Republicans pick front runner for 2012

The Conservative Political Action Committee or CPAC convention attendees selected a familiar name as the front runner for the 2012 Presidential election cycle.

Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts Governor won the nod with 20% of the poll. His win is not all that shocking when you think about it and consider who he was facing as opponents. What is surprising is that the person who came in second is also the person that many, even the Republican party were writing political epitaphs for just a few short days ago. We here at 1461 were no different and hammered out an epitaph for him and his career. In the end Bobby Jindal somehow managed to pull 14% of the poll.

Falling in behind the two front runners were Texas Rep. Ron Paul and believe it or not Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Each received 13% of the poll.

The fear factor here, beyond the fact that Palin was actually in the front of the pack, was the fact that the Republicans are as divided a party as they have ever been. That division is something that will have to be fixed. The only way the Republican party can look to regain the seats they have lost over the past two election cycles is to become a unified force.

The full field of choices in the poll were: former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Ron Paul, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty; Romney, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, and they also had space for a write-in candidate.

Sunday morning Political Press

This Sunday's political talk show line up should keep the interest of the viewers.

The shows will be inundated with top Obama National Security team members.

The main topic of discussion will be the troop withdrawal from the Iraq theater of battle.

Robert Gates, the US Defense Secretary will be on Meet the Press on NBC with David Gregory. This will be Mr. Gate's first television interview as President Obama's Secretary of Defense. In addition to the Troop draw down in Iraq, Mr. Gate's will discuss the plans to increase troop levels in Afghanistan. Other items of topic will be US Defense spending and other global US Military interests.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,Mike Mullen will be making two appearances this Sunday. One appearance will be on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace where he will disuss the planed withdrawal of the troops from Iraq. He is also scheduled to appear on CNN's State of the Union with John King where he will again discuss the Obama administration's new strategies for Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Obama Approval at 67%

39 days into the Presidency and Obama's ratings are going back up.

Gallup polls had shown President Obama's ratings had slipped to 59% on Tuesday prior to his Congressional Address.

Following the Presidential Address to Congress the approval rating moved back up to a 67% rating. On the flip side of the coin the disapproval rating slid from 25% to 21%.

When looking at the party lines Democrat approvals went from 86% to 90%, Independent ratings went from 54% to 62% approval and Republicans made the largest move as the approval rating went from 27% to 42%.

All information is based on the Gallup poll information available on Gallup.com

Weekly Presidential Address February 28 2009

President Barack Obama

Weekly Address

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

Washington, DC

The full text of the Presidents speech is below the video.

Two years ago, we set out on a journey to change the way that Washington works.

We sought a government that served not the interests of powerful lobbyists or the wealthiest few, but the middle-class Americans I met every day in every community along the campaign trail – responsible men and women who are working harder than ever, worrying about their jobs, and struggling to raise their families. In so many town halls and backyards, they spoke of their hopes for a government that finally confronts the challenges that their families face every day; a government that treats their tax dollars as responsibly as they treat their own hard-earned paychecks.

That is the change I promised as a candidate for president. It is the change the American people voted for in November. And it is the change represented by the budget I sent to Congress this week.

During the campaign, I promised a fair and balanced tax code that would cut taxes for 95% of working Americans, roll back the tax breaks for those making over $250,000 a year, and end the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas. This budget does that.

I promised an economy run on clean, renewable energy that will create new American jobs, new American industries, and free us from the dangerous grip of foreign oil. This budget puts us on that path, through a market-based cap on carbon pollution that will make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy; through investments in wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient American cars and American trucks.

I promised to bring down the crushing cost of health care – a cost that bankrupts one American every thirty seconds, forces small businesses to close their doors, and saddles our government with more debt. This budget keeps that promise, with a historic commitment to reform that will lead to lower costs and quality, affordable health care for every American.

I promised an education system that will prepare every American to compete, so Americans can win in a global economy. This budget will help us meet that goal, with new incentives for teacher performance and pathways for advancement; new tax credits that will make college more affordable for all who want to go; and new support to ensure that those who do go finish their degree.

This budget also reflects the stark reality of what we’ve inherited – a trillion dollar deficit, a financial crisis, and a costly recession. Given this reality, we’ll have to be more vigilant than ever in eliminating the programs we don’t need in order to make room for the investments we do need. I promised to do this by going through the federal budget page by page, and line by line. That is a process we have already begun, and I am pleased to say that we’ve already identified two trillion dollars worth of deficit-reductions over the next decade. We’ve also restored a sense of honesty and transparency to our budget, which is why this one accounts for spending that was hidden or left out under the old rules.

