Category Archives: Economy

Beware the ides of March, sequestration is here

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  After months of grandstanding and posturing, the dreaded sequestration has arrived today with all the fanfare of a Suzanne Somers book signing. For those who may not be specifically familiar with what the sequestration is, we have to rewind the calendar back to the summer of 2011.  All of the focus was on the debt ceiling and whether or not we would approve raising the debt ceiling, which essentially would allow the nation to continue to pay its bills.  Tea Party Republicans had prepared for this battle after they took control of the House of Representatives in the midterm … Read More

Fiscal Cliff results show posturing still more important than policy

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  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I was sure relieved to start the new year knowing we hadn’t fallen off of the “Fiscal Cliff”.  For months we heard about what a complete catastrophe it would be if all of the various expiring benefits truly ended, how it would send us into yet another recession. But our elected officials, who spent most of the time leading up to the final vote preening in front of any camera that they could find, in a typical last minute rally, saved us from going over that cliff.  Both sides were … Read More

Secession applications reveal bitterness and ignorance

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Be careful what you wish for. This is a message that should be clearly given to residents in 40 states who have filed petitions on the White House website to secede from the union and form their own government. The White House website has a page entitled We the People that allows citizens to create or sign on to petitions that cover a vast array of items.  Once a petition garners 25,000 votes, it can be reviewed for consideration. The petition filings comes in the wake of President Barack Obama defeating GOP nominee Mitt Romney in last week’s Presidential election … Read More

Fiscal Cliff to reveal GOP commitment to leadership

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Now that the election is over and both sides have had a chance to exhale, it’s time to turn our focus once again to the actual business of governing, a minor detail that occurs briefly between campaign cycles these days. First and most urgently in line for is the so called “Fiscal Cliff”. For those who don’t spend hours watching cable news networks, let’s start by explaining what this cliff is. You might recall back in the summer of 2011, all of the talk was on the debt crisis.  This was the last point at which we had reached the … Read More

Third presidential debate highlights foreign policy

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President Barack Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney held the third and final presidential debate Monday night at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.  It was based primarily on foreign policy, but there were plenty of opportunities for each candidate to discuss domestic issues, as we all know those are the most important in this election. Bob Schieffer of CBS News moderated the debate, and did a nice job of maintaining consistency and flow, while allowing the candidates some room to answer questions outside the parameters of the segment.  In the end, President Obama did speak for about 35 more … Read More

Candidates address Libya, gender, immigration in second half of debate

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As we neared the end of the first half of Tuesday’s town hall debate at Hofstra University, a few things were clear. Candy Crowley of CNN was an effective moderator, President Barack Obama was not on the sidelines for this debate, as he was for pretty much the entire night on October 3rd, and Gop candidate Mitt Romney was going to stick to his plan, and his story. The second half of the debate stated with a young lady asking what the candidates would do to further gender equality, since women still make only $.72 for every dollar a man makes at … Read More

Town hall debate breathes new life into battle for presidency

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On October 3rd, President Obama and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney held the first presidential debate of the 2012 campaign. It was by most accounts a one sided affair, with the President seemingly taking the night off.  The caliber of content was also weak, with the entire process focusing on talking points and campaign slogan material. Tuesday night’s town hall debate at Hofstra University was neither one sided or weak in content, and for those who watched, they are better informed because of it. Candy Crowley of CNN moderated and gave both candidates the space needed to have spirited exchanges, … Read More

VP debate highlights differences in candidates

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  Last night at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, Vice President Joe Biden and GOP running mate Paul Ryan debated across numerous issues facing the nation and the world at large. The debate was a stark contrast to the Presidential Debate held last week in just about every area. Moderator Martha Raddatz of ABC News set a much more controlled tone, and maintained order through most of the debate, while allowing the candidates enough room to have some good exchanges. The past was fast, and lots of areas were covered, from the tragedy in Libya which resulted in the murder of … Read More

Vice Presidential debate full of uncertainty

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  Vice President Joe Biden and GOP Vice Presidential Nominee Paul Ryan will debate tonight at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.  After last week’s unexpected and somewhat baffling Presidential Debate, this debate tonight takes on a much more significant role than most expected. And trying to predict how it will go is anyone’s guess. Martha Raddatz of ABC News will moderate the debate tonight, and will also be a focus, after most people criticized Jim Lehrer of PBS for what was perceived as a complete lack of control of the first debate. After President Obama’s uncharacteristically meek performance last week, it is … Read More

Candidates debate regulation, energy and education

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In my last article, I covered last night’s Presidential Debate held in Colorado.  The theme was the economy/domestic issues, but the debate centered around tax policy, job creation and healthcare for the most part. GOP candidate Mitt Romney controlled the tone and the pace of the debate, sounding clearer and more concise in his attacks on the policies of President Obama, while not getting specific about how he would go about righting the ship, so to say. Three of the topics not covered in the last article were energy, education and regulation. When the candidates were asked how they would … Read More