Inspire Political Discourse

Who is Jim Bunning Really Hurting?

Senator Jim Bunning, R-KY, Obstructionism that HURTS PEOPLE.

Enough said. Via  McClatchydc.

IPD Political News Summary: Monday, April 6, 2009

Friday, April 3 – Sunday, April 5, 2009

| For 18 years, in a practice begun by George H.W. Bush, the government has banned the media from providing coverage of returning war dead.
At President Obama’s request, the Pentagon has now lifted the ban, although permission from the service member’s family is required. “The arrival of the remains of Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers, a 30-year-old supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, at Dover Air Force Base at 11 p.m. today [ipd note: Sunday, Apr. 5] marked the first time that the transfer of any of the nearly 5,000 U.S. troops who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan was open to the media. The transfer of the flag-draped casket was carried out with great dignity, for the seven family members present.” source
AP/Reuters photo
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Anger of Unemployed at Governors Talking About Rejecting Stimulus

:: Most of these governors are in the southern states, all are Republicans except Bredesen of Tennessee, and Palin, Sanford, and Jindal, are ringleaders. From the New York Times:

As governors in nine states, mostly in the South, consider rejecting millions of dollars in federal stimulus money for increased unemployment insurance, there is growing anger among the ranks of the jobless in those states that they could be left out of a significant government benefit.

Related posts on IPD:
| Governor Sanford Offers His Unemployed Constituent Prayers Rather Than Stimulus Money
| Bobby Jindal, the Republican Governor of Louisiana, Deprives Citizens of Louisiana of $90+ Million in Additional Unemployment Benefits
| GOP Governors of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alaska, South Carolina and Idaho Consider Rejecting Stimulus Money
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Full Transcript: President Obama's Speech to Congress - February 24, 2009

Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
Address to Joint Session of Congress
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
To view the video, click here.

“Madame Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, and the first lady of the United States.

I have come here tonight not only to address the distinguished men and women in this great chamber, but to speak frankly and directly to the men and women who sent us here.

Video: President Obama's Speech to Congress - February 24, 2009

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Click here to read the transcript.

Transcript: President Obama Press Conference on the Economy - February 9, 2009

Image courtesy of: Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

Looking for the video of the press conference? You may find the full video here.

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release February 9, 2009
PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE PRESIDENT
East Room
8:01 P.M. EST
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good evening, everybody. Please be seated.
Before I take your questions tonight, I'd like to speak briefly about the state of our economy and why I believe we need to put this recovery plan in motion as soon as possible.
I took a trip to Elkhart, Indiana today. Elkhart is a place that has lost jobs faster than anywhere else in America. In one year, the unemployment rate went from 4.7 percent to 15.3 percent. Companies that have sustained this community for

Political News Summary: Thursday, January 29, 2009

:: The liberal groups who fought against Bush 43's most egregious acts, now supporting President Obama. The ad shown in the video below was produced and will be aired at the expense of some of these groups, and targets certain vulnerable GOP senators on the stimulus issue. From NYT:

And, in a first test of where they will fit in the new national dialogue, several of the groups that regularly battled the Bush White House are trying to sell President Obama’s economic stimulus package with a new advertising campaign designed to pressure several Republican senators to support it (unlike their House colleagues).
Sponsored by MoveOn, Americans United for Change and two labor groups – the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees – the ads will begin running this week in Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, Alaska and Washington D.C.
The spots show a shuttered factory springing back to life as oratory from Mr. Obama plays in the background (“The first job of my administration is to put people back to work,” he says.) The spots call upon different senators in each state — Susan M. Collins and Olympia J. Snowe in Maine; Judd Gregg in New Hampshire; Chuck Grassley in Iowa and Lisa Murkowski in Alaska – to “support the Obama plan for jobs, not the failed policies of the past.”

