IWA for Sunday 031812

Once again, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Race Card..

Hey folks,

This is not new. This is one of the main reasons that Obama got elected in the first place. This is in the Playbook. If all else fails, play the Race Card. It is pretty pathetic and shows nothing more than just how desperate the Left is getting.

Disagree with Illegal Immigration? You're a RACIST. Think someone should be held accountable for Voter Fraud? You are Racist. Disagree with a Government Program that PROMOTES one Race above another, you're a Racist. Any time you disagree with the "smart people" and their Liberal agendas, YOU are the one with the problem. YOU are too stupid to understand what is good for you. If you ask them for details of why they think they are right? Or prove that they are wrong? Well, then you are a Racist. A stupid one at that. Then comes Obama. Of course, YOU'RE a Racist.

Disagree with ANY of Obama's Policies? Racist. Do not Vote for him? Racist. Call him out with FACTS and ask for clarification on, well, anything Obama does. Racist. Dumb, stupid, bigoted, RACIST, and you just don't matter anyway.

So we are use to this. When the Left can not Win an Intelligent argument, you disagree with their Policies, OR they want to push an agenda that NO ONE {the Majority} wants, that is what they go to. Race.

So the Left COMPLETELY manufactured this nonsensical "Right's War on Women." and attempt to get Females to believe that the Republicans want to Ban Contraceptives, which NO ONE SAID, EVER, and YOU don't buy into it, YOU ARE STUPID and RACIST!!!

I kid you know folks. Karen Finney, a Democrat Strategist, said the only reason she can see for Rick Santorum winning the Female Vote is, they are too stupid, and Racist, to know what is good for them. {Laughing}

Well... This woman vote really hurts me, I gotta say. It's a little painful 'cause I'm wondering if those women really heard the full message that: Yes, there is the economy, but if you've gotta worry about your basic health care, how are you then gonna be able to do what you need to do in terms of having a job, paying your rent, taking care of your kids.

If you don't HAVE a Job, you CAN'T pay your Rent, and take care of your Kids. The last thing most intelligent people are thinking when the have no Job, Money, and or Food, is Hey, how am I going to pay for contraceptives. You know, I may not have anything, with little hope of getting anything, but I want to have sex. {Sigh} Of course it's the ECONOMY you Idiot.

You know, I'm stunned. Uh, the only explanation that I can come up with is, and I think this would be a question I'd want to go back and ask these women. For these women: Did race or, or, in other words, "conservative values," that's the code, right? -- trump gender? You know, it's still a very conservative state. The racial issues are alive and well in Alabama and Mississippi.

So ANYONE that espouses "Conservative Values," is really saying, hey, don't Vote for, or agree with Obama, because he's a Black Guy. And I guess while you are at it, do not agree with Liberals, because all they care about is Minorities. So they have to be stopped because they are not for White People. {Sigh} Conservative Values are God, Family, and FREEDOM. No matter what Race you are. Conservative Values have NOTHING to do with Race. But I guess this would explain why our Idiot this week hated Clarence Thomas being nominated to the Supreme Court, or why she hated Herman Cain. Not because of their Policies or Beliefs, but because they are Black. Right? I say that she did not like them because she is a Racist herself. It could NOT possibly because she disagrees with their View on things. It has nothing to do with Policies, or Core Values, she hated them because they do not look like her. Right?

Remember those polls that we saw where large percentage don't believe in interracial marriage and think the president is a "Muslim." So clearly there is some sort of racial stuff in there, and I wonder if that ultimately for white working women trumps their own gender.

{Laughing} You stupid White Women. By the way, what Polls is she talking about? When? By Whom? It's all Bunk. But in her view, White "Working Class" AKA Poor, Women are Stupid Racist, because they believe in God, Family, and Freedom.

Congratulations Karen Finney, for being such an Idiot, to come out on national Television and call White "Working Class" Women, Stupid Racists, you ARE the Idiot of the Week. So I leveled a charge against you. Prove to me that you did NOT like Herman Cain for any other reason than he's Black. Maybe you are too stupid to realize that the reason you did not like him was because your a Racist. But you are. See how this works?
Peter

Sources:
News Busters - MSNBC Political Analyst: Alabama Women Voting for Santorum 'Really Hurts Me'

Anti-Illegal Alien Bill Equals Bullying?

In a special YCMTSU Category, can you say REACHING?

