Search

The author reflects on the challenges being faced by the health-care plan of U.S. President Barack Obama. He presents results of a poll conducted by the "Washington Post" and ABC which reflect an increase in the number of respondents who reject the president's health-care reform agenda. He also cites the decision of some Democratic governors from several states to oppose the plan as a sign of its declining popularity.

The author criticizes U.S. President Barack Obama's move to redefine his goals when the promises he made about his economic stimulus program failed to materialize. He presents original statements issued by Obama about his economic stimulus program which he tried to revise in the hope that the U.S. public will not remember his original statements. The author also examines some problems with Obama's stimulus program.

The author commends the valor of the family of Christine and Doctor Bill Krissoff for serving in the U.S. Army. He relates that one of the couple's son, Nathan, was killed in Iraq in December 2006. He praises Bill for his decision to join the military in Iraq as Navy medical officer to honor the sacrifice of Nathan. He commends Christine for supporting her husband and sons in their decision to serve in the U.S. Army. He argues that the families like the Krissoffs exemplify the spirit of courage and sacrifice of the U.S. people.

The author reflects on U.S. President Barack Obama's health care policy. He mentions that while Obama has remained to be the most popular U.S. president based on the first few months, his job approval rating has fallen down to 60% while his disapproval ratings have doubled to 33%. He argues that a government-run healthcare result to higher costs, as demonstrated by Medicare costs' annual increase.

The author contends that Republicans in the U.S. Congress can block President Barack Obama's attempt to put the federal government into the task of managing health insurance for all Americans. He explains that Republicans should make empirical and specific arguments against Obama's health care reform proposal. He commends Republican Senators Tom Coburn and Richard Burr and Representatives Paul Ryan and Devin Nunes for offering proposal that can be supported by families, small business people and health care providers.

The author suggests arguments for Republicans about preventing Democrats from enacting a public-option health-insurance program in the U.S. He states that such program is unnecessary and a competition already exists among the 1,300 companies selling health insurance plans. He notes that a public option will lower the prices for private insurers and give the burden to the taxpayers and health providers. He also stresses that public option will make the government intervene in the relationship between doctors and patients.

The author criticizes U.S. President Barack Obama's approach to job losses which involves describing them as job gains. It is suggested that the Labor Department does not and cannot collect data on jobs saved in contrast to the Obama administration's clairvoyant ability to estimate. The Federal Reserve's expansion of the money supply is cited as the reason for any improvement in the economy.

The author comments on the nomination by U.S. President Barack Obama of Sonia Sotomayor as replacement for the retiring Supreme Court justice David Souter. Sotomayor's nomination allows Obama to placate Hispanic groups who had complained of his failure to appoint more high profile Latinos to his administration. Republicans too will benefit from Sotomayor's nomination because they can stress their support for judges who strictly interpret the Constitution and apply the law as written.

The author contends that U.S. President Barack Obama has failed to keep to his campaign promises. He enumerates instances in which Obama opposed the policies of the administration of former President George W. Bush and yet he has adopted those very policies after becoming president. He points out that during the campaign Obama has promised to reduce the budget deficit and to oppose government-run health care, but his actions totally contradict his promise.

The author argues that U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is not telling the truth about her knowledge of the use of enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs) by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He states that also Pelosi admitted that he attended a meeting with the CIA and then House Intelligence Committee chairman Representative Porter Gross, she would not comment about what they discussed. He notes that Pelosi emphasized that they were not told that the CIA will use EITs. However, Porter and CIA director Leon Panetta disputed her statement.

The author stresses the need for the Republican Party to explain their view of the proper role of the judiciary and why the desire of President Barack Obama that a Supreme Court nominee has empathy and understanding is a formless basis in choosing a judge. He says that members of the Republican Party do not treat nominees harshly as Democrats do. He cites that the president wants an activist judge. He asserts that Senate Republicans can explain to the people the reasons for opposing judges who consider themselves as lawmakers with life tenure.

The author reflects on the quality of political leadership being displayed by U.S. President Barack Obama 100 days after his election. The job approval rating of Obama is compared with the ratings of his predecessors, such as Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. Obama is criticized for his tendency to outsource the formulation of major policies to Democrats in Congress. The author also claims that Obama is more concerned with the aesthetics of policy rather than its contents.

The author discusses the international confession tour of U.S. President Barack Obama. He states that Obama has admitted the French that the U.S. has shown arrogance and has been dismissive toward Europe. He mentions the views of White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs that by confessing the nation's sins, Obama has changed the image of the U.S. around the world. He argues that when a president desires personal popularity, he can lose focus on vital U.S. interests.

