America has had a dynamic and twisted past.At no other time has an Empire so influenced the world ,the world opinion and history then United States of America.Indeed no other country inspires both great feelings of hate and admiration then this country and its people.Infact many of those who profess to hate this country so deeply aslo would be the first to jump at a chance to live in the country because of its "freedoms".
The question we ask ourselves is America free anymore under George Bush ? or are we finally at the peak of this young empire?
Is the rise of China and the threat of terrorism the dagger that will ebb out the life out of Uncle Sam ?
Is this the moment that America needs to make its dramatic shift or its ingenious decisions that have always ensured that it survives threat after threat?
Is it time for a new and virgin leadership ?
One thing is certain it is Crunch time for the American people and they are the only ones who can save their country and sustain their empire.
Many say Sen. Obama represents the future or rather a break from the past.Is this the case. The man's father was a Kenyan or to be more precise and African and his mother was what may call "a fringe american".His middle name is Hussein (no relation to Saddam Hussein) and yet visibly he does appear to provide an alternative way of thinking that many would be unwise to ignore.
The question is can Obama succeed Bush or is the task as Herculan as getting rid of all the world's terrorists.
This is the question i ask you today. Do you want Obama to succeed Bush or shall we consign to some pages in the long and twisted his-story odf Uncle Sam...
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Senator Obama solidified his opinion on the return of american troops from Iraq by castigating Republican senator John McCain's position on Iraq.Here is an extract of what he had to say at a CNN interview with CNN veteran Wolf Blitzer.
Obama: McCain's Iraq plan continues 'deterioration of America's standing'
Obama: McCain's Iraq plan continues 'deterioration of America's standing'
Obama criticized McCain's Iraq plan Wednesday in an interview with CNN.
"John McCain may believe that it's an option for us to maintain an indefinite occupation of Iraq, regardless what happens in terms of politics within Iraq, so that we're every year sending $100 billion over to Iraq, so that every year we're seeing hundreds or thousands of young Americans dying, so that we continue to see a deterioration of America's standing in the world," the Democratic presidential candidate told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I don't think that serves the best interests of the United States, and I don't think it will ultimately result in the kind of stabilization in Iraq that's necessary."
Obama also praised the Senate's rebuttal Tuesday of a GOP amendment to the Iraq supplemental bill that sought to strike the withdrawal deadline out of the bill, saying the move is the beginning of a "bipartisan movement in the direction of having a clear end game."
In the wide ranging interview, Obama also addressed Iran's holding of 15 British military personnel, saying he expected the Iranians to "stand down fairly soon." He also said that if such a situation happened to U.S. personnel, he would keep "all options, including military" on the table to deal with the matter.(Read full interview transcript [PDF])
Regarding the U.S. attorney firings controversy, the Illinois Democrat renewed his call for top White House aides to be subpoenaed over the issue, brushing aside suggestions that he might one day wish to use the executive privilege right as president.
"In an Obama presidency what you will see will be a sufficient respect for law and coequal branches of government that I hope we don't find ourselves in a situation in which we would be having aides being subpoenaed for what I think everybody acknowledges is some troublesome information," he said.
On Al Sharpton's recent comments suggesting Obama does not expect the black community to question him, the Illinois Democrat denied there was any dispute.
"I don't think there was much going on there," Obama said. "The Rev. Sharpton has been a terrific advocate on behalf of the dispossessed. I've always expressed my respect for him. I think this was a misunderstanding as a consequence of his reading of a report in New York, and I called him and said we had nothing to with the article."
An article published in the New York Post on March 12 cited a black Democratic operative, who supports Sen. Hillary Clinton, claiming Sharpton is launching an effort to "tear down" Obama. The article also quoted another black Democratic activist who purports, "it's driving Al crazy that Obama is as impressive and popular as he is, and he's not happy about it."
"I don't expect African Americans to vote for me simply because I'm African American," Obama said Wednesday. "If they do end up moving in my direction, it's going to be because they see my advocacy on behalf of racial profiling legislation, on behalf of reforms to the death penalty, on behalf of getting health care for kids -- on behalf of issues that are of importance to the African American community and to the people outside the African American community."
Wolf Blitzer's full interview with Sen. Obama airs at 7 p.m. ET on "The Situation Room."
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Mini Yahoo Answers Election
Bush Succession who should be president ?
Question: Whoz next Clinton,obama,Rudy,Edwards,Al gore,Jeb Bush,Swaztnagger.Its your vote that counts
www.bushsuccession.com
So it'll be EDWARDS-OBAMA or
None of the above. Tom Tancredo or someone else who will close the border with
i saw bush and what looked like success next to it on yahoo answers. i realized that i have never seen that before. success and bush don't go hand in hand, although kissinger, rockefeller and the rest of the new world order folks might think so.
Dr. Ron Paul i am prying will be the next president. he will close up the border. He will save us from the neo-conservatives.
although he probably will be assasinated before they let him be elected. (by the same people who murdered kennedy)
HILLARY CLINTON-BARACK OBAMA WILL SUCCEED GEORGE W BUSH-DICK CHENEY COME JAN.20,2009. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NOBODY AND THEY KNOW IT. GIULIANI WILL NEVER BE NOMINATED BECAUSE HE'S TOO LIBERAL, MCCAIN WON'T GET IT BECAUSE HE'S PRO-BUSH/PRO-IRAQ; MITT ROMNEY WON'T WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION BECAUSE THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT WILL NOT VOTE FOR A MORMON.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Clinton Vs Obama
With the succession race heating up already the Clinton and Obama camps have began the predicted clash over who should win the Democrats nomination.Obama having moved a step closer to the nomination with support from former clinton insider David Geffen (who used to sleep in the Linchon Bedroom during Bill Clintons Presidency) with whom they have raised a 1 million dollars in a hollywood event.
