More than half of what is going to come out of his mouth is going to be a contradiction somewhere. I'll go dig some up later.

jdafixa, I think that your comments are a bit more incendiary in tone than is fully helpful, but I'm generally with you. The root of the problem is the dissociative relationship with the truth. The root of that dissociation, is the inarticulable anger at the "other" in the White House.

And an ability to steal elections by either rigging or burning up voting machines shortly before the election in a populace county that strongly supports its favorite son, Bill White. Republicans will stop at nothing, say anything and do their level best to intimidate and thwart demographic groups that might vote Democratic. The Republican controlled State Legislature gerrymandered the congressional districts so thoroughly that if the state was printed on cardboard and the districts cut out it would resemble an a complicated puzzle. They carefully deprived Austin of exclusive representation in congress. I suppose it's because Austin is like a liberal oasis in the middle of a Red State desert.

Hey, a liberal joke that is actually funny! Good job, Tim.

Could it be these states have been run conservatively so that when the need to expand services that aid the unemployed and job developers, these states can expand the government payroll accordingly? Did you know Texas has fewer government employees than most other states? Hmmm.

....So then it's running one of the largest deficits in the nation because?

this is totally false.

and children who do misbehave should be separated from students who are willing and wanting to learn. As for children being put in a court system i do not agree with that but their parents should be held responsible so if that means they need to go to court and be held responsible I'm all for it

That would mean that you believe the low intelligence voter pays attention to the TRUTH!! My, will you please share those drugs you're on - I said please?!

i'm sure if you look at the statics the people with lowest education and intelligence vote DEMOCRATE.....just sayin

LOL some more.

thanks keep it up.

i'm sure if you look at the statics the people with lowest education and intelligence vote DEMOCRATE.....just sayin

Plese provide some facts - seems to me your Repulican candidates are trying to out do each other for stupid....just saying.

Actually that isn't so far off from statistical truth (although he worded in the worst way possible). Democrats typically speaking are people w/o a high school education, w/ a high school education (but no college), or with a bachelors degree+. Democrats are also typically government employees and typically make middle income or lower income. Republicans, on the other hand, tend to be people with professional degrees (such as law degrees) and tend to be in higher brackets of income. There are some exceptions to this rule on the Republican side: military, police, and firefighter personnel are more likely to vote Republican than Democrat. People who work construction and/or drive trucks, or work in other harder-labor jobs (like, as an example, lumberjacking) are also more likely to vote Republican. And for Hispanics the Republican/Democrat breakdown is almost 50/50. Interestingly enough, however, people with bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and PhDs are most likely to vote Democrat. People with professional certificates and professional degrees are most likely to vote Republican. This also depends on where someone lives. The more rural of a location someone lives in the more likely he/she will vote Republican. The more urban of an environment someone lives in the more likely he/she will vote Democrat.

LOL

Thanks for the Monday morning Laugh! just a good way to start the week off after a week off.

leftist>> lol great one will keep that as a rain check on a drink.

lol

i have read all these blogs for the last couple weeks and i have yet to read one that has said anything good that the President has done over the last three years or even the last several months. Please explain to why this is? A nation of negativity.

30 years of liberalism? Surely you meant "30 years of the liberal policies slowly being eroded"?

J carroll --- here is part 1 of 4 of a list of accomplishments: it is incompleat since it was compiled at electon time.

ETHICS

• Ordered the White House and all federal agencies to respect the Freedom of Information Act and overturned Bush-era limits on accessibility of federal documents (2009)

• Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible (2009)

• Placed limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House (2009)

• Placed limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration (2009)

• Signed a measure strengthening registration and reporting requirements for lobbyists (2009)

• Ordered that lobbyists must be removed from and are no longer permitted to serve on federal and White House advisory panels and boards (2009) * Note: After saying he would not hire lobbyists, a few have been hired in the Administration

• Companies and individuals who are delinquent on their taxes or owe back taxes are no longer allowed to bid for federal contracts (2009)

• Initiated the “e-Rulemaking Initiative” (in cooperation with Cornell University) to allow for online public “notice and comment” of federal laws and initiatives (2010)

• Issued the “Open Gov Directive” ordering all Cabinet departments to promote transparency and citizen participation in their policies (2010)

• Signed extensions on banning lobbyists from serving on agency boards (2010)

• Developed the “Do Not Pay List” with data on contractors and recipients of federal funds who are deemed to be ineligible because of fraud and abuse (2010)

ECONOMY

• Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) (2009) * Note: Bush was the first president since Herbert Hoover to not make infrastructure a priority

• Authorized the US auto industry rescue plan and two GMAC rescue packages (2009)

• Authorized the housing rescue plan and new FHA residential housing guarantees (2009)

