Ronald Reagan said, “America was a shining city up on a hill.” Back then, maybe. But no one can honestly say that now. We are on a slippery downhill slope. Perhaps sometime in the future America can recapture that moment. Only the wisdom of real leadership can make that a reality. And it doesn’t look like it will happen anytime soon.
From day one of Obama’s presidency, the Republican leadership in Congress has played partisan politics. Mitch McConnell stated it succinctly, “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” The rest of the Republicans follow like penguins in a march to the sea. Never once has the Republican leadership asked: How can we work together for the good of the people? With no plans of their own, they only attack, distort, and disrupt.
Not all Republicans are bad. Only those that engage in destructive politics. Unfortunately they are the ones that shatter the credibility of all with their spurious complaints, defunding of programs, and constant threats of censure and impeachment.
I am a citizen deeply concerned about the housing crisis brought on by the financial and banking industries. Once upon a time these industries were regulated and America succeeded. I want to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and eat food not contaminated. I want our country to address global warming, a reality substantiated by most scientists and evidenced by the change in weather patterns. I want an educated populous and the resolution of our immigration and employment problems. I believe in religious freedom, but don’t want a take-over of the government by religious zealots.
I could care less if our president wears an American flag in his lapel, chooses Grey Poupon mustard over regular mustard or radicchio over head lettuce. I don’t care that he flies on Air Force One to Hawaii or vacations in the Hamptons. Much ado about nothing.
Any thinking person knows Obama was born in the United States and we need not continue to go round and round about his birth certificate. Yes, his skin is dark. Get over it. It is his mind that counts. I don’t need your anonymous e-mails spewing hatred and bigotry.
Obama is not a socialist, communist, fascist, Muslim, nor does he run around with terrorists. These are specious arguments. He is the President of the United States of America and not the enemy. He deserves some credit. After all he ordered the killing of Osama Bin Laden, cleaned up the mess left us by the Bush administration, ended the war in Iraq, is ending the war in Afghanistan, and given millions more the ability to seek medical care.
Where are the minds of the Republican leadership? Boys, it is time to grow up. The House and Senate are not private fraternities. They are exalted halls of government and we expect you to lead. The silliness of your thoughts makes you ineffective and unworthy of the positions you hold.
It isn’t hard to figure out why wealthy men are willing to give the Republican Party barrels full of money. Do we really think that ALEC, representative of big corporations and oil interests, was created for the good and welfare of the United States? Do they really think we are that stupid?
Big money talks. Adelson and the Koch brothers have purchased the Republicans’ loyalty. We, The People are not rich. We can only vote once. But let me assure you, we are tired of the sophomoric pranks and false arguments. We are tired of the bullying. Americans and America need to move forward. As Reagan said: back to that shining city up on a hill.
This article appears in Jul 12-18, 2012.
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Hey Phyllis Wise Up…Why anyone in their right mind would defend a party over country is beyond me. How can you defend a party that promotes saving a Tree but killing innocent babies? This is the most Immoral President in my lifetime and you write this article defending his actions. You ought to be ashamed of yourself but you’d need the Heart of God in order to have the capacity to comprehend that.
My Prayer for you Phyllis is that the God of all creation will open your eyes wide open, so you can see clearly all the wrongs this Government has perpetrated on the American People.
Gods Speed,
Spike
I agree with Spike. This President is the worst in History. more than 5 trillion added to our debt, health care bill that 73% of the people DID NOT WANT, giving gays the right to marry, giving illegal immigrants amnesty. This will damage our country more than any President has ever done. No jobs, no better economy. If I was to grade him as a Senior in High School he would get a D-.
He doesn’t even believe in our Constitution, how can he believe in our Country? We still havbe to many sheep following the wrong course. And I can honestly say Republicans are not alot better but at least with Romney…………HE BLIEVES IN OUR CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!! And THAT speaks volumes.
