Do you think when Congress returns, there will be more right winged political grandstanding, repeated obstruction, or dilution of virtually every significant job creating proposal?

Breaking News: ”Obama sneezes and blames republicans for his failure of leadership”

The democrats keep trying to pretend that it is the fault of the Republicans in one half of one third of the power to make, pass, and stop laws, while anyone that is honest and has a minimum of a half of a functioning brain can clearly see that Obama is simply a complete failure as a president, and a horrible leader that is too radical to even get his own party behind him. One can’t even begin to make the argument that Republicans have blocked his success without first admitting that he hasn’t had much success. So, to begin down this road is to claim Obama has failed in having a successful presidency, but he should be reelected regardless because it is the result of Republican sabotage. The first part of this is fairly accurate, but the second half is full of errors.

Here are just a couple of the many examples.

1.      When Obama gained the presidency he also gained the immense advantage of having his Democratic Party gain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This situation allows for nearly any president to pass whatever legislation they desire, and Obama took advantage of this. He got everything that he wanted and deemed necessary. Bailouts were passed. Stimulus, and the slew of economic programs that came with it, was passed and enacted. Dodd-Frank was passed. The Affordable Care Act was passed. All while the Federal Reserve was experimenting with numerous attempts at economic recovery. Obama got everything he desired and believed necessary for recovery in his first two years in office. Republican opposition was irrelevant. But to say that they’ve fought him and his proposals strictly because they come from him rather than because they believe them to be flawed policies and many times repeat policies from his first two years is to make a great jump in conclusions and to try and blame the Republicans for something that can’t legitimately be blamed on them. Also, to say that these proposals, often times including more stimulus that failed to bring about recovery in the first half of his presidency, will now work if only the Republicans would pass them is highly questionable.

 

2.      The Democrats run the Senate and it was the Democrats in the Senate who voted unanimously against Obama’s own budget. Obama is such a poor leader and so radical, that he could not even get one Democrat in the Democrat controlled Senate to vote for his budget. His entire budget has been voted down by darned near every Democrat. Obama was still blaming the Republicans. For that matter, the GOP House is still the only entity in Washington that has even passed a 2012 budget, which the Senate killed. Meanwhile, it’s been more than 1,000 days since the Harry Reid-led Democratic Senate passed any budget, and Reid has publicly stated he has no intention to do so anytime soon. Should we be surprised that the Republicans are actually working while democrats are simply blaming others and making excuses not to work. It seems to be what their entire party and platform is all about, isn’t it?

 

3.      The Democrats up for reelection in 2010 and the democrats up for reelection in 2012 are almost unanimously running against Obama this election. Even his own party does not support Obama his policies are so radical. Clair McCaskill, one of Obamas earliest supporters is running adds primarily on how she is not afraid to oppose Obama on his “job killing regulations, the keystone pipeline, and on cap and trade”. Democrats all across the country are all doing the same.
4.      The Senate democrats even voted to block Obama’s tax plan, which Both Obama himself, and Bill Clinton, boths said was a bad idea just months earlier. Of course Clinton reiterated how bad of an idea Obama’s tax plan was yet again after the bill failed. “It’s mind-boggling to me, Senate democratic leadership turned down an opportunity to vote on President Obama’s tax increase bill,” Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah said, “it tells us that the president’s tax increase plan is not just an economic disaster, it’s a political loser. And they know it. It tells us in spite of the big talking from the president’s Chicago reelection campaign about evil Republicans who want to extend all of the 2001 and 2003 tax relief, vulnerable members of the Senate’s Democratic conference do not want to be anywhere near the president’s tax increase alternative.”
 

5.      The GOP Controlled house has passed more than 30 jobs bills, many with with strong bipartisean support in the house. The one was so popular that it passed by a 390-23 vote. For getting 148 votes from the opposing party, that sure doesn’t sound like “extremist” legislation to me. Not even all Democrats, moderate Republicans, and Independents could support President Barack Obama’s jobs bill. Senator Harry Reid would not even introduce it to the floor of the Senate because it would embarrass the Democrats when they vote against it around election time, and the president to veto it, who is busy blaming Republicans. Harry Reid and the democrats will not even bring the bills to the floor fordebate. If the Democrats have substance and such a compelling argument, then why are they even afraid to debate them?  You have to ask yourself why that is exactly.

