Election 2009: The View from the White House

tierra:

Yes, I am aware of the sites that keep track of Obama's many promises; I was just trying to highlight the fact that he made ALL of these promises in a single speech on a single day.

Obama was willing to make any promise to get voters to support him, and I believe that even when he made those promises he had no intention of trying to keep them.

And I recall it was the Obama people who said Hillary would "do anything to get elected," when in fact it was Obama who would recklessly say and promise anything to get elected.

Obama promised transparency and yet he is turning out to be a great defender of Bush's policies on "state secrets"; Obama has sent his lawyers into courts to preserve secrecy. Glenn Greenwald has written often about Obama's expansion of Bush's "state secrets" policies. Obama is not merely continuing Bush's use of the "state secrets" dodge to keep embarrassing information from becoming public, Obama is EXPANDING on that terrible policy.

agree with you.

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Actually, that's agree with ME. Most Americans polled do not think America has the best health care system in the world.

big oops.

Quote of the day: “When your captain’s crazy, it’s time to find a new ship,” a lawmaker talking about the fact that a Bachmann aide has quit her job.

Rather than making personal attacks you will garner more credibility if you stick to addressing the issues...To help lead you...I hope this example will help you understand how to challenge an ideaology without all the drama and emotion...Now, try your hand at ...
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Sheesh.

First, to call a pretty good joke in response to a post laden with conspiracy theory buzzwords a "personal attack" comes off as rather humorless and strikes me as a little paranoid but that's certainly up to you if you want to double down on that. As for the amusing school marm schtick (let me lead you and so on and so forth, try this if you want to be credible...), it's almost like a kid who just read Ayn Rand for the first time then comes online to play grown up and totally overdoes it. (I consider that more of an observation than an attack. It's not meant to be mean-spirited but maybe kid you a little as in "what's that about?" I'm not your little student, and I'm not buying what you're selling.)

I think you're showing a very cynical side when you say: "It certainly defies logic to believe that the government can simultaneously expand insured health care to all (or nearly all) of the population while also improving quality and availability, all at a magically lower cost. Of course they can't. But this simple logic has done nothing to stop Obama, Reid, Pelosi, and company from employing whatever ... they can muster to advance a nationalized health care program that purports to do just that. "

I'd say what you call "simple logic" is actually naysaying cynicism. Since other countries with better health care have done it I don't see why we can't, particularly if the GOP were to give up their obstructionism. My example would be France rather than Canada. If you're one of true believers who thinks America has the best health care in the world, all I can say is that I don't and the majority of Americans, let alone others in the world, agree with you. Yes, there are polls you can google.

Personally, I believe that as Americans we can do anything we set out to do-- particularly if other countries have done it. We'll find a way to do it better. We may not get there on our first try, but we can get there. I don't find cynicism and naysaying admirable.

Government programs I consider successful include the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy, the Post Office, Medicare, NASA, Congress's health care plan, the court system, the Executive Office. As for corruption, I'd ask you what large businesses are totally free of any corruption whatsoever? There are always inefficiencies and small examples of corruption (at the very least) that need to be sorted out. No organization is "perfect."

The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship. I think that's bent. 45,000 people a year die in the US due to lack of health insurance. A child without health insurance who ends up sick and in the hospital is 60% more likely to die than a child who has health insurance. Time to solve problems and set the cynicism and patronizing aside.

"Only those who become wealthy by nefarious means are wrong and the law addresses this situation."
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You're naive.

Posted by: dream | Nov 4, 2009 9:05:04 PM

You should try to catch up PolitiFact has already gathered together the promises made during the election and is keeping a running tabulation as they get addressed.

"I'm specifically concerned about the quality of care they offer. It pales in comparison to that offered in the US. By quality I mean the overall level of technical services offered as well as wait times."
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Nonsense. The level of care in Canada is excellent and EVERYBODY is covered.

The United States system is so disorganized it doesn't even publish wait times - and MILLIONS are not covered.

Obama is totally mis-reading the pulse of America. Americans want JOBS, not health care reform! Obamacare will only addto the devastating unemployment picture by costing us another 500,000 jobs. In my industry, medical sales, we have already lost 20,000 jobs in medical sales this year as medical supplies downsize for reform.

Here is a list of one day's worth of Obama campaign promises, ONE day's worth, mind you.

1.) So when I'm President, I'll shut down the corporate loopholes and tax havens,

1a.) and I'll use the money to help pay for a middle-class tax cut that will provide $1,000 of relief to 95% of workers and their families.

2.) We'll also eliminate income taxes for every retiree making less than $50,000 per year, because every senior deserves to live out their life in dignity and respect.

