The Policy Geek: re-election

Showing posts with label re-election. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A Horse Of A Different Color

So it would seem the race is now officially on. President Obama, commonly known as POTUS (President Of The United States, for the less literary savvy), has decided that bipartisan is no longer the way to go. He's making visits to the opposition's back yards, and bridges, and holding vigil during his Create Jobs tour right in front of their most needy infrastructure spots.

This Policy Geek traveled all over the country over the last two and a half years, and saw many a shovel ready construction site being shoveled. I mean everywhere. With big signs telling you they were stimulus projects. The Republicans generally didn't like the signs.

There was also lots of talk of (R) Governors lining up to refuse their portion of the stimulus funds as they became available. And now, now that POTUS is pushing for more infrastructure work to be put into action, the GOP says they never saw any fixin' of any roads being done by anyone over the last two and a half years and; therefore, if we passed an infrastructure Jobs Bill now, nothing would come of it. So odd. And then they filibuster, and vote it down for debate.

Usually, these are the guys who love them some construction money, and love passing it out to supporters they've befriended along the way, bid or no bid. Not this time. This time Rove and friends decided that it would be best if everything the United States Government votes to do, should be blocked. Period. Or left as unfunded mandates. Or non-approved appointments. Until this Democratic President is no longer in the Oval Office. That's the goal. The numero uno goal. In fact, if no votes passed at all, that would be fine with them. Unless it was to ban abortion, or remove civil rights, or as Perry just rewrote it, "take back the country like we did in our revolution of the 16th Century." Not sure what country he was talking about, but I'm pretty sure he was like 200 years off for the good 'ol U.S. of A.

But history and integrity and honesty have not been this part of this season's republican lexicon. Oh, hell no! It's tax cuts and godless liberals and invisible racism and wealthy treason talkers. That's what the GOP is putting up as their best and brightest. Oy.

So what R we gonna do about this Jobs Bill? Here's the latest from the White House: "

Last night, the American Jobs Act was filibustered by Senate Republicans. There was no vote on the actual bill. But it would have succeeded: the American Jobs Act has at least 51 votes -- a clear majority -- to pass the Senate. And a new poll shows that 63 percent of Americans support it, too. Today the President recorded a message he wants you to see, laying out where we go from here in the fight for jobs.

Watch President Obama's video -- and pass it on to anyone you think should see it.

"I've got news for them. Not this time. Not with so many Americans out of work. I will not take no for an answer. Force them to vote!!" ~ President Barack Obama

Bachmann is suggesting no taxes. Cain is suggesting a flat tax. They all want more military spending. We have to change this, but it is up to us. Now, we need to push even harder. Our voices make a difference. They really do. Call, write a letter, or send an e-mail. Don't give up. We need to put people back to work, and create an America the rest of the world wants to do business in.

Lisa Lindo
The Policy Geek

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Gettin' 'Er Done

Accomplishments Thus Far Of The Obama Administration

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Republican mine field; a legacy of ego and money.

Destroy the economy,
blame it on the next guy,
GIVE BILLIONS TO BANKS,
just give it to them,
complain when the auto industry is bailed out and pays its debt back with interest, immediately,
make sure the LIVES of the citizen's are not guarded with healthcare for all
by refusing to work towards any type of system that would offer healthcare for all,
growing the "poor houses" like they used to say,
by removing legislation to protect the consumer,
the GOP created the homeless by feeding citizens bogus home loans with no oversite,
then refusing to let other humans EVEN HELP TO FEED THE HOMELESS WITH THEIR OWN FRIGGIN TIME & MONEY in FL

The people who are registered republicans are saying they vote to continue the patriot act,
they want us to kill other people just because they get sick or were on the other side in a war, or committed crime.
Heck, they'd loan you their guns if they thought it'd help.
The people who are registered republicans think waterboarding is no big deal and helps save the day.
We have truth serum, had it for decades, but they insist on waterboarding which all studies show
NEVER gives you anything but specifically what you ask the person you tortured to say, and when you release them, the story of your goofy torture will just piss them off even more and make the world hate US even more.

(Daily Digest, 1921)

You pick a fight on earth that kills tens of thousands of humans for no reason.
Doing so spend so much on the wars,
and contractors,
and Halliburton,
and Xe,
and all the bases in the world wherever we are
handing out oil leases like catholic wafers along the way,
and now in many places 30% of everyone is living below poverty right now, in The United States!
You let your childhood friends from Saudi Arabia,
Blow us up and let them get away 'cause it just gave you a good excuse for Iraq, so you're grateful.

