tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86992091369686506112012-01-08T14:41:07.485-06:00Reasons to Agree and Disagree With President ObamaAre you tired of sites that say Obama is either the Messiah or the Anti-Christ? Welcome to your new home to discuss Obama: a guy who is sometimes right and often wrong.
Lets win the arguments when he is wrong, and work with him when he is right.
This site will help you figure out if he is wrong or right on each issue.Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.comBlogger2511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-27941049840384286152012-01-08T14:41:00.000-06:002012-01-08T14:41:07.494-06:00Unions are the average person's lobbying firm
Reasons to disagree:
Unions often represent the needs of the "average people", as long as you define "average people" as union members. Union members are often average people, i.e. good hard working Americans. However, more precisely, unions are the lobbying firm oftheir union members. It may be true that the "average person's" needs are aligned with the union members, but often the unionMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-72222299856570877152011-10-30T22:52:00.002-05:002011-10-30T22:52:32.553-05:00(-1) Obama can't be held responsible for everything his justice department does
Reasons to agree:
No one personal can be totally responsible for every little decision and everything that happens within an organization that has 111,993 people.
Reasons to disagree:
The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated by the President.
The department is under control of the president, as it is a "United States federal executive departments"
Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-29638039755654583422011-10-30T09:46:00.003-05:002011-10-30T21:30:08.915-05:00Opposition to gay marriage is not equivalent of racism
Reasons to agree:
Racism is hatred of those that are different. You can't assume that those who feel that our country will be benefited by opposing gay marriage or motivated by hate.
Not all people who oppose gay marriage are bad people, but all racist are bad people.
Victims of racism and homophobia experience similar treatment, but from a political standpoint you can't just say that Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-3111448834193242122011-10-30T09:42:00.001-05:002011-10-30T20:41:18.006-05:00The Obama Justice department argued that opposition to gay marriage is equivalent of racism
Reasons to agree:
The Justice Department's argument in Golinski compares DOMA in effect to racially discriminatory laws. According to the United Counsel of Catholic Bishops. Link
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
They agree with the argument, outside of any interest or alterior motivation (30%)
Confirmation bias (you decide that you don't like Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-13636911674773292012011-10-30T09:36:00.001-05:002011-10-30T22:59:57.368-05:00Obama's Justice Department opposed religious liberties when it argued in court that defenders of traditional marriage should be regarded in law as the equivalent of racists
Reasons to agree:
The Obama Justice department argued that opposition to gay marriage is equivalent of racism.
Opposition to gay marriage is not equivalent of racism.
Not all people who oppose gay marriage are bad people, but all racist are bad people.
Victims of racism and homophobia experience similar treatment, but from a political standpoint you can't just say that because one form of Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-47070948404332715012011-10-29T23:00:00.002-05:002011-10-30T22:56:40.401-05:00Obama has rolled back religious liberties
Reasons to agree:
Obama's Justice Department opposed religious liberties when it argued in court that defenders of traditional marriage should be regarded in law as the equivalent of racists.
Obama's National Labor Relations Board was wrong to issue rulings against St. Xavier University in Chicago and Manhattan College in New York, saying that they are not sufficiently Catholic to warrant Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-33953716879120474562011-10-25T22:18:00.001-05:002011-10-30T18:08:13.434-05:00Obama did not keep his promise to prevent earmarks corruption
Reasons to agree:
Obama, on the campaign trail, back in June 2007: Instead of allowing lobbyists to slip big corporate tax breaks into bills during the dead of night, we will make sure every single tax break and earmark is available to every American online. This builds on the “Google for Government” law I passed in Congress, which already allows you to see every contract, every grant, every Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-4788340121530312852011-10-25T21:28:00.001-05:002011-10-25T22:20:42.777-05:00Obama did not keep his promise to prevent last minute earmarks
Reasons to agree:
Obama, on the campaign trail, back in June 2007: Instead of allowing lobbyists to slip big corporate tax breaks into bills during the dead of night, we will make sure every single tax break and earmark is available to every American online. This builds on the “Google for Government” law I passed in Congress, which already allows you to see every contract, every grant, everyMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-54780360317327928482011-10-25T20:46:00.001-05:002011-10-25T22:23:41.365-05:00Obama was wrong when he said his plan would not help speculators
Reasons to agree:
President Obama, back on February 18: “[My plan] will not help speculators who took risky bets on a rising market and bought homes not to live in but to sell. It will not help dishonest lenders who acted irresponsibility, distorting the facts and dismissing the fine print at the expense of buyers who didn’t know better. And it will not reward folks who bought homes they Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-50063005975002607142011-10-23T20:22:00.002-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.396-05:00Obama lied when he said the first thing he would do is sign the freedom of choice act
Reasons to agree:
Obama himself has described his enactment of the Freedom of Choice Act as his “top priority” as President. CNN’s Ed Henry asked Barack Obama when he would fulfill his campaign promise to the abortion industry and make signing the Freedom of Choice Act a priority. However, after he became president, at his 100-day presser, he said: "Now, the Freedom of Choice Act is not the Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-5608155589730660812011-10-23T19:51:00.000-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.422-05:00Obama lied when he said that he wouldn't sign a bill without letting the American people read it first
Reasons to agree:
President Obama promised on the campaign trail that he would have the most transparent administration in history. As part of this commitment, he said that the public would have five days to look online and find out what was in the bills that came to his desk before he signed them. It was his first broken promise, and it's the promise that keeps on breaking. He has now Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-30270021116660893862011-10-23T19:42:00.003-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.365-05:00Obama lied when he said that he would seek windfal profit taxes from oil companies.