Hey folks,

I know, I know, I get it. I'm a Racist. Because I care about this Country, and the Rule of Law, I must not like others that don't look like me. No. Wait. Oh yeah, I disagree with Obama's Policies so I'm already a Racist. I almost forgot. I was worried there for a second. But all is cool.

However, if YOU like those that are attempting to get a handle on Immigration, and reward those that come here LEGALLY, you RACIST you, you are also guilty of something else. Bullying. Yup. Bullying. According to Fox News - Immigration Law Blamed for Reported Bullying of Hispanic Students in Alabama Published October 22, 2011 Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – It was just another schoolyard basketball game until a group of Hispanic seventh-graders defeated a group of boys from Alabama.

The reaction was immediate, according to the Mexican mother of one of the winners, and rooted in the state's new law on illegal immigration.

"They told them, `You shouldn't be winning. You should go back to Mexico,"' said the woman, who spoke through a translator last week and didn't want her name used. She and her son are in the country illegally.

OK STOP! Hang on a second. Read that AGAIN! "She and her son are in the Country Illegally." SO? A statement like this; "You shouldn't be winning. You should go back to Mexico." is NOT Bullying. It is a STATEMENT OF FACT! Regardless of your opinion on Immigration Laws, the FACTS are the FACTS. The TRUTH is the TRUTH! If you go into a Museum after it Closes, you do not belong there. You are TRESPASSING and whatever you do, even if it's dusting, vacuuming the Carpets, whatever, IS ILLEGAL. You have no RIGHT to be there. Go there the RIGHT way, when it's open, and you are allowed in, you know, follow the rules, you are more than Welcome. Why is this so hard for some people to grasp?

Spanish-speaking parents say their children are facing more bullying and taunts at school since Alabama's tough crackdown on illegal immigration took effect last month. Many blame the name-calling on fallout from the law, which has been widely covered in the news, discussed in some classrooms and debated around dinner tables.

Justice Department officials are monitoring for bullying incidents linked to the law.

"We're hearing a number of reports about increases in bullying that we're studying," the head of the agency's civil rights division, Thomas Perez, said during a stop in Birmingham.

The Justice Department has established a bilingual telephone hotline and special email account for residents to report any violence or threats based on racial or ethnic background that could be linked to the law. Officials would not provide a breakdown on the types of complaints being received.

Yet the Alabama Department of Education hasn't received any reports of bullying linked to the law, said spokeswoman Malissa Valdes, and it isn't tracking the issue to determine whether there could be a problem. Any parents who call the state with complaints would be referred to their child's principal, she said.

So WAIT a second. There are NO complaints? I bet there will be now. Since the idea is now out there. Have Illegals BLAME the Law, that makes them Illegal, for someone saying that they ARE Illegal. Am I following this correctly? Now it goes on to say those that object to it, like Obama hunting for the Hispanic Votes, say that the LAW, is creating, ready, I love this,"a climate of fear and mistrust." I have a solution. COME HERE LEGALLY! If you do not belong somewhere, ANYWHERE, you can not be upset with ANYTHING that happens to you. You should not be there. It's all a matter of CHOICE. You CHOSE to go somewhere you do not belong. Whatever happens to you, would NOT have happened, had you not been there.

Now I do truly believe that the Laws against Robbing Banks, the Drug Laws, and the Law in general, create "a climate of fear and mistrust." How is the Pimp supposed to enjoy the same opportunities as other Americans if he is worried about someone calling him a Drug Dealer. Or how is the Bank Robber supposed to live a peaceful life, seeking the American Dream, if he is worried about the Popo coming and knocking on his door. They are fearful that the Police will come and rip them away from their Families and throw them in Jail. So let's just do away with the Laws. They are real people with real feelings, just like you. It's not fair.

The Supporters, you know, the RACISTS, state what is FACT. Remember when we talked about all the States that were upside down? The Budget gap was in the Billions. Take away the cost of Illegal Immigration, those States would not only have Balanced Budgets, they would have SURPLUSES! SAVE all that money it cost to House, Care for {Medically} Feed, Educate, Cloth, Jail, ETC, those that should not even BE HERE, would bring things into balance. In some cases, tip the scale by BILLIONS, in the other direction.

The Liberal Dems want the Laws ignored, because they want the VOTES. "But Pete, Illegals can't Vote."{Sigh} OK. Believe that if you want. But they feel those that are "eligible" will because their Illegal Family members are here. And not being Deported.