I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy. Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington. I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families. I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries. In other words, I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak.

My message to them is this: So am I.

The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long, but I don’t. I work for the American people. I didn’t come here to do the same thing we’ve been doing or to take small steps forward, I came to provide the sweeping change that this country demanded when it went to the polls in November. That is the change this budget starts to make, and that is the change I’ll be fighting for in the weeks ahead – change that will grow our economy, expand our middle-class, and keep the American Dream alive for all those men and women who have believed in this journey from the day it began.

Thanks for listening.

Presidential Weekly Address February 28 2009

In this Weekly Address President Obama explains how the budget that he sent to Congress will fulfill the promises that he made as a Presidential Candidate.

SATURDAY, February 28, 2009
WEEKLY ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE NATION
The full text of the speech is below the video.

2/28/09: Your Weekly Address from White House on Vimeo.

Two years ago, we set out on a journey to change the way that Washington works.

We sought a government that served not the interests of powerful lobbyists or the wealthiest few, but the middle-class Americans I met every day in every community along the campaign trail – responsible men and women who are working harder than ever, worrying about their jobs, and struggling to raise their families. In so many town halls and backyards, they spoke of their hopes for a government that finally confronts the challenges that their families face every day; a government that treats their tax dollars as responsibly as they treat their own hard-earned paychecks.

That is the change I promised as a candidate for president. It is the change the American people voted for in November. And it is the change represented by the budget I sent to Congress this week.

During the campaign, I promised a fair and balanced tax code that would cut taxes for 95% of working Americans, roll back the tax breaks for those making over $250,000 a year, and end the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas. This budget does that.

I promised an economy run on clean, renewable energy that will create new American jobs, new American industries, and free us from the dangerous grip of foreign oil. This budget puts us on that path, through a market-based cap on carbon pollution that will make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy; through investments in wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient American cars and American trucks.

I promised to bring down the crushing cost of health care – a cost that bankrupts one American every thirty seconds, forces small businesses to close their doors, and saddles our government with more debt. This budget keeps that promise, with a historic commitment to reform that will lead to lower costs and quality, affordable health care for every American.

I promised an education system that will prepare every American to compete, so Americans can win in a global economy. This budget will help us meet that goal, with new incentives for teacher performance and pathways for advancement; new tax credits that will make college more affordable for all who want to go; and new support to ensure that those who do go finish their degree.

This budget also reflects the stark reality of what we’ve inherited – a trillion dollar deficit, a financial crisis, and a costly recession. Given this reality, we’ll have to be more vigilant than ever in eliminating the programs we don’t need in order to make room for the investments we do need. I promised to do this by going through the federal budget page by page, and line by line. That is a process we have already begun, and I am pleased to say that we’ve already identified two trillion dollars worth of deficit-reductions over the next decade. We’ve also restored a sense of honesty and transparency to our budget, which is why this one accounts for spending that was hidden or left out under the old rules.

I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy. Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington. I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families. I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries. In other words, I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak. My message to them is this:

So am I.

The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long, but I don’t. I work for the American people. I didn’t come here to do the same thing we’ve been doing or to take small steps forward, I came to provide the sweeping change that this country demanded when it went to the polls in November. That is the change this budget starts to make, and that is the change I’ll be fighting for in the weeks ahead – change that will grow our economy, expand our middle-class, and keep the American Dream alive for all those men and women who have believed in this journey from the day it began.

Thanks for listening.

McCain Agrees with Obama on Iraq

In stark contrast to what McCain had said on the campaign trail he agrees with President Obama on Iraq troop withdrawal. Sen. McCain now says he supports President Obama's plans to remove U.S. combat troops from Iraq over 19 months.

Sen. McCain said over and over that his opponent just didn't understand military tactics and that his opponent, whom is now the President was naive on national security. He criticized almost daily Obama's pledge to pull U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months.

Today Sen. McCain told Reuters "Overall it is a reasonable plan and one that can work and I support it,". McCain said: "Let me just remind you again, this is dramatically different, this is significantly different, this plan compared to his campaign pledge."

President Obama released his plan today while visiting the U. S. Marine base at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. In the Presidents plan the United States will leave up to 50,000 troops in Iraq after the combat force pullout is complete. Those forces will train Iraqi forces in counter terrorism operations.

I am left to wonder however, how is this plan different than the one President Obama spoke of while on the campaign trail?

He stated all along that he would be pulling out combat troops and leaving residual forces behind. Even Joe the Vice President made reference to that same fact several times.

Whats the difference Sen. McCain? I am sure there are more of us that want to know.