Below is an article detailing the facts as was .
By Mark Preston
The two front-runners in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination traded jabs Wednesday over remarks made by a Hollywood mogul and a powerful South Carolina lawmaker.
Sen. Hillary Clinton's spokesman called on Illinois Sen. Barack Obama to renounce comments made by Hollywood executive David Geffen that were sharply critical of the New York Democrat and her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Geffen is quoted extensively by New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd in Wednesday's edition disparaging the former president and questioning whether Sen. Clinton can win the presidency in 2008.
Geffen is quoted in the column as saying the former president is a " 'reckless guy' who 'gave his enemies a lot of ammunition to hurt him and to distract the country.' " That apparently refers to the former president's sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
As for Sen. Clinton, Geffen is quoted by Dowd as saying, "Not since the Vietnam War has there been this level of disappointment in the behavior of America throughout the world, and I don't think that another incredibly polarizing figure, no matter how smart she is and no matter how ambitious she is -- and God knows, is there anybody more ambitious than Hillary Clinton? -- can bring the country together."
Geffen's comments drew a strong rebuke from Sen. Clinton's spokesman, Howard Wolfson, who immediately called on Obama to repudiate them. (Watch the spat play out 
"While Sen. Obama was denouncing slash and burn politics yesterday, his campaign's finance chair was viciously and personally attacking Sen. Clinton and her husband," Wolfson said in a written statement released by the Clinton campaign. "If Sen. Obama is indeed sincere about his repeated claims to change the tone of our politics, he should immediately denounce these remarks, remove Mr. Geffen from his campaign and return his money.
"While Democrats should engage in a vigorous debate on the issues, there is no place in our party or our politics for the kind of personal insults made by Sen. Obama's principal fundraiser," Wolfson added.
"It's not clear to me why I'd be apologizing for someone else's remark," Obama said, according to his press secretary, Dan Pfeiffer. Obama told reporters, "I have said repeatedly I have the utmost respect for Sen. Clinton and have considered her an ally in the Senate and will continue to consider it that way throughout this campaign."
Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs flatly refused Wolfson's request to denounce Geffen's comments and referred to a remark made earlier this week by South Carolina Democratic state Sen. Robert Ford. Ford predicted Obama would not win the presidency if nominated because he is black. Obama and Ford are both black and Ford has endorsed Clinton.
"We aren't going to get in the middle of a disagreement between the Clintons and someone who was once one of their biggest supporters," Gibbs said in a written statement. "It is ironic that the Clintons had no problem with David Geffen when [he] was raising them $18 million and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln bedroom.
"It is also ironic that Sen. Clinton lavished praise on Monday and is fully willing to accept today the support of South Carolina state Sen. Robert Ford, who said if Barack Obama were to win the nomination, he would drag down the rest of the Democratic Party because 'he's black,' " Gibbs added.
Geffen, once a close Clinton ally, co-hosted a fund-raiser for Obama Tuesday night that reportedly raised more than $1 million.
Source CNN.com
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Obama Declares he is running for President
In a charismatic and without mincing his words Barack Obama delivered perhaps his most important speech to a crowd in his home state.
Below is the more detailed extract of this defining event.
Sen. Barack Obama told supporters that if he's elected president he will tackle tough issues like poor schools, oil dependence and Iraq.
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (Source is CNN)
Sen. Barack Obama stood before a cheering crowd in his home state Saturday and announced he will seek the 2008 Democratic nomination for president.
Invoking the memory of fellow Illinoisan and the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, the first-term senator addressed thousands packed into the Springfield, Illinois, town square on a chilly day in America's heartland.
To chants of "Obama! Obama!," he told the crowd: "It was here, in Springfield, where North, South, East and West come together that I was reminded of the essential decency of the American people -- where I came to believe that through this decency, we can build a more hopeful America." (Watch as the crowd erupts when Obama officially declares his candidacy
If the 45-year-old Obama were elected, he would become the nation's first African-American president.
"And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States of America."
Obama told the crowd he would tackle problems like poor schools, economic hardships and oil dependence, saying a "failure of leadership" is to blame for not meeting the nation's challenges. He also implored the crowd to demand that there be "universal health care in America by the end of the president's first term."
He called the Iraq war a "tragic mistake" and said, "It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil war. That's why I have a plan that will bring our combat troops home by March of 2008.
"Letting the Iraqis know that we will not be there forever is our last, best hope to pressure the Sunni and Shia to come to the table and find peace," he said. (Watch the senator lay out his plan for Iraq
He also lauded what he called the founding fathers' "genius" in creating a system of government that can be changed. He cited examples throughout history -- from the American Revolution to the Civil War to the Great Depression -- in which Americans have demanded, and effected, change.
"We've done this before. Each and every time, a new generation has risen up and done what's needed to be done. Today we are called once more, and it is time for our generation to answer that call," he said.
The absence of sound policy is not what's holding the country back, he said.
Rather, Obama said, "what's stopped us is the failure of leadership, the smallness of our politics -- the ease with which we're distracted by the petty and trivial, our chronic avoidance of tough decisions, our preference for scoring cheap political points instead of rolling up our sleeves and building a working consensus to tackle the big problems of America."
'Long enough' to know better
The senator acknowledged that he hasn't been in Washington long, but said he is familiar enough with the city's political machinations to understand that change is in order.
"I recognize there is a certain presumptuousness in this -- a certain audacity -- to this announcement," Obama said. "I know that I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington, but I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change. (Watch how name recognition may be Obama's best weapon
He added, "People who love their country can change it."
Admitting the tactic is typical of aspiring candidates, Obama promised to overhaul a political system he says is dominated by lobbyists and special interest groups "who've turned our government into a game only they can afford to play."
