"I Hope You Still Believe In Me."

swampland.time.com

"I believe in you.  I hope you still believe in me" , said President Barack Obama to the crowd gathered at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel for a fundraising reception Tuesday Night. 

I am able to answer that question with an emphatic "Yes, Mr. President, I still believe in you."  This is a tough week for you.  I know you have had a bunch of them over the last three years.  This week though has to be one of the most difficult given the decisions coming forth from the Supreme Court.  Although the Arizona immigration ruling wasn't a complete victory, it was still an important and solid victory for you.  I am hopeful that Thursday's ruling will be a favorable one too. 

These last few hours I have reflected on what you must be thinking this week prior to the Court's ruling on the healthcare bill.  Landmark legislation that will forever be linked to your presidency.  I know you have prayed that the Justices will uphold the law.  I also know that you are less concerned about your legacy with the legislation as you are wanting the American people to have health insurance.  Please remember that every President who has occupied the White House since FDR has wanted to pass a healthcare program.  They failed where you succeeded. 

tnr.com

I know that there are millions of Americans who are uncertain about the healthcare act.  The opponents of the legislation have been successful in distorting much of what the law provides and doesn't provide.  The national conversation has been interpreted in such a fashion as to confuse most Americans.  Millions of dollars have been spent trying to sway people and their opinion of the law. 

dailymail.co.uk

Whatever decision the Court makes on Thursday, I for one, believe in you and your leadership.  These difficult times have required enormous leadership and you have delivered time and time again.  I haven't agreed with all your policies or programs but I have believed in your leadership for our nation.  Times have been difficult for me during your tenure in the White House but your voice and belief in me and my fellow Americans has been uplifting.  You have worked the problems of our nation with very little cooperative effort from Congress.

You have tried to be bi-partisan and I believe most reasonable people acknowledge that.  You have accomplished a great deal during your years and I am confident that more achievements and success for our nation is sure to come when you are reelected in November.  You will be reelected.  Not everybody agrees with your handling of issues but you have led our nation effectively.   

I stand by you and with you no matter what the Justices rule on Thursday.  As you do, I am hopeful that the Court will take a step forward, not backward with their ruling.  Everyone knows that the law is not a perfect one but it is a good beginning.  The same goes for our economy.  It is happening very slowly but it is happening.  The economy is growing and jobs are returning.  Not nearly as fast as anyone would like but forward progress is being made.  You need to stay the course and continue to fine-tune the details and lead the debate.

I am glad that you still believe in me.  That's important to me.  It makes a difference for me.  Just know that I believe in you.  So do a bunch of your fellow citizens.  I'll be watching for the ruling.  I'm feeling pretty good about it right now.  I hope you are too. 

Romney and The Evil Barack Obama

shakesville.com

Reading yesterday's comments, spin and review of the Supreme Court's ruling on the Arizona immigration law, I was reminded by Mitt Romney how everything wrong in my life and yours can be attributed to President Barack Obama.  I had taken the day off  yesterday and was spending a good portion of the day catching up on my reading.  Time, Newsweek, USA Today and of course, my local newspaper, The Sun News.  Every page I turned found a new article with Mitt Romney weighing in on how the Evil Barack Obama has screwed that up too. 

It was quite a relief to finally figure out who I should blame for my shortcomings as well as anything else that goes wrong in my life.  It is like this huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders.  All of a sudden, my being single and divorced makes all the sense in the world.  It was the Evil Barack Obama.  All this time I thought it was I who had the affair 16 years ago. 

opinion.latimes.com

I had wrongfully assumed that personal responsibility was the mantle of the Republican Party.  I have since learned that I can just blame it on the Evil Barack Obama.  This morning as I contemplate responding to several guests regarding the deficiencies in their rooms, I'm thinking that maybe I can pull out the Evil Barack Obama card.  How sweet that will be.  "Yes, Mr. Miller.  I'm so sorry that you have no hot water but I can assure you that this was the work of the Evil Barack Obama." 

Underemployed.  Blame Barack.  Not employed.  Has to be Barack's doing.  Unhappy.  Look no farther than to our President of the United States.  This is fun!  I actually feel much better already knowing that I have someone else to point the finger at.  It takes some of the pressure off. 

fitsnews.com

I acknowledge that I am being silly with my concept of the Evil Barack Obama.  However, it's not all that far-fetched.  People do blame the President for their lot in life.  Always have and always will.  I have an employee that continually finds reasons, excuses for something not being done appropriately or on-time.  She loves to blame it or point the finger at someone else for her own failings.  Americans have long blamed the President for anything and everything.  No matter whether it is a Republican or Democrat.  Presidents take the hit. 