TAGS: GOP/Republicans, President Obama, JOBS, LABOR, Economy, Stimulus,
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:: For the love of cats, the Republicans need to be made to understand that they LOST. That they are currently IRRELEVANT. An incomplete recitation of their activities today:

Full Transcript - This Week's George Stephanopoulos' Interview With Obama, January 11, 2009

George Stephanopoulos' Exclusive Interview with President-Elect Barack Obama

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Hello, again. In nine days he will be president of the United States. This morning Barack Obama is our exclusive headliner. Welcome back to THIS WEEK.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT: Thank you, George.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Does it feel like you're president already?

OBAMA: No.

Mr. Obama's Speech on the Economy - Full Video

 

Saying, "Our problems are rooted in past mistakes, not in our capacity to make the future better.", Obama warned of dire consequences if the passage of the stimulus plan is delayed. He went on to lay out significantly more details re the plan, and in closing, warned congress that delay was not acceptable:

“For every day we wait or point fingers or drag our feet, more Americans will lose their jobs. More families will lose their savings. More dreams will be deferred and denied," Obama said. "And our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse.”Source: ABC News live broadcast

For further information:

»Obama Warns of Dire Consequences Without Stimulus - Washington Post
»Obama Economic Speech: Dire Consequences Without Stimulus - HUFFPOST

Full Transcript and Video of President-elect Obama's Weekly Video Address to the Nation, November 22, 2008

Verbatim transcript of President-elect Obama's weekly video address, November 22, 2008. Annotation and bolding is mine. View the video here.

On the state of the economy this week:

“Good morning.

The news this week has only reinforced the fact that we are facing an economic crisis of historic proportions. THe financial markets faced more turmoil. New home purchases were the lowest in a half a century. 540,000 more jobless claims were filed last week, the highest in eighteen years, and we now risk falling in to a deflationary spiral that could increase our massive debt even further.”

On job loss this month and year:

“While I'm pleased that Congress passed a long overdue extension of unemployment benefits this week, we must do more to put people back to work and get our economy moving again. We have now lost 1.2 million jobs this year and if we don't act swiftly and boldly, most experts now believe that we could lose millions of jobs next year.”

On his economic recovery plan:

“There are no quick or easy fixes to this crisis, which has been many years in the making, and it's likely to get worse before it gets better. But January 20th is our chance to begin anew with a new direction, new ideas, and new reforms that will create jobs and fuel long-term economic growth.

I have already directed my economic team to come up with an economic recovery plan that will mean 2.5 million more jobs by January of 2011. A plan big enough to meet the challenges we face, that I intend to sign soon after taking office. We'll be working out the details in the weeks ahead, but it will be a two year, nationwide effort to jumpstart job creation in America, and lay the foundation for a strong and growing economy.

We'll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, modernizing schools that are failing our children, and building wind farms and solar panels, fuel-efficient cars and the alternative energy technologies that can free us from our dependence on foreign oil and to keep our economy competitive in the years ahead.”

On long-term goals and what he expects from Congress:

“These aren't just steps to pull ourselves out of the immediate crisis, these are the long-term investments in our economic future, that have been ignored for far too long, and they represent an early down payment on the type of reform my administration will bring to Washington. Government that spends wisely, focuses on what works, and puts the public interest ahead of the same special interests that have come to dominate our politics.

I know that passing this plan won't be easy, that I will need, and seek support from Republicans and Democrats. And I'll be welcome to ideas and suggestions from both sides of the aisle, but what is not negotiable is the need for immediate action.”

Empathy for Americans who face job loss, declining incomes, loss of college and retirement funds:

“Right now there are millions of mothers and fathers who are lying awake at night wondering if next week's paycheck will cover next month's bills. There are Americans showing up to work in the morning only to have cleared out their desks by the afternoon. Retirees are watching their life savings disappear, and students are seeing their college dreams deferred. These Americans need help, and they need it now.”

The enduring power of the American dream:

“The survival of the American dream for over two centuries is not only a testament to it's enduring power, but to the great effort, sacrifice and courage of the American people. It has thrived because in our darkest hours, we have risen above the smallness of our divisions to forge a path toward a new and brighter day. We've acted boldly, bravely, and above all, together.That is the chance our new beginning now offers us, and that is the challenge we must rise to in the days to come. It is time to act. As the next president of the United States, I will.”

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