• Authorized a $789 billion economic stimulus plan (2009) * Note: 1/3 in tax cuts for working-class families; 1/3 to states for infrastructure projects; 1/3 to states to prevent the layoff of police officers, teachers, etc. at risk of losing their jobs because of state budget shortfalls

• Instituted a new rule allowing the public to meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (in as quickly as one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying (2009)

• Authorized a continuation of the US financial and banking rescue plans initiated at the end of the Bush administration and authorized TARP funds to buy “toxic assets” from failing financial institutions (2009)

• Authorized the “Cash for Clunkers” program that stimulated auto sales and removed old, inefficient, polluting cars from the road (2009)

• Convened a “jobs summit” to bring experts together to develop ideas for creating jobs (2009)

• Ordered the FDIC to beef up deposit insurance (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era policy of protecting credit card companies (2009) * Note: In place of the old policy, new consumer protections were instituted and the industry’s predatory practices were banned

• Authorized the federal government to make more loans available to small businesses and ordered lower rates for federal loans to small businesses (2009)

• Placed a 35% tariff on Chinese tires and a few other products such as pipes after China was found to be illegally “dumping” exports below cost (2009) * Note: Clinton, Bush I, and Reagan all refused to “get tough” on China’s predatory trade practices; Bush II refused four times during his presidency

• In November 2009, Obama extended unemployment benefits for one million workers

and expanded coverage for some existing homeowners who are buying again (2009)

• Called on Congress to deliver a “Jobs bill” (2010)

• Credit card companies are prohibited from raising rates without advance notification or arbitrarily if customers are paying bills on time (2010)

• Signed a bill to extend unemployment benefits set to expire (2010)

• Signed historic Wall Street reform bill (2010) * Note: Designed to reregulate and end abusive practices and promote consumer protections

• Signed the HIRE Act to stimulate the economic recovery (2010) * Note: The bill includes: tax cuts for small businesses who hire someone unemployed for at least two months; small businesses can write off their investments in equipment this year; etc.

• National Export Initiative established to enhance federal support (technical assistance, training, trade missions, etc.) and coordination efforts to help US businesses export products and services (2010)

• Initiatives to promote a “Wireless Broadband Revolution” (2010) * Note: Among other things, broadband is finally being considered as necessary infrastructure, with efforts to expand use, access, and spectrum…

• Expanded agricultural credit to farmers during current economic crisis (2010)

• Signed bill – US Manufacturing Enhancement Act (2010)

• Signed bill – Single Family Housing Mortgage Insurance (2010)

Part 2:

GOVERNANCE

• The White House website now provides information on all economic stimulus projects and spending, along with an unprecedented amount of information on our government (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era practice of circumventing established FDA rules for political reasons (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era practice of having White House staff rewrite the findings of scientific and environmental regulations and reports when they disagreed with the results (2009)

• Limited the salaries of senior White House aides (salaries cut to $100,000) (2009)

• Has urged Congress to adopt “Pay-Go” (whereby each dollar of spending is offset by a dollar in cuts or revenues, which was used in the `90s but abandoned in the `00s) (2010)

• Has been holding open meetings with Republican leaders, although they complain of a lack of access and information (2010)

• Signed the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (2010) * Note: To curb wasteful spending

• Tasked federal agencies to develop plans for disposing of unneeded real estate and then to eliminate unnecessary or non-economical lands, properties, etc. (2010)

TAXES

• Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks to permit the US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs (2009) * Note: The new policy promotes in-sourcing investments to brings jobs back to the US

• Signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which provides small tax cuts for 95% of “working families” (2009) * Note: The tax cuts were not as big as was suggested during the 2008 campaign

• Convened an advisory board that is looking into simplifying the tax code (2009)

• Ordered the closing of offshore tax safe havens (for individual and business tax evaders) (2009)

• Reduced taxes for some small businesses to stimulate the economic recovery (2009)

• Extended the Home Buyers Credit for first-time home buyers (2009)

• Proposed doubling the child tax credit (2010)

• Called for the repeal of the capital gains tax for small businesses (2010)

• Proposed rolling back the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans (2010) * Note: This would be for families earning over $250,000/year and would return their tax rates to the 1990’s level

BUDGETING

• Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut federal spending (2009)

• Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify wasteful spending and practices (2009)

• Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient (2009)

• Overturned the Bush-era practice of not listing certain federal programs in the federal budget (2009) (2010) * Note: Bush did this (so did Reagan) in an effort to hide programs and make the budget look smaller; such “off budget” items are now included in the annual budget

• Full appropriations for war are now included in the budget (2009) (2010) * Note: Bush did not list many of the appropriations for Iraq, Afghanistan, and War on Terror

• Funds for emergency appropriations are now included in the budget (2009) (2010)

