The Hollow Gospel of Barack Obama
With Barack Obama (or for you Rush Limbaugh listeners, Barack Hussein Obama) poised to win the Democratic nomination, it's time to get a glimpse into the gospel of this charismatic and vibrant young leader: issue by issue, word for word.
So even liberals know government education is a failure. Have you noticed how there is never a word about school choice from Obama? Oh sure, you can choose whether or not to have an abortion, but why should you be able to choose the government school where your child (and the tax dollars taken from you) will go? That's a little too much choice.
Obama talks about "standing up to lobbyists" and "special interests." Does that includes teachers' unions, Barack?
Make no mistake about it: Barack Obama is telling you that fear and anxiety over the atrocities of radical Islam are the illegitimate result of "fearmongering." You're just being told to be scared. You couldn't possibly have real sentiments brought on by the constant horrific acts of violence from Islamists. You're simply being manipulated by Obama's opponents.
Politics of fear, Barack? How about the fear of a carbon-induced apocalypse? Rising sea levels that will drown Manhattan! Hurricanes the likes of which we've never known! Worldwide food shortages and widespread destitution! Are these just exaggerated dystopian fears used to "scare up" votes? No, Al Gore knows what he's talking about. Just look at all those impressive charts and graphs!
The Left is practically built on the politics of emotion (and yes, that includes fear). Does it ever occur to Democrat voters that fear has been an important rhetorical facet of every political party in the history of our republic? Do those chanting for "real change" not in turn fear political or societal stagnation? Obama is as much a politician as anyone else in Washington, he just chooses to pander to those who fear carbon emissions, not Islamic submission. And as far as a "common purpose" goes, how does preventing another 9/11 sound?
EDUCATION
"We're going to put more money into education than we have. We have to invest in human capital."
Barack, the problem is not that we spend too little on education, but rather the absolute garbage we get in exchange for our dollar. We are second only to Norway in the amount of money per capita we spend on education.
According to recent survey data published by the New York Times, about a quarter of teenagers given a multiple choice question were unable to correctly identify Hitler as Germany's chancellor in World War II. By the way, this survey was conducted by Common Core, a group whose founding board includes the executive vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, a 1.5 million-member union.
"We're going to put more money into education than we have. We have to invest in human capital."
Barack, the problem is not that we spend too little on education, but rather the absolute garbage we get in exchange for our dollar. We are second only to Norway in the amount of money per capita we spend on education.
According to recent survey data published by the New York Times, about a quarter of teenagers given a multiple choice question were unable to correctly identify Hitler as Germany's chancellor in World War II. By the way, this survey was conducted by Common Core, a group whose founding board includes the executive vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, a 1.5 million-member union.
So even liberals know government education is a failure. Have you noticed how there is never a word about school choice from Obama? Oh sure, you can choose whether or not to have an abortion, but why should you be able to choose the government school where your child (and the tax dollars taken from you) will go? That's a little too much choice.
Obama talks about "standing up to lobbyists" and "special interests." Does that includes teachers' unions, Barack?
TAXES
"What we have had right now is a situation where we've cut taxes for people who don't need them."
"What we have had right now is a situation where we've cut taxes for people who don't need them."
Let me guess. The "wealthiest one percent?" The day the current tax cuts expire, 116 million tax payers will watch their taxes go up. But that's just the 116 million "evil rich" in this country, right? I'm pretty sure virtually a third of the population is made up of people who "don't need" tax relief. And Senator Marx, while we're on the subject, would my need to be taxed more be "according to my ability?"
Sadly, Democrat voters have bought the classic line that the sole beneficiaries of the Bush tax cuts are 22 mansion-dwelling families with an income equaling that of Germany's GDP, and whose biggest decision is whether to take the Hummer or the Gulf Stream. The biggest problem I have with the Bush tax cuts is that his name is attached to them.
If the FairTax were implemented, politicians like Obama would no longer be able to play the "wealthiest 1%" game. The government wouldn't need to know how much money you made each year, and political panderers wouldn't be able to use the tax code to fracture America along class lines -- something they accuse Republicans of doing all the time.
Sadly, Democrat voters have bought the classic line that the sole beneficiaries of the Bush tax cuts are 22 mansion-dwelling families with an income equaling that of Germany's GDP, and whose biggest decision is whether to take the Hummer or the Gulf Stream. The biggest problem I have with the Bush tax cuts is that his name is attached to them.
If the FairTax were implemented, politicians like Obama would no longer be able to play the "wealthiest 1%" game. The government wouldn't need to know how much money you made each year, and political panderers wouldn't be able to use the tax code to fracture America along class lines -- something they accuse Republicans of doing all the time.
THE POLITICS OF FEAR
"We have been operating under a politics of fear...we have to break that fever of fear. Unfortunately what I've been seeing from the Republican debates is that they are going to perpetuate this fearmongering."
"That's what happens when we use 9/11 to scare up votes, instead of bringing together the people around a common purpose."
Make no mistake about it: Barack Obama is telling you that fear and anxiety over the atrocities of radical Islam are the illegitimate result of "fearmongering." You're just being told to be scared. You couldn't possibly have real sentiments brought on by the constant horrific acts of violence from Islamists. You're simply being manipulated by Obama's opponents.
Politics of fear, Barack? How about the fear of a carbon-induced apocalypse? Rising sea levels that will drown Manhattan! Hurricanes the likes of which we've never known! Worldwide food shortages and widespread destitution! Are these just exaggerated dystopian fears used to "scare up" votes? No, Al Gore knows what he's talking about. Just look at all those impressive charts and graphs!