Reasons to agree:
Obama said: "I’ll make oil companies like Exxon pay a tax on their windfall profits, and we’ll use the money to help families pay for their skyrocketing energy costs and other bills.” From the Houston Chronicle: President-elect Barack Obama has shelved a proposal to slap the oil and gas companies with a new windfall profits tax because oil prices have dropped so much in Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-37597854807382781582011-10-23T19:25:00.004-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.380-05:00Obama was misleading when he said that we needed to bring people in from outside Washington
Reasons to agree:
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (2009–present)
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (2009–2011)
Attorney General Eric Holder (2009–present)
“The real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result.” Said by Obama as a reason to not vote for Hillary Clinton.
Reasons to disagree:
He wasMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-19301166029935337002011-10-23T18:58:00.001-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.357-05:00Obama lied about lobbyist not working in his White House.
Reasons to agree:
Remember those bold pledges from Obama that he was going to stop government from serving lobbyists first? Promises like, “They won’t work in my White House!” Apparently the plan is to keep them out of the White House by hiring them to work in places like the Pentagon. ¶ President-elect Barack Obama, who campaigned on lessening the influence of lobbyists in government, has Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-68509477204343660422011-10-23T17:41:00.001-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.435-05:00Obama lied about confronting the Chinese over their human rights record
Reasons to agree:
Press China to Live Up to Human Rights Standards: From Tibet to cracking down on democracy and religious freedom activists, China has failed to live up to international standards of human rights. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe the United States has to be frank with the Chinese about such failings and will press them to respect human rights. ¶ – fact sheet distributed byMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-51502934858171071232011-10-23T16:14:00.001-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.403-05:00Obama lied about earmarks
Reasons to agree:
Obama, on the campaign trail, back in June 2007: "Instead of allowing lobbyists to slip big corporate tax breaks into bills during the dead of night, we will make sure every single tax break and earmark is available to every American online. This builds on the “Google for Government” law I passed in Congress, which already allows you to see every contract, every grant, Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-54672543483616934072011-10-23T16:00:00.001-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.409-05:00Obama lied when he said his actions would not bail out those who made risky investments
Reasons to agree:
“[My plan] will not help speculators who took risky bets on a rising market and bought homes not to live in but to sell. It will not help dishonest lenders who acted irresponsibility, distorting the facts and dismissing the fine print at the expense of buyers who didn’t know better. And it will not reward folks who bought homes they knew from the beginning they would never Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-43720412994382564552011-10-23T13:45:00.002-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.388-05:00Obama lied about eliminating federal programs that don't work
Reasons to agree:
Obama said: “I want to go line by line through every item in the Federal budget and eliminate programs that don’t work, and make sure that those that do work work better and cheaper.” He has yet to eliminate 1 federal program, right?
During The Campaign, President Obama Pledged To “Go Line By Line” And “Eliminate Programs That Don’t Work.” Obama: “I want to go line by line Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-71765292425009920002011-10-23T13:35:00.001-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.442-05:00Obama flip flopped on the debt
Reasons to agree:
Barack Obama, on October 15, 2008: "But there is no doubt that we’ve been living beyond our means and we’re going to have to make some adjustments. Now, what I’ve done throughout this campaign is to propose a net spending cut."
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
They agree with the argument, outside of any interest or alterior Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-66437115890422971282011-10-23T13:29:00.002-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.428-05:00Obama flip-flopped on the Colombian free-trade deal
Reasons to agree:
During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama parroted the Democratic Party line in opposing approval of the free-trade pact with Colombia. After the election, his administration hinted that they would continue opposing it, prompting an Inauguration Week retort from President Alvaro Uribe. After Obama met privately with Uribe at the Summit of the Americas, though, Obama Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-55284099890418455242011-10-23T13:11:00.003-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.416-05:00Obama broke his commitment to decrease spending
Reasons to agree:
“Now, what I’ve done throughout this campaign is to propose a net spending cut.” ~ Barack Obama
“If we see money being misspent, we’re going to put a stop to it, and we will call it out and we will publicize it." ~ Barack Obama
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
They agree with the argument, outside of any interest or alterior Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-87950794032361473442011-10-23T13:09:00.000-05:002011-10-25T22:24:49.449-05:00Obama flip-flopped on NAFTA
Reasons to agree:
Tim Russert:: Senator Obama . . . Simple question: Will you, as president, say to Canada and Mexico, “This has not worked for us; we are out”? Obama: “I will make sure that we renegotiate, in the same way that Senator Clinton talked about. And I think actually Senator Clinton’s answer on this one is right. I think we should use the hammer of a potential opt-out as leverageMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-26210496255126137562011-10-23T13:07:00.002-05:002011-10-23T13:31:37.861-05:00Obama flip-flopped on Armenian Genocide
Reasons to agree:
“As President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.” However he never did.
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
They agree with the argument, outside of any interest or alterior motivation (30%)
Confirmation bias (you decide that you don't like Obama, and so this becomes the prism that you see him. People always root for the home Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-8647707417099546402011-10-23T12:36:00.003-05:002011-10-23T13:31:37.912-05:00Obama flip-flopped on military tribunals
Reasons to agree:
STATEMENT: “Somebody like Khalid Sheik Mohammad is gonna get basically, a full military trial with all the bells and whistles.” September 27, 2006 EXPIRATION DATE: Ongoing. “President Obama is planning to insert himself into the debate about where to try the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, three administration officials said Thursday, signaling a Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-37565815780160635602011-10-23T12:34:00.000-05:002011-10-23T13:31:37.881-05:00Obama flip-flopped on border security
Reasons to agree:
STATEMENT: “We need tougher border security, and a renewed focus on busting up gangs and traffickers crossing our border. . . . That begins at home, with comprehensive immigration reform. That means securing our border and passing tough employer enforcement laws.” Then-candidate Obama, discussing the need for border security, speaking in Miami on May 23, 2008. EXPIRATION Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-31442929640676395082011-10-23T12:33:00.003-05:002011-10-23T13:31:37.875-05:00Obama lied about Guantanamo.
