A Second Look Rotating Header Image

February 27th, 2009:

A Second Look | Consortiumnews.com: Can You Trust the Republicans?

Feb 27th, 2009
by Tom.
No comments yet

via Consortiumnews.com.

If you watch the pundits on cable news or read the big-name newspaper columnists, you will find a general consensus that the national Republicans are returning to their core principles in their near-unanimous opposition to President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill and other proposals.

(snip) Republicans are taken at their word when they claim to be motivated by ideological consistency in opposing Obama’s “big government” solutions to America’s economic troubles, not by a political desire to strangle Obama’s presidency in the cradle.

(snip) One of the most telling responses to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll was what people said in answering Question 44: “Do you think [Republicans] opposed [the stimulus bill] mostly because they thought it would be bad for the economy or mostly for political reasons?”

Sixty-three percent of respondents cited “political reasons” and only 29 percent believed the “not good for the economy” explanation from the Republicans. This two-to-one margin suggests that the Republicans are suffering from a serious credibility gap.

“…a general consensus that the national Republicans are returning to their core principles…” Are we talking about the core principles of the Bush II administration? Or, are we talking about the core principles of the Bush I or Reagan’s administration? I have to ask because I’m confused. I was under the impression that the core principles haven’t changed since Reagan -  twenty-seven years ago. The media owes me an explanation.

And how and why did they ever leave their core principles in the first place? (I can’t tell the difference.)

Share

A Second Look | Jobless Angry at Possibility of No Benefits – NYTimes.com

Feb 27th, 2009
by Tom.
No comments yet

via Jobless Angry at Possibility of No Benefits – NYTimes.com.

Mr. Kight and other unemployed workers said they were incensed to learn they were living in one of a handful of states — many of them among the poorest in the nation — that might not provide the expanded benefits.

Unemployment lines

“It just seems unreasonable,” Mr. Kight said, “that when people probably need the help the most, that because of partisan activity, or partisan feelings, against the current new administration, that Perry is willing to sacrifice the lives of so many Texans that have been out of work in the last year.”

He was referring to Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, who has said he may decline the extra money rather than change state policy.

“I remain opposed to using these funds to expand existing government programs, burdening the state with ongoing expenditures long after the funding has dried up,” Mr. Perry wrote in a letter to Mr. Obama last week.

The governors contend that once the federal money ran out, they would have to continue providing the new benefits, which they say would force them to raise taxes on businesses. The federal money will end in two or three years in some states, or much later in others, depending on the size of the state allocation.

Proponents say that nothing would prevent states from changing the laws back at that time.

(Southern Governors running in circles) “We can’t afford to keep on paying the increase in unemployment when it runs out! WE JUST CANNOT CONTINUE THIS EXTRAVAGANCE OF A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS IN THE POCKETS OF THE UNEMPLOYED!!!! WE JUST CAAAAAN”T!!!!!!!”

(calmed down) “What? What did you say? Simply stop paying it when it runs out. Oh. Didn’t think of that. Okay folks, never mind.”

Share

A Second Look | Obama: US combat in Iraq to end by Aug. 31, 2010

Feb 27th, 2009
by Tom.
No comments yet

via Obama: US combat in Iraq to end by Aug. 31, 2010.

Senior Obama administration officials had said earlier that of the roughly 100,000 U.S. combat troops to be pulled out of Iraq over the next 18 months, most will remain in the war zone through at least the end of this year to ensure national elections there go smoothly. The pace of withdrawal means that although Obama’s promised pullout will start soon, it will be backloaded, with most troops returning in the last few months of the time frame.

This is a short note to everyone out there who thinks that withdrawal should begin tomorrow.

It does. Orders to withdraw to whichever brigade is first on the list to withdraw will go out six to eight months ahead of the proposed withdrawal date. Having been involved personally in re-deploying an entire brigade stateside, I know how big of a task it can be.

I suspect that the first brigade to re-deploy home will be taken out of the regular combat mission cycle immediately and be given the mission to begin preparations for redeployment. Next month another brigade or two will be notified to stand down and prepare, then the month after another group will begin, and so on, in a leap-frog fashion.

So don’t get you dander up over the time span. It is now underway.

Share
← Earlier Posts
You are protected by wp-dephorm: