Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Surprises Everyone

ObamaCare Lives

How could Chief Justice John Roberts have voted with the liberal justices in favor of Obama care? Charles Krauthammer has written a piece for the National Review contending that the “Commerce Clause contained, constitutional principle of enumerated powers [has been] reaffirmed.” “Law upheld, Supreme Court’s reputation for neutrality maintained.” He suggests that Roberts was more concerned with the Court’s reputation than the outcome of this case. I disagree.

George Will, also writing in the National Review offered similar analysis.

We may never know Roberts’ thinking. Considering the far reaching consequences of his (Roberts) decision I cannot believe that he would not be more concerned with the impact this law will have on almost every American.

John Roberts said the law was legal under the right of the Federal government’s power to tax. The Obama administration denied the penalty against the non-insured is a tax. Roberts obviously had to search out his justification for voting in favor of the law. It must have come as a great surprise in the White House when they heard Roberts’ reasoning.

One thing is obvious. The media proved that even their smartest commentators could not conjure the outcome nor explain the logic of John Roberts.

Bob Schieffer Fails the Hardball Test

He [Mitt Romney] has a great allergy to specifics and details

Rich Lowry
National Review

Most probably every Sunday morning political interview program wanted to be the first to interview Mitt Romney. CBS won the honor but what did they agree not to ask in the interview? Were the questions submitted in advance so that Romney had an opportunity to prepare his answers?

Mr. Schieffer threw one softball question after another. Of course Romney was able to answer the questions.

Where were questions like:

Considering that you are so wealthy how can you relate to the average American?
Specifically what will you do as president to help re-employ millions of Americans?
What are the industries that can continue to be the mainstay of the American economy?
How will you reduce the national debt without reducing Medicare and Social Security benefits?
Do we really need a military budget that is six times that of the next highest military budget in the world?
What is your plan on dealing with the 12 million illegal aliens in this country?

Instead we learned nothing except that he will use military action, if necessary, to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability. He sustained his same positions, offered during the GOP debates, on every issue that Bob Schieffer introduced.

I did not expect too many worthwhile answers from Romney. I did expect Schieffer to ask the hard questions.

In Mexicali, a haven for broken lives

An article in the Los Angeles Times titled “A Heaven for broken lives” is really meant to stir my sympathy for people who have broken our immigration laws. The article details stories of deported Mexicans who entered the United States illegally and subsequently committed crimes. The article was extended for an additional two pages and the print version included supporting photography.

The laws may be flawed but they are in place because a majority in the congress voted them into practice. The current administration has even tried to show empathy by not fully enforcing the law and only deporting those who commit crimes.

The error in our law enforcement is that employers of illegal aliens are rarely punished. Rigorous enforcement of current laws would end this tragic situation. “Bleeding hearts” in America will use this article as proof of our misguided legal system.

I don’t blame those who try to sneak into the country. I would do the same thing if I was living in a poor Latin American country. I blame our government for not enforcing the law.

Barack Obama’s Failed Recovery

It seems the president’s likeability has remained high even though his success leading the country leaves a lot to be desired. The number one issue facing him at his inauguration was the growing number of unemployed Americans.

It is accurate to say that the continuing increase in the number of unemployed has been stopped. The worst of the unemployment crises has passed. However, the number of unemployed Americans has remained basically unchanged. The apparent improved unemployment picture is the result of people giving up in searching for a job. Those giving up aren’t counted. It takes 150,000 new jobs a month to keep up with our growing population. (The number of new jobs added in April was a horribly disappointing 115,000.) Once you deduct that leveling number of 150,000 you see that real job growth has been small.

The one significant exception to this situation is the re-employment of people in the manufacture of automobiles.

Every country has something to sell to its own people and the rest of the world. The United States has one major export, agricultural products. Brazil has five. Oil, iron ore, soybeans, coffee, and steel. Brazil now holds 45% of the world’s steel production.