Those that are here Illegal, of course they do not want the Law enforced. Duh? Now with the Obama Administration's Anti-Bullying Campaign in full swing, now the Immigration Law, and those enforcing it, are causing Bullying. Keep in mind though, this is all the start of it. This whole Article is a catalyst of what is to come. As of right this second, there is not ONE single complaint. Bet that will change soon.

You REALLY Can't Make This Stuff Up!
Peter

Sources:
Fox News - Immigration Law Blamed for Reported Bullying of Hispanic Students in Alabama

Obama Contemplating Playing Dictator While The World Grows More Dangerous

I have been warning you about this one.

Hey folks,

First, since the GOP refuse, per the American People, refuse to increase Taxes to cover Obama and Crew's out of control spending, Obama is contemplating becoming a full fledged Dictator, and just doing whatever he wants. To hell with the American way, and the Constitution. This is not the first time he has openly Dreamed of being a Dictator. According to ABC Political Punch - Obama tempted to go it alone--if only he could. By ABC News' Jon Garcia and Jake Tapper.

What do the deficit negotiations and immigration reform have in common? President Obama says thinks he’d have a much easier time getting what he wants if only he could do it all himself.

“Believe me, the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting. I promise you not just on immigration reform. But that's not how our system works,”

The 14th Amendment does NOT give him the Authority to Raise the Debt Ceiling by himself, contrary to what they are trying to get you to believe. Congress can GIVE him that Authority, but that is a dangerous proposition. This Idiot does not need to be given any more power. He needs to be thrown out of Office.

Meanwhile in the World, the World becomes a more dangerous place. First, while all these Political games and BS are playing out, and Obama still refuses to get out of the way of us using our own resources for our Energy Needs, The UK Guardian reports this: Iran revolutionary guards' commander set to become president of Opec

Rostam Ghasemi, who is blacklisted by western powers, could have major role in determining global oil price.

A senior commander of Iran's revolutionary guards, who is subject to comprehensive international sanctions, has been nominated as the country's oil minister, a position that currently includes the presidency of Opec.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, sent a list of four ministers, including Rostam Ghasemi, commander of the revolutionary guards' Khatam al-Anbia military and industrial base, to the parliament for approval, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Should the parliament confirm Ghasemi's nomination next week, the commander, who is targeted by US, EU and Australian sanctions, will be automatically appointed as head of Opec, giving the revolutionary guards access to an influential international platform.

You think things are bad NOW? Imagine Iran controlling our Energy Needs and WORLD Supply? Iran? You know, the Country ran by Little Hitler himself? The Country that WANTS Israel wiped off the map. Calls for the Death of America. Has come ever so close to creating a Nuclear Weapon. Who has just proven that they have the Rockets needed to CARRY a Nuclear Weapon to Israel, and American Interests. Who is about to join the Space Race, while Obama shut ours down. Yup THAT Iran. But wait. It gets BETTER. According to the Washington Times: Classified report: Russia tied to blast at U.S. embassy

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in a classified report late last year that Russia’s military intelligence was responsible for a bomb blast that occurred at an exterior wall of the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, in September.

The highly classified report about the Sept. 22 incident was described to The Washington Times by two U.S. officials who have read it. They said the report supports the findings of the Georgian Interior Ministry, which traced the bombing to a Russian military intelligence officer.

The Times reported last week that Shota Utiashvili, director of information and analysis for the Georgian Interior Ministry, said the embassy blast and others in his country were the work of a Russian military intelligence officer named Maj. Yevgeny Borisov.

What? Russia? Our FRIENDS? What's this. It must be a mistake? Right? But that's not all. Also according to FP - Russia threatens to wreck the reset

Russia has threatened the Obama administration that it will end cooperation on Iran and prevent the transfer of material to Afghanistan if Congress passes a law criticizing Russian human rights practices.

And? According to Fox News - Russia Plans to Sink the International Space Station in 2020

Russia's space agency announced Wednesday that the International Space Station -- a space base the world's scientists and billions of U.S. tax dollars helped build and maintain some 200 miles above the surface of the Earth -- will be de-orbited and allowed to sink into the Pacific Ocean in 2020, just like its Russian predecessor, Mir.

"We will be forced to sink the ISS. We cannot leave it in orbit as it is a very complicated and a heavy object," Roscosmos' deputy head Vitaly Davydov said in an interview posted on the agency's website.