Reasons to agree:
STATEMENT: Executive order stating, “The detention facilities at Guantánamo for individuals covered by this order shall be closed as soon as practicable, and no later than one year from the date of this order.” January 22, 2009. EXPIRATION DATE: November 19, 2009: “Guantánamo, we had a specific deadline that was missed.”
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interestMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-82456918929309372622011-10-23T12:28:00.003-05:002011-10-23T13:31:37.906-05:00Obama lied on Recess Appointment
Reasons to agree:
STATEMENT: Then-senator Obama declared that a recess appointment is “damaged goods” and has “less credibility” than a normal appointment. August 25, 2005. EXPIRATION DATE: March 27, 2010: “If, in the interest of scoring political points, Republicans in the Senate refuse to exercise that responsibility, I must act in the interest of the American people and exercise my Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-31280947164004401482011-10-23T10:10:00.002-05:002011-10-23T13:31:37.869-05:00Obama broke his promice to have health-care negotiations be transparent and negotiated on C-Span.
Reasons to agree:
STATEMENT: “These negotiations will be on C-SPAN, and so the public will be part of the conversation and will see the decisions that are being made.” January 20, 2008, and seven other times. EXPIRATION DATE: Throughout the summer, fall, and winter of 2009 and 2010; when John McCain asked about it during the health-care summit February 26, Obama dismissed the issue by Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-6289294142808853572011-10-23T10:06:00.001-05:002011-10-23T13:31:37.895-05:00Barack Obama's Broken Promises
"I am absolutely determined that by the end of the first term of the next president, we should have universal health care in this country."
Close Guantanamo detention camp as soon as possible
Obama opposed the individual mandate when running for president, but signed it into law on March 23, 2010.
Obama broke his promice to have health-care negotiations be transparent and negotiated on C-Span.
Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-12547810510940596802011-10-23T10:05:00.002-05:002011-10-23T11:13:40.473-05:00Obama opposed the individual mandate when running for president, but signed it into law on March 23, 2010
Reasons to agree:
STATEMENT: “We’ve got a philosophical difference, which we’ve debated repeatedly, and that is that Senator Clinton believes the only way to achieve universal health care is to force everybody to purchase it. And my belief is, the reason that people don’t have it is not because they don’t want it but because they can’t afford it.” Barack Obama, speaking at a Democratic Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-84578530623836859692011-10-23T09:46:00.000-05:002011-10-23T11:13:50.737-05:00Obama has not taken sufficient steps to cut the deficit and debt in the long-run
Reasons to agree:
Obama borrowed too much money
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
They agree with the argument, outside of any interest or alterior motivation (30%)
Confirmation bias (you decide that you don't like Obama, and so this becomes the prism that you see him. People always root for the home team, because over time they start to show Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-39635740057409307832011-10-22T19:40:00.002-05:002011-10-22T19:57:41.482-05:00Usually compassion is not a limitless resource
Reasons to agree:
When you give money to try and help ex-cons get a job, someone else will not get that job. Maybe they will get another job, but at least some of the times the person that didn't get the job needed it more.
Even your ability to be kind is a resource. Maybe not little things like saying thank you, and stuff, but everyone has limited time in a day.
You can show compassion, Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-47383959395392975032011-10-21T19:31:00.001-05:002011-10-21T20:16:52.075-05:00The USA should cut taxes +1
Reasons to agree:
In "JFK's time, the government at all levels -- federal, state and local -- was consuming about 27 percent of the U.S. economy. Today it consumes about 37 percent of the U.S. economy. It's on track to get to 40 percent. We cease at some point to be a free economy. And the idea of saying, we just want a little more, just give us some more tax revenue, we need that, that isMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-66123798166274151582011-10-21T19:18:00.002-05:002011-10-21T20:17:25.855-05:00Obama gave too much power to Bernanke +1
Reasons to agree:
"Bernanke has in secret spent hundreds of billions of dollars bailing out one group and not bailing out another group. I don't see anybody in the news media demanding the kind of transparency at the Fed that you would demand of every other aspect of the federal government. And I think it is corrupt and it is wrong for one man to have that kind of secret power." Newt
Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-3346832879440193862011-10-21T17:58:00.000-05:002011-10-21T20:16:17.771-05:00Obama could have encouraged employers to cut hours, not fire +1
Reasons to agree:
Ezra Klein. "What Washington should have done." Washington Post. October 10th, 2011: "we could have taken a page out of the German playbook and launched a program to pay employers who cut hours rather than fired workers."