 

6.      The Democrat controlled Senate blocked Obama’s horrible “Anti-Outsourceing Bill” because it was a job killer designed around more government regulation and control and would do nothing real to encourage companies to keep jobs in the country. If anything, it would make the problem worse.       


7.      When Bush was president, and Obama was a senator, Barack Obama was one of those obstructionist Democrats.  On the debt ceiling, Obama took a hard-core position and not only voted against it, but demonized Bush as a failed leader for needing one.  And this is the same cynical lying weasel who has since demanded the three largest debt ceiling increases in the history of the entire human race. Not to mention that Bush had a record low unemployment of 4.4%, what economists thought was impossible, and criticized Bush for 52 months of consecutive job growth, when Bush inherited a recession as well, when the democrats had solid control over both the house and the senate for almost two years when the economy crashed. Not to mention that the democrats were the ones that forced down underwriting standards for decades actually causing the housing bubble and financial crash. The unemployment rate was 4.4% when the Democrat Party swept the Congress with Nancy Pelosi ruling over the House and Harry Reid running the Senate.  What about Democrat Party obstructionism?  Regarding bipartisan compromise, Nancy Pelosi, had this to say when she was asked when the Democrats would produce their own plan while demonizing Bush’s plan: “Never. Is that soon enough for you?”  For the official record, Pelosi was right: Democrats never DID produce any kind of plan while successfully filibustering Bush.  The Democrats governed entirely by demagoguing Bush over everything under the sun and blocking him in everything he tried to do.

 

As Obama looks around to blame others, the finger should really be pointing right at him. The buck stops with you and your radical policies Mr. president.

 
The following are headlines that have appeared in various publications since Obama ran for President in 2008.

Obama Blames Arab Spring and Japan’s Earthquake on Struggling Economy and Job Situation (Aug. 5, 2011).
Obama Blames Messy Democracy for His Failed Policies (Aug. 3, 2011).
Obama Blames Congress for US Debt Mess (June 29, 2011).
Obama Blames Republicans for Slow Pace on Immigration Reform (July 25, 2011).
Obama Blames Media for Lack of Compromise in Washington (July 22, 2011).
Obama Blames Technology for Struggling Economy (June 14, 2011).
Obama Blames Oil Spectators for High Oil Prices (April 19, 2011).
Obama Blames Reagan for America’s Out of Control Debt and Spending (April 13, 2011).
Obama Blames Bush and Congress for Lack of Fiscal Discipline (April 13, 2011).
Obama Blames Bush-Congress for Putting Off Tough Decisions (Aug. 17, 2010).
Obama Blames Bush for Tax Cuts, Deficits (June 30, 2010).
Obama Blames Bush for Deficits (June 8, 2010).
Obama Blames GOP for Events that Led to Gulf Oil Spill (June 3, 2010).
Obama Blames Republicans for America Not Being Able to Solve Problems (June 3, 2010).
Obama Blames Corporations for Everybody’s Problems (June 3, 2010).
Obama Blames Bush for Overall Standing of American Economy (April 19, 2010).
Obama Blames Bush, Congress for Deficits (Feb. 1, 2010).
Obama Blames Bush for Regulatory Policies (Jan. 17, 2010).
Obama Blames Bush for Overall Standing of Economy and American Standing (April 19, 2010).
Obama Blames Bush and Congress for Deficits (Feb. 1, 2010).
Obama Blames Bush for Regulatory Policies (Jan. 17, 2010).
Obama Blames Wall Street Fat Cats for Economic Disaster (Dec. 13, 2009).
Obama Blames Bush for Overall Economy (Sept. 27, 2009).
Obama Blames Bush for Stifling Unions (Sept. 7, 2009).
Obama Blames Bush for Prescription Drug Bill (Aug. 11, 2009).
Obama Blames Bush for Jobs (July 22, 2009).
Obama Blames Bush for Failure to Recognize Europe’s Leading Role in the World (April 3, 2009).
Obama Blames Bush for Deficits (Feb. 23, 2009).
Candidate Obama Blames Fox News for his Elitist Label (October 2008).
Candidate Obama Blames Fox News for Likely Loss in Kentucky Primary (May 2008).
Candidate Obama Blames Washington for High Gas Prices (April 25, 2008).
Here is a quote from Obama” I welcome the job. I want the responsibility. Give it to me,” the president says.
A bit later, Obama adds, “My job is to solve problems, not to stand on the sidelines and carp and gripe. So I welcome the job. I want the responsibility.”