Meanwhile the U.S.A.has a $15 trillion economy but only has $1.5 trillion in exports. Worse we import $2.4 trillion in goods.

Thanks to the ever growing number of free trade agreements most of the things we buy were manufactured in another country. The auto industry and agricultural products are the only major industries that have not been entirely exported. Here in Southern California Costco now has a variety of fruits and vegetables imported from Latin America.

Not only are there no plans to change this situation, but Obama has signed free trade agreements with Columbia and South Korea.

Retraining programs for the unemployed? To do what?

You notice that Barack Obama never talks about the unemployed. No wonder, his “hope and change” have brought hope there is enough food stamps to buy next week’s food and his change never happened at all unless adding to the federal debt is counted as change.

As bad a Mitt Romney may be is he as bad as four more years of Obama? Isn’t it time for a change? Democrats and independents hold your nose.

Obama and Romney: Where they stand on the issues

The Associated Press offered a detailed and lengthy run down of where Obama and Romney stand on the issues that we all to consider in the next election. Following is a summary. You can read the detail at http://my.earthlink.net/article/pol?guid=20120430/fe9b4c4c-15ca-43a7-9a4d-2605576b3e73

ABORTION and BIRTH CONTROL:

Obama: Supports abortion rights.

Romney: Opposes abortion rights.

DEBT:

Obama: Federal spending is estimated at 23.5 percent of gross domestic product this year, up from about 20 percent in previous administration, and is forecast to decline to 21.8 percent by 2016. Calls for tackling the debt with a mix of spending cuts and revenue increases. Central to Obama’s plan is to let Bush-era tax cuts expire for couples making more than $250,000. Debt reduction is based upon a stepped 10 year plan.

Romney: Would cap federal spending at 20 percent of gross domestic product by end of first term. Proposes broad but largely unspecified cuts in federal spending. Among the few details: 10 percent cut in federal workforce, elimination of $1.6 billion in Amtrak subsidies and cuts of $600 million in support for the arts and broadcasting.

ECONOMY:

Obama: Continued implementation of Wall Street and auto industry bailouts begun under George W. Bush. Proposes tax breaks for U.S. manufacturers producing domestically or repatriating jobs from abroad, and tax penalties for U.S. companies outsourcing jobs. Won approval of South Korea, Panama and Colombia free-trade pacts begun under previous administration, completing the biggest round of trade liberalization since the North American Free Trade Agreement and other pacts of that era.

Romney: Lower taxes, less regulation, balanced budget, more trade deals to spur growth. Replace jobless benefits with unemployment savings accounts. Proposes repeal of the (Dodd-Frank) law toughening financial-industry regulations after the meltdown in that sector. Proposes repeal of the (Sarbanes-Oxley) law tightening accounting regulations in response to corporate scandals, and replacing it with less onerous rules to ease the accountability burden on smaller businesses.

EDUCATION:

Obama: Has approved waivers freeing states from the most onerous requirements of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law with their agreement to improve how they prepare and evaluate students. “Race to the Top” competition has rewarded winning states with billions of dollars for pursuing education policies Obama supports. Won approval for a college tax credit worth up to $10,000 over four years and more money for Pell grants for low-income college students. Wants Congress to agree to reduce federal aid to colleges that go too far in raising tuition.

Romney: Supported the federal accountability standards of No Child Left Behind law. In 2007, said he was wrong earlier in career when he wanted the Education Department shut because he came to see the value of the federal government in “holding down the interests of the teachers’ unions” and putting kids and parents first. Has said the student testing, charter-school incentives and teacher evaluation standards of Obama’s “Race to the Top” competition “make sense” although the federal government should have less control of education.

ENERGY and ENVIRONMENT

Obama: Proposes Congress give oil market regulators more power to control price manipulation by speculators and stiffer fines for doing so. Failed to persuade a Democratic Congress to pass limits he promised on carbon emissions. Shelved plan to toughen health standards on lung-damaging smog. Rejected Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada but supports fast-track approval of a segment of it. Proposes ending subsidies to oil industry but has failed to persuade Congress to do so.