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
Anti black racism
Confirmation bias (you decide that you don't like Obama, andMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-12463936416799731762011-10-21T17:53:00.000-05:002011-10-21T20:17:54.735-05:00Obama has changed America, for the worse +1
Reasons to agree:
Pete Du Pont. "More of the Same Old Change." Wall Street Journal. September 30th, 2011: "In the last few years, as promised, the Obama administration has fundamentally transformed America. Our country is now in serious decline. Income is lower, unemployment is higher, jobs are fewer, government is much larger. Federal spending is way up, and America's economic status is wayMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-59809656490166208662011-10-21T17:43:00.001-05:002011-10-21T20:18:38.749-05:002009 stimulus was filled with waste and misconceptions +1
Reasons to agree:
John Feehery. "Opinion: Obama’s fatal missteps." The Hill. October 3rd, 2011: "1. Failed to veto the initial stimulus package: Imagine for a moment if Obama had vetoed that initial stimulus package. Imagine if he insisted that Democratic leaders take out all the pork and cleanse the bill of unworthy projects. Imagine if he had insisted that congressional Democrats work withMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-55538572050271925502011-10-21T17:41:00.001-05:002011-10-21T20:19:14.227-05:00Increasing taxes on big companies will limit job-creation +1
Reasons to agree:
"Obama Could Skip the Class Warfare and Let the Oil and Gas Industry Create Jobs." Fox News. October 3rd, 2011: "President Obama conjured up his favorite boogeyman recently: the oil and gas industry. He reached for it when he released his job creation and deficit reduction package. Despite the fact that the oil and gas industry pays over $86 million a day in income taxes, Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-21581219112659404462011-10-21T17:34:00.000-05:002011-10-21T20:14:34.539-05:00The only way to fix the problem of the rich having too much money is for the government to take it from them
Reasons to agree:
You can call it "taxes" but when you say the government has too much money, you are really saying that you want to take what they earned.
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
Anti black racism
Confirmation bias (you decide that you don't like Obama, and so this becomes the prism that you see him. People always root for the home team, Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-87922101739158324122011-10-21T17:01:00.000-05:002011-10-21T20:34:41.541-05:00Obama is wrong to engage in class warfare
Reasons to agree:
People should be free to get rich if they truly work harder.
People should be free to rich if they truly are smarter.
People should be free to get rich if they have marketable skills.
The only way to fix the problem of the rich having too much money is for the government to take it from them. However, it is wrong for the government to take money from one citizen for the Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-15805429380270999132011-10-21T16:05:00.000-05:002011-10-21T16:05:13.857-05:00Stimulus should have been bigger, not smaller as GOP claims
Reasons to agree:
"It needed to be bigger," according to Ezra Klein of the Washington Post and dozens of other economists such as Paul Krugman.
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
Anti black racism
Confirmation bias (you decide that you don't like Obama, and so this becomes the prism that you see him. People always root for the home team, because over Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-34908122250190484132011-10-21T16:00:00.001-05:002011-10-21T16:00:08.299-05:00Obama is a centrist, not a far left radical
Reasons to agree:
E.J. Dionne. "How the left can show Obama is a centrist." Real Clear Politics. October 3rd, 2011: "the absence of a strong, organized left made it easier for conservatives to label Obama himself as a left-winger. His health care reform is remarkably conservative -- yes, it did build on the ideas implemented in Massachusetts that Mitt Romney once bragged about. It was Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-29383817316675060372011-10-21T15:38:00.001-05:002011-10-25T22:39:43.687-05:00GOP would do nothing but cut taxes; Obama is taking actionReasons to agree:
E.J. Dionne. "GOP's Favorite Solution: Doing Nothing." Real Clear Politics. October 13th, 2011: "WASHINGTON -- So let’s see: The solution to large-scale abuses of the financial system, a breakdown of the private sector, extreme economic inequality and the failure of companies and individuals to invest and create jobs is -- well, to give even more money and power to very Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-9755942988689774382011-10-21T15:06:00.003-05:002011-10-21T15:08:31.510-05:00Obama did not start our wars or bad economy.
Reasons to agree:
George Bush wrongly started the Iraq war
George Bush wrongly started the war in Afghanistan
George Bush wrongly passed TARP.
Reasons to disagree:
Obama wrongly kept us in Iraq
Obama wrongly kept us in Afghanistan
Obama wrongly started war with Libya.
Obama borrowed too much money.
Obama did not start the bad economy, but he made it worse.
Obama wrongly extended Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-68796340821211215952011-10-20T23:20:00.000-05:002011-10-21T15:33:44.664-05:00Obama wrongly called a Boston cop stupid
Reasons to agree:
John Feehery. "Opinion: Obama’s fatal missteps." The Hill. October 3rd, 2011: "3. Called the cop stupid: At a press conference called to push his healthcare law, the president took the bait offered in a question from Lynn Sweet, the Chicago Sun-Times reporter, and opined on an incident involving a Boston-area police officer and Obama’s own friend, Skip Gates. He said that Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-70998210248234186992011-10-20T23:11:00.004-05:002011-10-21T20:36:41.904-05:00Solyndra was a lost bet, but there are always risks
Reasons to agree:
“Hindsight is always 20-20,” Obama told George Stephanopoulos of ABC News in October of 2011. “It went through the regular review process. And people felt like this was a good bet.” Solyndra didn’t work out, but that’s the kind of risk the United States must take to compete with countries like China that subsidize solar power.
Reasons to disagree:
The economy shouldn'tMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-77012695394712260382011-10-20T23:01:00.002-05:002011-10-21T11:12:47.716-05:00Obama did a very bad job at investing in green jobs
Reasons to agree:
The federal government shouldn't invest money in specific business models or companies that provide products to clients. Obama should have known this. At the end of the day no matter how much money the federal government throws at something, if a technology is viable, the market will move it along. You may get impatient, but you can't force these things. I'm not saying thatMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-80891620642774406092011-10-20T22:52:00.002-05:002011-10-21T17:44:12.896-05:00The Bush taxes were bad
Reasons to agree:
The Bush taxes only helped the very wealthy.
