Let me begin by saying that despite everything Republicans have done to weaken a sitting president and the American economy, President Obama has overcome all attempts at discrediting him, weakening his presidency and destroying the American economy for political gain. Everything negative thing they've said about the President's policies have proven to be untrue. The sky was supposed to fall when the president raised taxes on the rich and all 'Hell' was to break loose when Obamacare became policy.Â
Well guess what happened? The February Jobs Report came out.  U.S. employers added 236,000 jobs to non-farm payrolls in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday, up from 119,000 in January. That was the best payroll growth since 247,000 jobs last November and the second-best month for job growth of the past 12 months. The unemployment rate dropped to 7.7 percent from 7.9 percent in January. That is the lowest unemployment rate since December 2008, when the rate was 7.3 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a fresh record for the fourth straight session Friday helped by solid jobs data. That pushed the Dow over the 14,400 line for the first time. The Dow lost value under 8 years of George Bush. He became the first president since Herbert Hoover to have the Dow lose money on his watch. In fact, the Dow lost almost 2,700 points under George Bush. Â
On Thursday President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act that expanded protections for domestic violence victims into law , renewing a measure credited with curbing attacks against women a year and a half after it lapsed amid partisan bickering. It marked an important win for women and Native Americans, who will see new protections under the law, and for Obama, whose attempts to push for a renewal failed last year after they became entangled in gender politics and the presidential election.
‘‘This is your day. This is the day of the advocates, the day of the survivors. This is your victory,’’ Obama said. ‘‘This victory shows that when the American people make their voices heard, Washington listens.’’ For the life of me I'll never understand why Republican men and women were opposed to this piece of legislation.Â
As Obama prepared to put his pen to the new law, new government data underscored both the progress that has been made and the enduring need to do more. The rate of sexual violence against women and girls age 12 or older fell 64 percent in a decade and has remained stable for five years, the Justice Department said in a survey released Thursday. In 2010, women and girls nationwide experienced about 270,000 rapes or sexual assaults, compared with 556,000 in 1995. The survey also showed that rapes and sexual assault rates involving women have plateaued while violent crime rates overall have declined. Women’s advocacy groups called the report proof that the Violence Against Women Act and heightened awareness of the problem by police has had a positive effect. Still, 1 in 5 women will be raped during their lifetime, said Obama, asserting a continued need for action nearly two decades after the bill’s original passage in 1994.
‘‘It didn’t just change the rules, it changed our culture. It empowered people to start speaking out,’’ Obama said.
Also on Thursday, Osama Bin Laden's spokesman and son-in-law was captured in Jordan. Osama bin Laden's son-in-law is in U.S. custody and has been 'cooperating' and has already revealed 'key intelligence about the status, personnel and finances of al Qaeda, according to a report by ABC News. Sulaiman Abu Ghaith was arrested in a dramatic take-down by CIA officials in Jordan several days ago, and is now being held in a detention facility somewhere in the New York City area. Abu Ghaith has been charged with participating in a conspiracy to kill Americans in relation to the 9/11 attacks, according to a newly-unsealed indictment. There hasn't been one terrorist attack on American soil since President Obama has been in office. Yet Republicans continue to say the president has made America less safer. The worse job any terrorist can have these days is second in charge of al Qaeda because being the head of this organization means being targeted for death.
Republicans are now concerned with the collateral damage associated with drone strikes. And I offer my sympathies to the families of those affected. But if you know your husband, father, uncle, nephew, brother or sister is a terrorist with the potential to kill Americans you should disassociate with them and turn them into the authorities. If not, then you will suffer the consequences along with the terrorist themselves. America does not deserve to experience another 9/11. It was wrong and if it happened under President Obama's watch all 'Hell' would break out once again. So I am thankful for the president keeping our country safe.Â
Lastly, the president's Cabinet picks. Protocol states that president of the United States of America gets to choose those he wants in his cabinet. The silly partisan bickering we've seen over the last couple of months by the John McCain, Linsey Graham and Rand Paul have made America the laughing stock throughout the world. First they teamed up against potential Secretary of State nominee Susan Rice. Then they fought the nomination of Republican Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense. But it was the 13 hour filibuster by Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul against the nomination of John O. Brennan, Obama’s choice to lead the CIA that showed how ridiculous and partisan Republicans have become. Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Marco Rubio of Florida, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Tim Scott of South Carolina, John Thune of South Dakota and John Barrasso of Wyoming -- as well as Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon -- also participated. Yet both Chuck Hagel and John O. Brennan were confirmed.