My real issue with Mitt Romney on this is that he criticizes the President all the time for anything he does.  You ask Mitt Romney a question and his response always points the finger or places the blame on failed policies of Barack Obama.  Hardly ever does he really respond to the question.  He just immediately spins it toward something the President hasn't done or did that affects whatever the issue at hand is.  Seldom does he answer the question with what policy or plan he would put in place to deal with whatever the issue is. 

politic365.com

His blame game will not work in the end.  At some point, he will find himself having to respond with meaningful answers and not just more of the same.  Let's start hearing about your plans Mitt rather than what the President has done that you don't agree with.  We know you don't agree with President Barack Obama on anything.  That's fine.  How about telling us about you and what you stand for.  Just like that staff member I have.  It is far easier to find fault and place blame on someone else than stepping up and getting it done. 

Supreme Court Will Uphold Affordable Healthcare Act - Maybe!

potusnews.net

Monday's ruling on Arizona's immigration law may just tell the tale of what the Supreme Court has decided regarding the Affordable Healthcare Act, Obamacare.  Maybe!

The Supreme Court ruled with the federal government in the Arizona immigration law indicating that the State of Arizona went too far with their law.  The Court's opinion made it clear that the states have some say but ultimately, federal authority rules the day with immigration laws.  Federal authority is also a central issue in the Affordable Healthcare Act.  Both Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy voted to strike down much of the Arizona law. 

nytimes.com

Is it possible that both Roberts and Kennedy will vote to uphold the Affordable Healthcare Act?  It looks like more of a possibility given their vote on the immigration law.  Then you have the Court's continuing majority believing that each branch of government should be respected even when state laws have been enacted. 

The predominant similarity between the immigration law of Arizona and the Affordable Healthcare bill is federal authority.  The argument is slightly different of course but nevertheless, the overriding issue is the federal government's role.  Although the healthcare act now bears President Obama's name, one must remember that this law was hammered out and passed by Congress.  Ruling against Congress is not something the Supreme Court does frequently

It now seems unlikely that the Supreme Court will toss out the bill entirely.  The federally mandated everyone must buy insurance is the tricky piece and the one most suspect by those who believe the bill is unconstitutional.  The fact that both Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kennedy both voted with the federal government on immigration gives those in favor of the law being sustained some hope. 

One must believe the justices who voted on the right and the left will maintain their stance with this healthcare act.  The moderate and more liberal justices only need one additional vote to uphold the law.  Although it is impossible to predict the Court's decision, this recent action must be promising for the Obama Administration and Democrats who favor the act.  It seems pretty clear that the vote will be a 5-4 vote.  Will it be Chief Justice Roberts or Justice Kennedy who tips the decision.

Either way, it is high drama for both political parties.  What if Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy both side with upholding the law?  A 6-3 vote would be considered a slam dunk shocking members of both political parties.  Both Republicans, Democrats, their leadership and the Administration already have their news releases and statements to the news media prepped and ready to go.  Most certainly, key members on both sides stand ready to speak and put their spin on the Court's decision. 

You can count on President Obama having his speeches ready to go.  Mitt Romney too.  It will  come down to which folder to pull out the right speech.  It is unlikely that public opinion swayed the Court's decision.  The majority of Americans are against the bill.  Most of the law's provisions haven't even kicked in yet which hurts it's stature in public awareness and understanding. 

The Court's decision will be unveiled on Thursday.  For most political junkies, Thursday's arrival can't come soon enough.     

Immigration Heats Up - Obama Takes Offensive!

inthesetimes.com

Many have accused President Obama of making immigration a hot issue for the Presidential election in November by choosing to enact a presidential order providing some protection for young illegal immigrants for at least the next two years.  Some Republicans criticized him for usurping congressional authority by using executive action.  Other Republicans criticize him for playing politics with such an important issue as immigration.  Some have gone as far as to say that the President is pandering to the Latino vote.



news.feetintwoworlds.org

There is no doubt that President Obama needs the Latino vote to be successful in his bid to be reelected.  The President has chosen to go on the offensive with immigration as he knows it is a winning issue for him.  President Obama’s order provides some level of protection for young people who arrived in the United States through no fault of their own.  Not of their own choosing even.  These young people arrived with their parents or family at an early age with no understanding of their legal status.  For most of these young people, the United States is the only home they know. 

They attend school, go to church, have jobs, pay taxes and like every other American, try and live a productive life.  The provisions contained within the executive order are very similar to what has been proposed in the Dream Act. Congress has had the Dream Act in front of them for years and has continually pushed it to the side.  Their failure to act has led to great uncertainty and anxiety for these young people who live under the threat of deportation each and every day. 

Many of these children grow up thinking they are Americans as their parents have chosen not to tell them of their illegal status.  Who can blame the parents for not wanting to burden their children with such anxiety and fear.  Sure, someone broke the law at some point in coming to this nation without authority or staying beyond their allowance.  However, to punish  and abandon these young people who contribute so much to our nation is wrong.

I applaud the President’s action and only hope that it leads to greater debate and ultimately new legislation that acknowledges and embraces these young people as our fellow Americans.  Mitt Romney has repeatedly said that he would veto any type of Dream Act legislation.  Romney has of yet to indicate whether he would overturn President Obama’s executive order.  He will have to respond to that very question as it will be continually asked until he informs the Latino community what his plans are.