Excellent effort Phyllis. Unfortunately as the above comments indicate ignorance still abounds and haters will continue to hate. They can’t help themselves but they WILL lose in the long run just as previous rigid conservative ideologues have lost. It will take time. Look how long it took to elect a US President who wasn’t rich and white, how long it took for women to get the right to vote and what a steep price this country paid to end slavery. The sad part is that it takes so long for losers to lose. But they will. Hang in there. I am.
Phyllis says “From day one of Obama’s presidency, the Republican leadership in Congress has played partisan politics.” I guess Phyllis forgot that the D’s controlled both houses of Congress for two full years with Obama in the Whole House. To suggest that it was just the R’s that were playing partisan politic is just plan ignorance.
Phyllis says “I am a citizen deeply concerned about the housing crisis brought on by the financial and banking industries.” May I suggest actually researching the causes of the housing crisis instead of just parroting liberal garbage? I’ll direct you to factcheck.org for a fairly unbiased analysis of the causes. Yeah, the bank played their part, but so did both parties, several Presidents, the federal reserve, and a ton of people who bought houses that never should have.
Phyllis says “Obama is not a socialist, communist, fascist, Muslim, nor does he run around with terrorists.” Obama may not be Muslin and I could care less if he was. He did run around with terrorists (or at least one) and that fact that he did and it doesn’t bother you is problematic. As for not being a socialist, communist or fascist, I suggest you learn what those words mean because by his actions and stated beliefs, he certainly holds those values above free market capitalism.
Phyllis says “After all he [Obama] ordered the killing of Osama Bin Laden…” Big deal: Obama did his job. Anyone who would have been occupying the White House when Osama was found (post 9/11) would have done the same.
Phyllis says “[Obama]… cleaned up the mess left us by the Bush administration…” Bush wasn’t the best President we have ever had but I reserve the classification of worse President to Carter with Obama catching up fast. As noted above, the responsibility for the housing crisis and our current economic fallout rests on many laps (including Bush), but to suggest that Bush alone is responsible for this mess is just more liberal garbage.
Phyllis says “Adelson and the Koch brothers have purchased the Republicans’ loyalty.” That may be true. But if you think that the D’s are not bought and paid for and in someone’s pocket, then you clearly have you head buried in the sand.
Phyllis says “We, The People are not rich. We can only vote once. But let me assure you, we are tired of the sophomoric pranks and false arguments.” I agree. Both parties SUCK.
It’s the same old tired and debunked arguments from the right and sophomoric “both political parties suck” blame game. I love (sarcasm) that by saying both parties “suck” somehow excuses the sad sack selection of current Republican politicians. What ever happened to Eisenhower Republicans? How did they get replaced by these rigid ideologues, ‘birthers”, Tea Baggers, and Creationists who refuse to cooperate or compromise for the good of the entire county?
“It’s the same old tired and debunked arguments from [fill in teh blank]. Notice the person with no name didn’t bother to refute any of my comments. Just the same old partisan name calling. And he/she calls R’s sophomoric.
It seems that killing thousands and thousands of Iraquis and others is perfectly moral but allowing a woman to make personal choices is immoral. And, Spiker, what body of men has chosen party over country? Who has chosen not to provide health care to its people, who has chosen not to pass legislation that they themselves promoted but once Obama came in, it was no longer appropriate? There are too many examples to give but we know what Mr. McConnell has said. And, please, do not invoke God’s name when you are spewing hatred.
Written by P. J.
You think Obama is the worst President in the world? If Romney gets in, you ain’t seen nothin yet! This is America and yet it’s almost the only country in the world that doesn’t have health care for it’s citizens. I don’t know where you get your 73% that don’t want health care. You’ve been listening to FOX, obviously, or maybe that wacko, Rush. Well, what the heck – if you want a president that loves to outsource American jobs, that doesn’t pay his fair share of taxes, that’s never known what it is to go hungry, that wavers from one opinion to another [depending on how the wind blows] – I guess that’s your choice. Too bad you’re not educated enough to see the truth.