errr...maybe this one should have stayed private...

[ssd]

Remember this one:

from March 20, 2006: (Obama)
"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America?s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can?t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government?s reckless fiscal policies. ? Increasing America?s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ?the buck stops here. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."

And now, today....(Obama)
"Failure by Congress to raise the U.S. debt limit "could plunge the world economy back into recession," President Barack Obama declared Friday, and he acknowledged that he must compromise on spending with Republicans who control the House to avoid such a crisis. Obama urged swift action, saying he doesn't want the United States to get close to a deadline that would destabilize financial markets. He said he was confident Congress ultimately would raise the limit. "We always have. We will do it again,"


Another example of changing one's perspective / view once the entire job is understood.

Why have a freaking 'debt ceiling' if all they do is keep raising it? Where is the plan to pay off debt and lower the ceiling? We are going to have this same damn argument again and again as more and more debt gets piled on.

 

[Trench]

Another example of changing one's perspective / view once the entire job is understood.

There may be some truth to that but to be fair, I think you have at least acknowledge that the first statement was made 5 years ago and a lot's changed since then, at least from an economic standpoint.

 

[THE KOD]

I heard on a radio show yesterday that the US
is the only country in the world that has a debt ceiling.

wtf ?

Once again I say that if there was a new country in the world just starting up, there is no way anyone could recommend running it like our democracy.

The infighting and political jargon bullshit is pathetic

Two partys that have all the power and instead of working for the American ppl , just try to make each other look bad so they can get re-elected.


We have to change this. We have to make the Presidential term 6 years and the Senate and Congress term limits also.

That way going into year 3 we will have the President trying to solve problems instead of running for a second term.

We have to stop this lobbying bullshit power struggle that exists. The paying off of ppl in high places has gone on for too long. They all do it and it has to stop.

Fraud and corruption in our systems like medicare and medicade. Every doctor in America should be checked on every month for proper paperwork submissions. Its way too easy for them to fool with the paperwork.

So how can we be held up as a country to emulate when our system is about as good as
Afghanistans,

And the real problem is our hands are tied in most cases. This shit has been going on too long with too many hands in the till to change.

In the end the American ppl are the ones that suffer for it.

Go Ron Paul and Jesse Ventura

 

[ssd]

Well said, KOD.

I do not think politician should ever have been allowed to become a career choice.

 

[THE KOD]

Few politicians escape the lobbyists' influence. Both Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry spent around a quarter of a billion dollars each fighting last year's presidential race. But the figures lower down the political ladder are huge too. One study estimated the average senator in Washington needs to spend about $20m to defend a seat successfully. So politicians need money and only corporations and wealthy individuals can provide it. Between 1998 and 2004 lobbyists, overwhelmingly representing corporate clients, spent $13bn to promote their clients' desires. Studies show the investment is well worth it.

Drug-makers are the biggest lobbyers, spending $681m in the six years up to 2004 to woo officials. They employ 3,000 lobbyists. The investment paid off in 2003 with the passing of a bill to provide taxpayer-funded drug prescriptions for the elderly. Many critics lambasted it as a giveaway to Big Pharma. One study predicted drug firms would reap $139bn in extra profits from the legislation.

Watchdogs have revealed how lobbyists have positioned themselves as organisers for politicians' fundraising efforts. An investigation by the Centre for Public Integrity anti-lobbying group found lobbyists were treasurers for 800 'political action committees' which funnel funding to politicians to help them get elected. It also found lobbyists were treasurers of 68 politicians' campaign committees, which had raised half a billion dollars in cash since 1998.

...................................................................


Alot of politicians just become Lobbyists where they can really cash in.

its pathetic we allow this to go on.

and meanwhile most Americans have to worry about jobs, health care, and keeping their homes.

Its a joke what we let get by us as Americans.

 

[THE KOD]

St. Paul, Minn. ? DFL Senate candidate Al Franken is out with a new television ad calling for an end to politicians becoming lobbyists.

In his latest ad, Franken says Congress should not debate how long Representatives and Senators have to wait to become lobbyists after leaving office. Instead, Franken says they should pass an all-out ban on lobbying for former members of Congress.

And to bolster his case, Franken ties his lobby ban proposal to perhaps the biggest political issue of the moment.

"Right now hundreds of former Senators and Congressman are lobbying for big oil and special interests. No wonder gas is at four dollars a gallon. I'm Al Franken in Washington. I'll fight for a new law to prevent members of Congress from ever becoming lobbyists," said Al Franken.
..............................................................

Franken one of the few with balls.

this was in 2008 and of course nothing has become of this.

Business as usual.

Americans are suckers

 

[The Sponge]

Oil companies have such a hold on our politicians with their big money that it is pretty hopeless to hope for a change. U will get one out of 100 men to be a man and stand up to them and the other 99 just get bought. That is the reality in this country. Money can buy u almost anything and almost anyone. So freaking sad.