The Obamanation

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Though it does work well enough on everybody else, leaving the cranks to be encysted in their isolation. Works for me [shrug].

[classicman]

'A Lot Like Jimmy Carter'

An end to diplomacy is also taking shape in Washington's policy toward Tehran. It is now up to Iran, Obama said, to convince the world that its nuclear power is peaceful. While in Asia, Obama mentioned "consequences" unless it followed his advice. This puts the president, in his tenth month in office, where Bush began -- with threats. "Time is running out," Obama said in Korea. It was the same phrase Bush used against former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, shortly before he sent in the bombers.

There are many indications that the man in charge at the White House will take a tougher stance in the future. Obama's advisors fear a comparison with former Democratic President Jimmy Carter, even more than with Bush. Prominent Republicans have already tried to liken Obama to the humanitarian from Georgia, who lost in his bid to win a second term, because voters felt that he was too soft. "Carter tried weakness and the world got tougher and tougher because the predators, the aggressors, the anti-Americans, the dictators, when they sense weakness, they all start pushing ahead," Newt Gingrich, the former Republican speaker in the House of Representatives, recently said. And then he added: "This does look a lot like Jimmy Carter."

Link

Good gracious, please tell me that we aren't going there again.

[TheMercenary]

Don't hold your breath.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

There are T-shirts that say "Welcome Back, Carter" advertised on The Drudge Report.

[classicman]

Barack Obama’s Top Ten Foreign Policy Follies

This has hardly been a stellar year for the projection of American global power. Weakness, rather than strength, has been the hallmark of US foreign policy under Barack Obama, from the Iranian nuclear crisis to dithering over the war in Afghanistan. Instead of strong American leadership, the White House has all too often offered humiliating apologies for America’s past and embarrassing gaffes.

Here is a list of the ten biggest foreign policy follies of Barack Obama’s first year in office. I’ve tried to make the list inclusive of all corners of the world, ranging from Tehran to Tokyo to Khartoum, and frankly could easily have expanded it to a top 20 or even top 30 list. There are plenty to choose from, including some of the most cringe worthy moments in modern American history.

Link
Some of the comments at the end of this are amazing. I don't agree with all of what is said, but I was more than a little surprised at this mans perspective nonetheless.

[Undertoad]

That list is tiresome carping. There has been no actual foreign policy test as yet. If one of the worst ten things O could do is mess up gift-giving he will be in the same boat as most families tomorrow.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

.... he will be in the same boat as most families tomorrow.

[Griff]

I specifically voted for a lot of stuff on that list.

[classicman]

Declaring America's middle class is "under assault," President Barack Obama unveiled plans Monday to help hurting families pay their bills, save for retirement and care for their kids and aging parents. His comments previewed Wednesday's State of the Union Address.

Obama's proposals won't create jobs, but he said they could "re-establish some of the security that's slipped away."


Among the president's economic ideas:

• Nearly doubling the tax credit that families making under $85,000 can receive for child care costs, with some help for families earning up to $115,000, too.

• Capping the size of periodic federal college loan repayments at 10 percent of borrowers' discretionary income to make payments more affordable.

• Increasing by $1.6 billion the money pumped into a federal fund to help working parents pay for child care, covering an estimated 235,000 additional children.

• Requiring employers who don't offer 401(k) retirement plans to offer direct-deposit IRAs for their employees, with exemptions for the smallest firms.

• Spending more than $100 million to help people care for their elderly parents and get support for themselves as well.

The White House maintained that its imperative still is to create jobs. Unemployment remains in double digits, and the economy is the public's top concern. Yet Obama said that squeezed families need help in other ways, too: paying for child care, helping out aging parents, saving for retirement, paying off college debt.

Less clear was how much the programs would cost or where the money would come from.

Officials deferred comment until the release of the budget.

Obama, whose poll numbers are off, is trying to sharpen his economic message in a way that shows people he is on their side. White House officials say they know people have been turned off by the long, messy fight for health insurance reform. Plus, there's a perception that families have gotten far less help than big banks.

Link
I like the ideas, but it would be nice to know how we are gonna pay for stuff before we pend money we don't have. Doncha think?

[glatt]

"more than $100 million to help people care for their elderly parents"

Let's see... divide that by 300 million Americans, and it works out to 33 cents per person. Even though not every American will be caring for an elderly parent, I don't see this money going very far. What are they gonna do, print some informational pamphlets?

[Madman]

Originally Posted by glatt

"more than $100 million to help people care for their elderly parents"

Let's see... divide that by 300 million Americans, and it works out to 33 cents per person. Even though not every American will be caring for an elderly parent, I don't see this money going very far. What are they gonna do, print some informational pamphlets?

.33 cents each? That much? Hell, that should cover it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

It goes further if you only give it to people that need it.

Capping the size of periodic federal college loan repayments at 10 percent of borrowers' discretionary income to make payments more affordable.

Discretionary income, wtf?

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Madman

.33 cents each? That much? Hell, that should cover it.

Way more than that. It will be 33 cents each, not a third of a cent each. :p

Originally Posted by glatt

"more than $100 million to help people care for their elderly parents"

Let's see... divide that by 300 million Americans, and it works out to 33 cents per person. Even though not every American will be caring for an elderly parent, I don't see this money going very far. What are they gonna do, print some informational pamphlets?

W/O knowing the details, I would guess it is for matching grants for programs like Meals on Wheels, etc.

Or even better, programs to support congregate living for seniors. Think of having the Golden Girls live in your neighborhood, but they cant because of local housing/zoning codes. Time to start addressing those needs in anticipation of the soon to be senior baby boomers.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Redux

Or even better, programs to support congregate living for seniors.

OH hell, I couldn't resist.