• Proposed a three-year freeze on federal discretionary spending beginning in 2011 (2010)

• Is in the process of cutting 120 federal programs identified as either wasteful or unnecessary (2010)

• Established a bipartisan commission on fiscal responsibility, staffed by House and Senate members and private citizens, tasked with submitting proposals to balance the budget (2010) * Note: In the face of Republican opposition, the powers of the commission were watered down

• Established a bipartisan commission on the future of Social Security, tasked with submitting proposals to preserve and strengthen Social Security (2010) * Note: In the face of Republican opposition, the powers of the commission were watered down

• Cut $20 billion from federal budget and has pledged to cut at least this much every year (2010)

• Ultimately decided to cancel planned new presidential helicopter fleet and stick with marine One (2010)

• Freezing all discretionary spending for next three years, except on national security (2010)

• Presidential Memoranda to freeze discretionary awards, bonuses, etc. for federal political appointees (2010)

• Beginning to use “Pay-As-You-Go” (Pay-Go) to offset budget expenditures with budget cuts or revenue enhancements (2010)

Part 3:

NATIONAL SECURITY

• Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane (which wasn’t even used in Iraq/Afghanistan) and other outdated weapons systems (2009)

• Announced his intention to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay (2009) * Note: The closure has been delayed due to massive opposition but it remains on the agenda.

• Stated his interest in housing terrorists at a new federal “super max” facility in the US (2009) * Note: this has been delayed in the face of massive opposition but it remains on the agenda

• Cut the expensive Reagan era missile defense program, saving $1.4 billion in 2010 (2009)

• Cancelled plans to station anti-ballistic missile systems in Poland and the Czech Republic (2009)

• Replacing long-range, expensive missile systems with more efficient smaller systems (2009)

• Increased US Navy patrols off the Somali coast in response to pirating (2009)

• Established a new cyber security office and appointed a cyber security czar (2009)

• Ordered the first nation-wide comprehensive cyber threat assessment (2009)
• Instituted a new Nuclear Posture Review, revising US nuclear deterrence policy to encourage more nations to join the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (2010) * Note: Components of the policy include: a pledge to stop nuclear testing; a pledge to not build a new generation of nucs; identifying nuclear terrorism, rather than a launch from another nuclear state, as the major threat; a pledge to not use nucs on a non-nuclear state in a conventional conflict; etc.

• Executive orders to block payment, transfers, exports, etc… of individuals and organizations support the regimes of North Korea, Iran, Somali pirates, and other foreign threats (2010)

• Presidential Memoranda to extend certain provisions of The Trading with Enemies Act which was to expire in September 2010 (2010) * Note: This includes freezing assets and banning trade that benefits the Cuban regime; however further efforts at normalizing travel to Cuba are supported

• Signed bill for southwest border security and increased funds and agents on the Mexican border (2010)

• Signed the Comprehensive Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act to deal with foreign regimes like Iran and North Korea (2010)

IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN

• Began the phased withdrawal of US troops from Iraq (2009); continuing the withdrawal (2010)

• Changed the US military command in the Afghan conflict (2009)

• Tasked the Pentagon to reorganize US policy in Afghanistan; the new policy includes 30,000 additional troops deployed, priority training of Afghan forces, developing agriculture and infrastructure, limiting aerial bombing, etc. (2009)

• Ordered the Pentagon to send additional helicopters to assist US Marine units and Special Forces in Afghanistan (2009)

• Increased unmanned drone strikes on Taliban and al-Qaeda targets in Afghanistan (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era “stop-loss” policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date (2009)

And part 4:

MILITARY & VETERANS

• Ordered the Pentagon to cover expenses of families of fallen soldiers if they wish to be on site when the body arrives back in the US (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era “blackout” imposed on media coverage of the return of fallen US soldiers (2009) * Note: The media is now permitted to cover the story pending adherence to respectful rules and with the approval of the fallen soldier’s family

• Ended the Bush-era “black out” policy on media coverage of war casualties (2009) * Note: Full information is now released for the first time in the War on Terror

• Ordered better body armor to be procured for US troops (2009)

• Funding new Mine Resistant Ambush Vehicles (2009) * Note: The old Hummers were very vulnerable to roadside explosives and an alarming percentage of our soldiers lost in Iraq were on account of IEDs

• Working to increase pay and benefits for military personnel (2009)

• Improving housing for military personnel (2009)

• Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses (2009)

• Ordered that conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other neglected military hospitals be improved (2009)

• Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military to a post-Cold War, modern fighting force (2009) * Note: Bush announced in 2001 his intention to do this but backed off the reforms after 9/11, which include: new procurement policies; increasing the size of Special Ops units; deploying new technologies; creating new cyber security units; etc.