"They write the checks and you get stuck with the bills, they get the access while you get to write a letter, they think they own this government, but we're here today to take it back. The time for that kind of politics is over," he said. "It's time to turn the page right here and right now."
Obama, the son of a black Kenyan father and white American mother, then invoked Lincoln again.
"He had his doubts. He had his defeats. He had his setbacks, but through his will and his words, he moved a nation and helped free a people."
Despite his brief tenure in the Senate, Obama has quickly gained popularity as he pondered his bid to break the Oval Office's color barrier.
According to a University of New Hampshire Survey Research Center conducted this month, Obama placed second, behind Sen. Hillary Clinton, among New Hampshire Democratic primary voters. Obama snared 21 percent of the vote in that popularity poll, trailing Clinton by 14 points. (Full story
Other Democrats seeking the office include Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware; Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut; former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina; Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich; New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson; Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and Sen. Clinton of New York.
While speculation abounds over whether a black presidential candidate can be viable, Obama -- whose first name comes from the Swahili word for "one who is blessed" -- has not let the color of skin hinder his career.
He attended Harvard and Columbia universities and was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. He entered politics in Illinois, where he practiced civil rights law and taught at the University of Chicago Law School.
His first foray into politics came in 1997, when he took his seat in the state Senate, where he served until 2005. He was sworn in as a U.S. senator in 2005.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Saturday 10th February
In active politics there is always a moment of truth for each politician more so if you are like SEN Barack Obama attempting to be the first the First Black American President.
With the odds against him how will Obama seek to make the sums add up and result in his occupancy of the White House.He will in addition have to contend with another hopeful the more politically seasoned SEN Hillary Clinton whom has the backing of Former President Clinton think thank and well oiled machinery.
It seems to me that SEN Obamas speech today will not carry his own aspirations but those of his race and many will be looking for new meaning in his voice.Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) told USA Today his campaign "will send a wonderful message to young people of color and to immigrants around the country" if successful, but "he hopes to make race irrelevant in his bid to become the first black to occupy the White House." Whether this is political posturing or the candid words of a charming individual only time will tell....
Full Editorial of Obamas Presidency Speech will be available tommorow.
Attached is a brief synopsis of SEN Barack Obama
With the odds against him how will Obama seek to make the sums add up and result in his occupancy of the White House.He will in addition have to contend with another hopeful the more politically seasoned SEN Hillary Clinton whom has the backing of Former President Clinton think thank and well oiled machinery.
It seems to me that SEN Obamas speech today will not carry his own aspirations but those of his race and many will be looking for new meaning in his voice.Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) told USA Today his campaign "will send a wonderful message to young people of color and to immigrants around the country" if successful, but "he hopes to make race irrelevant in his bid to become the first black to occupy the White House." Whether this is political posturing or the candid words of a charming individual only time will tell....
Full Editorial of Obamas Presidency Speech will be available tommorow.
Attached is a brief synopsis of SEN Barack Obama
Obama is a newcomer to the national scene, having served just two years in the Senate, but he already is considered Sen. Hillary Clinton's chief rival among many vying for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential election.
He brings a wealth of political skills but a thin elective resume -- the very reason he chose to stage his official campaign launch from the steps of the Old State Capitol.
Obama, the son of a black man from Kenya and a white American woman, would be the first black U.S. president if elected. He was tying his bid to the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the president who ordered an end to slavery in the 1860s, and who served eight years in the Illinois Legislature. Obama also served eight years in the state legislature.
In a video message on his Web site Friday, Obama said he was launching "a journey to take our country back and change the fundamental nature of our politics."
"I know a lot of you are cynical about the possibilities of that change," Obama said. "Sometimes it seems as if the game is fixed and it only works for the few and the powerful, but I fundamentally believe there is another brand of politics.
"Let's go get to work," he said.
Obama planned to travel throughout Iowa on Saturday and Sunday before returning to Chicago, Illinois, for a rally Sunday night.
He planned to visit New Hampshire on Monday on the heels of Clinton, whose first visit to the state as a presidential candidate over the weekend provided some early competition for attention from Obama's announcement. Both states vote early in the party primaries.
Obama, 45, gained national recognition with the publication of two best-selling books, "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," and by delivering the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
His optimistic message and his compelling biography immediately sparked talk of his White House potential. Obama was born in Hawaii and lived part of his childhood in Indonesia.
Initially he said he would not run for president, but he revealed last fall that he was considering it after receiving so much encouragement. He formed a presidential exploratory committee last month.
Since then, Obama has hired some of the Democratic Party's top talent to work on a campaign headquartered in his adopted hometown of Chicago, and he has offered some proposals.
He introduced a bill to prevent President Bush from increasing troop levels in Iraq and to remove U.S. combat forces from the country by March 31, 2008 -- legislation that has virtually no chance of becoming law while Bush is president.
Obama was not yet elected to the U.S. Senate when Congress voted to give Bush the authority to go to war, but he gave a speech in 2002 opposing the war. He said Saddam Hussein posed no imminent threat to the United States and predicted the invasion would lead to an occupation with undetermined costs and consequences.
His vision of what was to come in Iraq and his opposition to the invasion have helped build his support among the anti-war crowd.
Source of sysnopsis is CNN.com
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Bush State of the Union Address 2007
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. And tonight, I have a high privilege and distinct honor of my own -- as the first President to begin the State of the Union message with these words: Madam Speaker. (Applause.)
In his day, the late Congressman Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr. from Baltimore, Maryland, saw Presidents Roosevelt and Truman at this rostrum. But nothing could compare with the sight of his only daughter, Nancy, presiding tonight as Speaker of the House of Representatives. (Applause.) Congratulations, Madam Speaker. (Applause.)
Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:
The rite of custom brings us together at a defining hour -- when decisions are hard and courage is needed. We enter the year 2007 with large endeavors underway, and others that are ours to begin. In all of this, much is asked of us. We must have the will to face difficult challenges and determined enemies -- and the wisdom to face them together.
Some in this chamber are new to the House and the Senate -- and I congratulate the Democrat majority. (Applause.) Congress has changed, but not our responsibilities. Each of us is guided by our own convictions -- and to these we must stay faithful. Yet we're all held to the same standards, and called to serve the same good purposes: To extend this nation's prosperity; to spend the people's money wisely; to solve problems, not leave them to future generations; to guard America against all evil; and to keep faith with those we have sent forth to defend us. (Applause.)
We're not the first to come here with a government divided and uncertainty in the air. Like many before us, we can work through our differences, and achieve big things for the American people. Our citizens don't much care which side of the aisle we sit on -- as long as we're willing to cross that aisle when there is work to be done. (Applause.) Our job is to make life better for our fellow Americans, and to help them to build a future of hope and opportunity -- and this is the business before us tonight.
A future of hope and opportunity begins with a growing economy -- and that is what we have. We're now in the 41st month of uninterrupted job growth, in a recovery that has created 7.2 million new jobs -- so far. Unemployment is low, inflation is low, and wages are rising. This economy is on the move, and our job is to keep it that way, not with more government, but with more enterprise. (Applause.)
Next week, I'll deliver a full report on the state of our economy. Tonight, I want to discuss three economic reforms that deserve to be priorities for this Congress.
Next, there is the matter of earmarks. These special interest items are often slipped into bills at the last hour -- when not even C-SPAN is watching. (Laughter.) In 2005 alone, the number of earmarks grew to over 13,000 and totaled nearly $18 billion. Even worse, over 90 percent of earmarks never make it to the floor of the House and Senate -- they are dropped into committee reports that are not even part of the bill that arrives on my desk. You didn't vote them into law. I didn't sign them into law. Yet, they're treated as if they have the force of law. The time has come to end this practice. So let us work together to reform the budget process, expose every earmark to the light of day and to a vote in Congress, and cut the number and cost of earmarks at least in half by the end of this session. (Applause.)
And, finally, to keep this economy strong we must take on the challenge of entitlements. Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid are commitments of conscience, and so it is our duty to keep them permanently sound. Yet, we're failing in that duty. And this failure will one day leave our children with three bad options: huge tax increases, huge deficits, or huge and immediate cuts in benefits. Everyone in this chamber knows this to be true -- yet somehow we have not found it in ourselves to act. So let us work together and do it now. With enough good sense and goodwill, you and I can fix Medicare and Medicaid -- and save Social Security. (Applause.)
Spreading opportunity and hope in America also requires public schools that give children the knowledge and character they need in life. Five years ago, we rose above partisan differences to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, preserving local control, raising standards, and holding those schools accountable for results. And because we acted, students are performing better in reading and math, and minority students are closing the achievement gap.
Now the task is to build on the success, without watering down standards, without taking control from local communities, and without backsliding and calling it reform. We can lift student achievement even higher by giving local leaders flexibility to turn around failing schools, and by giving families with children stuck in failing schools the right to choose someplace better. (Applause.) We must increase funds for students who struggle -- and make sure these children get the special help they need. (Applause.) And we can make sure our children are prepared for the jobs of the future and our country is more competitive by strengthening math and science skills. The No Child Left Behind Act has worked for America's children -- and I ask Congress to reauthorize this good law. (Applause.)
And so tonight, I propose two new initiatives to help more Americans afford their own insurance. First, I propose a standard tax deduction for health insurance that will be like the standard tax deduction for dependents. Families with health insurance will pay no income on payroll tax -- or payroll taxes on $15,000 of their income. Single Americans with health insurance will pay no income or payroll taxes on $7,500 of their income. With this reform, more than 100 million men, women, and children who are now covered by employer-provided insurance will benefit from lower tax bills. At the same time, this reform will level the playing field for those who do not get health insurance through their job. For Americans who now purchase health insurance on their own, this proposal would mean a substantial tax savings -- $4,500 for a family of four making $60,000 a year. And for the millions of other Americans who have no health insurance at all, this deduction would help put a basic private health insurance plan within their reach. Changing the tax code is a vital and necessary step to making health care affordable for more Americans. (Applause.)
There are many other ways that Congress can help. We need to expand Health Savings Accounts. (Applause.) We need to help small businesses through Association Health Plans. (Applause.) We need to reduce costs and medical errors with better information technology. (Applause.) We will encourage price transparency. And to protect good doctors from junk lawsuits, we passing medical liability reform. (Applause.) In all we do, we must remember that the best health care decisions are made not by government and insurance companies, but by patients and their doctors. (Applause.)
Extending hope and opportunity in our country requires an immigration system worthy of America -- with laws that are fair and borders that are secure. When laws and borders are routinely violated, this harms the interests of our country. To secure our border, we're doubling the size of the Border Patrol, and funding new infrastructure and technology.
Yet even with all these steps, we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border -- and that requires a temporary worker program. We should establish a legal and orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country to work on a temporary basis. As a result, they won't have to try to sneak in, and that will leave Border Agents free to chase down drug smugglers and criminals and terrorists. (Applause.) We'll enforce our immigration laws at the work site and give employers the tools to verify the legal status of their workers, so there's no excuse left for violating the law. (Applause.)
We need to uphold the great tradition of the melting pot that welcomes and assimilates new arrivals. (Applause.) We need to resolve the status of the illegal immigrants who are already in our country without animosity and without amnesty. (Applause.) Convictions run deep in this Capitol when it comes to immigration. Let us have a serious, civil, and conclusive debate, so that you can pass, and I can sign, comprehensive immigration reform into law. (Applause.)