Romney: Supports opening the Atlantic and Pacific outer continental shelves to drilling, as well as Western lands, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore Alaska; and supports exploitation of shale oil deposits. Wants to reduce obstacles to coal, natural gas and nuclear energy development, and accelerate drilling permits in areas where exploration has already been approved for developers with good safety records.

GAY RIGHTS:

Obama: Once opposed federal recognition of same-sex marriage, later said his views were “evolving” and has not taken a position on that since.

Romney: Favors constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

HEALTH CARE:

Obama: Achieved landmark legislation and if the Supreme Court upholds the heath care law and its mandate for almost everyone to obtain insurance.

Romney: Promises to work for the repeal of the federal health care law.

IMMIGRATION:

Obama: Failed to deliver on a promised immigration overhaul. . Says he is still committed to it.

Romney: Favors U.S.-Mexico border fence, opposes education benefits to illegal immigrants. Opposes offering legal status to illegal immigrants who attend college, but would do so for those who serve in the armed forces. Proposes more visas for holders of advanced degrees in math, science and engineering who have U.S. job offers, and would award permanent residency to foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with a degree in those fields.

SOCIAL SECURITY:

Obama: Has not proposed a comprehensive plan to address Social Security’s long-term financial problems.

Romney: Protect the status quo for people 55 and over but, for the next generations of retirees, raise the retirement age for full benefits by one or two years and reduce inflation increases in benefits for wealthier recipients.

TAXES:

Obama: Wants to raise taxes on the wealthy and ensure they pay 30 percent of their income at minimum. Supports extending Bush-era tax cuts for everyone making under $200,000, or $250,000 for couples.

Romney: Drop all tax rates by 20 percent, bringing the top rate, for example, down to 28 percent from 35 percent and the lowest rate to 8 percent instead of 10 percent. Curtail deductions, credits and exemptions for the wealthiest. End Alternative Minimum Tax for individuals, eliminate capital gains tax for families making below $200,000 and cut corporate tax to 25 percent from 35 percent.

TERRORISM:

Obama: Largely carried forward Bush’s key anti-terrorism policies, including detention of suspects at Guantanamo Bay despite promise to close the prison. Also has continued with military commissions instead of civilian courts for detainees and invocation of state secrets privilege in court. Expanded use of unmanned drone strikes against terrorist targets in Pakistan and Yemen.

Romney: No constitutional rights for foreign terrorism suspects. He does not consider waterboarding to be torture.

WAR:

Obama: Declined to repeat the Libya air power commitment for Syrian opposition. Opposes a near-term military strike on Iran, either by the U.S. or by Israel, to sabotage nuclear facilities that could be misused to produce a nuclear weapon. Says the U.S. will never tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran but negotiation and pressure through sanctions are the right way to prevent that outcome. Reserves the right to one day conclude that only a military strike can stop Iran from getting the bomb.

Romney: Has not specified the troop numbers behind his pledge to ensure the “force level necessary to secure our gains and complete our mission successfully” in Afghanistan. Would increase strength of armed forces, including number of troops andwarships, adding almost $100 billion to the Pentagon budget in 2016.

The Social Security Time Bomb

Rather than focusing on our broken political system this article is focusing on a solution to the Social Security time bomb. Only yesterday the Social Security Trustees said that the system will not have sufficient funds for the promised payouts in 2033.

Regular ongoing monthly Social Security benefits started in January 1940. Despite what some will claim we are experiencing longer lives. The system was counting on almost everyone dying within ten years of retirement. The problem for the program is that too many are living into their 80s and 90s.

The Democrats have not faced the reality of longer lives. The Republicans have but their solutions are unacceptable to most of us. Interestingly it was George W. Bush who tried to resolve the issue but the two parties seem bent upon disagreement even when they know there is a solution.