• Ended the Bush-era practice of awarding “no-bid” defense contracts (2009)

• Improving benefits for veterans as well as VA staffing, information systems, etc. (2009)

• Authorized construction of additional health centers to care for veterans (2009)

• Suspended the Bush-era decision to purchase a fleet of Marine One helicopters from suppliers in favor of American made helicopters (2009)

• Ordered a review of the existing “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military (2010)

• New GI Bill for returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan (2009)

• Signed bill providing assistance for caregivers of veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan (2010) * Note: The omnibus bill does the following: Training, funding, and counseling for caregivers; promoting pilot childcare programs for women vets under treatment at the VA; independent oversight to prevent abuse; readjustment counseling for National Guard and reservist units; etc.

• Eliminated co-payments for veterans who are catastrophically disabled (2010)

• Fulfilled campaign promise to have combat troops (90,000) out of Iraq by August 31, 2010 (2010)

• Established a new interagency task force to assist veterans owning small businesses (2010) * Note: The efforts include promoting federal contract opportunities, improve access to loans and capital, mentor assistance programs, etc.

• Signed The Families of Fallen Heroes Act, which covers the moving costs of immediate family members of those lost in service (military, intelligence, and security personnel) (2010)

RIGHTS

• Instituted enforcements for equal pay for women (Lilly Ledbetter Bill) (2009)

• Appointed Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina, to the Supreme Court (2009)

• Held the first Seder in White House (2009)

• Appointed a diverse Cabinet and diverse White House staff (2009)

• Spoke at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization (2009)

• Signed the first major piece of federal gay rights legislation that includes acts of violence against gays under the list of federal hate crimes (2009)

• Reversed the Bush-era practice of politicizing Justice Department investigations and prosecutions against political opponents (2009)

• Pushing for some of the 9/11 perpetrators to be tried in federal court (2009) * Note: The process has moved at a snail’s pace and, in the face of opposition, Obama has remained quiet

• Signed an extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Bill to provide federal research and support for treating the disease (2009)

• Allowed the State Department of offer same-sex benefits for employees (2009)

• Proposed that the Pentagon repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy; placed a “freeze” on current efforts to remove alleged homosexuals from the military (2009)

• After eight years of neglect, the Justice Department and EEOC are again enforcing employment discrimination laws (2009)

• Convened the White House Tribal Nations Conference, inviting representatives from 564 federally-recognized Indian tribes (2009)

• Provided increased school projects for Indian lands and increased funds for the Indian Health Service (2009)

• Signed an Executive Order mandating that his Cabinet develop plans to work with and consult Indian tribes on issues impacting Indian lands (2009)

• Commissioned a study to develop alternatives to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (2010)

• Called for federal agencies to look into recognizing gay partnerships in terms of benefits (2010)

• Signed an Executive Order for the President’s Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2010)

• Increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2010)

• Signed Executive Order to promote the federal government as a “model employer” when it comes to hiring the disabled (2010) * Note: This includes new efforts to increase the recruitment, hiring, and training for the disabled

• Programs to assist Spanish speakers with the US Census (2010)

• Elena Kagen appointed to Supreme Court (2010)

• Tasked all federal agencies to develop new strategies to address HIV/AIDS (2010)

• After organizing studies on the topic in 2009, tasked the Pentagon to eliminate “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (2010)

• Signed Fair Sentencing Act (2010) * Note: The Administration continues to deescalate marijuana interdiction and raids; increased dramatically the amount of cocaine one must possess to be sentenced to jail; eliminated mandatory sentencing for first-time drug abusers and simple possession

EDUCATION

• Authorized construction funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access in K-12 public schools (2009)

• Increased funding for school construction (2009)

• Increased funding available for student loans (2009)

• Expanded the national youth service program (2009)

• Streamlined the federal student loan process to save $87 billion over the next 10 years (2009)

• Changed the rule to allow students struggling to make college loan payments to refinance their loans (2009)

• Beginning discussions with Congress for education reform (2009) * Note: Much of Obama’s education reform has been sidelined by opposition in Congress

• Initiated a “Race to the Top” competitive federal grant program for states who develop innovative policies (2009)

• Instituted a “judgment review” allowing families with student loans to petition to have their current financial status determine the loan rather than the previous year’s finances (2009)

• Launched “Educate to Innovate,” a public/private partnership making $236 million available for science, mathematics, and technology education programs (2009)

• Proposed capping the maximum amount students must pay on student loans (as percentage of their income) (2010)

• Proposed reducing student loan obligations for individuals going to work in community and public service jobs (2010)

• The federal government will offer direct student loans, cutting out the cost of private banks (“middle man”) who increase the costs in order to make a profit (2010)

• Increased investment in technologies for schools/education (2010)

