Blogging Blue » Barack Obama

Stark Contrast of Leadership: Obama v. Walker

Steven Reynolds — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:07:53 +0000

While Barack Obama was giving his State of the Union speech this week, he calmly hid the knowledge that he had ordered a successful raid by Seal Team Six to rescue hostages in Somalia. Mr. Obama never batted an eye. From the Washington Post:

Publicly, Obama did not tip his hand during his speech, though microphones picked up his congratulation to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta as he entered the House chamber Tuesday night. Obama pointed his index finger to Panetta and said, “Good job tonight. Good job.” Panetta smiled broadly.

Unknown to those watching the speech, Obama had learned shortly before that the operation to rescue American aid worker Jessica Buchanan and another hostage had been successful. Immediately after the speech, Obama returned to the White House to inform Buchanan’s father that she was safe and “on her way home,” according to a White House statement.

On the next night Governor Scott Walker gave the State of the State speech in Madison, Wisconsin, perhaps also with full knowledge of something he did not disclose to his listeners. From The Nation:

Just hours after he delivered a State of the State address that he hoped would set the tone for his campaign to avert a recall election threat, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was hit with exactly the sort of news that embattled politicians fear most.

Two former aides to Walker—one of whom was in the employ of his campaign until just days ago—have been charged with felonies and misdemeanors in the ongoing “John Doe” investigation of wrongdoing by aides, political allies and campaign donors with links to the embattled governor.

I can hear it now from the quibblers, that Walker didn’t know of more of his cronies being rounded up until after the speech. Still, this is a sharp contrast, and followers of Scott Walker should be embarrassed.

Inconvenient Economic Truths

Phil Scarr — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:14:42 +0000

The only issue that matters in the 2012 election is the income disparity between rich and poor. And the fact that, as a whole, people are not seeing the benefits of the growth in GDP.

That red line is 1980 (about) when America embarked on a reckless experiment with supply-side economics. This chart

shows inflation-adjusted GDP per capita and median family income from 1947 (the earliest year for which the income data are available) to 2007. To facilitate comparison of the over-time trends, each is indexed to its 1973 level. Since the mid-to-late 1970s, growth of income at the median has been slow — very slow — relative to growth of the economy. The current decade, with no improvement at all in median income, is especially striking.

And what is distribution of that “median family income?” Well, we’ve all seen versions of this chart before.

This is the consequence of abandoning Keynesian economics and it’s only going to get worse. Neither Romney nor Obama have demonstrated any understanding of this problem. Both continue to talk in terms of “expansionary austerity.” Economic recovery will happen in spite of what the politicians in Washington do, not because of it.

The Obama payroll tax calculator

Zach W — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:20:31 +0000

As the 2012 election heats up, the reelection campaign of President Barack Obama has released their payroll tax calculator, which allows individuals and families to enter some basic information about themselves into the payroll tax cut calculator to find out what they’d save if Congress extends the Obama payroll tax cut, and what they’d pay if Congress allows the Obama payroll tax cut to expire.

It’s a pretty cool tool, and it’s worth checking out.

Reason #1 for Wisconsinites to Support Obama

Steven Reynolds — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:27:48 +0000

He brews his own beer. I think I’m in love again. . .

Is President Obama losing Democrats?

Zach W — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:58:27 +0000

As President Barack Obama’s approval ratings continue to stay mired under 50% as unemployment hovers just above 9% nationally, it appears some Democratic elected officials are getting more than a little nervous about President Obama being a drag on Democrats nationally in 2012:

Elected officials and party leaders at all levels said their worries have intensified as the economy has displayed new signs of weakness. They said the likelihood of a highly competitive 2012 race is increasing as the Republican field, once dismissed by many Democrats as too inexperienced and conservative to pose a serious threat, has started narrowing to two leading candidates, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, who have executive experience and messages built around job creation.

Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon isn’t bullish on President Obama, saying, “In my district, the enthusiasm for him has mostly evaporated.” Rep. DeFazio continued, “There is tremendous discontent with his direction.”

And Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, who served as the state chairman of Obama’s campaign in 2008, isn’t terribly optimistic, saying, “The frustrations are real,” adding, “I think we know that there is a Barack Obama that’s deep in there, but he’s got to synchronize it with passion and principles.”

Count me among those frustrated by President Obama, resulting in the evaporation of my enthusiasm for his reelection campaign.