Why not? We can't really stop them. Hell, we have to RELY on them to GET there. Thank You Obama. Here is something else you need to keep an eye on. No. I will for ya. I have been warning you about this one. I told you that Putin wasn't going anywhere. I have been telling you HE is in charge of the Country. I have told you he WANTS the old USSR back. Now according to Reuters - RPT-Russia's Putin considering Kremlin return-sources

* Three sources say Putin considering return to presidency

* Putin has doubts about Medvedev

* Putin could run in March 2012 presidential election

Lets not forget about China, North Korea, all the Turmoil in the Middle East. This of course INCLUDES the War Obama starting in Libya and the fact he has just recognized the Muslim Brotherhood as an Official Government in Libya. Recognizes Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Continues to dis our long time Allies. And seemingly ignores all else in the World.

Yes folks, While Obama plays Dictator Wannabe, the World Grows more and more dangerous. Why? One of the reasons is simple to understand. NO ONE fears Obama. The World thinks we are a Joke. They have no reservations on getting uppity while Obama is President. They know he will do nothing about anything. He is too busy destroying America FOR THEM. 2012 can not come soon enough folks. I'm not one hundred percent certain we could survive another 4 years.
Peter

Sources:
ABC Political Punch - Obama tempted to go it alone--if only he could
The UK Guardian - Iran revolutionary guards' commander set to become president of Opec
Washington Times: Classified report: Russia tied to blast at U.S. embassy
FP - Russia threatens to wreck the reset
Fox News - Russia Plans to Sink the International Space Station in 2020
Reuters - RPT-Russia's Putin considering Kremlin return-sources

DLA For Sunday 032011

Decision to defend the Law.

Hey folks,

OK. So, back on Friday, February 25, 2011, I posted this. If Bush Decided? I said this.

Obama, knowing he is losing the Unions, the revenue, losing Obamacare, the Medical Field and Insurance Companies Votes, and some Minority Votes due to States doing the Federal Government's Job, Illegal Immigration Enforcement, "Hello Gay people. Remember me? I made all these promises to you. Well, I've decided that the Defense of Marriage Act is Unconstitutional and I have ordered my Justice Department to stop defending it." The problem is, he CAN'T do that. No President has the authority to declare a Law Unconstitutional and ORDER the Justice Department to stop enforcing it. The Legislators have to Legislate. Congress has to change it. Not the president.

Well, well, well. Seems that since the President decided that he did not like it, AKA, needs the Gay Vote, the Justice Department will not enforce and defend the Law, The Republicans WILL. According to Qnotes - GOP will defend DOMA by David Stout March 19, 2011

GOP will defend DOMA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — LGBT rights groups condemned U.S. House Republican leadership for formally voting to authorize intervention to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court. The Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, convened by Speaker Boehner, voted 3-2 to authorize the House to retain legal counsel. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) voted against the action.

With at least nine cases challenging the constitutionality of DOMA, spanning three appellate courts and four district courts in six states, the March 9 vote sets up an expansive and expensive undertaking. In February, the Obama administration announced that the president had concluded that a key section of DOMA is unconstitutional and the administration would no longer defend the discriminatory law.

Who care what Obama thinks. He doesn't have the Authority to pick and chose what Laws to enforce and what not to. So the Winner of the Display of Logic Award this Week , is ALL the Republicans that decided, "It's the Law of the Land, signed into Law by President Clinton, therefore the Federal Government shall defend the Law in court." While Obama panders for Votes, the Adults decided to do their Job and Defend the Law.

Congratulations House GOP, you are the Winner, uh, Winners, of the Display of Logic Award for Sunday 032011. Now about that Deficit?
Peter

Sources:
Qnotes - GOP will defend DOMA News Notes: Beyond the Carolinas by David Stout March 19, 2011

If Bush Decided?

From the Emails 022511

Hey folks,

Happy Friday to ya. I get it. I think EVERYONE gets it. The Liberals just will not admit it. Nor will the Obama run, State Run, Media. Although they do not want to admit it, doesn't mean it's not true.

"Peter, Imagine if you will, Bush decided that Roe Vs Wade was unconstitutional, and told States, 'go ahead and outlaw it. We will not defend it. I do not like it, so that's that.' Do you think they would be praising him, or calling for his impeachment?"