Hey T. M. X. - I want to nominate the quote from Sen. McCain for the Weekly WTF?!

Obama's War: It was Nam now its Stan!

This is Obama first Military commitment.

I know America has troops already in Afghanistan but for a long time ISAF Forces have been pleading for personal. Once again we are brothers in arms, Troops will be pored into Afghanistan, this mass of land between Iran and Pakistan, especially in the southern part the Helmand Provence where the Taliban are fighting the fiercest.

There has been a program on in the United Kingdom called Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, it shows that troops are under heavy daily contact with the enemy, an enemy with no uniform who use fear to control the local population and are the producer of heroin, this is the finance for fighting their war, isn't ironic that the drugs being pedal on our streets is the very thing that is keeping a terrorist organisation in business. At the moment we are getting soldier KIA about one a week on average. The British army was reported at first to be lacking substandard or proper equipment, but had been making up for it in fighting spirit. I know from experience the American troops have some of the best military equipment in the world, with this investment an coalition the Taliban as a mass fighting force should be numbered, but as in Vietnam and northern Ireland I am sure its a long hard slog.

You are entering a war like no other, it is the type of war that we had in Northern Ireland. Hearts and minds, once you have established your military presence, and have won the open battles that will need to be won then come the bombings and the shootings and that's the hard part because it seems to go on and on and on, I would expect 10 years or more, Northern Ireland waged on the last count of unrest for more that 25 years.

Once again we are allied fighting a foe this time not in the delusional quest for WMD, but from a group of individuals that do not want to take the line of you have the right to worship the your god in your way, its there way or no way, this is not an Islamic war, because true Islam professes peace, and if we allow people to be trained and have there minds manipulated the front line will once again be back on our door step.

Obama 1st address to congress

Obama 1st address to congress

It so good to see patriotism at its best, everyone standing together, and to weather this storm that America is going through, if Obama achieves nothing else it must be unity.

Energy.
It so good to hear America leadership is grasping the fact of global warming is real, one thing is correct the country that is the finder of clean renewable energy for example of self perpetual motion that generates more power that it needs to create it would be like the discovery of oil all over again. If this thing is controled and delivered correctly it can be used to make peace. For the conflicts that we are currently invovled in has had some influence over oil or the movement of oil.

Health reform
We in the United Kingdom have been enjoying access to health care for all, we pay a national insurance, direct from our wages that pay the National Health Service and Social Security Payment, although these are great things you must control who is entitled to it as the rest of the world will want access to it just by visiting too much of that and drains resources and stretch services, we also have private medical care that runs alongside our NHS system. I am not sure what is planned in your health reforms, it seem that the problem has become affordable health care, and because the everything was being more geared up for the working man who pays for his and his families health care who foots the bill when he can no longer pay his premiums?

Education.
It was all well and good whilst the money was rolling around, but now things are tight this has lead to a national crisis, no money no students no teachers needed no future no growth. If you are going to progress on finding energy and cures for cancer you need to address education.

I have long recognised the money that has been thrown away by the US for example the lining of friends pocket who are in government in construction contracts in Iraq, and the little avenues that have been created. This will be upsetting for some but this may be the end of the old boys network that has enabled some to have money for nothing. If there is a bad apple at the top eventually works its way down.

I was refreshing to see also I know to was partly spin doctoring the acknowledgement of ordinary people doing exceptional things giving example of those faced with great difficulties, its people like these leading by example this is a demonstration of how to make a country great, this is where it starts, to a certain degree you have to help yours selves and it was so nice to see a nations leader acknowledge them and in turn their nation acknowledge them.

Obama pointed that a change in attitude was required, a change in deals, for the world has gained an impression that Americans are individual money grabbing materialistic people, but it has been a minority of business driven. Obama is attempting to restore a sense of community, because if you join individuals you get community and from community you get a nation. I other words it a Huge S*&t sandwich and we all have to take a bit.

Individual responsibility for our actions, for those who as parents when we failed address our children’s behaviour because we felt it was more hassle that it was worth, for those who bought that property knowing that it was highly likely that at some point in the future they would be over stretched, for those who sold that mortgage to get that commission all wanting to boost there status, all consumer driven. It been a hard lesson to learn that this is not the way forward, but they are all connected. What Obama is trying to do is bring back the true value of people and life. And even if you do not agree on everything, agree if nothing else to do what is best for your country, and from individual to community from community to nation, from nations to the world, as we all inhabit this place called Earth.

the English POV

This post originally was the third letter in the series of letters from a writer in England. Upon receipt of this third letter I asked the gentleman who has written all three to join the 1461 project as a permanent member of the team.