The Bush taxes contributed to the US national debt.
John Feehery. "Opinion: Obama’s fatal missteps." The Hill. October 3rd, 2011: "5. Signed an extension of President Bush’s tax cuts: After campaigning against and complaining about George W. Bush’s tax cuts for the rich, Obama meekly signed a two-year extension of those same taxMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-88073190783728892102011-10-20T22:48:00.005-05:002011-10-21T11:13:16.634-05:00Obama wrongly extended President Bush's tax cuts
Reasons to agree:
Every president is going to want lower taxes while they are president, because it helps the economy. Screw the children, they say, let our kids pay for it! I need to get re-elected!
The bush taxes were bad.
Reasons to disagree:
At the time that Obama extended the Bush tax cuts, the economy was so bad, that the economy was more important than the debt.
Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-69477170011648917702011-10-20T22:21:00.001-05:002011-10-21T11:13:28.671-05:00Obama borrowed too much money
Reasons to agree:
Obama added 6.5 trillion dollars in debt. The previous 43 US presidents combined only, between 1789 to 2008 only added $6.3 trillion. Sure inflation and the country has grown, but not that much recently. It is a staggering figure, even if you adjust for inflation, and the size of the country.
Obama wrongly extended President Bush's tax cuts.
Reasons to disagree:
Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-444871092376865902011-10-20T22:19:00.000-05:002011-10-21T11:13:42.473-05:00Obama did not start the bad economy, but he made it worse
Reasons to agree:
Obama borrowed too much money.
Obama did not spend the TARP money wisely.
Obama should not have bailed out GM.
Obama should have done more to promote trade.
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
Probable interest of those who disagree:
Common Interest
Opposing Interest
Images That agree
Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-44705970022113247832011-10-20T22:16:00.001-05:002011-10-21T11:15:32.722-05:00Obama is not to blame for the economic crisis
Reasons to agree:
Athleen Rosell. "Devil's Advocate: Re-Elect Obama." The Daily Titan. April 19th, 2011: "Many of the other complaints against him are about the economy, national budget and various wars around the world that we are involved in. All of those problems were around before he took the oath of office. You cannot make a national debt of $14 trillion disappear; the money to repay Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-11271396778761404442011-08-06T21:12:00.001-05:002011-08-06T21:12:25.056-05:00ReformWe should require that our politicians use a transparent decision making process, in which they clearly outline the reasons voted for a bill, and the reasons they hesitated voting for a bill. This process works well for the court system, which is required to give a majority and minority opinion, after they vote. It also works in engineering classes, where students are not only required to get theMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-18702636342581115142011-06-26T23:20:00.002-05:002011-06-27T20:06:42.088-05:00Obama was wrong to establish a minimum sound standards related to motor vehiclesBlind people can't hear electric cars, and so car manufacturers are required to make electric cars that produce an artificial car noise. Not making this up.
Reasons to agree:Too much car noise is a problem. It makes our communities less livable. Think of people that have to live next to highways, or in crowded parts of cities... We should try to help people with handicaps, but some places have Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-79471138404100007612011-06-19T22:49:00.000-05:002011-06-19T22:49:59.185-05:00Obama was wrong to support New STARTReasons to agree:New START handed the Russians deep reductions in our nuclear capabilities in return for essentially nothing. The Obama administration claimed at the time that the treaty was an excellent deal. This claim has been proven false. A new official accounting performed by the State Department acknowledges that the number of launchers and warheads in Russia’s nuclear arsenal was already Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-88909546297462089352011-06-19T21:20:00.000-05:002011-06-19T21:20:58.419-05:00We should get out of Afghanistan as soon as possibleReasons to agree:We will not succeed in trying to modernize countries that want to live in the 12th century.
We can't force other countries to want Democracy. If it doesn't seem like something they want, then we aren't going to convince them. It is the 21st centery. They have access to all the books, data, and examples of history that we do. Let them figure it out themselves.
We can bomb Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-25067229597602715952011-06-19T15:13:00.001-05:002011-06-19T15:25:31.221-05:00Obama is right to support gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, but not transgendersReasons to agree:I get it, I get it some women don't like barbies, want to play with guns, climb trees, and belch... that is all just fine, and grand, but no reason to start cutting things off, or inserting other things.
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
Probable interest of those who disagree:
Common Interest
Opposing Interest
Images That agree
Images That Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-62798107491820448672011-06-19T14:10:00.001-05:002011-06-19T15:26:26.242-05:00Obama was wrong to drop charges against the New Black Panther PartyBackground: Charges brought against three members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense under the Bush administration have been dropped by the Obama Justice Department, FOX News has learned. The charges stemmed from an incident at a Philadelphia polling place on Election Day 2008 when three members of the party were accused of trying to threaten voters and block poll and campaign Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-87845762090651124502011-06-19T13:40:00.000-05:002011-06-19T13:40:46.262-05:00Obama was wrong to support the Pigford settlement that gave 6.65 billion dollars to black and Indian farmersReasons to agree:Pigford is the biggest scam in U.S. history.
Pigford was a chronic litigator. His claims of discrimination had been investigated at least three times, and a previous lawsuit of his had been dismissed "with prejudice," meaning he should never have been allowed to make another claim on the same grounds. He did, though, and the Clinton Department of Agriculture basically gave away Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-12680981299723444292011-06-19T12:17:00.001-05:002011-06-19T15:25:31.223-05:00The president was right to ensure that hospitals that want federal funds allow gay partners to have the same rights as married couplesBackground: The President issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the HHS Secretary to ensure that those hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds will give gay and lesbian patients and their families the compassion, dignity and respect they deserve in difficult times, as well as widows and widowers with no children, members of religious orders, and others whom otherwise may not have Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-28839932883151915222011-06-19T12:00:00.000-05:002011-06-19T15:26:26.243-05:00Obama was wrong to sign into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention ActReasons to agree:
Reasons to disagree: All crimes are hatred.
The life of a gay person when taken away is worth no more or less than the life of anyone else, and the crime of killing such a person is made no worse or no better by taking their sexual orientation into consideration.
Harsher punishments for what was in someone's thoughts is impossible. Only one person knows the real reason and if Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-42583137245330667712011-06-19T11:20:00.001-05:002011-06-19T15:25:31.224-05:00Obama was right to expanding federal benefits for the same-sex partners of Foreign Service and executive branch government employeesReasons to agree:The only legitimate secular criticism of gay marriage is that you might think kids would be better served by both a mother and a father, but giving benefits to gay partners has nothing to do with this. You can believe whatever you want personally about it being a sin, but when it comes to government benefits, such as inheritance, and the right to visit each other in the hospital,Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-6841095496125678132011-06-18T23:13:00.001-05:002011-06-19T15:25:31.226-05:00Gays should be allowed to serve openly in the militaryReasons to agree:
Reasons to disagree: Front operating field combatants group dynamics should not include romance.
This is a debate about soldiers being required to defend their country while living and rooming in close quarters with each other. It is a fact that their effectiveness depends on mutual trust and uncomplicated camaraderie. Sexual relations or tension between soldiers, of whatever Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-13098370679669546852011-06-18T21:53:00.000-05:002011-06-19T15:25:31.228-05:00Obama is a great dad, a great role model, and has the right plan to help familiesReasons to agree:Obama's White House Poverty website correctly addresses the family. It says: "President Obama was raised by a single parent, and knows the difficulties that young people face when their fathers are absent. He is committed to responsible fatherhood, by supporting fathers who stand by their families and encouraging young men to work towards good jobs in promising career pathways. Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-16584169663311791342011-06-18T21:32:00.000-05:002011-06-18T21:32:44.633-05:00Too many Americans live without hope for a better future or access to good, family-supporting jobsReasons to agree:
Reasons to disagree:No American has the right to not hope for a better future. If they have no hope, then its not our fault.
Everyone has access to good family supporting jobs, but you can't just let a Jr. High student be a doctor or lawyer, they have to be willing to educate themselves first.
Too many is a relative term. Basically there are as many people without hope who dueMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-31654996189668575992011-06-18T21:14:00.000-05:002011-06-19T15:26:26.245-05:00Obama is Pompous to say that he is going to "create a path of opportunity for all hard-working Americans to enter the middle class"Reasons to agree:We already have paths of opportunity for all hard-working Americans to enter the middle class: hard work, education, the military, police work, the trades, not getting pregnant, graduating from high school, we don't need some new plan, or a new politician. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/poverty says: "As President, his life experiences inform his efforts to create a path of Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-51404247251257926032011-06-18T15:55:00.002-05:002011-06-19T15:25:31.229-05:00After school programs are goodReasons to agree:Because many people have to work until 5, and don't get home until 5:30, we need after school programs to keep un-supervised kids off the streets, and out of gangs.
After school programs as a form of childcare is much better than the type of welfare that just hands money over to poor people, because after school programs helps poor people have jobs, and contribute to society.
Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-1991796089619468362011-06-18T15:01:00.003-05:002011-06-19T15:25:31.230-05:00Obama was right to promote after-school programs for kidsReasons to agree:After school programs are good.
Once our kids are in school, my wife would like to go back to work. She doesn't want to just sit around at home. I don't like extra powerful government, but sort of think the Government should require companies to offer 6 hour work days for mom who want to be there for their kids before and after school. But if businesses don't let Mom's work part Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-33760318847172241422011-06-18T14:58:00.000-05:002011-06-19T15:25:31.232-05:00Obama was right to promote job training for the unemployedReasons to agree:Retraining those who get laid-off is better than preventing companies from reorganizing.
Our economy is going to need more specialized training in the future.
Reasons to disagree: Obama's focus on the green economy is fine, when we have the money, but was not a good investment.
Probable interest of those who agree:
Probable interest of those who disagree:
Common Interest
Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-43259731673203663592011-06-17T20:51:00.004-05:002011-06-19T15:26:26.246-05:00President Obama is a Poverty PimpReasons to agree:
In 2011 White House.com said: "Pesident Obama has been a lifelong advocate for the poor. As a young college graduate, he rejected the high salaries of corporate America and moved to the South Side of Chicago to work as a community organizer." This is using poor people to gain power, and is an example of the word poverty pimp, or someone who uses the poverty to advance Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-27718469956275739202011-06-11T22:22:00.000-05:002011-06-19T15:26:26.247-05:00The Federal Government shouldn't duplicate services provided for by the statesReasons to agree:When you have administrators in Federal, State, and County agencies all with the same responsibility you are wasting money.
When you have administrators in Federal, State, and County agencies all with the same responsibility there is no accountability for the performance of any of the government agencies.
When the federal government has a mission that is the same as more local Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-86210009826191940112011-06-11T22:03:00.002-05:002011-06-11T22:23:16.601-05:00Obama, as the head of the executive branch of Government, is wrong to try to expand educational opportunities for low-income childrenReasons to agree:The Federal Government shouldn't duplicate services provided for by the states. The Cities, counties and States already are responsible for teaching.
The Federal Government's power should be more limited than the states.
