President / CEO at Political Strategist, Inc.
Following
Obama’s State of the Union Address, Rebuttal
Jan 21, 2015
Obama’s State of the Union Address
By: Tim McClellan, Political Strategist January 21, 2015
While I watched Obama present his State of the Union Address last night I was horrified by the amount of lies and deception being fed to the public. Apparently he is in full agreement with Gruber that Americans are stupid. All my response are in bold
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans:
We are fifteen years into this new century. Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores; that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars; that saw a vicious recession spread across our nation and the world.
Wars the the United States started. the invasion of Iraq, the funding of the Syrian Rebels to overthrow President Al-Assad's Syrian government. The Rebels were funded and trained by the CIA. They did not overthrow Al-Assad's government, but did turn into ISIS/ISIL and took over approx 2/3rds of Syria and 3/4s of Iraq. Obama still refuses to call them the terrorist that they are.
It has been, and still is, a hard time for many.
But tonight, we turn the page.
Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis. More of our kids are graduating than ever before; more of our people are insured than ever before; we are as free from the grip of foreign oil as we’ve been in almost 30 years.
When you hit the bottom there is no place to go but up. What he did n't tell you is the jobs people are getting are low paying jobs. He also did not comment on the fact that there is a huge number of people that have given up looking for a job. If you factor in these people and the current unemployment numbers you will see the unemployment rate is approx. $27%. The highest in the history of the United States.
Tonight, for the first time since 9/11, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over. Six years ago, nearly 180,000 American troops served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, fewer than 15,000 remain. And we salute the courage and sacrifice of every man and woman in this 9/11 Generation who has served to keep us safe. We are humbled and grateful for your service.
We abandoned Iraq and Syria and are now are abandoning Afghanistan. The Taliban has been waiting patiently for this day to come. They will come back stronger than ever and completely control Afghanistan and anyone that sided with the Coalition Forces will be executed.
America, for all that we’ve endured; for all the grit and hard work required to come back; for all the tasks that lie ahead, know this:
The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong.
He is delusional, the war has just begun. Only this time it will be on U.S. soil.
At this moment — with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, and booming energy production — we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth. It’s now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next fifteen years, and for decades to come.
The economy is in the worst shape since the Great Depression. In fact the financial indicators show the stock and housing market will collapse before the end of June 2015. All the indicators and experts agree on this. They also agree that it can not be stopped as it is too late and Obama's policies have put us in this position. China is the number one world economy now and has become the worlds bank. We no longer control the markets.
Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?
Obama has created thousands of new regulations on businesses that are not even aware they will not be able to adhere to these regulations and will go out of business, thus furthering the unemployment problem.
Will we approach the world fearful and reactive, dragged into costly conflicts that strain our military and set back our standing? Or will we lead wisely, using all elements of our power to defeat new threats and protect our planet?
Reactively? Obama's version of reactive is to do too little, too late. A pattern that has been repeated over and over in his six years.
Will we allow ourselves to be sorted into factions and turned against one another — or will we recapture the sense of common purpose that has always propelled America forward?
Obama, has pitted the blacks against the police, blacks and now illegal aliens against the police, blacks against whites, Christians against Muslims, gays and against straights and has destroyed the very fabric of our society. Like we are supposed to believe that gays are supposed to be married like a couple to procreate. If you say it enough people will believe it. Divide and conquer.
In two weeks, I will send this Congress a budget filled with ideas that are practical, not partisan. And in the months ahead, I’ll crisscross the country making a case for those ideas.
More demands, they just passed a 1.1 Trillion dollar budget for 9 months that is about 25% garbage. How do you like giving $12,000 to $17,000 to every person that broke our law and became an Illegal alien. Then giving them instant citizenship as a reward. Out citizenship isn't worth a wooden nickel anymore. Now we need another budget? We are over 18 trillion dollars in debt with nothing to back it up.
So tonight, I want to focus less on a checklist of proposals, and focus more on the values at stake in the choices before us.
Because he doesn't have a checklist and can't talk about his hidden agenda to destroy the United States.
It begins with our economy.
Seven years ago, Rebekah and Ben Erler of Minneapolis were newlyweds. She waited tables. He worked construction. Their first child, Jack, was on the way.
They were young and in love in America, and it doesn’t get much better than that.
“If only we had known,” Rebekah wrote to me last spring, “what was about to happen to the housing and construction market.”
As the crisis worsened, Ben’s business dried up, so he took what jobs he could find, even if they kept him on the road for long stretches of time. Rebekah took out student loans, enrolled in community college, and retrained for a new career. They sacrificed for each other. And slowly, it paid off. They bought their first home. They had a second son, Henry. Rebekah got a better job, and then a raise. Ben is back in construction — and home for dinner every night.
“It is amazing,” Rebekah wrote, “what you can bounce back from when you have to…we are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.”
We are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.
