at school?
Joe
8:01 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Please re-read, No where did I say "Our country is looking more like Nazi, Germany? "
did I? You make that comment up form whole cloth as a club against me when iy is flat out a lie.
I was very specific and only compared the use of children against their parents between the two.
Why put words in someone else's post Violet?
Aliza Worthington
7:08 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Thank you, Violet. Sigh.
Joe
7:57 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
I am not surprised that some are more upset at an analogy than the actual act of using children against their own parents and its similarity to the past.
If there was another figure from recent history that used children as the Democrats have I would have noted it. It seems history has not made an impression on some.
Movies and books have been written on how Hitler used the children to "forward" his agenda. This is not something new. All good socialist types know you must get to the children before their parents do.
“He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future.” AH
"When an opponent declares, "I will not come over to your side," I calmly say, "Your child belongs to us already. . . . What are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community." AH
“The man who has no sense of history, is like a man who has no ears or eyes” AH
Steve
5:22 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
I hit submit before I had a chance to tell you what a good job you did Aliza in highlighting why anybody in their right mind would vote for Rmoney.
Recently the LA Times wrote an article about how Bain Capital was seeded with anonymous money from Panamanian banks. At the time, the only people who were stashing their cash in Panamanian banks was the Drug cartels. It was like one big drug money laundering operation.
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/19/nation/la-na-bain-creation-20120719
Joe
6:08 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Here we go again....
FROM Steve's link. "The documents don't indicate any wrongdoing, and experts say that such financial vehicles are common for wealthy foreign investors. But the new details come as President Obama has criticized Romney for profiting from Bain Capital's own offshore investment entities, which are unavailable to most Americans."
Aliza Worthington
10:30 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Thank you, Steve! For your support and your comments. :)
Joe
8:00 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Looks like Ms Worthington does not appreciate opposing views but really love the lies and prevarications from Steve. . Typical Obama supporter.
Steve
10:16 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Here joe, let me call you the Waaahmbulance.....
It looks like it is all over but the shouting. 7 polls released in Ohio in past 48 hours: Obama +2, Obama +3, Obama +3, Obama +3, Obama +5, Obama +5, Obama +5.
Joe
1:42 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
"Romney Touts Support From CEOs on Jobs Council
To that end, the Romney campaign trotted out a roster of well-known business leaders Thursday who are backing the Republican presidential nominee. Supporters include Charles Schwab, Cisco Chief Executive John Chambers and Bernie Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot. The newest name on the list belongs to Intel CEO Paul Otellini, ******a member of President Barack Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.*******"
Aliza Worthington
11:13 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
This isn't exactly the elevated political discourse for which I was hoping... :-/
Mari
5:34 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Um, Aliza, it's Steve and Joe... you were expecting something different??? :)
Joe
2:54 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Here is who you support.
Obama told Wisconsin voters today: “Some of the businesses we encourage will fail.”
80% of DOE dollars went to Obama backers.
Over 19 of Obama’s green ventures went belly-up after receiving billions of dollars.
Heritage reported:
Evergreen Solar
SpectraWatt
Solyndra (received $535 million – now bankrupt)
Beacon Power (received $43 million)
AES’ subsidiary Eastern Energy
Nevada Geothermal (received $98.5 million)
SunPower (received $1.5 billion)
First Solar (received $1.46 billion)
Babcock & Brown (an Australian company which received $178 million)
Ener1 (subsidiary EnerDel received $118.5 million)
Amonix (received 5.9 million)
The National Renewable Energy Lab
Fisker Automotive
Abound Solar (received $400 million)
Chevy Volt (taxpayers basically own GM)
Solar Trust of America ($2.1 billion federal loan guarantee – now bankrupt)
A123 Systems (received $279 million)
Willard & Kelsey Solar Group (received $6 million)
Johnson Controls (received $299 million)
Schneider Electric (received $86 million)
The ones he does not fund and go out of business will be taxed out of business.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Uy0EW9a-SAQ
Steve
3:08 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
LOL The Heritage Foundation?? Youvgottabekiddingme!
How many businesses did Rmoney intentionally bankrupt?
Joe
3:14 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Steve, do you deny Obama said what he said in the video?
Steve, do you deny any of these companies got stimulus funding?
Steve, do you deny the fact that those who are labeled as bankrupt, are?
Then STFUAH.
Joe
3:15 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
"How many businesses did Rmoney intentionally bankrupt?"
Not one unless you have info to the contrary.
Joe
3:17 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
With comments like that Ms Worthington will NEVER have "elevated political discourse", only empty denials of the facts and truth from the willfully blind who keep their heads where the sun don't shine.
Steve
4:06 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
That's ridiculous. Most of them on your list haven't gone bankrupt. Now I know why you cut and paste so much. It's so you can selectively edit what you want to appear instead of "the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
Joe
4:21 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
"Most of them on your list haven't gone bankrupt."
More red herrings from the habitual liar! I never made that statement so you are just putting words out there where there are none. that is a sign of a loser in the debate. Can't deny the post so make stuff up! Ignorant man you are.
Mari
5:16 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Aliza, I disagree with you on so many points you raised, but don't have time to answer them all. Here are just a couple:
1. Ask the non-unionized workers at Delphi what they think about the auto bailout and what it did to their pensions, which were TERMINATED by the PBGC because they were underfunded while the pensions of union employees at the same company were fully funded by federal bail out funds.