DISASTER RESPONSE

• Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness (2009)

• FEMA once again reports directly to the president (2009) * Note: Bush removed FEMA (prior to the Hurricane Katrina disaster) from this status

• Demonstrated an immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters (2009)

• Ordered that funds be released and red tape be streamlined for the ongoing Hurricane Katrina recovery effort in the Gulf Coast (2009)

• Timely and massive relief effort in response to the January 2010 earthquake and ensuing humanitarian crisis (2010)

Components of the response:

- The FBI’s National Center for Disaster Fraud was tasked to look into possible fraud with organizations soliciting funds for relief

- Announced the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund

- Established an emergency Haiti Task Force in the State Department

- Established a website with information, resources, and a posting of a “person finder” online to help families and friends to locate loved ones

- Joint aid and relief planning with the U.K.

- Sponsored a resolution in the UN Security Council for additional security and police forces in Haiti

- Dispatched the US Navy floating hospital (USNS Comfort) and, within 5 days, 9 naval and relief ships, 5 Coast Guard cutters, 8 Coast Guard aircraft, and 12,000 US military personnel

- Initial dispatch of several ships and cargo planes full of humanitarian aid and supplies, 6 search/rescue teams (500 personnel), and 265 Department of Health & Human Services personnel for emergency medical and aid support

- Established a mobile US air traffic control center at the destroyed airport in Port-au-Prince

• After the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a freeze was placed on new deep water projects (2010)

• Executive Order to establish new security measures to minimize accidental release of bio and chemical agents; new strategies for public health and bioterrorism response (2010)

• Established a national commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon spill to examine facts and report a plan of action; new efforts to prevent offshore spills (2010)

• After a slow start in responding to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the White House is promoting a long-term plan to reconstruct the damaged Gulf and negotiated with BP the establishment of a multi-billion dollar trust fund for victims of the spill (2010)

• Extended national flood insurance program for those in need during current economic crisis (2010)

OTHER INITIATIVES

• New federal funding for science and research labs (2009)

• Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program (2009)

• Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program (2009)

• Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud (2009)

• Ordered the DEA to stop raids on medical marijuana usage (2009)

• Ordered a review of existing “mandatory minimum” prison sentencing (2009)

• Signed an order to limit airport tarmac delays and the time passengers had to sit in the plane/on the tarmac during delays (2009)

• Restored the EPA to “Cabinet level” status (2009) * Note: Bush removed the EPA from this status

• Beginning discussions with Congress for comprehensive immigration reform (2010)

* Note: Much of Obama’s immigration reform had been stalled by opposition in Congress

• Commissioned expert panels and reports from NASA; announced a new direction for human space flight that involves funding a new heavy lift-launcher and jettisoning the Ares 1 program; boosting NASA’s budget by $1 billion in 2011 (2010)

• Ordered a ban on text-messaging for all commercial truck and bus drivers (2010)

• Signed bill – FAA Air Transportaiton Modernizatin and Safety Improvement Act (2010)

JCARROLL: I agree with you 100%. If you look at the chart above the only two states that have created jobs are Republican run. The other three states are run by the Democratic party and they could not increase employment even with the stimulus. Instead of constantly complaining about how bad the opposition is, maybe you Progressives need to look in the mirror and share in the blame. All politician have let us down. It is time to radically restructure our country and that means simplifying the tax code, reforming entitlement programs and modernizing our government

I do hope that was able to help, you said you had not heard anything and well there are now over 200 for you. "The 244 Accomplishments of President Barack Obama. This special list was compiled by Robert P. Watson, Ph. D., who is a presidential historian and Professor of American Studies at Lynn University. As some falsely claim ” he hasn’t done anything “….as you can plainly see by the incredible list, President Obama has OBVIOUSLY accomplished more in just 20 months than most president’s have in 8 years." I got this list from jackandjillpolitics.com it was compiled October of 2010 so I am sure there are even more to add to the list.........

i never said the president hasnt done any thing good. what i was saying the topics of these disscusions are all aimed at negativity of others rather than the positive things these president has done.

Much of that list is Laughable>>>stoping raids on medical marijuana labs....seriously. we wonder why california has lost over 850,000 jobs in the last several years its because their population is running around stoned and there isnt enough doughnut shops to hire them all. lol

Thank you!! Very helpful POSITIVE message about the current administration's accomplishments.

Also if these blogs really wanted to talk about a real issue and not just trying to smear others idea or simply trying to smear others who disagree we would be talking about "Fast and Furious".

this is an issue that will probably lead to the impeachment of the President and if it doesnt go that high it will certainly lead to the firing of Eric Holder.

making fun of someone because they are from texas is simple and is why american politics have become so unimportant.