America, Rebekah and Ben’s story is our story. They represent the millions who have worked hard, and scrimped, and sacrificed, and retooled. You are the reason I ran for this office. You’re the people I was thinking of six years ago today, in the darkest months of the crisis, when I stood on the steps of this Capitol and promised we would rebuild our economy on a new foundation. And it’s been your effort and resilience that has made it possible for our country to emerge stronger.
Did you see the look on Rebekah's face. It clearly showed this was all BS.
We believed we could reverse the tide of outsourcing, and draw new jobs to our shores. And over the past five years, our businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs.
"We believed we could reverse" the operative work here is "could". Who is "We", it sure is not Obama or congress.
We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet. And today, America is number one in oil and gas. America is number one in wind power. Every three weeks, we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008. And thanks to lower gas prices and higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save $750 at the pump.
The lower oil prices are a scam to get the oil companies in the US to go bankrupt. It cost OPEC and the Middle Eastern companies between $30 to $40 dollars a barrel to get the oil out of the ground. It costs American producers around $60 per barrel. Opec and the other oil producing countries know we are sitting on the largest oil and naturals reserves of any county in the world. Once they bankrupt the American companies watch out, the prices will go through the roof and it will take years for the American oil producers to rebuild and get the production back online.
Remember this is the same Obama that has vowed to Veto the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada that would reduce our dependance on the Middle East oil. As for wind and solar, complete bs. We are a long way from reaching dependency on these technologies.
We believed we could prepare our kids for a more competitive world. And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record. Our high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high. And more Americans finish college than ever before.
More lies. The student that actually graduate from High School today have about a 50% literacy rate. Meaning 50% cannot read or write. College, who can afford to go. Now he is going to give everyone a two year degree for free to them. At a high cost to what's left of the middle class.
We believed that sensible regulations could prevent another crisis, shield families from ruin, and encourage fair competition. Today, we have new tools to stop taxpayer-funded bailouts, and a new consumer watchdog to protect us from predatory lending and abusive credit card practices. And in the past year alone, about ten million uninsured Americans finally gained the security of health coverage.
More bull. One change was made last year that the FDIC would no longer insure highly speculative and dangerous derivative investment that just about killed the banks last time. Healthcare, only 26 States signed up for it. It is being challenged in the Supreme Court to see if it is Constitutional to tax some people and not others. The number of people that signed up is dismal. Obama said you can keep your Doctor, not true, once you sign on you can never leave no matter how high the price gets. 232,000 specialists have said they will not treat Obamacare patients. 44% of general Doctors polled have said in the next ten years they will try to sell their practice, quit or just retire. Who will treat you?
At every step, we were told our goals were misguided or too ambitious; that we would crush jobs and explode deficits. Instead, we’ve seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled, and health care inflation at its lowest rate in fifty years.
They were "misguided" and full of lies and misdirection. Nothing good has come from any of his programs. I have already talked about the economy, but the stock market being completely and dangerously overvalued is not a good thing for anyone. Why is Warren Buffet and George Soros, exiting the stock markets as fast as they can? Soros, is even shorting stocks, meaning he is betting the market will drop.
So the verdict is clear. Middle-class economics works. Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work, as long as politics don’t get in the way. We can’t slow down businesses or put our economy at risk with government shutdowns or fiscal showdowns. We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance, or unraveling the new rules on Wall Street, or refighting past battles on immigration when we’ve got a system to fix. And if a bill comes to my desk that tries to do any of these things, it will earn my veto.
He has put more roadblocks in the way of business than anyone I have seen in my 59 years. I have owned 12 companies and would never start one in this environment. Immigration? Still think it was for the Mexicans? It was for the millions of Muslims here and flooding in daily. He just willingly accepted 70,000 Muslims and guaranteed them citizenship. Like the others, no background checks, no criminal checks, no check of any kind.
Today, thanks to a growing economy, the recovery is touching more and more lives. Wages are finally starting to rise again. We know that more small business owners plan to raise their employees’ pay than at any time since 2007. But here’s the thing — those of us here tonight, we need to set our sights higher than just making sure government doesn’t halt the progress we’re making. We need to do more than just do no harm. Tonight, together, let’s do more to restore the link between hard work and growing opportunity for every American.
Talk is cheap. "We know that more small business owners plan to raise their employees’ pay than at any time since 2007." Again, who is "we". I don't know anyone saying this. Everybody I know is just hoping to keep the doors open.
Because families like Rebekah’s still need our help. She and Ben are working as hard as ever, but have to forego vacations and a new car so they can pay off student loans and save for retirement. Basic childcare for Jack and Henry costs more than their mortgage, and almost as much as a year at the University of Minnesota. Like millions of hardworking Americans, Rebekah isn’t asking for a handout, but she is asking that we look for more ways to help families get ahead.
In fact, at every moment of economic change throughout our history, this country has taken bold action to adapt to new circumstances, and to make sure everyone gets a fair shot. We set up worker protections, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to protect ourselves from the harshest adversity. We gave our citizens schools and colleges, infrastructure and the internet — tools they needed to go as far as their effort will take them.