In conclusion, and in my opinion, it's time for Republicans to either get on board or get out of the way. We've tried it their way and each time the results have been an abject failure. Democrats are always left to clean up the mess they rack up. What is your opinion? Are we finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel? Are you tired of Republican obstructionism?
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©2013 by Lloyd Cope for Gather.com. All rights reserved.
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Comments: 53
Excellent Article.
I am in agreement with Lloyd
Lloyd, people find it very dificult to recognize and acknowledge Greatness in a Statesman while the man is fighting to transform his nation.
President Obama is a Great Man and Great President. I wish him the best during his second term. I have trust in his Great Success !
******
The president entered office with two wars in effect, a financial meltdown in progress and unemployment nearly at a all time high.
In my opinion he has met the challenge and exceeded expectations.
"The bottom line is that President Obama is plain and simply smarter than his foes in the Republican Party."
Bottom line. Republicans are a factually stupid demographic, dwelling outside of an evidence-based world.
Gerald, no, I mean a budget -- of any kind. The Constitution requires congress to pass a budget every year and we haven't had one in four years.
When will the president submit a budget to congress?
Where in the Constitution does it say the President is supposed to submit a budget to Congress. I must have missed that. I do recall that all money bills (spending) are supposed to start in the House.
Len, Republicans need to submit a budget that eliminates all the loopholes they have in the tax codes. There is no reason why oil companies should be subsidized.
Ordinary taxpayers pay tax on their earnings at ordinary income tax rates up to 35 percent. The really rich, however, are different from you and me in that they tend to make most of their money via investments instead of standard paychecks -- meaning most of their money is taxed at 15 percent.
Where does it stop?
It's more than obvious that his decisions and policies were influence by the Neo-Cons. It's such a shame as they led him astray. He could have and should have done better.
Congress has done just the opposite.
~ Theodore Roosevelt
* do you feel represented?
Featured in Obama Has Git'R Done in the Triple Name Club.
Lloyd
Susan, I guess that's kinda my point~that it was a tactic, an ill-conceived one, at that. And, the political gaming & finger-pointing was detrimental to our country, & potentially devastating to many Americans~it's akin to playing political poker with peoples' lives!
August Lady, I agree with you in that it's akin to playing poker. However, I've never seen this much poker being played in my lifetime of following politics.
It's time for Republicans to accept the fact that President Obama is the leader of our country. He's not going away. It's time to end the games being played. It's time to stop the obstructionism.
I've always said that Republicans need to find a candidate palatable to the majority of the American electorate and run him or her for office. And extremist will never, ever be elected. A 'rape candidate' will never be elected. A candidate continuing the 'War on Women' will never be elected. A candidate that treats our Latino friends and neighbors with disdain will never be elected.
And we knew this: One need only look at what the republican formula delivers for red states. Utter failure, civil and constitutional rights erosion and economic ruin by every measure.
I'm glad I grew up with someone like my dad around. As a Republican, he really taught me what it was to be a liberal, and to think for myself.
Lloyd, I’m always surprised at how partisan some people are. Your posts are so overwhelming with praise for Obama that it borders on worshipful. I am aware that you have voiced a disagreement or two with the President, but that doesn’t negate what I said.
The filibuster was hardly partisan, as Rand Paul noted many times. A democrat joined him on the floor and other Democrat Senators voiced some level of support for his effort. Additionally, many Democrats and left-wing groups support what Rand did.
Do you really want to claim the filibuster as your example for how bad the Republicans are? How can you possibly stand with Obama on this issue?
And read what I said, one democrat joined him on the floor, others "voiced some level of support", though not on the floor, of course.