3.) if you're a family making less than $250,000, my plan will not raise your taxes – not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.

4.) I'll also help families who are struggling under the crushing burden of health care costs by passing a plan that brings the typical family's premiums down by $2500

4a.) and guarantees coverage to everyone who wants it.

5.) I'll establish a Credit Card Bill of Rights that will ban unilateral changes to credit card agreements;

5a.) ban rate hikes on debt people already had;

5b.) and ban interest charges on late fees.

6.) I'll also reform our bankruptcy laws to make sure that if you can demonstrate that you went bankrupt because of medical expenses, you can relieve that debt and get back on your feet.

7.) To make saving easier, we'll automatically enroll every worker in a workplace pension plan that stays with you from job to job.

8.) And for working families who earn under $75,000, we will start that nest egg by matching 50 percent of the first $1,000 you save

8a.) and depositing it directly into their account.

9.) To make a college education affordable for every American family, we'll provide $4,000 of tuition if students will provide community or national service when they graduate.

10.) To make it easier for families to own their own home and stay in that home, we'll crack down on predatory lenders,

11.) help more Americans refinance their mortgages,

12.) and provide ten million homeowners a mortgage tax credit that will take ten percent off their interest rate.

13.) To help those mothers and fathers who are juggling work and family, I'll expand the Child Care Tax Credit,

14.) extend the Family Medical Leave Act,

15.) and make sure that every worker in America has access to seven days of paid sick leave.

16.) I'll make sure that women get equal pay for an equal day's work.

17.) And to help those families who own small businesses that are the engine of prosperity in America, I will eliminate all capital gains taxes on start-ups and small businesses to encourage more innovation and job creation.

18.) all my new spending proposals would be more than paid for by spending reductions.

19.) I have a plan to responsibly end the war in Iraq

20.) and reduce overpayments for private plans in Medicare

21.) I would also curb subsidies to banks making student loans,

22.) return earmarks to their 2001 levels

23.) and reform no-bid contracts.

24.) I'll make the sun rise in the west and set in the east.

Well, yes, I made up #24, but ALL the rest are the campaign promises Obama made in a single day. This list does not include all the campaign promises Obama made on other days, to other audiences.

John Galt -

Your responces are very insightful and reflects you education and intelligence.

We are not going to have a logical dialoge with people who don't want to be confused by the facts. These people are confirmed leftists, and long term results mean nothing to them, because they are all crusaders and believe in getting even with us, peroid.

That would be for each person to decide.

You seem overly defensive - like rich people are perfect angels and everybody in government is corrupt.

I hardly think so.

tierra | Nov 4, 2009 7:23:09 PM
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This is where you are wrong. In America its not for each person to decide if being wealthy is wrong. Only those who become wealthy by nefarious means are wrong and the law addresses this situation. The thought that being wealthy is inherently bad is the fodder or the Fascist who wishes to pit the lower class against the upper class while they rule over it all.

They have him having broken 7 promises. That has got to be a RECORD low number for any politician!

Having kept or having in the works 184 campaign promises is quite an accomplishment in 9 months.

tierra | Nov 4, 2009 6:39:31 PM

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I see... So you have no problem with politicians lying to get what they want so long as they dont do it too much and/or they are comparatively more honest than other liars before them. This indicates that you have a basic character flaw that allows you evaluate honesty on a realtive scale without examining the impact of the lies on those who believed them to be true.

The top 1% of Americans own as much as the combined wealth of the bottom 90% of the population.

bobstarling | Nov 4, 2009 5:45:20 PM
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And what's the problem with that?

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That would be for each person to decide.

You seem overly defensive - like rich people are perfect angels and everybody in government is corrupt.

I hardly think so.

Canada has UNIVERSAL coverage and excellent health care and Canada does it at a lower per capita cost than the current American system. And - please - don't say the Canadian system has problems. Every health care system in the world has problems.

tierra | Nov 4, 2009 6:50:44 PM
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You're right to assume I would criticize the Canadian system, but not by simply saying they have problems because youre right, they all have problems. I'm specifically concerned about the quality of care they offer. It pales in comparison to that offered in the US. By quality I mean the overall level of technical services offered as well as wait times.

Only those who live off the government and have no access to healthcare would see the Canadian system as an acceptable option, because to them something is obviously better than nothing. What the average American would see as INFERIOR care and service is viewed as an improvement by those who live off the government.