That’s what middle-class economics is — the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. We don’t just want everyone to share in America’s success — we want everyone to contribute to our success.
So what does middle-class economics require in our time?
First — middle-class economics means helping working families feel more secure in a world of constant change. That means helping folks afford childcare, college, health care, a home, retirement — and my budget will address each of these issues, lowering the taxes of working families and putting thousands of dollars back into their pockets each year.
Here’s one example. During World War II, when men like my grandfather went off to war, having women like my grandmother in the workforce was a national security priority — so this country provided universal childcare. In today’s economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, we need affordable, high-quality childcare more than ever. It’s not a nice-to-have — it’s a must-have. It’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us. And that’s why my plan will make quality childcare more available, and more affordable, for every middle-class and low-income family with young children in America — by creating more slots and a new tax cut of up to $3,000 per child, per year.
Spend more money we don't have. I am certainly not against helping with childcare, but a $3,000 tax credit is not going to much. This is not a $3,000 check going to families. They will get a fraction of that. Assuming it passes as a law.
Here’s another example. Today, we’re the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers. Forty-three million workers have no paid sick leave. Forty-three million. Think about that. And that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home. So I’ll be taking new action to help states adopt paid leave laws of their own. And since paid sick leave won where it was on the ballot last November, let’s put it to a vote right here in Washington. Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave. It’s the right thing to do.
Most companies do this already and to make this a law may just hurt more people than it helps. It will certainly be an additional financial burden on small businesses that can't afford to be without their employees when they have a small workforce. This is where family comes in to help out. You can bet there will be plenty of paperwork the government will impose on small business too.
Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages. That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work. Really. It’s 2015. It’s time. We still need to make sure employees get the overtime they’ve earned. And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise.
Higher wages will kill small businesses and is nothing more than another tax. Who pays the extra money in wages? You and I. Regarding equality of wages between men and women may be the only thing I agree with him on.
These ideas won’t make everybody rich, or relieve every hardship. That’s not the job of government. To give working families a fair shot, we’ll still need more employers to see beyond next quarter’s earnings and recognize that investing in their workforce is in their company’s long-term interest. We still need laws that strengthen rather than weaken unions, and give American workers a voice. But things like child care and sick leave and equal pay; things like lower mortgage premiums and a higher minimum wage — these ideas will make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of families. That is a fact. And that’s what all of us — Republicans and Democrats alike — were sent here to do.
The last thing we need is to strengthen the communist controlled Unions. How do you think Obama got elected twice? You need a big well organized organization around you to make that happen. Like the Unions? Especially when you are a nobody with no background from what is arguably the most corrupt city in America, Chicago.
Second, to make sure folks keep earning higher wages down the road, we have to do more to help Americans upgrade their skills.
America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free, sent a generation of GIs to college, and trained the best workforce in the world. But in a 21st century economy that rewards knowledge like never before, we need to do more.
By the end of this decade, two in three job openings will require some higher education. Two in three. And yet, we still live in a country where too many bright, striving Americans are priced out of the education they need. It’s not fair to them, and it’s not smart for our future.
That’s why I am sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college — to zero.
Forty percent of our college students choose community college. Some are young and starting out. Some are older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans and single parents trying to transition back into the job market. Whoever you are, this plan is your chance to graduate ready for the new economy, without a load of debt. Understand, you’ve got to earn it — you’ve got to keep your grades up and graduate on time. Tennessee, a state with Republican leadership, and Chicago, a city with Democratic leadership, are showing that free community college is possible. I want to spread that idea all across America, so that two years of college becomes as free and universal in America as high school is today. And I want to work with this Congress, to make sure Americans already burdened with student loans can reduce their monthly payments, so that student debt doesn’t derail anyone’s dreams.
Thanks to Vice President Biden’s great work to update our job training system, we’re connecting community colleges with local employers to train workers to fill high-paying jobs like coding, and nursing, and robotics. Tonight, I’m also asking more businesses to follow the lead of companies like CVS and UPS, and offer more educational benefits and paid apprenticeships — opportunities that give workers the chance to earn higher-paying jobs even if they don’t have a higher education.
If the middle class is brought back we will not have to rely on the Federal government for everything. When I went to Community College I worked to to pay for it. These kids are at a major disadvantage. the can't find jobs and too many don't want to work and are for the dangerous concept of the Federal government taking care of them.
And as a new generation of veterans comes home, we owe them every opportunity to live the American Dream they helped defend. Already, we’ve made strides towards ensuring that every veteran has access to the highest quality care. We’re slashing the backlog that had too many veterans waiting years to get the benefits they need, and we’re making it easier for vets to translate their training and experience into civilian jobs. Joining Forces, the national campaign launched by Michelle and Jill Biden, has helped nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses get new jobs. So to every CEO in America, let me repeat: If you want somebody who’s going to get the job done, hire a veteran.