It's in our vital interest to diversify America's energy supply -- the way forward is through technology. We must continue changing the way America generates electric power, by even greater use of clean coal technology, solar and wind energy, and clean, safe nuclear power. (Applause.) We need to press on with battery research for plug-in and hybrid vehicles, and expand the use of clean diesel vehicles and biodiesel fuel. (Applause.) We must continue investing in new methods of producing ethanol -- (applause) -- using everything from wood chips to grasses, to agricultural wastes.
We made a lot of progress, thanks to good policies here in Washington and the strong response of the market. And now even more dramatic advances are within reach. Tonight, I ask Congress to join me in pursuing a great goal. Let us build on the work we've done and reduce gasoline usage in the United States by 20 percent in the next 10 years. (Applause.) When we do that we will have cut our total imports by the equivalent of three-quarters of all the oil we now import from the Middle East.
To reach this goal, we must increase the supply of alternative fuels, by setting a mandatory fuels standard to require 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017 -- and that is nearly five times the current target. (Applause.) At the same time, we need to reform and modernize fuel economy standards for cars the way we did for light trucks -- and conserve up to 8.5 billion more gallons of gasoline by 2017.
Achieving these ambitious goals will dramatically reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but it's not going to eliminate it. And so as we continue to diversify our fuel supply, we must step up domestic oil production in environmentally sensitive ways. (Applause.) And to further protect America against severe disruptions to our oil supply, I ask Congress to double the current capacity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. (Applause.)
A future of hope and opportunity requires a fair, impartial system of justice. The lives of our citizens across our nation are affected by the outcome of cases pending in our federal courts. We have a shared obligation to ensure that the federal courts have enough judges to hear those cases and deliver timely rulings. As President, I have a duty to nominate qualified men and women to vacancies on the federal bench. And the United States Senate has a duty, as well, to give those nominees a fair hearing, and a prompt up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. (Applause.)
For all of us in this room, there is no higher responsibility than to protect the people of this country from danger. Five years have come and gone since we saw the scenes and felt the sorrow that the terrorists can cause. We've had time to take stock of our situation. We've added many critical protections to guard the homeland. We know with certainty that the horrors of that September morning were just a glimpse of what the terrorists intend for us -- unless we stop them.
With the distance of time, we find ourselves debating the causes of conflict and the course we have followed. Such debates are essential when a great democracy faces great questions. Yet one question has surely been settled: that to win the war on terror we must take the fight to the enemy. (Applause.)
From the start, America and our allies have protected our people by staying on the offense. The enemy knows that the days of comfortable sanctuary, easy movement, steady financing, and free flowing communications are long over. For the terrorists, life since 9/11 has never been the same.
Every success against the terrorists is a reminder of the shoreless ambitions of this enemy. The evil that inspired and rejoiced in 9/11 is still at work in the world. And so long as that's the case, America is still a nation at war.
In the mind of the terrorist, this war began well before September the 11th, and will not end until their radical vision is fulfilled. And these past five years have given us a much clearer view of the nature of this enemy. Al Qaeda and its followers are Sunni extremists, possessed by hatred and commanded by a harsh and narrow ideology. Take almost any principle of civilization, and their goal is the opposite. They preach with threats, instruct with bullets and bombs, and promise paradise for the murder of the innocent.
Our enemies are quite explicit about their intentions. They want to overthrow moderate governments, and establish safe havens from which to plan and carry out new attacks on our country. By killing and terrorizing Americans, they want to force our country to retreat from the world and abandon the cause of liberty. They would then be free to impose their will and spread their totalitarian ideology. Listen to this warning from the late terrorist Zarqawi: "We will sacrifice our blood and bodies to put an end to your dreams, and what is coming is even worse." Osama bin Laden declared: "Death is better than living on this Earth with the unbelievers among us."
The Shia and Sunni extremists are different faces of the same totalitarian threat. Whatever slogans they chant, when they slaughter the innocent they have the same wicked purposes. They want to kill Americans, kill democracy in the Middle East, and gain the weapons to kill on an even more horrific scale.
In the sixth year since our nation was attacked, I wish I could report to you that the dangers had ended. They have not. And so it remains the policy of this government to use every lawful and proper tool of intelligence, diplomacy, law enforcement, and military action to do our duty, to find these enemies, and to protect the American people. (Applause.)
This war is more than a clash of arms -- it is a decisive ideological struggle, and the security of our nation is in the balance. To prevail, we must remove the conditions that inspire blind hatred, and drove 19 men to get onto airplanes and to come and kill us. What every terrorist fears most is human freedom
-- societies where men and women make their own choices, answer to their own conscience, and live by their hopes instead of their resentments. Free people are not drawn to violent and malignant ideologies -- and most will choose a better way when they're given a chance. So we advance our own security interests by helping moderates and reformers and brave voices for democracy. The great question of our day is whether America will help men and women in the Middle East to build free societies and share in the rights of all humanity. And I say, for the sake of our own security, we must. (Applause.)
In the last two years, we've seen the desire for liberty in the broader Middle East -- and we have been sobered by the enemy's fierce reaction. In 2005, the world watched as the citizens of Lebanon raised the banner of the Cedar Revolution, they drove out the Syrian occupiers and chose new leaders in free elections. In 2005, the people of Afghanistan defied the terrorists and elected a democratic legislature. And in 2005, the Iraqi people held three national elections, choosing a transitional government, adopting the most progressive, democratic constitution in the Arab world, and then electing a government under that constitution. Despite endless threats from the killers in their midst, nearly 12 million Iraqi citizens came out to vote in a show of hope and solidarity that we should never forget. (Applause.)