You spent all our money, and now you blame it on the next guy.
You spent all our surplus and then complain about the deficit.
You spent all our good will & hate foreigners
You (not you) but YOU REPUBLICANS HAVE TO LIE AND CHEAT TO WIN ELECTIONS
Deep down, that's kinda gotta hurt.
You hate entitlements, but love the subsidies to your farmers so food is cheaper for everyone.
You hate entitlements, until the entitled entitle themselves to pay no taxes, with offshore accounts.

You don't want to help people get jobs, better paying jobs, union jobs. That would piss off your bosses.
Jobs are the last thing you want to vote for.
And voting you rig by making people pay for IDs,
send away for birth certificates, to where? They are homeless.

You don't come up with one good idea except to tackle the quarterback OF YOUR OWN TEAM!!
And when he calls out plays, you block every single one.
You won't agree to pay for what has already been voted on and won, The Consumer Protection Agency.
You don't like red tape. Or unions complaining, or voting.

And the Democratic Party lets you do every single one of those things.
They just can't seem to get together to stop any of it.

Because it was all set up as a mine field, left behind, to do constant damage until another GOP Pres hits deck.
Until then, the game starts, the ball's hiked, and the GOP always sweeps the leg.

2012 and 2016 are gonna require some heavy lifting.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Astroturf Closeup

(Astroturf, 2011)

Some things bubble up slowly, like hearing a snipet of conversation here or there over the course of a couple of weeks. Naturally. Some might refer to that as collective consciousness. The people here call it 'Grassroots' Interests.

Some go wide all at the same time and you hear it everywhere you turn. Some political messages come out like Talking Points.

When they appear in several right wing mouths with exactly the same phraseology on the same day, those are Talking Points. Generally known within the beltway, and on the talky shows, as 'Astroturf' politics. Sort of like when you hear a politician or pundit say, "The people of the United States feel..." or "The people of the United States want... You always want to pay attention to the next few words out. If that phrase hits the airwaves like it's a CD set to repeat, you've got your Astroturf. It's meant to sound like just plain ol' folks are thinkin' it up, but without a doubt that kind of Rovian speak has been generated by think tanks, public relations firms, or in corporate executive suites. Although Astroturfing has long been associated with politicians trying to appear to be aware of grassroots sentiment, it is actually revisionism at its core.

And some things are even more subversive. Welcome to the Smiley-West 'Poverty Bus Tour.'

According to The Root, "These two have done much worse than what Halperin has done because they set the tone for it, opened the door to it, and must take much of the blame for creating a climate that would make a white, professional journalist feel comfortable verbally and vulgarly attacking the first black president of the United States," Joyner wrote.

Recently, some very prominent Republicans had begun criticizing President Obama for supposedly ignoring Black America's plight. Like the decks stacked against your average American of color are somehow beyond the POTUS's radar. What's that about, you might ask? Simple.

Check out these articles that have noticed the latest coming down the pike, seemingly innocuous and spread out comments over the last couple months, in preparation for the 2012 primaries.

ThyBlackMan.com
Michele Bachman - Newt Gingrich "Blame Obama For Black Joblessness

Fox News

Newt Gingrich Puts Obama On Defensive Over Failure To Help Black Americans

Talking Points Memo
Newt Gingrich ~ "Obama Is So Bad, Black People Will Vote Republican."

Wonkette finally came out and called this spade a spade.
Newt Gingrich Plan For Success ~ Win The Black Vote Back From Obama

And Steve Harvey called this one out as well. Have a listen (3 audio clips)

Most Obama supporters feel ;-) that Tavis Smiley and Cornel West are now taking their personal hatred of President Obama on the road with this so-called ‘poverty tour’ and that this is nothing but undermining President Obama for 2012. If you need confirmation, you need only look at the recent Washington Post article titled- Poverty tour’ stirs debate about whether Obama policies have helped African Americans

"More than a year ago Smiley and West went rogue on Obama, fomenting bitter, public fights with allies of the president that have resulted in name-calling and shouting matches."

The minute President Obama says anything about a program “specifically” geared for African Americans, he would be crucified because everyone (especially in the media) would then say that he is being biased towards African Americans. He can’t win that fight. But the real grassroots have come out and have been speaking loud and clear. Smiley and West were greeted in Detroit by angry protesters, many wearing Obama t-shirts and hats, who wanted to let them know that their Obama bashing tour was not welcome in their town. However, mainstream media outlets like CNN are reporting on this as if this tour has major support from the Black community.

The message they've chosen as their opening shot for 2012, if you are Black, don't vote for Obama. Nasty. This kind of Astroturfing in social media and on in the main stream news is based on manipulation rather than constructive and authentic echoes of the public trust. And while American Crossroads and Alec are still in business, me thinks we need our own pushback think tank. Like now!

Lisa Lindo
The Policy Geek

The Policy Geek