The author explains that tea parties which marked the April 15, 2009 tax deadline in the U.S. is an important movement that should be taken seriously by politicians. He contends that tea parties or tax demonstrations are expressions by various people of their concern about increasing taxes. These people are afraid that federal taxes increase as a result of federal spending to revive the economy. He expects that tax issue will become increasingly an important political issue in the country.

The article focuses on the actions being taken by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama in 2009 to pressure congressional members to adopt the government's proposed budget. The lobbying campaign of the government were initially targeted to Republicans as team Obama show advertisements that depict the group as the party of no. Americans United for Change is also targeting Democrats who are skeptical of the president's plans to raise the national debt in five years. Also noted is the decline in the support for the proposed government spending.

The author predicts that the spending and tax policies of U.S. President Barack Obama will further increase the national debt and budget deficit. He believes that another $1.278 trillion will be added to the current 2009 deficit of $569 billion due to proposals of Obama. He adds that the spending will slow down in 3 years but will grow faster than the economy for the next 7 years. He stresses that the tax hikes advocated by Obama will affect all people not only the rich as what he claims.

The author claims that U.S. President Barack Obama and his officials are contradicting their campaign promises in terms of the budget, giving Republicans an opportunity to prepare an alternative budget. He mentions the results of a poll by the Center for American Progress which revealed that 61% say government spending is almost always wasteful and inefficient. He cites the plan of Republicans to prepare an alternative that will not raise taxes, gets spending and debt under control and will result in a stronger economy.

The author comments on the efforts by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama to degrade radio host and conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh after poring over opinion research. It is suggested that the Obama administration's move runs counter to Obama's talk about ending political divisions. The attack on a celebrity conservative like Limbaugh is considered a means to divert public attention to the limitations of Obama's economic policies.

The author comments on the budget proposed by U.S. President Barack Obama for the 2009 fiscal year. He says the president will add $4.9 trillion in deficits before his term ends and $7.4 trillion if given a second term. He adds that Obama also wants to wave through a $410 billion omnibus spending bill with approximately 8,500 earmarks. He noted that the president failed to pay attention to $600 billion in higher energy taxes he wants to impose through a cap-and-trade system on carbon emissions.

The author criticizes the tendency of U.S. President Barack Obama to routinely ascribe to opponents' views they do not espouse to advance his aims. He compares the manners in which former President Abraham Lincoln and Obama advance their political aims. He cites several examples in which Obama ascribed to others' views they do not espouse. The author also asserts that while Lincoln enriched the political dialogue of his age, Obama's straw men cheapening it.

The author contends that the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama seems to have not sufficiently prepared or thought of its plans. He cites the fiasco after fiasco that took place in his major nominations, including the tax problems of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and the absence of reason for dropping Anthony Zinni's appointment as ambassador to Iraq. He explains that the Obama administration is also winging it in regard to the economic stimulus package.

The author reflects on the public support to the economic stimulus bill in the U.S. He states that a CBS News poll shows a 12-point drop in support of the bill over the past month. He mentions that the more U.S. citizens learn about the bill, the less they like it. He adds that the bill signed by President Barack Obama will create a raft of new programs and be the biggest peacetime spending increase in the U.S. history.

The author reflects on U.S. President Barack Obama's attack on trickle down economics. He states that Obama and his congressional Democrats are embracing a Democratic version of trickle-down economics that would not work. He states that the economic stimulus bill has a deeply flawed assumption that spending $1 trillion to grow government will trickle down to help people who lost jobs.

The author reflects on the presidency of former U.S. President George W. Bush. According to him, the former president was right about the Iraq war because the world is much safer without Saddam Hussein in power, and that President Bush was correct in changing the strategy and surging more U.S. troops in Iraq. Also, the author praises President Bush for the passage of the No Child Left Behind law which resulted to math and reading scores of children rising more than in the past years.

The author welcomes U.S. President Barack Obama to the White House and reminds him that after the transfer of power comes the task of governing. He notes that even before it has started, the Obama team has already learned that it is easier to campaign than to govern, as the team dealt with issues on the economic stimulus package, Medicaid and job creation. He tells the Obama team to enjoy the celebrations on inauguration day and attests that this will not last long.