You KNOW what they would do. It would be front page news. It would be on EVERY Network. They would be calling for his head. They still would. No matter WHO the President is if they are the least bit Conservative or attempting to do ANYTHING that limits the far Left's agendas. Rush did a GREAT bit about this yesterday. "Imagine"

What PC, no not me, is talking about here, is this piece from the American Spectator - It's Not Its Business. It's talking about how Obama, knowing he is losing the Unions, the revenue, losing Obamacare, the Medical Field and Insurance Companies Votes, and some Minority Votes due to States doing the Federal Government's Job, Illegal Immigration Enforcement, "Hello Gay people. Remember me? I made all these promises to you. Well, I've decided that the Defense of Marriage Act is Unconstitutional and I have ordered my Justice Department to stop defending it." The problem is, he CAN'T do that. No President has the authority to declare a Law Unconstitutional and ORDER the Justice Department to stop enforcing it. The Legislators have to Legislate. Congress has to change it. Not the president.

Like I said, Rush did a GREAT bit yesterday. "Imagine."

So let's step back. Imagine, for the fun of it, Sarah Palin is elected president. I pick Palin only 'cause they hate her the most (and I'm not running). Imagine that Sarah Palin appoints scores of czars who are not confirmed by the Senate. These czars run the government out of the White House; they bypass the cabinet structure. Imagine that President Palin appoints as attorney general a politically partisan conservative. Imagine that attorney general takes orders from Palin on active cases, and she orders that attorney general to stop defending lawsuits against aspects of Roe v. Wade, to stop defending lawsuits against Obamacare, to stop defending lawsuits against the EPA's greenhouse gas regulations.

Imagine if President Palin directs her attorney general to sue California to enforce border security and to stop granting taxpayer benefits to illegal aliens, in violation of the supremacy clause. Imagine if President Palin did all this. Imagine President Palin ordering the Republican National Committee to work with businesses, managers and executives that contributed tens of millions of dollars to her campaign to defeat her political opponents (especially Big Labor) in places like New York, New Jersey, Michigan, California; intervening in the affairs of states. Obama's doing this. Imagine if President Palin did it. She gets hold of the guy that runs the RNC, says, "I want you to have meetings with businesspeople that contribute a lot of money to my campaign."

Imagine President Palin decides that she will not comply with federal court rulings that she disagrees with, as in Florida and Louisiana. Imagine, if you will, President Palin meeting weekly with CEOs of the oil industry, of the insurance industry, and of the health care industry in order to help them profit and prosper. Imagine if President Palin meets with these groups to try to repair the damage done by the previous president, Barack Obama. Imagine a State of the Union in a House of Representatives chamber: President Palin attacking the sitting justices of the US Supreme Court, humiliating them for a ruling in a case in a manner that she disagrees with.

Imagine President Palin hiring a fashion person and putting her on the public payroll and telling everybody what to eat while she and Todd eat whatever they want on trips to places like Vail, while her husband is eating hamburgers and fries and ice cream. Imagine President Palin sending her kids to the most expensive private school in Washington, while at the same time killing a school choice program for poor minorities in the inner city of Washington -- and, folks, I could go on and on and on. It explains everything, this sickening spectacle that is the left. Whether they pretend to be journalists, whether they are politicians, this is a dangerous force in this nation. We have to continue to expose them. That's all we can do.

That is what we will do.

Regardless of how you see the Defense of Marriage Act, regardless of what you think about Gay Marriage in general, Bill Clinton signed the DOMA into Law. It IS the Law of the Land. It MUST be defended in court, until such time as the Courts decide it Unconstitutional, or Congress changes it. All this is, is pandering for the Gay Vote. We all know this. Even Gay people know this. I know that they are not stupid enough to actually BELIEVE him.

As for him ignoring the Law? Well, he does THAT all the time. He SAID he doesn't like the Constitution, so he is just ignoring it. He is SUING States that do not agree with him. He is IGNORING a FERAL JUDGE that ruled Obamacare is not Constitutional. They continue to attempt to implement it. Now he comes out and says, "I no longer agree with the DOMA. So we just will not defend it anymore. Do whatever you want." Just like when he ordered the Justice Department NOT to investigate cases where the Defendants are Black. Remember that? Voter Fraud, that's right. So this is no surprise. He needs the Votes. And uh, he wouldn't mind some money being thrown his way either. {Smile}
Peter

Sources:
American Spectator - It's Not Its Business.
The Rush Limbaugh Show - Imagine President Palin Doing This

Note: From The Emails is a weekly Segment every Friday, or occasionally anytime, that appears here at the OPNTalk Blog. Please feel free to Email any Articles, Comments, Thoughts, