Opinion at large
This is when the hard work starts. Will we have gridlock, or will we have a congress that somewhat works together. The conservatives will not back down on repealing or defunding Obamacare. Cap and Trade is dead. Immigration reform is dead. The Bush tax cuts desperately need to be extended for at least two years. John Boehner, speaker of the House elect will have his hands full attempting to bring together many different ideologies in the Republican side of the House. In closing, I would like to personally thank and congratulate the American people for putting a stop to Obama and his radical agenda.
"Don't tread on me"
President Obama press conference after Midterms:
Dick Morris on Midterms with Hannity:
Obama talking to Moveon.org, Nov. 3, 2010:
Obama appeals for "Common Ground" after Democrats lose House
President Obama, reflecting on his party's historic losses in Congress, appealed Wednesday for both sides of the aisle to find "common ground" while continuing to stand by the policies that were used to hammer his party's candidates in the midterm election.
The president walked a tightrope as he sought to explain the results of the election as well as chart a new legislative path in a congressional landscape far more hostile to his agenda. Though his policies were used against Democrats in races across the country, Obama described his decisions to date as "tough" but "right." Yet he also said he must take "direct responsibility" for the frustration over the economy and pledged to do more to reach "consensus" with Republicans.
"No party has a monopoly on wisdom," the president said, as he faced tough questions from the White House press corps. "I want to engage both Democrats and Republicans. ... I do believe there is hope for civility. I do believe there's hope for progress."
Asked to describe how Tuesday night's losses felt after such a hard-fought campaign, Obama answered bluntly: "It feels bad."
The news conference in Washington gave Obama his first opportunity to explain what his approach will be to a split Congress, with Republicans decisively in charge of the House and cutting deep into the Democrats' majority in the Senate.
10 Most Overpriced Products You Should Avoid Woman Sells Obama's 'Things Will Get Better' Letter to Pay for House: New York Post Pelosi’s Political Future Clouded by Historic Losses for Dems Mom in Spain Happy That Her 10-Year-Old Gave Birth Republicans Capture House in Historic Wave, Claim 'Mandate' to Shrink Government Pressed for specifics, Obama suggested he'd be open to joining Republicans in calling for a moratorium on earmarks and taking a second look at a controversial provision in the health care law that requires businesses to file 1099 tax forms for large purchases. He said, though, he wants to hear "affirmative" proposals from the GOP on how to fix the economy, claiming tax cuts alone will not do the trick.
Republican leaders, in a series of speeches since Tuesday night's victories, have called on Obama to move toward the center. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, calling the election a "referendum" on Obama's policies, pointedly said Wednesday that the Democrats can either "work with us" or face another "change" election in 2012.
House Republican Leader John Boehner, expected to succeed Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House, said his party must "follow the will of the American people."
"The American people spoke, and I think this is pretty clear that the Obama-Pelosi agenda is being rejected by the American people," he said. "They want the president to change course."
Obama on Wednesday directly attributed GOP gains to frustration over the economy, declining to sign on to claims that it was a referendum on his decisions.
"Some election nights are more fun than others. Some are exhilarating. Some are humbling," Obama said. "Yesterday's vote confirmed what I've heard from folks all across America. People are frustrated, they're deeply frustrated with the pace of our economic recovery."
Republicans are projected to pick up about 65 seats in the House of Representatives, surpassing the gains they made in the 1994 election. They will not take the majority in the Senate but so far have snatched six seats away from Democrats.
Post Election, Obama Sets Date for Bipartisan Talks at The White House
November 04, 2010 10:40 AM
Noting that the dust is still settling after Election Day, President Obama said that it is “critically important” over the coming months to create “a better working relationship” between the White House and Congressional leadership.
In the aftermath of Tuesday's election, which flipped control of the House of Representatives over to the Republicans, President Obama announced that he has invited John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi to the White House for bipartisan meetings in the first week of the lame duck session, on Thursday, November 18th.
“This is going to be a meeting in which I want us to talk substantively about how we can move the American people's agenda forward,” Obama said from the Cabinet Room of the White House this morning, “It's not just going to be a photo-op. Hopefully it may spill over into dinner.”
Mr. Obama said there is a whole range of work that needs to get done in a relatively short period of time and is looking forward to hearing from the leadership the agenda items they may be concerned about.
The president said the immediate focus during these meetings will be on what needs to get done during the lame duck session – and ticked though a few of those priorities – tax cuts, unemployment insurance, and business extenders.
On foreign policy, the president said that the he is “hopeful” that they can also get the START treaty ratified before the end of the year in order to “send a strong signal to Russia that we are serious about reducing nuclear arsenals, but also send a signal to the world that we're serious about nonproliferation.”
The president has also invited the newly elected Democratic and Republican governors to the White House on December 2nd.
The president had earlier met with his cabinet and key staff and told them that they have to take the message sent by voters “to heart,” and make a “sincere and consistent effort” to try to change how Washington operates.
“I think it's clear that the voters sent a message, which is they want us to focus on the economy and jobs, and moving this country forward,” he said with his Cabinet around him. “They're concerned about making sure that taxpayer money is not wasted. And they want a change of tone here in Washington, where the two parties are coming together and focusing on the people's business as opposed to scoring political points.”
The president said that the nation can’t afford two years of just squabbling.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. People are still catching their breath from the election. The dust is still settling. But the one thing I'm absolutely certain of is that the American people don't want us just standing still, and they don't want us engaged in gridlock. They want us to do the people's business, partly because they understand that the world is not standing still.”
No word from the White House if Slurpees will be served at this summit.
-Sunlen Miller -ABC News
Daft words of the day:
Quantitative Easing
What Does Quantitative Easing Mean?
A government monetary policy occasionally used to increase the money supply by buying government securities or other securities from the market. Quantitative easing increases the money supply by flooding financial institutions with capital in an effort to promote increased lending and liquidity.
Investopedia explains Quantitative Easing
Central banks tend to use quantitative easing when interest rates have already been lowered to near 0% levels and have failed to produce the desired effect. The major risk of quantitative easing is that although more money is floating around, there is still a fixed amount of goods for sale. This will eventually lead to higher prices or inflation.
Pathetic Funnies:
Quote du jour:
Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness.
Thomas Paine
Writings of Our Founding Fathers
Federalist Papers
Federalist No. 74
The Command of the Military and Naval Forces, and the Pardoning Power of the Executive
From the New York Packet
Tuesday, March 25, 1788.
Author: Alexander Hamilton
To the People of the State of New York:
THE President of the United States is to be "commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States WHEN CALLED INTO THE ACTUAL SERVICE of the United States." The propriety of this provision is so evident in itself, and it is, at the same time, so consonant to the precedents of the State constitutions in general, that little need be said to explain or enforce it. Even those of them which have, in other respects, coupled the chief magistrate with a council, have for the most part concentrated the military authority in him alone. Of all the cares or concerns of government, the direction of war most peculiarly demands those qualities which distinguish the exercise of power by a single hand. The direction of war implies the direction of the common strength; and the power of directing and employing the common strength, forms a usual and essential part in the definition of the executive authority.
"The President may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective officers." This I consider as a mere redundancy in the plan, as the right for which it provides would result of itself from the office.
He is also to be authorized to grant "reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, EXCEPT IN CASES OF IMPEACHMENT." Humanity and good policy conspire to dictate, that the benign prerogative of pardoning should be as little as possible fettered or embarrassed. The criminal code of every country partakes so much of necessary severity, that without an easy access to exceptions in favor of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary and cruel. As the sense of responsibility is always strongest, in proportion as it is undivided, it may be inferred that a single man would be most ready to attend to the force of those motives which might plead for a mitigation of the rigor of the law, and least apt to yield to considerations which were calculated to shelter a fit object of its vengeance. The reflection that the fate of a fellow-creature depended on his sole fiat, would naturally inspire scrupulousness and caution; the dread of being accused of weakness or connivance, would beget equal circumspection, though of a different kind. On the other hand, as men generally derive confidence from their numbers, they might often encourage each other in an act of obduracy, and might be less sensible to the apprehension of suspicion or censure for an injudicious or affected clemency. On these accounts, one man appears to be a more eligible dispenser of the mercy of government, than a body of men.
The expediency of vesting the power of pardoning in the President has, if I mistake not, been only contested in relation to the crime of treason. This, it has been urged, ought to have depended upon the assent of one, or both, of the branches of the legislative body. I shall not deny that there are strong reasons to be assigned for requiring in this particular the concurrence of that body, or of a part of it. As treason is a crime levelled at the immediate being of the society, when the laws have once ascertained the guilt of the offender, there seems a fitness in referring the expediency of an act of mercy towards him to the judgment of the legislature. And this ought the rather to be the case, as the supposition of the connivance of the Chief Magistrate ought not to be entirely excluded. But there are also strong objections to such a plan. It is not to be doubted, that a single man of prudence and good sense is better fitted, in delicate conjunctures, to balance the motives which may plead for and against the remission of the punishment, than any numerous body whatever. It deserves particular attention, that treason will often be connected with seditions which embrace a large proportion of the community; as lately happened in Massachusetts. In every such case, we might expect to see the representation of the people tainted with the same spirit which had given birth to the offense. And when parties were pretty equally matched, the secret sympathy of the friends and favorers of the condemned person, availing itself of the good-nature and weakness of others, might frequently bestow impunity where the terror of an example was necessary. On the other hand, when the sedition had proceeded from causes which had inflamed the resentments of the major party, they might often be found obstinate and inexorable, when policy demanded a conduct of forbearance and clemency. But the principal argument for reposing the power of pardoning in this case to the Chief Magistrate is this: in seasons of insurrection or rebellion, there are often critical moments, when a welltimed offer of pardon to the insurgents or rebels may restore the tranquillity of the commonwealth; and which, if suffered to pass unimproved, it may never be possible afterwards to recall. The dilatory process of convening the legislature, or one of its branches, for the purpose of obtaining its sanction to the measure, would frequently be the occasion of letting slip the golden opportunity. The loss of a week, a day, an hour, may sometimes be fatal. If it should be observed, that a discretionary power, with a view to such contingencies, might be occasionally conferred upon the President, it may be answered in the first place, that it is questionable, whether, in a limited Constitution, that power could be delegated by law; and in the second place, that it would generally be impolitic beforehand to take any step which might hold out the prospect of impunity. A proceeding of this kind, out of the usual course, would be likely to be construed into an argument of timidity or of weakness, and would have a tendency to embolden guilt.
PUBLIUS.
References:
http://www.hotair.com/
http://www.wnd.com/
http://www.theblaze.com/
http://www.dailycaller.com/
http://www.thehill.com/
http://www.americanthinker.com/
http://www.wsj.com/
ABC News
Sunlen Miller
Fred Barnes
http://www.youtube.com/
http://www.quotationspage.com/
Library of congress/Federalist Papers
http://www.americanspectator.com/
Investopedia
