Driving home the other evening I had a chance to listen closely to President Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention. You have already made up your mind on how it went, but I did have some thoughts on what was said.
The speech and his strategy are built on the word "Hope." As a former sales executive and now owner of a business which employs sales people the word hope is a red flag for me. Over the years I have hired many sales people and have developed an ear for what people say. The most successful people have a plan.
They plan to call so many people a day. They plan to set so many appointments each week. Their plan tells them that success will come from purposeful steps which lead to appointments with people who may need our services. This is the mindset of a person who not only sells more than the average person, but they achieve more than the average person.
I have also hired people who were well spoken, presented themselves very well and had the look of a successful person. However, after a short time it would be apparent they were not keeping up with the other people in the office. When I talked with them they always used the word hope. “I hope to do this next week, I hope to have this many appointments, I hope to make this much money.” But when pressed they have vague, if any, plans for actually achieving their goals.
Listening to President Obama it suddenly hit me as to why he is the most
unsuccessful President since Jimmy Carter. President Obama looks good, speaks well and hopes to achieve great things. When dealing with a sales person who depends on hope, I help them find a new career. You see, they will be disappointed each day and their frustrations will bleed over to the other people. One person relying on hope can ruin an entire team. So it is with President Obama, the only course of action is to help him find another career.
In his speech President Obama spoke of his grandfather who fought with General Patton in WWII. It was a poor choice for an example. I spent my early years working for that generation of people. They achieved great things because they were independent, tough-minded, goal-oriented doers. The majority of these people would have looked at President Obama’s agenda and shook their heads in
disgust. The WWII generation was not in favor of welfare, they did not want the government telling them what to do, and they actually believed the government worked for them and not the other way around. President Obama should stay away from the comparison because his plans are far different than the 1950’s
American dream.
Finally, he called on the remembrances of President FDR. This is where he should be most comfortable. FDR, Jimmy Carter and Barrack Obama will go down in history as the worst, most intrusive, least effective Presidents in our history. They will also be remembered as the Presidents who were the most effective in damaging the Constitution. They will also be remembered as causing the
most damage to our economy during their tenure.
The majority of Americans now realize Barack Obama was a mistake for the country. The majority now realize we must go in a different direction. I believe the American people will save this country by replacing Barack and hiring Mitt
Romney. This in itself will not save the country. The Democratic Party is right
when they say the Republicans have been part of the problem. The Republican Party must move away from many of the things they have done over the past 20 years.
This country needs conservative values, less government intrusion into our lives and less interference in other countries.
Our vision is not the vision of the rest of the world. It is time to stop killing young Americans by injecting our beliefs into foreign governments.
Our friends are our friends and those who are not friends should understand our policy will be reflected in that relationship.
We need to understand government has defined powers as outlined in the Constitution. Any government intrusion into any area not outlined in the Constitution should be immediately stopped by the Congress and the Courts. We must stop electing people because they have been around a long time, we need to understand what they accomplished and hold them accountable. It is our money that pays these people and we should demand excellence.
We should demand that news organizations report the news in a concise, nonpolitical manner. When we see bias in reporting, we need to band together and stop using that source. The news should be reporting on what elected officials accomplish even if they disagree with the politician's agenda. We gave news organizations special privileges, but they are required to operate in a non-bias, non-political and non-directive manner. If they fail to accomplish these goals, the protections need to be removed. We, the American people own the airwaves and the press operates at our pleasure. We can remove the privilege at our discretion.
We have tried a form of soft socialism for four years and lived the mess it made. In August four people gave up and dropped out of the job market for every person who found a job. This is not our way.
Unemployment hits the minority groups the hardest. Did we fight the battle for equal rights to then form another way of excluding minorities by making sure they don’t have jobs to achieve the American Dream? It is simple, we made a mistake. We Americans know how to correct our errors.
We will move forward, but let’s be more careful of the powers we give politicians and the government.
Maybe I am confused in including you. I guess I am te'd off by being called a liar by Dan. Do I need a special device to download the form? I am not that computer savy.
Let's be clear, I have called you a liar. You know you are. Presenting yourself as a black person so you could "make your point". If you can't make your point without lying - you don't HAVE a point. As for uploading the image. You need to either scan it to your computer and save as a JPG file or if you don't have a scanner then you can take a picture with your smart phone. Email yourself the picture and save it on your computer. If you can't do either of those then you could take the document to FedEx Office and ask them to scan it for you to upload to your computer.
Good description of Willard Romney - in my opinion. "This country needs conservative values, less government intrusion into our lives and less interference in other countries." First sentence: Why are conservative values better? Second: Good, as long as that applies to my health care choices. Third sentence: You should have mentioned this to Bush/Cheney.
"This country needs conservative values, less government intrusion into our lives and less interference in other countries." First Part: Why are conservative values better? Second part: Good, as long as that applies to my health care choices. Third part: You should have mentioned this to Bush/Cheney.
The word is embellish!!! Not lie. You like to play with words so you know what that means, right? I related on the next days comments what I was trying to accomplish. How a black man views his circumstances. I have no scanner or iphone and to go to Fed Ex is not worth it. I will wait for Dan and his $1,000 bet. Thanks for the procedure though. I did learn something.