Lets face the facts,

1. Such a program would come at an enormous cost increase to the TAXPAYERS of this country.

2. Nearly half of the population pay no taxes at all.

3. Add 1 and 2 together and its easy to understand that people who dont pay any taxes in the first place welcome the prospect of increasing the burden on those of us who do in order to get a mediocre health care program. They dont have a care about the increased cost to taxpayers and future geneerations of taxpayers, they dont pay taxes and its not their problem.

Most of all, they have no fear of the vastly increased power a socialized medicine program would give the bureaucracy through control of a major portion of the American economy. They see the government as the main source of sustenance and problem-solving in their own lives -- so the bigger, the better.

As our society's voting "have-nots" continue to increase in proportion to the productive "haves" -- even despite the protections, some of which are routinely ignored, in the constitutional limits of our government -- the non-productive classes will inevitably vote themselves an ever-increasing share of the fruit of the productive classes' labor.
This precarious situation may devolve, as it has in other societies, into an egalitarian mediocrity or a tyrannical dictatorship...or Atlas may simply shrug.

The top 1% of Americans own as much as the combined wealth of the bottom 90% of the population.

bobstarling | Nov 4, 2009 5:45:20 PM
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And what's the problem with that? They earned it by being productive and in most cases provided a multitude with the opportunity to become wealthy and enjoy an increased standard of living along the way that has made the USA the great nation that it is today. Without these people we would be like all the other countries where the productive are not allowed to enjoy the fruits of their success and only the elite ruling class enjoys a lifestyle equal to ours. Maybe you should spend some time in one of those countries so you can appreciate that even the lowest 10% of wage earners have it better than most of the world. You and your ilk somehow believe that wealth equals corruption. Most businessmen in this country, aside from a select group of wall street thugs, are honest people. However, most of those in government are corrupt and dishonest, and you expect people to believe that we should look to them for our salvation. Get a grip.

"An example that comes to mind is the health care reform strategy of the libs. It certainly defies logic to believe that the government can simultaneously expand insured health care to all (or nearly all) of the population while also improving quality and availability, all at a magically lower cost. Of course they can't."
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Canada has UNIVERSAL coverage and excellent health care and Canada does it at a lower per capita cost than the current American system. And - please - don't say the Canadian system has problems. Every health care system in the world has problems.

So, I called my broker and said we either have to invest in tinfoil or meds for delusionals. He said tinfoil as those who need the meds refuse to take them. But the tinfoil is going to be in heavy demand for awhile.

Alyson | Nov 4, 2009 6:10:46 PM
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There are delusions and they rest squarely with those who choose to believe that the course we're on is somehow sustainable. Rather than making personal attacks you will garner more credibility if you stick to addressing the issues.

To help lead you I'll take the first step. An example that comes to mind is the health care reform strategy of the libs. It certainly defies logic to believe that the government can simultaneously expand insured health care to all (or nearly all) of the population while also improving quality and availability, all at a magically lower cost. Of course they can't. But this simple logic has done nothing to stop Obama, Reid, Pelosi, and company from employing whatever lies, smoke, and mirrors they can muster to advance a nationalized health care program that purports to do just that.

I hope this example will help you understand how to challenge an ideaology without all the drama and emotion.

Now, try your hand at providing an example of just one government program that has been efficient, operated within budget, reduced corruption, or led to increased quality of service. Then bear in mind that they are claiming to deliver all these via the health care reform program. While I understand that there is always a first time for everything, I seriously doubt this will be it.

"To date, he's made 514 promises and broken, stalled or compromised on about 35 and kept 52"
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John Galt, you can be more honest and forthcoming that that . . .

PolitiFact has President Obama with 132 promises 'in the works' - in other words - on their way to be completed.

He has 52 he's kept already. 14 he's made compromises on. 14 that are stalled.

They have him having broken 7 promises. That has got to be a RECORD low number for any politician!

Having kept or having in the works 184 campaign promises is quite an accomplishment in 9 months.

Bob Starling - I stand corrected on the hundreds of broken promises statement. To date, he's made 514 promises and broken, stalled or compromised on about 35 and kept 52, leaving over 400 promises in the works or not yet evaluated. In any case the magnitude of the promises he's broken so far indicate a lack of character and a propensity to lie to get what he wants. I dont have predetermined views and wish there was no need to ridicule the president. Do you think its ok to make grand promises while campaigning and then ignore them once elected? If so your expectations are of the lowest sort and your motives questionable.

He and the extremeist revolutionaries that he's appointed are bent on one thing... Bringing the US Government to its knees via overwhelming demands

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So, I called my broker and said we either have to invest in tinfoil or meds for delusionals. He said tinfoil as those who need the meds refuse to take them. But the tinfoil is going to be in heavy demand for awhile.