2. Ask the bond owners at GM who had the values of their bonds negatively impacted when the bailout violated federal contract law and put the UAW and their interests above those of the bondholders.
3. Ask the owners and employees of the 2,200 or so dealerships that were forced to close through this bailout.
4. Ask the American public which has lost $25.1 BILLION dollars through the bailout as of mid-August, per the U.S. Treasury's own announcement. Lord only knows what it will be through the quarter ended on 9/30/12 since that loss was through 6/30/12 and include over $3 BILLION between 4/1/12 and 6/30/12 alone.
- to be continued because apparently I'm Tolstoy... -
Mari
5:21 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
5. Ask people what they think insurance is supposed to be and they will tell you that it is to cover people in the event of a catastrophic loss, unexpected accident, or illness. Since when does birth control fall under this category??? If you don't want to get pregnant, you have two options - don't have sex or use birth control. If you choose the latter, WHY should others subsidize your activity through their health insurance premiums? I paid for mine when I used it; didn't you pay for yours? Honestly, anyone who can't afford a box of condoms or a prescription for pills should probably not be having sex because sometimes birth control fails and if you can't afford the preventive measures on your own you sure as heck can't afford the child that comes when it fails!
6. Al Queda is on the resurgence; just ask Ambassdor Stevens - oh, wait, you can't. There are many stories from different sources stating that the CIA operatives and/or military were told to stand down or not sent to defend Stevens and the others involved in the 9/11 battle and that these directives came from either the President or his appointed higher-ups. Why? Better yet, why won't the President address this issue to the media or the public and why won't he have a real press conference with real reporters who can ask him the hard-hitting questions rather than spending his time on The View, David Letterman, etc.?
- need more characters - argh! -
Mari
5:31 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
7. Romney is associated with nutjobs? Are you saying that Obama isn't??? Their are nutjobs on both sides, including the Inauguration preacher who said he "was just kidding" when he stated that all white people are going to hell. THAT isn't a nut job?
8. Perhaps if Romney's 47% percent remark hadn't been abridged and taken out of context you would understand his meaning that he doubted most of them would vote for him better. However, when they are private remarks and only a portion is made public, it's easy to twist them to mean anything.
9. How many of those private sector jobs are part-time or gone to foreign nationals over here on work visas? Answer - a lot! How many people have been added to the food stamp rolls and disability rolls? How many people have given up and taken early retirement? Again - a lot!
10. Even without all of the above, the idea that Joe Biden, a bumbling, idiotic fool lately if ever there was one, as President would be enough to switch my vote.
Obviously, Aliza, I have as many reasons to support Romney as you have to support Obama so I guess we will be cancelling each other out at the polls.
Thank you for the opportunity to disagree with you; I hope it doesn't come across as nasty or mean because it's not meant that way but I am typing off the top of my head and not editing myself, so if it does sound like an attack, I apoligize. It's not meant as one and I appreciate you opening up this discourse.
22 characters left!
Mari
7:07 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Actually, Aliza, we did agree once - it was your 7/19 column entitled Is There No Way to Win? I had to do a search to find it, but we did agree on that one! I knew you couldn't be wrong ALL the time! ;-)
Aliza Worthington
11:18 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
You're right, Mari! I'd forgotten about that one! :-) We need to meet in real life one day. We should do a point/counterpoint series...
Also, you could probably read some of my earlier posts (http://catonsville.patch.com/blog_posts/the-worthington-post-ballerinas-on-the-moon and http://catonsville.patch.com/blog_posts/the-worthington-post-suspicious-minds-apologies-to-elvis) and I think you'd find nothing objectionable in those... :-)
Aliza Worthington
6:41 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Oh, my god, Mari, I am so glad to see you.
Mari
8:26 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
You too, Aliza! We may not agree on much, but that's okay if we both have the courage and strength of our convictions. Nice article - even if it was totally wrong! ;-)
Aliza Worthington
10:03 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
There are two things of which I can be sure when I see you've commented on one of my posts:
1. That you disagree with it, and
2. That you will express your disagreement with thoughtfulness and respect.
p.s. I've been accused by the Patch site of being Tolstoy once or twice myself... *cough*
RARE MARYLAND INDEPENDENT
7:15 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Obama MAY win. Two reasons for that. First, the disaster that was George Bush. Very hard for anyone to come back to vote for a Republican - and a Republican President and Congress could again be a disaster. Second, he has been able to build a solid group in his pocket consisting of minorities, gays, union workers, government workers and those people who don't want to work. They don't have concern about the overall good, just as long as they get their stuff. I personally don't understand how minorites can vote for him, given the fact that economically, they have done very poorly the last 4 years.
But make no mistake, President Obama has not shown the interest in working as the President. He enjoys the perks, but shuns the work. It could be a disaster if he is re elected, but we better prepare for it.
Romney could surprise us and be a solid President if he wins - but is certainly the underdog.
If Obama does gain re election, it could be good news. The continued drunken spending started by Bush will blow up the economy shortly. All of the cuts that both parties have shunned to make will be made for us. One bad bond issuance, and the bond market blows up, followed by the stock market, followed by mass layoffs, and finally, followed by mass cuts to virtually all public programs. This could get us back on our feet sooner than another QE plan. It will be devastating in the short term, but good for us in the long term.