I agree 100% with this statement. We are not doing enough for our veterans. However, I don't believe for a second that Michelle and Biden helped 700,000 get new jobs. It is not even possible in this economy. That would be equal to about six month of improved employment numbers.
Finally, as we better train our workers, we need the new economy to keep churning out high-wage jobs for our workers to fill.
Since 2010, America has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan, and all advanced economies combined. Our manufacturers have added almost 800,000 new jobs. Some of our bedrock sectors, like our auto industry, are booming. But there are also millions of Americans who work in jobs that didn’t even exist ten or twenty years ago — jobs at companies like Google, and eBay, and Tesla.
Not that he had anything to do with any of these three companies he mentioned. They did it via going public and raising million/billions of dollars that allowed to to hire people. They now have shareholders to answer to and must produce profits. Just the way is should be. Free markets and Capitalism, no the Socialist government being put in place now.
So no one knows for certain which industries will generate the jobs of the future. But we do know we want them here in America. That’s why the third part of middle-class economics is about building the most competitive economy anywhere, the place where businesses want to locate and hire.
I can tell for certain what industries will be the future of the USA, why can't he.
21st century businesses need 21st century infrastructure — modern ports, stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest internet. Democrats and Republicans used to agree on this. So let’s set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline. Let’s pass a bipartisan infrastructure plan that could create more than thirty times as many jobs per year, and make this country stronger for decades to come.
The main reason is these high speed trains and ports keep getting voted down by the public because the are money losers. If a proper plan was presented and there was a middle class that had a dollars worth of disposable income they would vote for these projects. Stronger Bridges? What planet is this guy on? Every gallon of gasoline and diesel is taxed to the hilt to pay for the infrastructure our roads and bridges. Where does the money go? Nobody seems to know. What we do know is our road are tragic.
21st century businesses, including small businesses, need to sell more American products overseas. Today, our businesses export more than ever, and exporters tend to pay their workers higher wages. But as we speak, China wants to write the rules for the world’s fastest-growing region. That would put our workers and businesses at a disadvantage. Why would we let that happen? We should write those rules. We should level the playing field. That’s why I’m asking both parties to give me trade promotion authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but fair.
Obama, why don't you and why haven't you leveled the playing field. Six year and nothing. We don't charge China, Taiwan or Japan any Tariffs (taxes) on anything they send here for resale. They all charge us a 35% Tariff making it impossible for us to be competitive those countries.
Look, I’m the first one to admit that past trade deals haven’t always lived up to the hype, and that’s why we’ve gone after countries that break the rules at our expense. But ninety-five percent of the world’s customers live outside our borders, and we can’t close ourselves off from those opportunities. More than half of manufacturing executives have said they’re actively looking at bringing jobs back from China. Let’s give them one more reason to get it done.
More lies, we don't have the facilities, the trained people or the financial investments for such risky venture. I wish it were true because China has become the largest threat to the USA.
21st century businesses will rely on American science, technology, research and development. I want the country that eliminated polio and mapped the human genome to lead a new era of medicine — one that delivers the right treatment at the right time. In some patients with cystic fibrosis, this approach has reversed a disease once thought unstoppable. Tonight, I’m launching a new Precision Medicine Initiative to bring us closer to curing diseases like cancer and diabetes — and to give all of us access to the personalized information we need to keep ourselves and our families healthier.
Cancer, way to jump on the bandwagon 6 years too late. I have no idea what a "Precision Medicine Initiative" is but I suspect it will be a bureaucratic nightmare.
I intend to protect a free and open internet, extend its reach to every classroom, and every community, and help folks build the fastest networks, so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world.
I want Americans to win the race for the kinds of discoveries that unleash new jobs — converting sunlight into liquid fuel; creating revolutionary prosthetics, so that a veteran who gave his arms for his country can play catch with his kid; pushing out into the Solar System not just to visit, but to stay. Last month, we launched a new spacecraft as part of a re-energized space program that will send American astronauts to Mars. In two months, to prepare us for those missions, Scott Kelly will begin a year-long stay in space. Good luck, Captain — and make sure to Instagram it.
Dreams, sweet dreams...
Now, the truth is, when it comes to issues like infrastructure and basic research, I know there’s bipartisan support in this chamber. Members of both parties have told me so. Where we too often run onto the rocks is how to pay for these investments. As Americans, we don’t mind paying our fair share of taxes, as long as everybody else does, too. But for far too long, lobbyists have rigged the tax code with loopholes that let some corporations pay nothing while others pay full freight. They’ve riddled it with giveaways the superrich don’t need, denying a break to middle class families who do.
He identified part of the problems with our congress. The reality is when a decision is made the Lobbyists are first, then big business, then the Super Pacs, then the who? Oh yeah the people.