If cities, counties, and states all have agencies working to expand educational opportunities for low-income children, then there is no reason for the Federal Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-36806388796561512572011-06-11T17:29:00.006-05:002011-06-11T20:59:08.735-05:00Obama was wrong, in 2010 to spend $167.5 million on the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)Reasons to agree:Publicly financed art is too easily censored
The federal government is too broke to be spending money on the arts.
The arts in America get enough money from the private sector that they don't need money from the federal government.
There is no jurisdiction in which Congress has authority to finance art exhibitions
The Federal Government should only fund things we are OK with Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-16856419623283607042011-06-11T16:36:00.002-05:002011-06-11T16:36:58.983-05:00Images as reasons to agree and disagreeA picture says a thousand words. Why would we keep them out of a debate? Why not have the top 10 pictures that support AND oppose the same issue.
Of course images are returned to Google based on an algorithm, images that have higher scores will contribute more power to the idea.Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-91543997393791278982011-06-11T16:29:00.002-05:002011-11-06T20:07:20.094-06:00Template
Reasons to agree:
Reasons to disagree:
Probable interest of those who agree:
They agree with the argument, outside of any interest or alterior motivation (30%)
Confirmation bias (you decide that you don't like Obama, and so this becomes the prism that you see him. People always root for the home team, because over time they start to show interest, and then each new Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-62326937139728575432011-06-11T16:11:00.005-05:002011-06-11T16:11:44.523-05:00TransportationAs our society becomes more mobile and interconnected, the need for 21st-century transportation networks has never been greater. However, too many of our nation's railways, highways, bridges, airports, and neighborhood streets are slowly decaying due to lack of investment and strategic long-term planning. President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that America's long-term competitiveness Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-17597213257603160342011-06-11T16:11:00.002-05:002011-06-11T16:11:29.083-05:00SportsmenPresident Obama did not grow up hunting and fishing, but he recognizes the great conservation legacy of America's hunters and anglers and has great respect for the passion that hunters and anglers have for their sports. Were it not for America's hunters and anglers, including the great icons like Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold, our nation would not have the tradition of sound game managementMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-70116320199079445062011-06-11T16:11:00.000-05:002011-06-11T16:11:09.279-05:00ScienceIn the past, government funding for scientific research has yielded innovations that have improved the landscape of American life — technologies like the Internet, digital photography, bar codes, Global Positioning System technology, laser surgery, and chemotherapy. At one time, educational competition with the Soviets fostered the creativity that put a man on the moon. Today, we face a new set Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-31109699734043738502011-06-11T16:10:00.022-05:002011-06-11T22:28:33.261-05:00Child AdvocacyFrom http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/additional-issues
"President Obama and Vice President Biden are committed advocates for children. They will make sure that every child has health insurance, expand educational opportunities for low-income children, extend resources for low-income families, support and supplement our struggling foster care system, and protect children from violence and neglectMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-69871054814432751502011-06-11T16:10:00.014-05:002011-06-11T17:41:12.217-05:00ArtsFrom http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/additional-issues:
"Our nation's creativity has filled the world's libraries, museums, recital halls, movie houses, and marketplaces with works of genius. The arts embody the American spirit of self-definition. As the author of two best-selling books —Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope — President Obama uniquely appreciates the role and value of Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-73203150297675528222011-06-11T16:10:00.002-05:002011-06-11T16:10:14.994-05:00FaithIn June of 2006, then-Senator Obama delivered what was called the most important speech on religion and politics in 40 years. Speaking before an evangelical audience, then-Senator Obama candidly discussed his own religious conversion and doubts, and the need for a deeper, more substantive discussion about the role of faith in American life. He has continued to foster open dialogues on faith Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-8608922299205296462011-06-11T16:09:00.003-05:002011-06-11T16:09:35.195-05:00WomenProgressThe President signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to provide a coordinated Federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families.The President signed the Affordable Care Act, which gives all Americans better Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-14104637076528600572011-06-11T16:09:00.000-05:002011-06-11T16:09:00.058-05:00Veterans"For their service and sacrifice, warm words of thanks from a grateful nation are more than warranted, but they aren't nearly enough. We also owe our veterans the care they were promised and the benefits that they have earned. We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America. It's a commitment that begins at enlistment, and it must never end. But we know thatMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-36400793458892175442011-06-11T16:07:00.002-05:002011-06-11T16:07:44.173-05:00UrbanProgressThe President signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Office of Urban Affairs.The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included broad support for urban communities.To broaden access to affordable housing, the Act provides for $1 billion in increased funding for the Community Development Block Grant; $4 billion in increased public housing capital funds; $2 billion in Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-27340020368639893812011-06-11T16:06:00.002-05:002011-06-11T16:06:33.443-05:00Technology"To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative."-PRESIDENT OBAMA, APRIL 25, 2009ProgressThe President issued a Presidential Memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies ordering them to compile recommendations for an open government directive on transparency, participation, Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-40368165052864340522011-06-11T15:59:00.005-05:002011-06-11T15:59:55.603-05:00TaxesProgressThe Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 provides vital tax relief and investments in our workers that will create jobs and accelerate economic growth. The law:Extends middle class tax cuts to prevent a typical working family from facing a tax increase of over $2,000 on January 1
Provides a 2% payroll tax cut to 159 million workers – providing Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-33960611700842741022011-06-11T15:59:00.002-05:002011-06-11T15:59:25.071-05:00ServiceProgressThe President signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a hallmark piece of legislation.The Serve America Act will increase the size of AmeriCorps from 75,000 volunteers to 250,000 by 2017.
