Psst...Hey, Gibbs..."It was McCain...Obama Ran Against McCain, Not Bush!"

The White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is apparently confused about who Obama’s opponent was in the last presidential election. George Bush has been very careful not to criticize and not to offer suggestions to President Obama out of respect and because he believes it is the right thing to do. When asked about the closing of Gitmo, Bush again stated that he was not going to criticize Obama and that he believes there are people there intent on killing Americans. That is a straightforward, honest answer, and an answer that many Americans would agree with. If you don’t believe Americans would agree with this, just search and see if you can find a city, town, county or state jumping up and down with joy and wanting Obama to send those in Gitmo to them. Hello? Nobody wants the terrorist, potential or real, living in his or her area. After Bush made the comment the press took it to the White House in apparent hopes of stirring up a feud to fuel papers. In the end, all they apparently caused was confusion for the current Press Secretary of the White House who for some reason believes Obama ran against Bush.

Secretary Gibbs had an outstanding comeback to the questions ask. He replied simply, “we won”. When I first read this I was a little confused. I thought he might be referring to the war on terrorism, but if that was the case why do we still have Homeland Security working, why are our troops still abroad fighting terrorist and why do we have money being spent on our nation’s security against terrorist. So, I know that Gibbs must not be talking about the war on terror, but later in the article it became clear. Gibbs stated “we kept score last November and we won.

Secretary Gibbs, yes George Bush was unpopular in the polls at the time he left office. After all the economy was bad, gas prices were high, jobs were being lost, the housing market was crumbling and the war on terror was still going. In the end you and I know that Americas blame the current administration for anything going wrong. If you don’t believe that, then just ask Jimmy Carter what happens when you haven’t won your second term yet and the economy is bad, gas prices are high, jobs are being lost, the housing market is crumbling and you have terrorist acting up around the world (you remember Iran, right Mr. Gibbs?) So, George Bush most likely would not have won an election against President Obama, but once again Mr. Gibbs, Obama did not run against George Bush. Just as a refresher for your future comeback comments, Obama won against John McCain. You know, white haired American War Hero who also showed respect to President Obama during the election and after. It sounds like President Bush and Senator McCain have pretty much shown a great deal of respect for President Obama. Maybe you should consider this and at least show them the respect of learning the name of whom your boss ran against in the election (yeah, the one last November).

White House fires back at Bush comments: 'We won'

Tax Increase Right on Track

Remember all those people yelling and cheering for Obama as he announced we were all going to have to work together to get the country back on track? I do, I cringed when he said it because he wasn’t talking about cutting taxes so we could keep more money. He wasn’t talking about government limiting what physicians can charge and he wasn’t talking about the government paying off physician and nurse education bills so they would be comfortable with charging a mandatory reduced rate. No, he was talking about raising taxes. It’s that simple.

So, how did he play this game. First he gave everyone a nice little tax break. A lot of folks saw a slight increase in paychecks, some people living in nursing homes and institutions got a one time stimulus check (I’m sure they all loaded on the bus and went to spend it at Wal Mart) and some folks flat saw taxes dropped from their paycheck. Yes, completely and I’ve seen those paychecks and the proof. But you cannot have health care reform, save the economy, and get the socialistic programs you want without money. So, where does that money come from? I’ll give you yelling and cheering crowds a hint...You. Yes, you and me are going to pay for all these nice programs.

Now, I know, you still don’t believe me. Like I said, Obama’s game is simple, he comes out and says, “Hey, I’m a nice guy. I’m giving you some money, help, the things you need.” But wait, then he sends out his number one man to say, “Well, we might have to raise taxes to pay for all this, we just can’t rule it out.” Still don’t believe me? Sure, I’m sure as a Republican I’m making all this up just to “Bash Obama” right? I’m having a BO session you think, right? No, here are the words from Biden and you decide what he is saying from CNN.Com’s own pagelink:

(CNN) — Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday that the Obama administration opposes taxing the medical benefits employers provide workers to pay for health care reform, but he refused to rule it out entirely.

Okay, try as I man, I’ve still not convinced you have I? What about this statement also in the same article, “Biden noted that the administration also seeks to raise $300 billion in taxes by limiting the deductions of high-income Americans”? Now ask yourself what is the definition of “high-income Americans”? Compared to some in Mexico, or Central America, we are all “high-income Americans”. Many of you who stood and cheered and yelled for Obama are “high-income Americans” (Oprah) in my viewpoint. In fact, a great many Obama supports make more money than I’ll ever see (unless someone reads these articles and offers me a commentary job..hint, hint).

So, here’s the way I see it, a “high-income American” is anyone making more money than I do each year. So, Obama will cut out some of your deductions. Oh, don’t worry, us lower income families will likely still be able to take the deduction, but your pay scale will cut you out. Next time before you go yelling and screaming for Obama, you just might want to ask what this man’s opinion is on the definition of “high-income Americans” and just who decides if his definition agrees with the rest of us.

Vote Steve Harrelson…Democrat!