I am glad to announce that Mark, who will be writing as MA has accepted the offer and will be writing for 1461 and adding a perspective from over seas on the Obama Administration. I also hope to have an overview added by MA of the public sentiment from over seas.

We will be setting up the English POV as a new section for the 1461 and will place the link on the front page. Until then you can read the letter - now re-posted in the original form by MA.

Welcome to the 1461

An English Point of View on the American Stimulus Package

A second letter in a series from a writer in England.

Stimulus Bill

We are all facing the same dark turbulent ties as nations, mainly due to greedy individuals that got fat on millions and now watch as those who have really worked hard lose there jobs take pay cuts and suffer.

I am impressed at the measure of this bill there are some similarities in approach
but Obama’s goes further.

Here in the UK we have had the VAT (Value added tax) Cut from 17.5% to 15%, all that has done has cut money going to the government, just because it gives me another 15 pence off of an item it does not persuade me to spend more money.

What Obama is doing is taking a different direction by giving families more money by a tax cut in wages you create extra money. Now if you have extra money you spend it, thus it goes back into the economy. The same with the boost in jobs, people make money, people spend, spending creates employment and so on.

We are currently left with a Prime Minister who has become the fall guy, for years this situation has been building and neither previous leaders would address it because it would have put a down turn on things, now in hind sight it would have been the right thing to do, but they chose to ride the good times knowing the next leader will have to be the one who faces the fight and will be the bad guy if they don’t get it right.

Why is President Obama being referred to as president?

I spend a large portion of my day reading op-ed's in many of the nations major city papers. I read to learn what is on the mind of the public in these city's and to find new ideas and understanding. I generally research what I find and spend time writing posts both here and on any one of the dozen other blogs and websites I run so that I can at least present new thoughts and opinions.

Recently I have been observing a trend that I am not that happy with. Many of the writers are presenting President Obama with a lower case p. The do not preface former President Bush with a lower case p even in the same articles. let me give you and example from an editorial I found today in the New York times.

My question is why? As grade schoolers we were taught to respect the office even if we did not respect the man, and we were instructed that when referring to the President of a nation we were to use a capitol P. At least I was taught this, perhaps my teachers were wrong.

As one of my professors once told me "the language of a nation is a precursor to it's course". If that is true than am I to assume that the respect for our nations newest leader is going to start declining so early in his term as President?

Jindal top four no more

Once a fresh and bright new star rising in the Republican party, Gov. Bobby Jindal attempted to take advantage of his new found party interest and was handed the opportunity to speak after President Obama's Tuesday night speech to Congress. It seems however that speaking to a national audience has taken the shine from the new star.

It wasn't the Democratic commentators that thrashed him the worst. It was the Republican commentators that referred to him as "cheesy" and "uninspiring". Some of the reaction I received from people affiliated with both parties seemed to echo the same sentiment, one even referred to it as "a grade school attempt at a rebuttal full of Republican party cliches".

How damaged is the 37 year old's political stardom?
Will Gov. Jindal be able to recover and rebuild a public face after this?
Will Bobby Jindal, Governor of the great state of Louisiana still be looked upon as a Republican Party Presidential hopeful for the 2012 run?

A letter from a friend in England

I am from England and as I watch a new president brought into power like
all Americans I look to the future with hope. It occurred to me that this was a
truly historic day.

Its not the fact that we have been long term allies, and we have other
things in common for example, both having mad Georges as leaders (that when you
declared independence and you have been gonging onward and upward ever since) I
know you Americans love royalty and miss the Royal Family but was
that a version of God save the queen when Obama was sworn in? But seriously
now, as we are learning all countries in the world are connected so if America
sneezes other countries catch the cold and we do really need each other to get
by.

This man is a second generation American who’s relatives watched the
ceremony in their village on telly vision which needed specially provided
generators, as the village does not have power yet. 200 years earlier slaves
where being imported from these African countries for worldwide export, these
people did not have the status of full human beings. Now from the same
bloodline, of those who built the monuments and the very symbols that stand
for freedom and constitutional rights, now stands as one of the most powerful
men on this planet.

As I saw the old president fly away I felt (a sense of) good riddance
as I felt that this man has not served his people selflessly but lined his and
his friends pockets. Obama has a new approach, a refreshing approach, openness
reaching out, saying that race and religion does not matter, we have a political
leader of the world promoting tolerance. He is showing an open more accountable
government, and his looking for real change. This is the can do attitude, the
will try and if its not right we will change it. This is a sign of accepting
that you have to have failure to learn and advance to success, and to me this is
a leader, and a leader that states the truth by saying you may not like what we
have to do, but for this county we have to do to progress, but what ever happens
we are in this together, and that we are.