To blame Republicans for Obama’s lack of success is to admit he has had a gross lack of success. It also ignores that Obama received every piece of legislation he desired during the beginning of his presidency, and still suffered minimal economic recovery. Don’t mistake me, there are countless things the Republicans can and should be criticized for, one of them even being that they do often times criticize Obama in unjust fashion, but, being blamed for Obama’s lack of success is not one of them.

So without further ado, let me debunk this claim made by the disingenuous Speaker of the House.

To make sure they back up their public claims with what might appear to be "fact", they've built a page on the House of Representatives site with a list of their so-called jobs bills, which number 27 and not 30 as the Speaker claims. What follows is a list and a brief explanation of why they are not jobs bills. Feel free to share it widely with your friends who might be inclined to believe Mr. Tobacco Lobbyist Check Distributor without questioning it.

HR 3630 - The Middle Class Tax Relief & Job Creation Act of 2011 - This bill does indeed extend the "docfix" and unemployment insurance for a year, but with a hefty price.

In addition to freezing federal workers' pay for three years, it requires issuance of a permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline in advance of the proposed routing by Nebraska, suspends the newly-issued mercury regulations and extends 100% expensing of business equipment (including private jets). Another so-called "jobs bill", HR 1938, was passed giving a November 1, 2011 deadline for the Keystone pipeline.
With regard to unemployment insurance benefits, it cuts the 99-week maximum down to a 59-week maximum by mid-2012, allow states to drug-test UI recipients, and allow states to reduce state unemployment benefits and substitute federal funds. It also cuts funding for key provisions of the Affordable Care Act coming online, and adds the requirement to welfare payments that EBT cards cannot work in strip clubs, liquor stores and casinos.
Provisions were included to auction more broadband spectrum and reclassify the 700mhz D Block as public safety broadband use only, which would be a huge payoff to Verizon Wireless lobbyists, who won that block with requirements that it remain open, after Google challenged the auction process.
It would force Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to pay increased guarantee fees similar in scope to those due from large banks as a part of the Dodd-Frank Act, means-tests unemployment insurance benefits and food stamp programs and increases Federal employees' contributions to their retirement system by 1.5% while freezing pay, so their pensions take a double-whammy.
Finally, it repeals the new timing rules for estimated corporate tax payments for companies with assets of $1 billion or more so that they can use payments of estimated taxes as a timing tool for fourth quarter profit declarations.
None of the provisions outlined above create jobs. They called it a jobs act, but it was really just an act.

HR 1633 - Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011

This bill prevents the EPA from issuing or finalizing regulations revising air quality standards under the Clean Air Act, and excepts farm dust from all references to "particulate matter."

No jobs there, but if anyone has ever suffered from Valley Fever, they might object to exempting dust, particularly farm dust, from the definition of particulate matter.

HR 10 - Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2011

Guts the regulation process by mandating that every regulation promulgated by approved by Congress after an onerous submission process, while exempting any Congressional finding from judicial review. Call this one the Carte Blanche For Congress To Kill All Regulatory Authority Bill.

What it is not: A jobs bill.