This year, we have an opportunity to change that. Let’s close loopholes so we stop rewarding companies that keep profits abroad, and reward those that invest in America. Let’s use those savings to rebuild our infrastructure and make it more attractive for companies to bring jobs home. Let’s simplify the system and let a small business owner file based on her actual bank statement, instead of the number of accountants she can afford. And let’s close the loopholes that lead to inequality by allowing the top one percent to avoid paying taxes on their accumulated wealth. We can use that money to help more families pay for childcare and send their kids to college. We need a tax code that truly helps working Americans trying to get a leg up in the new economy, and we can achieve that together.
Yes, great idea, let's create more Federal Government programs that the population will have to rely on.
Helping hardworking families make ends meet. Giving them the tools they need for good-paying jobs in this new economy. Maintaining the conditions for growth and competitiveness. This is where America needs to go. I believe it’s where the American people want to go. It will make our economy stronger a year from now, fifteen years from now, and deep into the century ahead.
When I went to Community College I worked to and paid for it. I never considered a government handout. We are becoming way to dependant on the Federal government to solve all our problems. What they need to do is get the hell out of the way and let business people create companies to fill needs and hire employees the proper wages commensurate with their talents and skill. This motivates people to study, learn more and be better so the can have a better life.
Of course, if there’s one thing this new century has taught us, it’s that we cannot separate our work at home from challenges beyond our shores.
My first duty as Commander-in-Chief is to defend the United States of America. In doing so, the question is not whether America leads in the world, but how. When we make rash decisions, reacting to the headlines instead of using our heads; when the first response to a challenge is to send in our military — then we risk getting drawn into unnecessary conflicts, and neglect the broader strategy we need for a safer, more prosperous world. That’s what our enemies want us to do.
Does he really think our military commanders form their strategies based on the "headlines". He is the number one person in the military and perhaps he was describing himself. Obama fired Secretary of Defense Chuck (don't be fooled he resigned) because he was against releasing Obama's friends from Gitmo. He fired close to 2,000 high ranking military commanders and replaced them all with Muslims. What I am hearing is the American commanders would not agree to kill Americans.
I believe in a smarter kind of American leadership. We lead best when we combine military power with strong diplomacy; when we leverage our power with coalition building; when we don’t let our fears blind us to the opportunities that this new century presents. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now — and around the globe, it is making a difference.
First, we stand united with people around the world who’ve been targeted by terrorists — from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris. We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks, and we reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we’ve done relentlessly since I took office to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies.
Sure we stand with them, but Obama doesn't. Instead of going to Paris for a show of solidarity, he went on U.S. TV to tell Americans what great people the Muslims are.
At the same time, we’ve learned some costly lessons over the last thirteen years.
Instead of Americans patrolling the valleys of Afghanistan, we’ve trained their security forces, who’ve now taken the lead, and we’ve honored our troops’ sacrifice by supporting that country’s first democratic transition. Instead of sending large ground forces overseas, we’re partnering with nations from South Asia to North Africa to deny safe haven to terrorists who threaten America. In Iraq and Syria, American leadership — including our military power — is stopping ISIL’s advance. Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group. We’re also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort, and assisting people everywhere who stand up to the bankrupt ideology of violent extremism. This effort will take time. It will require focus. But we will succeed. And tonight, I call on this Congress to show the world that we are united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize the use of force against ISIL.
This is just comical Obama has done nothing to stop ISIS other than to create it. To say "We’re also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort...". Moderate? For who? ISIS or Al-Assad's brutal government?
Second, we are demonstrating the power of American strength and diplomacy. We’re upholding the principle that bigger nations can’t bully the small — by opposing Russian aggression, supporting Ukraine’s democracy, and reassuring our NATO allies. Last year, as we were doing the hard work of imposing sanctions along with our allies, some suggested that Mr. Putin’s aggression was a masterful display of strategy and strength. Well, today, it is America that stands strong and united with our allies, while Russia is isolated, with its economy in tatters.
Complete horse manure. Where was he when Russia took over Crimea? The only reason Russia has not taken over the Ukraine is they are broke. Plus, the Prime Minister of Australia put the fear of God into Putin at the G20 Summit.
That’s how America leads — not with bluster, but with persistent, steady resolve.
In Cuba, we are ending a policy that was long past its expiration date. When what you’re doing doesn’t work for fifty years, it’s time to try something new. Our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere; removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba; stands up for democratic values; and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people. And this year, Congress should begin the work of ending the embargo. As His Holiness, Pope Francis, has said, diplomacy is the work of “small steps.” These small steps have added up to new hope for the future in Cuba. And after years in prison, we’re overjoyed that Alan Gross is back where he belongs. Welcome home, Alan.