When a Republican supports a Democrat, people seem surprised. All sorts of questions go around the table “How can you support a Democrat?” “You’re going to a Republican meeting and then a Democrat meeting?” and so on. Tuesday evening (6-9-2009) I stood in the hot afternoon sun with other supporters of Steve Harrelson and was not the least bit surprised to see several Republicans in the crowd. There was no intent to sabotage or detract from Steve’s moment, but instead these Republicans were present to support Steve. Support ranged from donations, to well wishing and handshakes. It was support for a man who represents people over parties.

Surprisingly, Steve is one of those Democrats who can transcend political parties after elected. He doesn’t look at people and say, “Well, you’re a Republican and you didn’t support me; therefore I won’t listen to you now that I’m elected.” Instead, Steve recognizes that while he remains a true Democrat at heart, he is elected to represent the people. This young man has what it takes to be Governor, Senator, Congressman or just about any other elected position he wants to pursue because of his ability to cross party lines. Steve has already proven that he can represent the people and not the party once in office.

So, because Steve is able to cross those lines, does listen to people, and works hard at his elected positions, I will once again support his drive for office. The first time he ran, I must confess I was a Democrat. After years of internal conflict, I like to say I came home to the Republican Party, but that’s another story. This is about Steve and he is running for State Senator District 21. It’s an important position in the state of Arkansas and a position that Steve will be able to fill with the same excellence we have seen from him as the House Representative for District 1. Once again, I will be proud to stand at the polls holding a sign for Steve Harrelson; although this time I certainly hope it doesn’t rain most of the day. (And yes, that’s yours truly on the left in the photo with Steve)

Bush Legacy

When asked today what he wanted his legacy to be, President Bush responded with an answer akin to one of the first answers he gave that attracted attention to him. In the early run for the Republican nomination, Bush had been asked who influenced him the most. The point of the question was to prompt such answers as Plato, or Martin Luther King, Jr. Perhaps an appropriate answer would have been Honest Abe, but Bush responded Jesus Christ. He said that Jesus had turned his life around. It was not a politically correct answer to give and the man was not even the nominee for President yet, but still he gave the answer and stood by it. His aides have said since that time that they were shocked by the answer.

So, it should be no surprise that today when asked about his legacy, how did the President respond? "Well, I hope it is this: The man showed up with a set of principles, and he was unwilling to sacrifice his soul for the sake of popularity," he saidlink cnn.com. Well Mr. President, I don’t think for sometime now your soul has been at stake of being lost and as for popularity you were a two term President of the United States of America and a Governor of Texas. That sounds like a man who had the corner on popularity for a good amount of time. I imagine that history will remember the President just the way he wants to be. I further figure that in time America will come to the understanding that President Bush kept us safe for eight years. After all, other Presidents have been unpopular when they left office for doing what was right only later to be very popular (Jimmy Carter).

Changing for Cheney?

He didn’t aspire to be President, he did not have the look of a great President, he had health issues that worried the nation for eight years, and his claim to fame seemed to come at the butt end of hunting jokes, but now his popularity is on the risecnn.com. Dick Cheney’s poll numbers are on the rise. Heck, at this rate if it continues for a few more years, he could run for office again! Why the sudden change (that is a buzz word you know)? The sleepy giants are waking up.

Americans embraced Obama. He was going to bring change, the first black President, a new generation. People yelled and cheered as he said we were all going to have to pitch in and help. Then came change and the battle. Suddenly people are scrambling and completing new W-4 forms. Obama’s change even has some employers withholding almost no taxes. I know of one person that has paid 0 in Federal tax since Obama’s new packet went into effect. You know just as well as I do that someone has to pay those taxes due! And then there is the terrorist. Nobody wants them, but Obama wants to close their prison and bring them to U.S. soil. Suddenly, nobody really wants them at all and the cry is “not in my back yard.” So then comes the voice of reason and that voice is the voice of Dick Cheney. Besides, of all the current administration and the past administration, he’s the only one who has ever shot someone so why should we not listen to the man. I mean really, he’s been the butt of so many jokes for so long and now Americans are saying, “Hey, this guy is making sense.”

But Cheney is not alone in the rise of the polls. Bush’s rank has also rose six points. Americans must be realizing that these two were at the top of the pyramid for all the terrorist activity in the world. They went to bed knowing what American’s faced and they woke up hearing what American’s faced each day for eight long years. Then along comes Obama and everyone got caught up in the flare. He had a twenty-four hour TV spot, he speaks well, and he appeals to people. So here’s the kicker, do I think he should be President? Yes, absolutely. American’s have the great blessing to be able to rule by popular vote (pending your state’s electoral vote count) and in the end the theory is that the person American’s want becomes the next President. American’s wanted Obama and they got him. So, for those American’s now maybe starting to rethink your vote or lack of vote and starting to think, “well, wow, Dick Cheney sounds like a smart guy” just be thankful you live in a country where you can change your view and that the polls will sway back and forth. Oh, and during the next election, try not to get caught up in all the party promises and just take a look at what the person can and is going to really do. Who knows, with the change in polls, it may be time for a Cheney ticket.