Jules,

Great list.

but sadly they will not be able to understand it, but only try to change the subject.

Its not good enough to say well i have done this and this and this. i think i if i went to my employer and said here is a big list of the things i have done. his next question would be right after he said i dont care about all things you have done....what are the results of your work and how have they impacted what we are trying to accomplish here?

BINGO!!!

winner winner chicken dinner.

lol didnt take long

Did y'all even read this accomplishment list? it's is so laughable. How do you put something on like this in an accomplishment list " Note: Much of Obama’s immigration reform had been stalled by opposition in Congress" this list is filled with statements like this one. especially when it comes to all the major issues. i guess every one has forgot that for the last 6 years the congress and the senate was ran by the Democrates

J CARROLL asked:

i have read all these blogs for the last couple weeks and i have yet to read one that has said anything good that the President has done over the last three years or even the last several months. Please explain to why this is? A nation of negativity.

I would conjecture that the reason little "good" is said has more to do with the current trends in political expression than in any act, good or bad, done by a candidate or current representative.

Most political discussions, advertisements, trends, etc. seem to be focused on tearing down either the oppositions candidate or their policies. Much like your comments which refer to the "laughable" nature of the generously provided list of the President's accomplishments.

I also believe that these boards tend to be more analysis and activist in nature when dealing with the topics provided by TRMS, and are not focused as much on praise and unilateral support of any particular candidate or representative. There are, however, always exceptions.

We're also a bit of a negative bunch due to the prevalence of negativity during these trying times in our nation. We want better, but given the magnitude of the circumstances embracing our nation we don't necessarily know how to get there. Like many, we know what we don't want more than what we do when it comes to the intricacies of politics and society.

I think it would be fair to say that some of your own comments are laced with a bit of negativity. Even your question is a bit of a "stab" at the nature of the posters on this site. So, I would have to say you aren't that different than the people you say you're finding here.

Thus, J CARROLL, I would ask ... what do you think we should be posting here and why?

J Carroll,

The reason so many things include the disclaimer below it about being held up by opposition in congress or senate is because it was true. When Dems held house and Senate the republican minority used something known as the filibuster to prevent any legislation from being voted on let alone being passed. The Stimulus would have been much more effective had the republicans not used their obstructionist filibuster tactics to water it down. The same goes for the Health care bill. So when you claim that the Dems have had a majority in both house for the past few years and look at the economy, you need to take into account that the whole time Dems have been trying to pass democratic policies the republicans have used their obstructionist tactics to control policy while still only being a minority.

Some people will never listen or believe what they read nor believe in proven the facts. Good post Jules, unfortunatly thier eyes will read but their mind is blind.

Patriot

solutions and honesty. i feel what most people want and need is direction and a since that they can accomplish things on their own. with that being said when someone we know or a relative or a neighbor falls we as a community should be the ones who pick them up and not rely soley on the government. our problems are self inflected and no government will be able to help if we can't return a since of family and community to country. so i would say focus on things that we as society can improve on and can make a huge difference a lot faster than asking some congressman who doesn't even know who the hell you are anyway. Start from the ground up getting people involved in communities again.

Brandon,

obstructionist......its a Strong word to against someone who does See the world through your eye's. meaning they didn't vote the way you wanted them to vote because they didn't agree with the way you think. its not personal its just different ideas. also, while in charge of everything they passed the largest entitlement program known to this country. Health Care" which a ton of people didn't agree with. they didn't need republican votes to do this. so for you to now say they couldnt of passed any other bills on stimulus and immigration is nothing more than an excuse for not proposing the right bills. with things like immigration and stimulus funding are way more bipartisan than health-care ever was.

. i feel what most people want and need is direction and a since that they can accomplish things on their own. with that being said when someone we know or a relative or a neighbor falls we as a community should be the ones who pick them up and not rely soley on the government.

gee thats nice how about expanding that to the USA is just one big old community!!!! and yes we take care of our own!!!!! its threw what we all call taxes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we as a community should be the ones who pick them up and not rely soley on the government.

Community=government

Start from the ground up getting people involved in communities again.

The assumption you make here is that people were taken care of when people "were involved in communities." If the private sector had done enough to help those in need the government would have never gotten involved. Because the private sector (i.e. charities and non-profits) do not make enough money, have enough access, enough volunteers, or are located nation-wide enough to help it falls on government to pick up the slack. If I use your logic that communities and governments are separate this is the problem of communities, not government. Therefore cutting programs or complaining about programs offered to help people by the government makes absolutely no sense. In either instance your logic appears contradictory.

obstructionist......it a Strong word to against someone who does See the world through your eye's. meaning they didn't vote the way you wanted them to vote because they didn't agree with the way you think. its not personal its just different ideas.