You are not black, that is a fact. You claimed that you were, that is a fact. You then revealed that you are not black but made a false statement that you were to make a point, that is a fact. The fact is YOU are a LIAR.
You mentioned that you went to school at night and worked days. Since many companies have tuition reimbursement programs, is is safe to say that your employer helped pay your way through college? You also mentioned that you work for the federal, state and local governments. Did any of these employers help pay your way through college? "I got mine, the rest of you are on your own" - Elizabeth Warren.
Why are conservative values better: A conservative accepts responsbility for their circumstances. Yes, they can accept help, but first they try to take care of themselves. Conservative values built a country where people are allowed to dissent and are allowed to challenge the very system that made them members of the safest, wealthiest society in history. Not sure of the point on your second part: sorry, maybe you could help me understand. Bush/Cheney: I could write a book on the good and bad points of the Bush Administration. Most people talk about the bubble. If you go back you will see the Bush Administration called on Congress several times to step in and stop the abuses from the Community Reinvestment Act. This Jimmy Carter era law required banks to avoid red lining by loaning to low income areas. But it developed into a program allowing people with no chance to pay back a home loan to purchase a home. I watched on television as Chuck Schumer, Maxine Waters and Barney Frank defended the program and encouraged it to expand. Those three people, in my opinion, caused the bubble which burst after they assured the Bush Administration there was no danger. Look it up, there is a tape of Barney Frank saying there is absolutely no danger from this act. There is blame enough for all, but it was not Bush that caused this disaster. We need leadership that understands economics.
America lost millions of jobs because of a massive housing crash and market correction. Overborrowing to fight two massive wars with foreign deployment and occupation over 6 years didn't help matters. You can argue that Obama hasn't fixed everything in 4 years of his term. You also argue that he made matters worse by implementing TARP, commencing a huge medical care program, implementing foreclosure prevention programs (taxpayer funded, failed, prolonged the crisis) and passing two failed economic stimulus programs (increasing the deficit to record levels). What I don't get is how people are so convinced that under identical circumstances McCain/Palin would have been dramatically better? Here's what I think would have happened: Subtract ObamaCare. Add US troop surges and intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan. Add more defense spending. Add same TARP bailout implementation. Add 1 economic stimulus. Subtract foreclosure prevention programs. Result. Lower, but still record high national deficit. Massive jobs losses (no change). Higher levels of foreclosures and bankruptcies. An improved housing market, but only slightly better employment figures. In short, not much difference.
Ok, What taxes has Pres. Obama raised since he took office Jan 2009 to pay for all the additional spending? The National debt has increased from approx $10/11T to $16T in less than 4 years. Cash and carry? Hardly. Some fairly fact challenged statements here. How did TARP makes things worse? Most all of that money has been repaid (I'd be surprised if less than 95% has been repaid). Obama-Care (PPACA) hasn't really been "funded" yet, so that's not generating heavy unfunded expenses, yet. Weren't Pres. Bush's wars fought before Pres. Obama took office? How about a peace dividend? So why, other than the $1T Stimulus Plan wet dream, has the debt exploded in 3-1/2 years? Why is the economy dead in the water, even after QE, QE2 and Operation Twist? Why are more people going on SSDI than getting jobs?
When I mentioned "TARP" I meant the actual, whole bailout outlay of $604B (advertised as $700B) - $245B for defunct banks large and small, $186B for bankrupt Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, $80 billion for the Big 3 Auto Co's, $68B for AIG, $24B for Troubled Assets and Other. Of the $604B, $425B has been paid back, mainly by banks and the Big 3. Fannie, Freddy and AIG, however, are toast so "poof" goes $190B. There are 6 main causes to the record breaking deficits: 1. Continuation of the Bush Tax Cuts - $1.7 trillion Bush & GOP initiative. Obama carried it forward. 2. Increase in Health Care Entitlements (and an expanded gov't bureaucracy to support it) by $1.3 Trillion. Hurray for more old, sick people in the U.S. than ever before! Not Bush or Obama's fault. 3. Continuation of Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Bush idea. Obama carried it forward. Added $400 billion to the deficit. Bad part: No revenue plan ever proposed nor put in place to fund it. Hurray for cheap drugs! Hurray for no political cost!? 4. Iraq and Afghanistan Wars - $1.5 trillion 5. Obama's economic stimulus - $800 billion GOP & Obama 2010. More tax cuts. 6. The Great Recession - est. $500B+ Reduced business revenues, personal incomes, and consumer spending receipts lowered fed & state govt revenues. This was caused by the housing industry ponzi scheme and market crash.