The author defends the role of U.S. President George W. Bush in the housing crisis. He asserts that in April 2001, the president warned that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were too large and over financed and wanted to limit systemic risks by raising the fund requirements of government-sponsored enterprises (GSE). He states that GSEs rejected the reforms for fear of competition. The author believes that the housing crisis demonstrates what happens when governments give special privileges to private companies that do not have sound business practices.

The author reflects on the attitude of U.S. President George W. Bush of being focused on goals and not on victory. He emphasizes that Bush maintains a good-natured competition to help him focused and sustain high level of energy. The author also argues the rumors that Bush would rather burn a book than read one. He notes that Bush loves reading books, learns from them and is intellectually engaged by them.

The author considers the team being organized by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama. While Obama has allegedly received praises for his team, the author claims that Obama has yet to understand the challenges of organizing and operating the presidency. He cites potential problems such as appointments of James Jones in national security, Carol Browner in energy and climate change and Tom Daschle in health and human services. He believes that some of the steps that Obama has taken may make smooth operations more difficult.

The author discusses the local victories of some Republican Party candidates in the November 2008 elections in the U.S. The author says that this has liven up the mood of the Republicans but he advises that they should emulate the work done by the Democratic Corps of James Carville and Stan Greenberg. The author also recommends training candidates and party leaders on concentration on ideas and the campaign to register unregistered Republicans.

The author reflects on the amount of money spent by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and Senator John McCain during the 2008 presidential elections. He states the document submitted to the Federal Election Commission will reflect the appropriation. He explains McCain spent $550 million while Obama expended $827 million in the general elections. According to Nielsen, Obama focused on television. He concludes the campaign finance system should be abolished and replaced by a transparent procedure that would reflect the donations made to the politicians.

The author gives opinion on the economic transition team of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama in 2008. He cites respected individuals appointed by the president to the team, including National Economic Council director-designee Larry Summers. He notes that the president has only offered unspecified subsidies for green jobs and infrastructure spending. He states that according to Obama, giving consumers tax cut of up to $500 will stimulate consumption.

The author reflects on the challenges U.S. President-elect Barack Obama faces amid presidential transitions. He narrates the decisions made by Obama include appointing Rahm Emmanuel as chief of staff, considering U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton for the position of U.S. Secretary of State and using the email list to lobby his policies. He explains the problem Obama has to address is the promised legislation on taxation, education and the environment. He highlights the first priority of the president is providing a stimulus package.

The author reflects on the 2008 election results in the U.S. He said that the predicted surge of voter turnout did not happen and a substantial victory was won by a slim improvement in the Democratic share of the vote. He noted that there were less Republican voters in 2008 compared to 2004 and that the victory of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama was more personal than partisan. He predicted that history will favor the Republican in 2010 but the comeback of the Republicans requires skills at opposing Obama in some issues and creating forceful agenda.

The author discusses the factors that helped Barack Obama win the U.S. presidential election. He says Obama won due to fortunate factors which include Obama being a charismatic leader. The thoughtful positioning of Obama's themes of bipartisanship and readiness to handle pressing challenges delivered with hope and optimism also helped, according to the author. Planning and execution done by the Obama campaign particularly by David Plouffe, campaign manager and strategist David Axelrod allegedly contributed to the victory.

The author points out that people should not let the polls affect their vote in the November 2008 presidential election in the U.S. He says that the results of the polls in the 2000 and 2004 elections were wrong. He states that the margins of all the polls which show presidential candidate Barack Obama ahead of his rival, John McCain, vary widely.

The author discusses the merits of Senator John McCain and endorses his candidacy for the U.S. presidency. He says that campaign statistics do not move in a straight line and that the polls could still turn in Sen. McCain's favor. It is said that the main issue carried by the presidential candidates is still about the advocacy on tax and tax credits in which the author says Sen. McCain's plan is preferred by voters. The author suggests that Sen. McCain should warn voters on Sen. Barack Obama's new friends including Bill Ayers and Tony Rezko.

The article presents the author's views on the strategies presidential candidates U.S. Senators Barack Obama and John McCain their election campaign. He observes that Obama is using his funds to keep McCain from gaining ground, is doing all he can to look presidential, and is making the case that his lack of experience or record should not disqualify him from the presidency.

The author reflects on the U.S. presidential debate between U.S. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. He cites both the positive and negative aspects of the confrontation including their opinion on the financial crises, position on taxation and health-care plans. He concludes there are no killer blows as each is faced with various challenges in the remaining days prior the elections. Mr. McCain has to convince voters that he reflects responsible change while Mr. Obama must prove he can be a president inspite of his lack of qualifications.