No an obstructionist is not someone who votes differently than you because they philosophically disagree. An obstructionist is someone who votes against you solely because they do not want you to win; it is someone who cares not what the outcome of policy is, but what the outcome of party is. This is especially true when considering that the obstructionism has been Republicans voting against their own ideas.

also, while in charge of everything they passed the largest entitlement program known to this country. Health Care

HCRA is not an entitlement program, nor would it be the "largest entitlement program known to this country" if it was an entitlement program. Additionally "most people" depends on very vague definers. If we're taking the sum of most polls then the polling data suggests that people are against Obamacare, but for HCRA. Since they are both the same pieces of legislation this does not accurately reflect what it is the public does or does not support. But regardless of whether or not the public supports it this is an ad populum argument which is a logical fallacy. So not only is this argument not factually accurate or contextually honest, it also is an illogical argument to begin with.

they didn't need republican votes to do this. so for you to now say they couldnt of passed any other bills on stimulus and immigration is nothing more than an excuse for not proposing the right bills.

HCRA was passed with bi-partisan support. The Democratic presence in the Senate during President Obama's time in office has never had a filibuster proof majority. Therefore yes they did and have needed Republican support to pass legislation. This, again, is not only a factually and contextually dishonest argument, but it is another logical fallacy known as begging the question.

with things like immigration and stimulus funding are way more bipartisan than health-care ever was.

This statement contradicts your opening premise to your second paragraph. The immigration bill presented in the Senate was a Republican bill proposed by Republican legislators that those very same legislators voted against, even though the bill had not been altered in any way from the original format they had proposed.

but when you personalize it it becomes much more real and understanding and you can learn from others. when you simply just go to the mail box and pull out a check you havent learned anything except i hope my check is there next month.

but when you personalize it it becomes much more real and understanding and you can learn from others. when you simply just go to the mail box and pull out a check you havent learned anything except i hope my check is there next month.

This is another logical fallacy called appeal to pathos. It is also ignoring the actual statistics regarding assistance that people receiving from government aid get, how long they are on this aid, and how it helps them "personally."

its not a fallacy when you have seen it work. if you dont feel we as americans can do more in our communities to help other fellow americans thats fine. im not hear to say that all your ideas are wrong or even that all my ideas are correct. i just believe we should be able to have open conversation of ideas without attacking people by calling them names and making fun of where they are from. i would hope people who care so much for there country would be above this.

Your defense of an appeal to pathos fallacy is to provide another appeal to pathos fallacy. If you are unfamiliar with what constitutes a logical argument or what are the fallacies you're utilizing please familiarize yourself by doing a quick Google search. I've provided the names of the fallacies so that you can avoid them and, hopefully, avoid them in the future to present more reasoned arguments. The argument you've presented here is what makes people feel good=good for them. People feel good meeting with other people who want to help them face to face so therefore it is good. People do not feel good getting a check in the mail so therefore it is not good. This is fallacious reasoning. What is more your initial premise- regarding government welfare- was that government welfare should be abstained or lessened because it discourages people to involve themselves in communities and/or discourages communities to become involved with people who are disadvantaged. This despite the fact that you have presented no argument or statistics to justify how it is that government welfare causes these effects. Government assists charities to exist in the first place so even beyond all of this we'd have to rationalize how it is that we'd be cutting welfare for one sector while maintaining or increasing it for another. But that is an aside that can be addressed at some other juncture. There are no requirements set up on welfare that prevent a person from seeking private help. There are no requirements preventing a person from reaching out to friends, family, neighbors, etc. Yet somehow you are arguing that the government, just by offering help, destroys communities. I should remind you that all welfare programs require a person fill out paper work and meet with case workers face to face at some time during the process of receiving welfare. Welfare, such as student loans, that is given out in the form of a blank government check only occurs after that initial filing. So if your premise were true this would additionally suggest that the government form as of now is adequate. What is more you are making quite an arrogant assumption as to how "personable" welfare is. I do not know of a lot of people who do not take their welfare "personally." Everyone that I know who receieves welfare- whether it be VA benefits, student loans, or social security- rely on those assistant programs as a means of existence. They apply for the program because they need the help and lean on the program for that help until they are able to support themselves. And I do not know of many people who willingly stay on welfare- save social security, medicare, and va benefits- longer than a few months unless their current economic situation prevents them from changing. In which case you've provided still no evidence as to how a charity or non-profit helps more than the government in elevating someone out of such a situation, despite this, again, being your initial premise. For the record your average welfare recipient only takes in that money for 10 mo's total, unless we're talking about student loans in which case it's 5 years on average. Very few of the arguments you've presented are based on factual accuracies or well-reasoned arguments. I would think, in our ever attempting strive at perfection, that we would like to weed out factual inaccuracies and logical fallacies as much as possible in order to achieve the highest level of understanding we as mere humans can achieve. I do not see how maintaining bad arguments gets us there, so my hope would be you take these corrections in the spirit that they are meant.