I understand where you're coming from. And I voted for Obama in 2008. Except the U.S. govt doesn't have ANY control over rich people and their fortunes. Rich people are free to take their cash and capital and place it outside the US if they wish. They also have the means to move themselves and businesses to other countries to live and operate. Money poors into markets, businesses and created new jobs because of the search for profit and dividends. Creating jobs and dignity for American workers is a secondary interest, at best. Personally, I never think about Pepsi job losses every time I order a Diet Coke. And we shouldn't. I don't consider Romney a good choice either, but it's not because he divested from unprofitable businesses or invested outside the United States. This happens every day inside 401K's and union pension programs. Most investors want, and frankly expect, returns that are greater than the 4 to 6% US dollar inflation raging right now. Where should they get this? Few stocks on Wall Street even pay dividends anymore, and even if they do, that profit is taxed and the dividend is paid out in US dollars, which are worth less and less every day. US T-bills are paying 0% interest. Many savvy investors are looking to companies overseas with lower labor costs, lower corporate taxes and governments with more sound currencies and monetary policy, like Australia, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. What Romney did was pursue profits to maximum returns.
Lets look at the facts. Conservatives will vote for Romney. We will give him four years and if he fails, we will get a job he can handle, just like President Obama. The labor participation rate is the lowest since WW11. The high unemployment is affecting Blacks and Hispanics in an unfair manner. The U.S. Credit Rating was lowered for the first time in our history. Our Foreign Policy is a failure and we are losing the Mideast. President Obama has basically made it clear Israel is on its own. I know your mind cannot be changed. I also understand the need for liberals to attack when the facts are not with them. I understand the panic that we might get a President who allows people to reach their personal potential without the government. So I suggest the following: President Romney, lower taxes, more jobs, smaller government, better schools, less public union power, more small businesses and kids with the chance for a real future created by their own efforts.
Unfortunately for Romney and Obama, both are lying. Revenues will have to be increased back to pre-2004 levels by killing off the infamous Bush Tax Cuts. Next, BOTH sides have mentioned eliminating the MID (mortgage interest tax deduction). This will increase govt revenues, and delete a tax loophole enjoyed by millions of Americans for decades, but especially Californians). Meanwhile, military interventions will need to end pronto, military appropriations reduced dramatically, plus more cuts made to government departments and services (education, safety, child welfare programs are the first to go usually). Medicare/Medicaid is the big elephant in the room though, and neither candidate wants to commit pre-election suicide by telling the truth to the American people. The one thing I like about Romney is that he understands market forces. He is in favor of "speeding up" foreclosures, not preventing them. He understands that it's better for the country longer-term to "take it's medicine" now and allow markets to correct themselves. It's painful. There will be more unemployment. But America will be better positioned to grow in the future, versus failed govt market intervention programs. Don't believe me? We are now Japan, unfortunately.
Statements like "I also understand the need for liberals to attack when the facts are not with them." just undermines your effort. I think you're ignoring the fact that some of the people you call "liberals" are conservative on a great many issues and might actually agree with you. They may be liberal on social issues, but conservative on foreign policy, monetary & fiscal policy or on prayer in schools. This is the problem with American politicians. They still think they can win elections by relying on their base instead of creating greater consensus form all Americans, red or blue. It's a common political tactic to categorize voters into certain buckets, and to discard those voters who don't align. This doesn't inspire people and it certainly doesn't win elections man.
Elston HowardTuesday, September 11, 2012 "So this guy calls employees who work for him losers instead of working with them. Who is the real loser here?" Who said I didn't work with them or find them a more appropriate job? I did run for office, against an incumbent Republican. We need to move toward the Constitution. We tried Obama, it did not work. Next, we will try Romney and judge his results. If it doesn't work, it may be time for a third party using the Constitution as their guilding light. We are losing our economy, we need leadership not hope. We are losing our freedom we need a plan, not hope. The middle class is being hurt by this administration. Compromise does not mean agreeing with the Progressives, but this is many people's point of view. I reject it and reserve the right to campaign for an America that is economically strong where everybody has an equal chance. It may be impossible to be politically correct. Here is the truth, Obama is not the answer. Keeping quiet or submissive is not the answer. Voting for the America you want IS the answer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWJyI9OybWk&feature=related
Gee, don't they get that in the countries where they out source our jobs for pennies, pollute the third world land and rivers, and pay off the foreign government officials to do anything they want. Yeah, we need that type of government working hear.
Everything is made in China now. No jobs here mean no tax base. The days of flipping houses are over. That was a false economy. That means we need to burrow money to keep the same services. Do you live in a cave? Real wages have not gone up in years, yet the big corporations are sc*ewing us on the price of everything! A good example is the price of cars. I bought a nice new car in 2002 for 21,000. That same model today is selling for 48,000. Why? Natural resources have not gone up that much except for oil. The electronics/computers in cars are cheaper, labor is cheaper due to unions getting busted. The assembly of cars is even cheaper and faster due to better automation and robots. And yet the price of my car has more than doubled in 9 years? Why? Because the car companies want EVERYONE to lease now. They can make a zillion dollars more leasing cars for two years, than selling them for what a new car should go for! This game is going on everywhere. Companies that outsource and ship their junk back here to sell ARE NOT PASSING ON THE SAVINGS. Instead they are unjustly raising prices on products they are all ready making HUGE profit margins. And to make it worse, more people are retiring with huge entitlements. Cities are going bankrupt left and right since they can't pay for the increasing number of retired people and a smaller workforce tax base.