Preparing For A Big Week

It's Sunday and the end of a pretty important week in American history, no matter where you stand on the stimulus bill.

In unprecedented time, President Obama got passed the largest reinvestment and recovery bill in US history. A bill so large that the numbers are staggering.

To put everything in perspective, no one knows if this thing is going to work.

With that as the context of the week ahead, this week has the potential to be an even bigger week because while we ran up a huge bill of goods last week, this week we are getting the bill for years and years of largess and poor accounting, for false budgets and failed policy. This week President Obama is going to lay out how he is going to cut the deficit in half in four years and also set forth a budget for the next few years that will account for the wars, disasters and everything that we pay for as taxpayers.

To say that this is going to be a huge eye opening experience is an understatement.

Things that we need to be looking for this week are:

What is the exact plan to cut the deficit in four years? The reports that say ending the war in Iraq and allowing the Bush tax cuts for the top 1% are going to help close that gap a lot, are a good start, but I am pretty certain that it isn't going to be enough to cut such a large amount in half.

What will the reaction of Congressional Republicans be like at the State of the Union? While I don't know how relevant most members of the GOP are right now, it is still interesting to see how they will react to President Obama during his State of the Union address.

What tone will the President set this week? We know without a doubt that he is going to hammer the American people with the real facts about how dire our economic reality is right now. But, like Bill Clinton said in a recent interview, President Obama can't just be a downer all the time, part of being the President is you have to be Cheerleader in Chief too. So how will President Obama walk that line this week?

Finally, how will the American people react? I went shopping yesterday, nothing big really, looked for a new pair of running shoes, a new Mets hat and maybe a book, but I hadn't been out shopping in a while...I mean shopping in the way that I am looking at things that aren't the bare essentials, and I didn't seem to be the only person out doing such a thing....in fact, it was almost crazy how many people were out yesterday. I'm hoping that this was a reaction to the signing of the stimulus bill, which, if nothing else, was a sign of hope that things will start getting better in the coming months. And, if we react in a way that things are tough, but they can get better, I think we will be alright.

Of course, we could hunker down even more after hearing President Obama's news this week....

I'm not sure which though.

Sunday Morning Feb 22 2009

After watching the Sunday morning political posturing on the Sunday morning television new-zines one thing is clear.

The Republican field.

Tow of the four rising stars of the Republican party, Gov. Charlie Crist, R-Fla., and Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., both payed a visit to Meet the Press.

Gov. Jindal from Louisiana talked briefly on the Sunday morning program Meet the Press with David Gregory about the Republican party and the need for them as a party to not be the "no" party in our current political machine. At the same time Gov. Jindal has stated that he is not interested in accepting his state's full share of the stimulus package money. This public platform has been called little more than public posturing in an attempt to propel Jindal to the front of the possible candidates for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination. Gov. Jindal stated that if he is re-elected to the Governorship he would serve out his term. But when he was pressed on his intentions towards running for the Republican Presidential nomination, he would not answer with a yes or no. Personally I would take that as a yes.

The only problem I see from this stand point is that he is making this move against the stimulus package with little ground to stand on let alone hold. The State legislature will over rule and out maneuver him if he did block the stimulus funds and that may in turn cost him his re-election and perhaps his Presidential hopes as well.

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford took aim last week at Gov. Crist for backing the stimulus.

In a Politico article Gov. Crist responded to the criticism he has received for appearing with Obama in Fort Myers last week by saying “To me, it’s kind of sad that people would think it’s not appropriate to appear with the president,” “We’re certainly bipartisan here in Florida, nonpartisan. We’re proud of that in Tallahassee.” He later said: “I think it’s a model for the country,” he added. “People are frustrated and tired of political bickering.”

An Obama Administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Saturday that the President plans to cut the budget deficit to $533 billion by time the current term in office comes to a close. From the current $1.3 trillion deficit expected in fiscal year 2009 to $533 billion in 4 years.

But what does that mean?

Taxes.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, rising star number 3, told "FOX News Sunday" that the markets reacted badly to the $787 billion stimulus bill signed into legislation this past week and it's only going to get worse if the president raises taxes.

Rising Republican star number 4, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who opposed the stimulus bill, said "The operational deficit is a very small component of the larger deficit this country is running,".

In stark contrast to the sentiment of the rising stars, the Obama Administration official said the deficit will be shrunk by scaling back spending on the Iraq war, ending the Bush Administration temporary tax breaks for those making $250,000 or more a year, and streamlining government spending.