Now I should also add that I do agree it doesn't benefit us to constantly attack Texans as being something evil and that I personally lament the marginalization Texas Democrats must withstand from within their own party. It certainly doesn't maintain a strong argument and it certainly doesn't push us to better policy.

Mouzer,

An obstructionist is someone who votes against you solely because they do not want you to win; it is someone who cares not what the outcome of policy is, but what the outcome of party is. This is especially true when considering that the obstructionism has been Republicans voting against their own ideas.

you are making the assumption that you know what these people are thinking when they vote.

.....when someone votes against their own idea and then goes out on television and says I am doing this to stop the President, there is no assuming going on.

i have nothing more than an high school education and live in texas and make 70,000 dollars a year and have adequate health insurance and only work 40 hours a week. as for education in texas you need to look at the number a little closer. texas is among the highest states that face illegal immigration. so to say this doesn't have an effect on the education in texas or at least have an effect on the statics would be totally false.Texas has 4 universities in the top one hundred in the country.

Texas ranks 45 out of 50 in per capita income... Poverty stats are like the third world.

you need to look at cost of living when you make that comparison.

also, again Texas have some 3 million illegal immigrants in this state that can't speak or write English.

J Carroll.. you didn't get the point of my post. And I suspect you never will. I will answer only once:

Texas has a lot of low paying jobs. Perry has decimated the educational system. So what they have 4 Universities (more actually) but who can afford to send their kids there anymore?

As to cost of living. At this time a house in Texas costs about the same as a house in California. As people migrated to Texas on the promise of great jobs, they took up the housing. Now Texas is going to feel the pinch.

Illegal immigrants? Didn't Perry say he'd fixed that? We have as many in California, they mostly work in agriculture. I suspect it's the same in Texas. The prime jobs aren't being taken by illegals.

I'm REALLY tired of everyone on the right blaming immigrants for any problems that are happening in this country. You will NEVER find harder workers, more determined to make a life for their families and do whatever menial work they can find. And that work is something actual citizens of this country think is "beneath" them. They DO pay taxes and spend their money in their communities to help local economies. So STOP BLAMING THEM!

So STOP BLAMING THEM!

it oh so easy for them to do, as they can not take a personal inventory of them self's and realize that they are the problem and not every one else.

so sad to see people who wear blinders that only have special holes cut in them filtering out all reality.

nobody ever said that they arent hard workers or even just good people. but its a fact when you have schools flooded with children who cant speak or write english its going to have a huge effect on the education system and certainly on the the statics on the education system.

amazon,

of course there are a lot of low paying jobs in Texas just like every other state. However there are a lot of very good middle class jobs as well and professional job also. i live here and have been working in texas since i was sixteen and i can tell you i have never held a job that didnt provide health care or at least provide health care at a low cost.... like 60 dollars a month.

i know the housing market is bad but in a normal market californa is the most expensive place to live. in most cases a house of the same in texas and california the house in texas is two to even three times less.

who is saying that government does have a role to play in our society? and if you think the government gave them this money your wrong again. it is yours and my tax dollars that go to fund these programs and now our great great grand children.

and if you think the government gave them this money your wrong again. it is yours and my tax dollars

You're absolutely right! Our tax dollars fund the USA Government. The reason is because WE, the People, ARE the Government. Something the Republicans hope you never realize. They work for us; we pay them. We elect them; we fire them. They are supposed to listen to us - all of us.

Somewhere along the way, they forget this and treat us disrepectfully when they patronize and lie to us and pander to corporate "persons."

So when "the Government" funds programs, it is actually WE, the People, funding programs to take care of WE, the People, because WE, the People, are the Government. WE, the People, own the bridges and roads and government buildings and we should care about keeping them in good repair. WE, the People, invested our funds, our sweat, our hope and dreams into this country - all of us - and all of us have an interest in seeing our investment continue to reap benefits to us - WE, the People - that's PEOPLE not corporate persons.

Ergo, Republicans demonize "WE, the People" every time they talk about the BIG BAD Government. Don't know about you, but I don't like my employees being disrepectful to me, but I really, really have zero tolerance for one lying to me.

I was not commenting on whether or not I agree with the stalemate in Congress. I was explaining what obstructionism is and how the Republican party has utilized it in order to create a stalemate. Democrats have not had the ability to pass any piece of legislation through the Senate during President Obama's entire term in office w/o the help of Republican support. If people want the Senate to be able to function, given the current nature of things, they either need to vote in a Republican majority or a Democratic super-majority (60+ seats). These are sad, but true, facts.