We all know that many people are relying on the system as their only source of income. Cutting benefits for the poorest is not a reasonable solution.

There are a few things we can do:
1. Establish a “means test” that would deny benefits to those with higher retirement income.
2. Raise the maximum taxable contributions from the current level.
3. Raise the retirement age.

To do these things will require courage. That is lacking in our representatives.

State of the Union Address is just Words

President Obama is an outstanding speaker. Tonight’s State of the Union speech was no exception. His presentation was flawless. Since this speech was the start of the campaign season it will be difficult but not impossible for the Republican nominee to win November’s election. After all, the economy is in terrible distress. We need to blame someone and that person is almost always the president.

Because Mr. Obama is such an excellent speaker the GOP will need someone with outstanding debating skills. That person is Newt Gingrich. He is able to duck the questions reporters ask and turn the question into an attack on his opponent. Mr. Romney lacks that skill.

The United States is in serious economic trouble. Words alone will not be enough. Obama has not delivered results. If the Republican nominee can convince a majority of us that he has a workable plan there will be a new president in the White House on January 20, 2013.

Politics Above Jobs

Today’s Associated Press headline reads “Obama rejects Canada-Texas oil pipeline -for now.” It’s all about politics not about what is the right thing to do.

Barack Obama has made the environmentalists happy but not the country. Those environmentalists are viewed as an important support group for re-election. So the gamble is we will all forget about this issue by next November.

However, if the number of unemployed Americans is still high in November the GOP won’t let us forget. Those supporting the pipeline are furious and they should be.

A $7 billion pipeline from Canada to our gulf coast will result in thousands of jobs. That pipeline will help reduce our dependency on Arab oil. Concerns about water pollution can be over come with some re-routing of the pipe.

This project was originally proposed when George W. Bush was president. To contend now that the government has not had sufficient time to review possible side effects is ludicrous. Barack Obama is on the wrong side of an important issue. He deserves to be attacked for this decision.

Jobs Should Be Job One!

Neither the president nor the ambitious GOP candidates know how to fix the American economy.

Happily the total unemployment number improved in December bringing down the percentage of those still looking to 8.5%

The BLS summary included this statement. “The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was little changed at 5.6 million and accounted for 42.5 percent of the unemployed. (See table A-12.)”

There is the crux of the problem. Not one politician talks about this issue. No wonder. No one knows how to solve this problem.

Imagine you are 50 years or older and now are part of that 5.6 million people. Your career is probably over. If you have not found an alternate career that takes advantage of your prior experience you are most likely looking at low paying jobs in a new profession. Who is likely to hire you when you are part of the older workers group?

I have been through all of this and understand the pain. Fortunately I was able to utilize some of my prior experience. For those who cannot there is no solution.

Hoping that the government will show the way is foolish. Politics have ground the government to a near stop.

The next national election will be between “the audacity of hope” that failed and a list of GOP candidates that are focused on cultural issues.

Goodbye to America’s Middle Class!

Edging Towards War

Iran threatens Strait of Hormuz

US warns Iran against closing Hormuz oil route

Oil price falls as Saudis trump Iran threat

Is it saber rattling or is Iran and the United States moving towards war? All of this is the consequence of American opposition to nuclear weapons development in Iran. American politics is also pushing the Obama administration towards more assertive behavior when Republican candidates say that Brack Obama is too timid and apologetic when addressing the Iranian threat.

This is not the only place in the world where the United States has become more militarily assertive. This past November at an economic Asian conference President Obama announced that “ About 250 U.S. Marines will begin a rotation in northern Australia starting next year, with a full force of 2,500 military personnel staffing up over the next several years.” This is confrontation with China. “Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said that the goal of the new security pact is to signal that the U.S. and Australia will stick together in face of any threats.” What threats have there been?

America’s military-industrial complex couldn’t be happier. More war means more weapons. The factories that hire thousands or people will be humming. What a great way to boost our economy.