HR 3010 - Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011

HR 3010 is a modified, somewhat less onerous version of HR 10, setting guidelines for whether any regulations are warranted at all even if called for under a statute. Calling an anti-regulatory statute a jobs bill is a little like calling a half-built bridge infrastructure. So again, not a jobs bill.

HR 527 - Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011

Ostensibly, HR 527 would reduce regulatory requirements on small businesses by forcing an impact study with specific focus on small business before regulation is adopted. It would limit EPA, OSHA and CFPB regulations while presumably protecting "small" closely-held Subchapter S corporations like Koch Industries. Not a jobs bill.

HR 3012 - Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011

HR 3012 would expand job immigration beyond current limits by eliminating employment-based immigrant visa caps and raising the percentage of total visas granted to 15% from 7%. For this one, I'll say it IS a jobs bill, but not a jobs bill for American workers. It is the "Elite Immigration Jobs Bill of 2011".

HR 3094 - Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act

HR 3094 redefines collective bargaining units and makes significant changes to election procedures, including one intended to intimidate employees: an employer-supplied list of eligible voters with contact information provided by the employee.

Not a jobs bill. A union-buster bill.

HR 2930 - Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act

HR 2930 exempts startups raising less than $1 million in venture capital from small investors from SEC registraiton and oversight.

Not a jobs bill. An anti-regulatory bill.

HR 2940 - Access to Capital for Job Creators Act

HR 2940 repeals prohibitions on solicitation or advertising of a securities offering. It's a companion to HR 2930, and is intended to allow people with no relationship to a startup company to invest in it without any oversight by the SEC. Let's call this and its evil twins HR 2930 and HR 1965 the "Ponzi Scheme Coverup Acts of 2011"

HR 1965 - Securities Laws Amendment

HR 1965 changes the shareholder threshhold for SEC registration from 500 to 2000 shareholders. It's not a jobs bill. It's a "hide from the SEC" bill. Its companion, HR 1970, would exempt SEC registration of public offerings under $50 million rather than the current $5 million threshold.

Many More EPA Acts

So many they don't deserve to be broken down individually. HR 2273 removes coal ash regulation from the EPA and hands it to the states. HR 2681 would put a legislative stay on cement manufacturing emission standards. HR 2250 would put a legislative stay on EPA boiler MACT rules. HR 2401 would require analysis of all EPA regulations relating to air, waste, water and climate change. HR 2018 would restrict EPA from issuing any revisions to existing water standards or issuing a new standard for a pollutant if the state has already adopted one or there is an existing standard in place. In other words, ignore any new scientific research after an initial standard has been set. HR 2021 amends the Clean Air Act to open oil and gas exploration off the Alaska coast. HR 910 strips the EPA of authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, a direct assault on efforts to limit man-made contributions to climate change. HR 872 expands the use of pesticides, fungicides and rodent without EPA approval.

Many More Oil and Gas Drilling Acts

There is HR 1231, which would require the Administration to allow offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration in order to meet set domestic production goals, effectively forcing the moratorium on offshore drilling to be lifted to meet goals. HR 1229 requires the Energy Secretary to consider any offshore drilling permits within 30 days of receiving it and provide application denials in writing within 60 days of the application. Another "forced moratorium lift" bill. HR 1230 forces sales of oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico and Outer Continental Shelf of Virginia. It also lifts requirements for environmental impact statements and grandfathers in a 2007 document as authority for environmental impact.

Special Interest Legislation, or Pandering to Corporate Interests

HR 1904 proposes an exchange of land so that Resolution Copper, LLC can mine copper on what is now part of the Tonto National Forest.
HJ Res 37 is a resolution of disapproval on net neutrality.
HR 2587 prohibits the NLRB from restricting where an employer can locate. This is in response to the NLRB's objection to the Boeing plant relocation to South Carolina, a right-to-work state.
These would fall under the anti-labor, anti-environment categories, but not particularly effective job creators. In fact, in Boeing's case, the jobs lost would hurt the economy more than jobs created in a right-to-work state where employers are not obligated to adhere to industry standards on contracts, safety or other issues.