The author reflects on the suggestion that U.S. tax cuts have lost their political power. He cites one reason behind the alleged decline of tax cuts as a potent issue, claiming that tax cuts have taken 13 million filers off of the income tax rolls since 2000. He comments on the stand of presidential candidates Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama on the issue of tax cuts. He argues that the tax issue has lost its political punch for some commentators, but not among voters.

The article offers tips for U.S. presidential candidates Democratic Senator Barack Obama and Republican Senator John McCain regarding their first presidential debate. It says that the two should know what they want to achieve, answer voters questions and must avoid hyper-repetition. It adds that the two should spend time addressing problems and that one should attack the other sparingly and then by inference and obliquely.

The author asserts the need for 2008 U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama to sell himself and not attack his opponent, Republican Senator John McCain. He notes the trends in election polls that favor McCain over Obama, such as a large percentage of Americans considering Obama unqualified for the presidency and a tightening in party identification. He argues that it is a mistake for Obama to spend a lot of time attacking McCain, like when he mocked McCain's inability to use a keyboard and when he called McCain dishonorable.

The author claims that the fact that U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is worried about Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is an advantage for the Republican party. He said that Obama should remember that he is running against Senator John McCain and not Palin for president. He thinks that Palin is a political phenomenon who can change the outcome of the elections and if Obama does not stop attacking her, the possibility that she will become Vice President increases.

The author reviews the political impact that the choice of a U.S. vice presidential candidate can make to presidential candidates. The author quoted a political science professor with his statement that running mates usually do not matter, but states that the 2008 election may be an unusual election. John McCain chose Governor Sarah Palin because he thinks she shares his outsider attitude and willingness to challenge party orthodoxy. Senator Joseph Biden is seen by Barack Obama as someone that can ameliorate his weakness in foreign policy.

The article reports that the 2008 fall session of the U.S. Congress may affect the November elections. As reported, congress has not yet passed any of the appropriations bills needed to fund the new fiscal year and are not likely to pass them before going on recess. The goal is for both houses to delay passing a budget until the next president is inaugurated. This would involve political problems for the Democrats which the author said may be an advantage for Senator John McCain, who can use the 110th congress as an excellent target.

The author comments on what politicians Barack Obama and John McCain of the U.S. must achieve at their conventions. According to the author, McCain's handlers must achieve a greater public awareness of the character that makes him worthy of the Oval office and that McCain must show voters he remains a maverick who will, as president, work across party lines as he has as senator. The author says that neither candidate will be well served by making their principal focus the demonization of the opposition.

The author offers suggestion on what Republican U.S. presidential candidate John McCain should do next as old doubts about Democratic rival Barack Obama remains and Obama faces new doubts over perceptions that he is arrogant, self-centered and calculating. He asserts that McCain should continue raising questions about Obama's capacity to be president. He notes that McCain needs to find ways to describe an Obama who is running on empty rhetoric. He adds that McCain must make a compelling case for electing him in order to win.

The author focuses on radio host Rush Limbaugh whose greatest accomplishment, according to the author, was to completely remake U.S. politics by offering an alternative to the three major networks, CNN, the New York Times and the Washington Post. He cites that Limbaugh is an original thinker and an edacious consumer of information who draws on unchanging principle to apply those facts to the world he perceives. He notes that newspaper and magazine profiles refer to Limbaugh as a phenomenon and his popularity with listeners is phenomenal.

The author discusses how each U.S. presidential candidate, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain resolves the Iraq problem. He focuses on Obama's Iraq policy and sees his opposition to the surge as a problem because it undermines his argument that he has better judgement on national security. He also cites Obama's cancellation of a visit to U.S. soldiers wounded in Iraq as adding to his growing reputation for arrogance. The author said that his biggest mistake was missing the opportunity to show he can admit a mistake about the success of the surge.

The author comments on U.S. presidential candidates Senators John McCain and Barack Obama's shifts in positions on various issues. He observes that McCain has changed his position on drilling for oil and tax cuts but always admits and explains the reason for his change in position. Obama on the other hand has shifted on public financing, free trade and welfare reform but has never admitted these changes to voters. He believes that McCain has a record of being a brave leader while Obama may be seen as a cynical politician instead of an inspiring leader.

The author suggests that there is an opportunity for U.S. presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain to increase their chances to win the 2008 election with the crisis facing mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He asserts that McCain and Obama need to think like future presidents instead of senators as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are at greater risk. He recommends reforms such as immediate measures to prevent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from collapsing, and long-term changes to protect taxpayers.