Obama has the legal authority to open ties with Cuba, but he has no authority to do anything other than that. He claims the sanctions and embargos have not done anything in 50 years. Cuba has hated us for 60+ years. In addition, nothing has changed in Cuba. They are still a Communist government, still treat their people poorly and according to Castro's Daughter, if the U.S. thinks anything will change with this they are very much mistaken. I sincerely hope that our spineless congress doesn't lift any sanctions or embargoes. They are not our friends. Also, Obama would just love to have a communist friend 90 miles away to stage a takeover of the U.S.
Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran; secures America and our allies — including Israel; while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict. There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran. But new sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails — alienating America from its allies; and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again. It doesn’t make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress. The American people expect us to only go to war as a last resort, and I intend to stay true to that wisdom.
"Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran..." He is unbelievable. We both new when the first and second centrifuges were built then heard nothing. Centrifuges are necessary to build nuclear weapons. The last report is they now have 23. I suspect the number is much higher. Obama has done nothing to stop the Islamic State of Iran from being the Superpower of the Middle East. In fact he is encouraging it since he is a Muslim.
Third, we’re looking beyond the issues that have consumed us in the past to shape the coming century.
No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets, or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids. We are making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism. And tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber-attacks, combat identity theft, and protect our children’s information. If we don’t act, we’ll leave our nation and our economy vulnerable. If we do, we can continue to protect the technologies that have unleashed untold opportunities for people around the globe.
What he neglected to tell us is in the 1.1 Trillion dollar budget bill for 9 months the NSA was given the legal right to "hack" any computer and see what you have or place incriminating documents on your computer and have you arrested and then they will find those documents. This a a direct violation of the 4th Amendment. No more "Due Cause" or a signed order by a judge. The enemy within!
In West Africa, our troops, our scientists, our doctors, our nurses and healthcare workers are rolling back Ebola — saving countless lives and stopping the spread of disease. I couldn’t be prouder of them, and I thank this Congress for your bipartisan support of their efforts. But the job is not yet done — and the world needs to use this lesson to build a more effective global effort to prevent the spread of future pandemics, invest in smart development, and eradicate extreme poverty.
While Doctors without borders and many other non-profit organization have made huge sacrifices and risked their live the U.S. government had nothing to do with it. We sent 4,000 Soldiers to West Africa to build temporary hospitals. Since most did not go to do that they fell way behind and by the time they had a couple done the Ebola hotspot had moved making the hospitals useless. The bulk of the Soldiers are in Nigeria protecting our oil interests. We have tried for decades to get in there with no luck. Ebola played the perfect cover. Then, the locals believe they got Ebola from the vaccines they receive from the Red Cross. The vaccines were provided by the US Government. You can draw your own conclusions here.
In the Asia Pacific, we are modernizing alliances while making sure that other nations play by the rules — in how they trade, how they resolve maritime disputes, and how they participate in meeting common international challenges like nonproliferation and disaster relief. And no challenge — no challenge — poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change.
There is a huge and deadly problem brewing in Asia right now. We have over 320,000 troops stationed around China and 2/3rd of our Naval fleet patrols of the coast of China. At stake is the oil in disputed waters that are claimed by China, Japan and a few other countries. China is in desperate need of oil to continue the growth and product products.
In addition to this, the trade imbalance is killing us. When goods are shipped into the US we change China, Taiwan and Japan no Tariffs (taxes). If we ship anything to them the slap a 35% tariff on it making it impossible for us to be competitive.
Again, the Chinese laughed in Obama's face. He went there chewing gum (disrespectful) and China and the US agreed cut emissions that pollute the air. A week later China said they were not going to honor the agreement.
2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record. Now, one year doesn’t make a trend, but this does — 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century.
Complete lies, statistics by experts show just the opposite.
I’ve heard some folks try to dodge the evidence by saying they’re not scientists; that we don’t have enough information to act. Well, I’m not a scientist, either. But you know what — I know a lot of really good scientists at NASA, and NOAA, and at our major universities. The best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate, and if we do not act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration, conflict, and hunger around the globe. The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it.
That’s why, over the past six years, we’ve done more than ever before to combat climate change, from the way we produce energy, to the way we use it. That’s why we’ve set aside more public lands and waters than any administration in history. And that’s why I will not let this Congress endanger the health of our children by turning back the clock on our efforts. I am determined to make sure American leadership drives international action. In Beijing, we made an historic announcement — the United States will double the pace at which we cut carbon pollution, and China committed, for the first time, to limiting their emissions. And because the world’s two largest economies came together, other nations are now stepping up, and offering hope that, this year, the world will finally reach an agreement to protect the one planet we’ve got.
As I stated China backed out of the deal. The Scientist do agree there is now global warming problem. In fact, the polar icecap has been growing for years. One of the rules of communism have the government grab as much land as possible. See a pattern here?
There’s one last pillar to our leadership — and that’s the example of our values.
As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we’re threatened, which is why I’ve prohibited torture, and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained. It’s why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism that has resurfaced in certain parts of the world. It’s why we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims — the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace. That’s why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they’re right, but because they make us safer.
