Day: June 18, 2010

Are We Returning To The Years 1937-1938? :(

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When Franklin D. Roosevelt became President in 1933, he started to promote deficit spending to create jobs and provide aid to the millions of poor, unemployed and homeless!

Throughout the first term of the New Deal, FDR continued to promote economic stimulus, and although the Great Depression did not end, life was a lot better by 1936!

But under harsh criticism by conservatives and ideologues, in 1937, FDR cut federal spending and public works programs. This, unfortunately, led to a big drop in the economy, and the creation of the 1937-38 Recession within the Depression, making life much worse! This is looked upon as a tremendous mistake that prolonged the Great Depression! 🙁

In 2009, Barack Obama came in and promoted an Economic Stimulus bill to deal with the worst economic mess since the Great Depression! Aid to state and local governments, extension of unemployment compensation, and the inception of public works projects were all part of the mix!

The effects of this economic stimulus are just starting to “kick in”, and already we are hearing from many quarters that we must not continue to extend aid to states and localities and not continue unemployment compensation to the long term unemployed! Instead, we must cut spending and worry more about accounting figures, rather than those people within our midst who are victims of this Great Recession! 🙁

Therefore, the Senate has rejected extended economic stimulus, at least for the moment, but the Republican party is unlikely to allow any progress in this regard, and gaining 60 votes to overcome a filibuster is highly unlikely! 🙁

So hundreds of thousands of teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public servants will be dismissed, and many people who have met the limits of unemployment compensation and are in danger of losing their homes as well, will be thrown to the wayside in the battle to cut spending and forget human suffering! 🙁

The result will be what the GOP wants: a downturn of the economy, a “double dip” recession, which they will then attempt to blame on the Obama Administration! 🙁

What a disgraceful state of affairs, not the way we should deal with the worst economic conditions in eight decades! 🙁 But more than ever, it looks like 2010 and 2011 and maybe 2012 will be a reprisal of 1937-1938! 🙁

Obama Administration To Challenge New Arizona Immigration Law In Court!

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The Obama Administration has decided, rightfully, to challenge the new Arizona Immigration law in the federal courts as a violation of federal authority to deal with immigration, and as an example of discrimination against the largest minority group in America, the Latinos or Hispanics! 🙁

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “let the cat out of the bag” when she revealed this on June 8 while visiting Ecuador, when she was asked about this controversial piece of legislation!

Apparently, Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona is furious over this, and the answer is let her be furious! 🙁

This law is reverberating on Arizona economically and in public relations, and if they were willing to face reality, that this makes the state look like the “Mississippi of the 1960s”, then they should withdraw the law before it goes into effect on July 29!

But as it is, the law will not go into effect on that date as the US government will do what needs to be done to have the law considered in the federal courts, where, hopefully, it will be declared unconstitutional!

However, it is essential that the US government start to deal seriously with the issue of illegal immigration, so that no other states will move in the direction that Arizona has taken!

Endless Speculation About Hillary Clinton’s Future: Secretary Of Defense Or Vice President?

Ronald 2 Comments

Lately, there has been speculation about the future of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Acknowledged by most observers as doing an exceptional job as Secretary of State, and reported to have a very close relationship with President Obama, one would think that Clinton would simply stay on as Secretary of State, until her plans at some point in the future to retire, self declared by her recently.

But instead, there are rumors that she will replace Secretary of Defense Robert Gates when he leaves at some point in the future, and returns to Texas!

There is also the suggestion by Sally Quinn of the Washington Post that Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden should switch positions, with Hillary becoming Vice President under the 25th Amendment, after Joe Biden resigns and becomes Secretary of State, having the opportunity to shape foreign policy, his greatest love and passion!

The argument is that Biden has no intention of seeking the Presidency, as he would be 74 at the end of a second Obama term.

But supposedly, Hillary Clinton might still be interested in seeking the Presidency at the age of 69 in 2016, younger than Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole, and John McCain, when they finally were nominated for President!

The argument is that Hillary Clinton could help President Obama win a second term, and with her experience and gender, could negate the effect of Sarah Palin or any other woman in the Republican party, and would have exceptional credentials to replace Obama if, for some reason, he left before the end of the second term. In any case, she would have a tremendous edge on the 2016 nomination and election from the Vice Presidency!

Of course, all this is speculation and rumor, but it certainly is interesting and fascinating to discuss and think about such scenarios as Secretary of Defense and Vice President for Hillary Clinton! 🙂