The LuLac Edition #1081, Jan. 28th, 2010

PHOTO INDEX: PRESIDENT OBAMA WITH THE SCRAPPY KID FROM SCRANTON LOOKING ON AT WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

TAKING THEM ON....I HOPE

I was prepared to pan the President’s speech tonight. As a matter of fact I had a title for this segment called “Change In Retreat”. But after hearing the President’s clarion call for respect in government, I changed my mind. I have been disappointed in this President’s ability to tout some of the good things he has done along with his party in office. I have been dismayed by the lack of guts in dealing with recalcitrant members of his own party in trying to accomplish goals. My utter disgust for the party of no has been evident here since day one. So I was glad Mr. Obama really put the pedal to the metal tonight and called on his Congress to get moving. I hope he backs up his words with actions. The guy needs a political operative the Oval Office because these guys forgot how they got there.
Saying “I do not accept second place for the United States of America,” Obama compared the economic crisis to the greatest challenges of the nation’s past Wednesday night, saying “history’s call” demanded a years-long freeze on huge chunks of popular government spending programs.
One of the things the President did was finally tell people what good came of his stimulus package.
As we stabilized the financial system, we also took steps to get our economy growing again, save as many jobs as possible, and help Americans who had become unemployed. That's why we extended or increased unemployment benefits for more than 18 million Americans; made health insurance 65% cheaper for families who get their coverage through COBRA; and passed 25 different tax cuts. Let me repeat: We cut taxes. We cut taxes for 95% of working families. We cut taxes for small businesses. We cut taxes for first-time home buyers. We cut taxes for parents trying to care for their children. We cut taxes for 8 million Americans paying for college. As a result, millions of Americans had more to spend on gas, and food, and other necessities, all of which helped businesses keep more workers. And we haven't raised income taxes by a single dime on a single person. Not a single dime.
Tea Party people and the GOP seem to have given the American people the impression that only they have a monopoly on cutting taxes. Pointing out these achievements was a good thing. But the President also addressed the gridlock he faces in the Congress. I’m glad he took aim at his own party which includes a bunch of cowardly pansies (Ben Nelson comes to mind) who would be scared off by a poodle as well as the obstructionists that represent the party of greats like Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.
To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills. And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions.
Love that last line. That’s why I outlined it in red. But the best part of the speech was where the President talked about the deficit.
So let me start the discussion of government spending by setting the record straight. At the beginning of the last decade, America had a budget surplus of over $200 billion. By the time I took office, we had a one year deficit of over $1 trillion and projected deficits of $8 trillion over the next decade. Most of this was the result of not paying for two wars, two tax cuts, and an expensive prescription drug program. On top of that, the effects of the recession put a $3 trillion hole in our budget. That was before I walked in the door.
To all of my Republican friends out there, your party drove up the deficit by costly wars that were based on lies, bankrolling corporations like Haliburton and giving tax breaks to the richest people in this country. If you are so concerned about debt now …where the hell were you from 2001 to 2010. The speech was very good, but will be meaningless if the President doesn’t knock heads and take on people opposing his agenda. Let’s face it, as my buddy Ed Rendell said, better to go down fighting for principle and changing something than caving in and getting nothing.

KANJO RESPONDS

Congressman Kanjorski, a member of the House, a part of the Congress that actually passed legislation during the President’s first year had this statement. Kanjorski released the following statement regarding President Obama’s State of the Union address:
“Tonight, President Obama spoke openly to the American people about the struggles we face and how we can improve the lives for everyone going forward. Now is the time to work together to address the complex problems that reach way beyond the partisan bickering that has too often overwhelmed real debate on the issues. As the President said, we owe it to the American people to move forward, create more American jobs, reform Wall Street rules, control excessive spending, and turn our economy around. I very much agree.
“During the past two years, far too many Americans have personally experienced the devastating consequences of the economic crisis. Since joining Congress, my top priorities have been job creation and economic development, particularly in Northeastern Pennsylvania. During these difficult times, I agree with the President that we need to enhance and expand efforts to generate more jobs.
“The Recovery Act has preserved jobs throughout the nation, but we can, and we must, do more, much more. With my support, the House has already passed the Jobs for Main Street Act to create more jobs here at home. We must also do everything reasonably possible to turn the tide of our economy and improve the well being of every American. I am committed to doing just that. As I have continued to stress, fixing our economy will not happen overnight, but I have faith that we will emerge from these tough times stronger than ever.
“As we work to create new jobs, more jobs, and better jobs, we must also take action to change the rules of Wall Street and rein in the biggest financial institutions which caused the current crisis. As the President stressed, reforming Wall Street is essential to preventing another economic crisis like the one we just experienced. In December, with my strong support the House passed a Wall Street reform bill. This bill included my amendment to limit the risk of financial companies by preventing them from becoming ‘too big to fail.’ The President’s remarks tonight only strengthened my resolve to enact into law a common-sense financial regulatory reform bill to better protect the financial security of every American and fundamentally change the way Wall Street operates.
“Finally, the President outlined his plan to address the looming federal deficit. Because I worked with President Clinton to turn a massive deficit into a sizable budget surplus, I know we can fix this problem. To reverse the vast deficit built up in the last 8 years, we must now make tough choices. By making prudent fiscal decisions and creating a bipartisan budget task force, as the President stated, we can once again work to reduce our budget deficit, focus on national priorities, and decrease spending.”