There we have it. protect and promote the minority and blame the majority. Why is he so adamant about protecting the Gay community? Because he himself is gay.
This hypocrite was the reason and the only person to benefit from releasing the "CIA Torture Report" that no one will ever be held accountable for. He endangered every US facility around the world and now US officials are afraid to leave the country for fear they will be arrested and tried for War Crimes. The UN filed charges against the US for this.
Then while he condemns the CIA for doing what they were ordered to do, he runs a bombing campaign from 30,000 ft and killing an unknown number of innocent people.
Then he has the audacity to state "It’s why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism..." He is the worst offender and is covering his ass so when Israel gets wiped of the map he can say I was even against it in the State of the Union speech. Pitiful
As Americans, we have a profound commitment to justice — so it makes no sense to spend three million dollars per prisoner to keep open a prison that the world condemns and terrorists use to recruit. Since I’ve been President, we’ve worked responsibly to cut the population of GTMO in half. Now it’s time to finish the job. And I will not relent in my determination to shut it down. It’s not who we are.
But apparently it makes sense to release them so we can fight them again. Or better yet, let them go and the put a $5,000,000 bounty on one to get him back. Do you know our Soldiers were forced to read the Miranda Rights to prisoners captured on the battle field? The are not US citizen, they are not in the US and they have no rights. But Obama protects his buddies.
As Americans, we cherish our civil liberties — and we need to uphold that commitment if we want maximum cooperation from other countries and industry in our fight against terrorist networks. So while some have moved on from the debates over our surveillance programs, I haven’t. As promised, our intelligence agencies have worked hard, with the recommendations of privacy advocates, to increase transparency and build more safeguards against potential abuse. And next month, we’ll issue a report on how we’re keeping our promise to keep our country safe while strengthening privacy.
Civil liberties, he has removed more civil liberties and rights than any President I can think of in history. Transparency, my stomach hurts. He has found every way possible to illegally and unconstitutionally get what "HE" wants. Can you name one thing he has been transparent on? I can, the "CIA Torture Report" that should never have been released to the public. But is served his purpose to damage the reputation of the US again.
Looking to the future instead of the past. Making sure we match our power with diplomacy, and use force wisely. Building coalitions to meet new challenges and opportunities. Leading — always — with the example of our values. That’s what makes us exceptional. That’s what keeps us strong. And that’s why we must keep striving to hold ourselves to the highest of standards — our own.
You know, just over a decade ago, I gave a speech in Boston where I said there wasn’t a liberal America, or a conservative America; a black America or a white America — but a United States of America. I said this because I had seen it in my own life, in a nation that gave someone like me a chance; because I grew up in Hawaii, a melting pot of races and customs; because I made Illinois my home — a state of small towns, rich farmland, and one of the world’s great cities; a microcosm of the country where Democrats and Republicans and Independents, good people of every ethnicity and every faith, share certain bedrock values.
Did anybody notice how he went on and on about Chicago, arguable the most corrupt city in America. But no mention of the beautiful hawaii were he supposedly grew up in.
Over the past six years, the pundits have pointed out more than once that my presidency hasn’t delivered on this vision. How ironic, they say, that our politics seems more divided than ever. It’s held up as proof not just of my own flaws — of which there are many — but also as proof that the vision itself is misguided, and naïve, and that there are too many people in this town who actually benefit from partisanship and gridlock for us to ever do anything about it.
I know how tempting such cynicism may be. But I still think the cynics are wrong.
Aah, no they aren't, Obama you have made a complete mess out of the USA, you have divided us up, your moral standards are garbage, bankrupted most of us and made millions rely upon the government to exist. You are a fraud, a pathological liar and a disgrace to this county of "OURS".
I still believe that we are one people. I still believe that together, we can do great things, even when the odds are long. I believe this because over and over in my six years in office, I have seen America at its best. I’ve seen the hopeful faces of young graduates from New York to California; and our newest officers at West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, and New London. I’ve mourned with grieving families in Tucson and Newtown; in Boston, West, Texas, and West Virginia. I’ve watched Americans beat back adversity from the Gulf Coast to the Great Plains; from Midwest assembly lines to the Mid-Atlantic seaboard. I’ve seen something like gay marriage go from a wedge issue used to drive us apart to a story of freedom across our country, a civil right now legal in states that seven in ten Americans call home.
So I know the good, and optimistic, and big-hearted generosity of the American people who, every day, live the idea that we are our brother’s keeper, and our sister’s keeper. And I know they expect those of us who serve here to set a better example.
So the question for those of us here tonight is how we, all of us, can better reflect America’s hopes. I’ve served in Congress with many of you. I know many of you well. There are a lot of good people here, on both sides of the aisle. And many of you have told me that this isn’t what you signed up for — arguing past each other on cable shows, the constant fundraising, always looking over your shoulder at how the base will react to every decision.