The Left is practically built on the politics of emotion (and yes, that includes fear). Does it ever occur to Democrat voters that fear has been an important rhetorical facet of every political party in the history of our republic? Do those chanting for "real change" not in turn fear political or societal stagnation? Obama is as much a politician as anyone else in Washington, he just chooses to pander to those who fear carbon emissions, not Islamic submission. And as far as a "common purpose" goes, how does preventing another 9/11 sound?
THE IRAQ WAR
"Not only do I want to end the war in Iraq, I want to
end the mindset that got us there."
end the mindset that got us there."
Of course we want to see the war ended. No one wants wars to continue. And as far as the mindset that got us there (a combination of moldy intelligence and overblown ideology), I think we're all for obliterating that. There's no changing the fact that Bush didn't get what he asked for, which wasn't what the majority of Americans were ready to support.
There's also no changing the fact that we're over there now, the future of an entire country is at stake, and as Obama himself will tell you, we have "bad options and worse options."
That being said, what would Obama will do if, after retreating, there is genocide and murder on a horrific scale? Would he "re-re-deploy?" Ask the United Nations to sort things out? The UN doesn't exactly have a spectacular track record with Iraq. Anyone remember the Oil for Food scandal?
Barack claims to be able to withdraw U.S. forces in 16 months. He will find that he cannot.
We'll have to wait and see. We are dramatically reducing violence in Iraq, the Democrats want us to retreat yesterday, and Iran has her eye on the prize, having infiltrated the country and claimed a role in its future since day one. Like I said...bad options and worse options.
DRUGS
"If the high didn't solve whatever it was that was getting you down, it could at least help you laugh at the world's ongoing folly and see through all the hypocrisy and bullshit and cheap moralism."
-from Dreams from My Father, by Barack Obama, p. 87
There's also no changing the fact that we're over there now, the future of an entire country is at stake, and as Obama himself will tell you, we have "bad options and worse options."
That being said, what would Obama will do if, after retreating, there is genocide and murder on a horrific scale? Would he "re-re-deploy?" Ask the United Nations to sort things out? The UN doesn't exactly have a spectacular track record with Iraq. Anyone remember the Oil for Food scandal?
Barack claims to be able to withdraw U.S. forces in 16 months. He will find that he cannot.
We'll have to wait and see. We are dramatically reducing violence in Iraq, the Democrats want us to retreat yesterday, and Iran has her eye on the prize, having infiltrated the country and claimed a role in its future since day one. Like I said...bad options and worse options.
DRUGS
"If the high didn't solve whatever it was that was getting you down, it could at least help you laugh at the world's ongoing folly and see through all the hypocrisy and bullshit and cheap moralism."
-from Dreams from My Father, by Barack Obama, p. 87
Right on.
PROTECTING AMERICA'S JOBS
"The Maytag worker who is now competing with his own teenager for a $7-an-hour job at Wal-Mart...he needs us to stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas and start putting them in the pockets of working Americans who deserve it."
"The Maytag worker who is now competing with his own teenager for a $7-an-hour job at Wal-Mart...he needs us to stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas and start putting them in the pockets of working Americans who deserve it."
Except the entire reason corporations "ship jobs overseas" is to avoid enormous corporate taxes and government intrusion. So you're going to make it even harder for a company to be profitable, and that's supposed to motivate them to keep their employees working in the homeland?
Once again, another problem solved with the FairTax. Corporate income taxes would be wiped out, and a torrent of employment would return to the United States. Not only would American jobs come back home, but foreign businesses and investors would flock to the world's new tax haven. Barack's buddy at Maytag would be able to keep his entire paycheck, as well as the government out of his life.
Once again, another problem solved with the FairTax. Corporate income taxes would be wiped out, and a torrent of employment would return to the United States. Not only would American jobs come back home, but foreign businesses and investors would flock to the world's new tax haven. Barack's buddy at Maytag would be able to keep his entire paycheck, as well as the government out of his life.
"The change we seek has always required great struggle and sacrifice."
Translation: I'm going to raise your taxes in order to finance the unachievable utopia you're naive enough to demand.
Meanwhile, as Obama was jetting from state to state, spreading the aforementioned gospel, he missed the following senate votes:
Meanwhile, as Obama was jetting from state to state, spreading the aforementioned gospel, he missed the following senate votes:
- Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
- FISA Amendments Act of 2007
- Economic Stimulus Package
- Defense Authorizations Bill
- Iraq Withdrawal Amendment
- Border Fence and Customs Appropriations
- State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Expressing Support for General Petraeus and All Members of the Armed Forces
- Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants
- Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act
- Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes
Labels: Election 2008
Monday, March 03, 2008
"What we have had right now is a situation where we've cut taxes for people who don't need them."
Well he is technically right on this one. Basically what we have now is an upside-down-U-shaped tax curve. Tax cuts for the rich, tax cuts for the poor. Warren Buffet has spoken out about this, saying he pays less in taxes than his secretary. I'm not sure if that's a result of the Bush tax cuts or just good lawyers.
That list of votes he has missed is pretty bad. And you're right on about his "jobs overseas" thing. He has it backwards as anyone with common sense will tell you. But at least he's talking the talk in regard to civil liberties and foreign policy. I can't say that much for the other two remaining. top
Monday, March 03, 2008
Did some math: If the Bush tax cuts sunset as planned, I get a 15% tax increase.
Great blog, Christopher! I'll add you to my daily RSS list. top
Thursday, October 09, 2008
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. top
Thursday, October 09, 2008
That sucks bro.
And by the way, don't tell me that greed will be our downfall. We can't defeat greed. We shouldn't try to reign it in through regulation. We can only channel it to our benefit.
Grab them bootstraps, son. Don't be a typical defeatist liberal. top
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Yeah, what Keith said.
And you might consider starting your own blog if you're going to go around posting essays that have nothing to do with a 7-month-old post. top