The Act also creates a Social Innovation Fund that will invest in ideas that are proven to improve outcomes and "what works" funds in federal agencies to promote effective and innovative programsMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-86076116045689041752011-06-11T15:58:00.005-05:002011-06-11T15:58:53.070-05:00Seniors & Social Security"To put us on solid ground, we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations. We must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans’ guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market."-PRESIDENT BARACK Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-9899778418523804422011-06-11T15:58:00.002-05:002011-06-11T15:58:27.677-05:00RuralProgressThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included broad support for rural communities.The Recovery Act provides USDA with a total of $27.6 billion, most of which will fund increased benefits to low income families through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ($20 billion);
The Act also provides $6.9 billion in discretionary appropriations for rural development activities such Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-75269282868561348182011-06-11T15:57:00.014-05:002011-06-18T22:09:35.013-05:00PovertyPresident Obama is a bit of a Poverty Pimp
Obama was right to promote job training for the unemployed.
Obama was right to promote after-school programs for kids.
Obama is Pompous to say that he is going to "create a path of opportunity for all hard-working Americans to enter the middle class".
Too many Americans live without hope for a better future or access to good, family-supporting jobs
Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-51640163986161078962011-06-11T15:13:00.000-05:002011-06-11T15:13:36.257-05:00ImmigrationFixing the Immigration System for America’s 21st Century Economy"We are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea—the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. That’s why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here…The future is ours to win. But to get there, we cannot stand still."-PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMATake ActionHost a Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-1271838910749789482009-05-24T22:39:00.001-05:002009-08-15T13:18:07.982-05:00Obama is wrong to think that empathy is a qualification to be a supreme court judgeBackground: Obama said, "We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom. The empathy to understand what it's like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old. And that's the criteria by which I'm going to be selecting my judges."
Obama is wrong to think that empathy is a qualification to be a supreme court judge
Reasons Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-91983249570417728212009-05-17T19:56:00.001-05:002009-05-25T19:03:55.468-05:00Barack Obama was melodramatic about his drug use.
If you think my post come out of the middle of no where, I'm sorry. I hate the news. I hate the 24-hour news networks. I like the Sunday morning news shows better, because they put the most important things from the week, into one hour. I agree with the following statement:"To read a newspaper is to refrain from reading something worthwhile. The first discipline of education must therefore be toMike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-76562685211673038982009-05-03T22:10:00.001-05:002009-05-25T19:03:55.470-05:00Obama has not always put the safety of Americans first Reasons to agree: Rasmussen finds 58% of Americans believe the Obama administration's release of CIA memos endangers the national security of the United States. By releasing the torture memos, Obama opened American citizens up to international tribunals. A UN lawyer said the US is obliged to prosecute lawyers who drafted the memos or else violate the Geneva Conventions. Probable interest of Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-67366537891962243552009-05-03T21:38:00.001-05:002009-05-25T19:03:55.475-05:00Obama does not stand up to evilReasons to agree: Obama lifts travel and remittance restrictions on Cuba, showing Cuba that they can have political prisoners, forced 1 party rule, workshop of the president, and normal relations with the United States. Obama considers dropping the embargo on Cuba, showing Cuba that they can have political prisoners, forced 1 party rule, workshop of the president, and normal relations with the Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-24206983634798167192009-05-03T21:24:00.001-05:002009-05-25T19:03:55.478-05:00Obama is not as transparent as he said he would beReasons to agree:
"The Obama administration has directed defense officials to sign a pledge stating they will not share 2010 budget data with individuals outside the federal government." -- Defense News, 2/19
"While the online question portion of the White House town hall was open to any member of the public with an Internet connection, the five fully identified questioners called on randomly Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-90002146251559342552009-05-03T21:07:00.000-05:002009-05-03T22:09:09.474-05:00Obama has not been a very good diplomatReasons to agree:In their first meeting, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave Obama a carved ornamental penholder from the timbers of the anti-slavery ship HMS Gannet. Obama gave him 25 DVDs that don't work in Europe.
"Barack Obama has been embroiled in a cronyism row after reports that he intends to make Louis Susman, one of his biggest fundraisers, the new US ambassador in London. The Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-51033728667910562902009-05-03T21:03:00.001-05:002009-05-03T21:06:19.052-05:00Obama has not always put the safety of Americans firstReasons to agree:Rasmussen finds 58% of Americans believe the Obama administration's release of CIA memos endangers the national security of the United States.
By releasing the torture memos, Obama opened American citizens up to international tribunals. A UN lawyer said the US is obliged to prosecute lawyers who drafted the memos or else violate the Geneva Conventions.
Probable interest of those Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-57507257505315451002009-05-03T21:00:00.000-05:002009-05-03T22:11:14.420-05:00Obama Promotes fear to get his wayReasons to agree:"During his historic inaugural speech, Barack Obama promised to usher in a transformational age where hope would replace fear, unity would overtake partisanship, and change would sweep aside the status quo. But early in President Obama's first 100 days it is obvious that the only thing that is changing is the Candidate of Change, himself.
"The same politician who proclaimed Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699209136968650611.post-38895872987564457482009-05-03T20:47:00.000-05:002009-05-03T21:19:05.241-05:00Obama has not done very well putting people into powerReasons to agree:"Yes, Canada is not Mexico, it doesn't have a drug war going on. Nonetheless, to the extent that terrorists have come into our country or suspected or known terrorists have entered our country across a border, it's been across the Canadian border. There are real issues there." -- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The 9/11 hijackers did not come across the Canada Mike Laubhttps://profiles.google.com/111255259813557183242noreply@blogger.com0