This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we're in. Every one of us wishes this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned, and our own security at risk. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen: On this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle. Let us find our resolve, and turn events toward victory. (Applause.)
We're carrying out a new strategy in Iraq -- a plan that demands more from Iraq's elected government, and gives our forces in Iraq the reinforcements they need to complete their mission. Our goal is a democratic Iraq that upholds the rule of law, respects the rights of its people, provides them security, and is an ally in the war on terror.
In order to make progress toward this goal, the Iraqi government must stop the sectarian violence in its capital. But the Iraqis are not yet ready to do this on their own. So we're deploying reinforcements of more than 20,000 additional soldiers and Marines to Iraq. The vast majority will go to Baghdad, where they will help Iraqi forces to clear and secure neighborhoods, and serve as advisers embedded in Iraqi Army units. With Iraqis in the lead, our forces will help secure the city by chasing down the terrorists, insurgents, and the roaming death squads. And in Anbar Province, where al Qaeda terrorists have gathered and local forces have begun showing a willingness to fight them, we're sending an additional 4,000 United States Marines, with orders to find the terrorists and clear them out. (Applause.) We didn't drive al Qaeda out of their safe haven in Afghanistan only to let them set up a new safe haven in a free Iraq.
The people of Iraq want to live in peace, and now it's time for their government to act. Iraq's leaders know that our commitment is not open-ended. They have promised to deploy more of their own troops to secure Baghdad -- and they must do so. They pledged that they will confront violent radicals of any faction or political party -- and they need to follow through, and lift needless restrictions on Iraqi and coalition forces, so these troops can achieve their mission of bringing security to all of the people of Baghdad. Iraq's leaders have committed themselves to a series of benchmarks -- to achieve reconciliation, to share oil revenues among all of Iraq's citizens, to put the wealth of Iraq into the rebuilding of Iraq, to allow more Iraqis to re-enter their nation's civic life, to hold local elections, and to take responsibility for security in every Iraqi province. But for all of this to happen, Baghdad must be secure. And our plan will help the Iraqi government take back its capital and make good on its commitments.
My fellow citizens, our military commanders and I have carefully weighed the options. We discussed every possible approach. In the end, I chose this course of action because it provides the best chance for success. Many in this chamber understand that America must not fail in Iraq, because you understand that the consequences of failure would be grievous and far-reaching.
If American forces step back before Baghdad is secure, the Iraqi government would be overrun by extremists on all sides. We could expect an epic battle between Shia extremists backed by Iran, and Sunni extremists aided by al Qaeda and supporters of the old regime. A contagion of violence could spill out across the country -- and in time, the entire region could be drawn into the conflict.
For America, this is a nightmare scenario. For the enemy, this is the objective. Chaos is the greatest ally -- their greatest ally in this struggle. And out of chaos in Iraq would emerge an emboldened enemy with new safe havens, new recruits, new resources, and an even greater determination to harm America. To allow this to happen would be to ignore the lessons of September the 11th and invite tragedy. Ladies and gentlemen, nothing is more important at this moment in our history than for America to succeed in the Middle East, to succeed in Iraq and to spare the American people from this danger. (Applause.)
This is where matters stand tonight, in the here and now. I have spoken with many of you in person. I respect you and the arguments you've made. We went into this largely united, in our assumptions and in our convictions. And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure. Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq, and I ask you to give it a chance to work. And I ask you to support our troops in the field, and those on their way. (Applause.)
The war on terror we fight today is a generational struggle that will continue long after you and I have turned our duties over to others. And that's why it's important to work together so our nation can see this great effort through. Both parties and both branches should work in close consultation. It's why I propose to establish a special advisory council on the war on terror, made up of leaders in Congress from both political parties. We will share ideas for how to position America to meet every challenge that confronts us. We'll show our enemies abroad that we are united in the goal of victory.
And one of the first steps we can take together is to add to the ranks of our military so that the American Armed Forces are ready for all the challenges ahead. (Applause.) Tonight I ask the Congress to authorize an increase in the size of our active Army and Marine Corps by 92,000 in the next five years. (Applause.) A second task we can take on together is to design and establish a volunteer Civilian Reserve Corps. Such a corps would function much like our military reserve. It would ease the burden on the Armed Forces by allowing us to hire civilians with critical skills to serve on missions abroad when America needs them. It would give people across America who do not wear the uniform a chance to serve in the defining struggle of our time.
Americans can have confidence in the outcome of this struggle because we're not in this struggle alone. We have a diplomatic strategy that is rallying the world to join in the fight against extremism. In Iraq, multinational forces are operating under a mandate from the United Nations. We're working with Jordan and Saudi Arabia and Egypt and the Gulf States to increase support for Iraq's government.
The United Nations has imposed sanctions on Iran, and made it clear that the world will not allow the regime in Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons. (Applause.) With the other members of the Quartet -- the U.N., the European Union, and Russia -- we're pursuing diplomacy to help bring peace to the Holy Land, and pursuing the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security. (Applause.) In Afghanistan, NATO has taken the lead in turning back the Taliban and al Qaeda offensive -- the first time the Alliance has deployed forces outside the North Atlantic area. Together with our partners in China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, we're pursuing intensive diplomacy to achieve a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons. (Applause.)
We will continue to speak out for the cause of freedom in places like Cuba, Belarus, and Burma -- and continue to awaken the conscience of the world to save the people of Darfur. (Applause.)