Obama served in congress for 173 days and most of that was spent out campaigning. He never voted on one bill and was totally useless. He is still delusional, "always looking over your shoulder at how the base will react to every decision." Congress could care less what we think, They are so far removed from reality they don't even know how to wipe their own asses anymore.
Imagine if we broke out of these tired old patterns. Imagine if we did something different.
Understand — a better politics isn’t one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine.
A better politics is one where we appeal to each other’s basic decency instead of our basest fears.
A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues, and values, and principles, and facts, rather than “gotcha” moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people’s daily lives.
A better politics is one where we spend less time drowning in dark money for ads that pull us into the gutter, and spend more time lifting young people up, with a sense of purpose and possibility, and asking them to join in the great mission of building America.
If we’re going to have arguments, let’s have arguments — but let’s make them debates worthy of this body and worthy of this country.
We still may not agree on a woman’s right to choose, but surely we can agree it’s a good thing that teen pregnancies and abortions are nearing all-time lows, and that every woman should have access to the health care she needs.
Yes, passions still fly on immigration, but surely we can all see something of ourselves in the striving young student, and agree that no one benefits when a hardworking mom is taken from her child, and that it’s possible to shape a law that upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.
"Yes, passions still fly on immigration..." They sure do. when you give away citizenship as if it had no value at all, that is a problem. There needs to be reform but his "Policy" is disastrous to our society as a whole.
We may go at it in campaign season, but surely we can agree that the right to vote is sacred; that it’s being denied to too many; and that, on this 50th anniversary of the great march from Selma to Montgomery and the passage of the Voting Rights Act, we can come together, Democrats and Republicans, to make voting easier for every single American.
"make voting easier for every single American." Like Obama letting the Black Panthers intimidate people at the polls? Or how many times Mickey Mouse can vote? The allowing of people to register to vote and vote right after they are done filling out the form? People going from county to county and voting over and over? Allowing people to vote over and over because there are no checks in place to stop it?
We may have different takes on the events of Ferguson and New York. But surely we can understand a father who fears his son can’t walk home without being harassed. Surely we can understand the wife who won’t rest until the police officer she married walks through the front door at the end of his shift. Surely we can agree it’s a good thing that for the first time in 40 years, the crime rate and the incarceration rate have come down together, and use that as a starting point for Democrats and Republicans, community leaders and law enforcement, to reform America’s criminal justice system so that it protects and serves us all.
No thanks to the race-baiting Obama. He went on TV the night the Furguson Grand Jury decision came in. While he spoke all hell broke out as if on cue. Then the man that is always on TV everyday, disappears for 3 weeks and never says a word about the protest and violence associated with it. It is still going on and he still won't stop it. Lawlessness everywhere and that fits his agenda so it is ok.
That’s a better politics. That’s how we start rebuilding trust. That’s how we move this country forward. That’s what the American people want. That’s what they deserve.
I have no more campaigns to run. My only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one I’ve had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol — to do what I believe is best for America. If you share the broad vision I outlined tonight, join me in the work at hand. If you disagree with parts of it, I hope you’ll at least work with me where you do agree. And I commit to every Republican here tonight that I will not only seek out your ideas, I will seek to work with you to make this country stronger.
"I have no more campaigns to run." Thank God for this.
Because I want this chamber, this city, to reflect the truth — that for all our blind spots and shortcomings, we are a people with the strength and generosity of spirit to bridge divides, to unite in common effort, and help our neighbors, whether down the street or on the other side of the world.
I want our actions to tell every child, in every neighborhood: your life matters, and we are as committed to improving your life chances as we are for our own kids.
Of course this only applies if you are a black child.
I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great gift, that we are a people who value the dignity and worth of every citizen — man and woman, young and old, black and white, Latino and Asian, immigrant and Native American, gay and straight, Americans with mental illness or physical disability.
I want them to grow up in a country that shows the world what we still know to be true: that we are still more than a collection of red states and blue states; that we are the United States of America.
I want them to grow up in a country where a young mom like Rebekah can sit down and write a letter to her President with a story to sum up these past six years:
“It is amazing what you can bounce back from when you have to…we are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.”
My fellow Americans, we too are a strong, tight-knit family. We, too, have made it through some hard times. Fifteen years into this new century, we have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and begun again the work of remaking America. We’ve laid a new foundation. A brighter future is ours to write. Let’s begin this new chapter — together — and let’s start the work right now.
What he fails to tell you is we are about to experience the worst economic collapse in the history of the USA. It will make the Great Depression look like someone lost a dollar bill. It will take many years or a century to recover. Most people will immediately go broke and our US dollar is expected to be worthless afterwards. Udder chaos will break out as people scramble for food and water. All the things I said about the Muslims in our government and military does not bode well for us average citizens.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless this country we love.
By Eleanor Harding and Mario Ledwith. Pupils at a Christian school have been branded bigots after a young boy gave the wrong answer when asked what a Muslim was.