American foreign policy is more than a matter of war and diplomacy. Our work in the world is also based on a timeless truth: To whom much is given, much is required. We hear the call to take on the challenges of hunger and poverty and disease -- and that is precisely what America is doing. We must continue to fight HIV/AIDS, especially on the continent of Africa. (Applause.) Because you funded our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the number of people receiving life-saving drugs has grown from 50,000 to more than 800,000 in three short years. I ask you to continue funding our efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. I ask you to provide $1.2 billion over five years so we can combat malaria in 15 African countries. (Applause.)
I ask that you fund the Millennium Challenge Account, so that American aid reaches the people who need it, in nations where democracy is on the rise and corruption is in retreat. And let us continue to support the expanded trade and debt relief that are the best hope for lifting lives and eliminating poverty. (Applause.)
When America serves others in this way, we show the strength and generosity of our country. These deeds reflect the character of our people. The greatest strength we have is the heroic kindness, courage, and self-sacrifice of the American people. You see this spirit often if you know where to look -- and tonight we need only look above to the gallery.
Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa, amid great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship to study medicine -- but Coach John Thompson got a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. (Laughter.) Dikembe became a star in the NBA, and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth, or the duty to share his blessings with others. He built a brand new hospital in his old hometown. A friend has said of this good-hearted man: "Mutombo believes that God has given him this opportunity to do great things." And we are proud to call this son of the Congo a citizen of the United States of America. (Applause.)
After her daughter was born, Julie Aigner-Clark searched for ways to share her love of music and art with her child. So she borrowed some equipment, and began filming children's videos in her basement. The Baby Einstein Company was born, and in just five years her business grew to more than $20 million in sales. In November 2001, Julie sold Baby Einstein to the Walt Disney Company, and with her help Baby Einstein has grown into a $200 million business. Julie represents the great enterprising spirit of America. And she is using her success to help others -- producing child safety videos with John Walsh of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Julie says of her new project: "I believe it's the most important thing that I have ever done. I believe that children have the right to live in a world that is safe." And so tonight, we are pleased to welcome this talented business entrepreneur and generous social entrepreneur -- Julie Aigner-Clark. (Applause.)
Three weeks ago, Wesley Autrey was waiting at a Harlem subway station with his two little girls, when he saw a man fall into the path of a train. With seconds to act, Wesley jumped onto the tracks, pulled the man into the space between the rails, and held him as the train passed right above their heads. He insists he's not a hero. He says: "We got guys and girls overseas dying for us to have our freedoms. We have got to show each other some love." There is something wonderful about a country that produces a brave and humble man like Wesley Autrey. (Applause.)
Tommy Rieman was a teenager pumping gas in Independence, Kentucky, when he enlisted in the United States Army. In December 2003, he was on a reconnaissance mission in Iraq when his team came under heavy enemy fire. From his Humvee, Sergeant Rieman returned fire; he used his body as a shield to protect his gunner. He was shot in the chest and arm, and received shrapnel wounds to his legs -- yet he refused medical attention, and stayed in the fight. He helped to repel a second attack, firing grenades at the enemy's position. For his exceptional courage, Sergeant Rieman was awarded the Silver Star. And like so many other Americans who have volunteered to defend us, he has earned the respect and the gratitude of our entire country. (Applause.)
In such courage and compassion, ladies and gentlemen, we see the spirit and character of America -- and these qualities are not in short supply. This is a decent and honorable country -- and resilient, too. We've been through a lot together. We've met challenges and faced dangers, and we know that more lie ahead. Yet we can go forward with confidence -- because the State of our Union is strong, our cause in the world is right, and tonight that cause goes on. God bless. (Applause.)
See you next year. Thank you for your prayers.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Did Bush Fail the leadership test ?
Lets gain perspective an experienced blogger who has done an analysis of our previous blog post.
Bush Failed the Leadership Test
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and the years since, Bush's "performance" has been praised not just by the usual suspects (Noonan, Novak, Safire, Sully, Fox News, the 101st Keyboarders) but also pundits like Lil' Russ, Tweety, Richard Cohen, to name a few. They all lavished such praise on him you would have thought he had performed a miracle. All this nonsense was about how glad they were that Bush was President because of his resolve, uber-resolve, made me want to vomit. I wasn't impressed by anything he did around 9/11, including the bullhorn at ground zero, because I thought it was automatic. It was, to borrow a phrase, a slam dunk.
Now we have the real test of leadership. In a world torn by the politics of war, a world often divided not just by ideology but religious identity, Bush, the leader of the free world, had a rare and unique opportunity to show true sincerity, true compassion, and true leadership. He didn't even have to get in a plane and fly to Asia. But he needed to do more than hunker down on the ranch clearing brush. He had to do more than send out the second string press secretary to talk to the public (and press). He had the opportunity to tell all of Asia that America hears all people regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion. America will be with the people of all nations especially in their hour of need, whatever it takes. He had the chance to show who we are as a nation: more than about war, weapons, and oil.
It tells us a lot about both the President and the people advising him that his reaction has been so underwhelming. It is sad that we have to see tragedy as moments also of opportunity but that is what it is. That nobody apparently has the sense or clout to tell the President to fly back to Washington to make an appearance from the White House, to start the process of organizing relief efforts before resuming his vacation is sad. It is tragic that the best we got out of this moron is some statements read by Trent Duffy, the second-string press secretary, and a brief appearance in an airplane hangar with presidential pooch Barney in tow. He missed a golden chance--that we will never have back--to lead, not be in charge, but to really lead, during the recovery from a disaster whose depths we may never fully grasp.
Bush blew the bunny. He failed the leadership test, the true measure of the man.
Source Champollion http://rising-hegemon.blogspot.com
Bush Failed the Leadership Test
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and the years since, Bush's "performance" has been praised not just by the usual suspects (Noonan, Novak, Safire, Sully, Fox News, the 101st Keyboarders) but also pundits like Lil' Russ, Tweety, Richard Cohen, to name a few. They all lavished such praise on him you would have thought he had performed a miracle. All this nonsense was about how glad they were that Bush was President because of his resolve, uber-resolve, made me want to vomit. I wasn't impressed by anything he did around 9/11, including the bullhorn at ground zero, because I thought it was automatic. It was, to borrow a phrase, a slam dunk.
Now we have the real test of leadership. In a world torn by the politics of war, a world often divided not just by ideology but religious identity, Bush, the leader of the free world, had a rare and unique opportunity to show true sincerity, true compassion, and true leadership. He didn't even have to get in a plane and fly to Asia. But he needed to do more than hunker down on the ranch clearing brush. He had to do more than send out the second string press secretary to talk to the public (and press). He had the opportunity to tell all of Asia that America hears all people regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion. America will be with the people of all nations especially in their hour of need, whatever it takes. He had the chance to show who we are as a nation: more than about war, weapons, and oil.
It tells us a lot about both the President and the people advising him that his reaction has been so underwhelming. It is sad that we have to see tragedy as moments also of opportunity but that is what it is. That nobody apparently has the sense or clout to tell the President to fly back to Washington to make an appearance from the White House, to start the process of organizing relief efforts before resuming his vacation is sad. It is tragic that the best we got out of this moron is some statements read by Trent Duffy, the second-string press secretary, and a brief appearance in an airplane hangar with presidential pooch Barney in tow. He missed a golden chance--that we will never have back--to lead, not be in charge, but to really lead, during the recovery from a disaster whose depths we may never fully grasp.
Bush blew the bunny. He failed the leadership test, the true measure of the man.
Source Champollion http://rising-hegemon.blogspot.com
Friday, January 12, 2007
Bush Inauguration 2001
In order to effectively analyze the Bush succession we must look back at what he promised or what were his own initial goals and draw a parallel with what is actually unfolding currently.
I have included this excerpt from his First Inaugural speech ...
I have included this excerpt from his First Inaugural speech ...
While many of our citizens prosper, others doubt the promise — even the justice — of our own country. The ambitions of some Americans are limited by failing schools, and hidden prejudice and the circumstances of their birth. And sometimes our differences run so deep, it seems we share a continent, but not a country.
We do not accept this, and we will not allow it. Our unity, our union, is the serious work of leaders and citizens in every generation. And this is my solemn pledge: I will work to build a single nation of justice and opportunity. I know this is in our reach, because we are guided by a power larger than ourselves, who creates us equal in his image. And we are confident in principles that unite and lead us onward...
This is the statement that defined his goal for America and this is the statement that will hold him to account at the end of his term.History of George W Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001 and re-elected in the 2004 U.S. presidential election.
The Bush family has a significant history in the Republican Party and U.S. politics. Bush is the eldest son of the 41st U.S. President, George H. W. Bush, grandson to Prescott Bush, the former U.S. Senator from Connecticut, and older brother to Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida. He became the 46th Governor of Texas in January 1995, resigning in December 2000, after being elected president.
Nine months into George W. Bush's presidency, nineteen hijackers sponsored by al Qaeda carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks. President Bush responded by declaring a global War on Terrorism, which would become one of the central issues of his presidency. In early October 2001 he ordered the invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban and destroy al-Qaeda.[1] In March 2003, Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, asserting that Iraq was in violation of UN Resolution 1441 regarding weapons of mass destruction and had to be disarmed by force in order to (1) adequately protect the United States from what he asserted was "a continuing threat from Iraq", and (2) take the "necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."[2] Following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's Iraq regime, Bush committed the U.S. to establishing democracy in the Middle East, starting with Afghanistan and Iraq.[3] President Bush's execution of the War on Terror, especially surrounding the Iraq War and the implementation of various related domestic policies designed to enhance the power of the presidency, would become the most enduringly controversial aspect of his presidency.
Bush was first elected in 2000, becoming the fourth president in U.S. history to be elected without a plurality of the popular vote after the 1824, 1876 and 1888 elections. As a self-described war president,[4] he won re-election in 2004[5] after an intense and heated election campaign in which his prosecution of the War on Terror and the Iraq war were made the central issues, becoming the first candidate to win a more than 50% of the total votes cast in the election since his father did so 16 years earlier.[6] In the previous three elections, strong showings by third-party candidates had prevented the popular plurality winners, Gore and Clinton, from winning a popular majority. [7]
After his re-election, Bush received increasingly heated criticism, even from former allies, on the Iraq War, Guantánamo Bay and Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandals, as well as domestic issues such as federal funding of stem cell research, Hurricane Katrina, and controversies such as NSA warrantless surveillance activities and the Plame affair. According to polls of job approval rating, his popularity reached record heights after the September 11, 2001 attacks, but later significantly declined, due to his perceived poor handling of the Iraq War.[8] It was one of the major reasons for what Bush called the "thumpin'" of the Republican Party in November 2006 mid-term elections.[9][10]
Courtesy of Wikipedia.Bush begins to rescue his legacy
With 2 years remaining in the final chapter of the Bush presidency,President George Bush has laid out his plans for Iraq and the remainder of his term.It is clear that the war on terror and the containment of the Iraqi Sunni insurgency is going to shape the final 800 days of this administration.
We here at Bushsuccession.com will be following these crucial events as they unfold and unleash consequences and reactions from all over the world.
By John Samson
We here at Bushsuccession.com will be following these crucial events as they unfold and unleash consequences and reactions from all over the world.
By John Samson
Trends 2008
For the first time since 1928, both major parties will have open contests for the Presidential nomination without a sitting President or Vice President in the running. Politics1 presents a "first look" at those people being mentioned as possible, likely, speculative, or draft candidates for President in 2008...Courtesy of Politics1.com
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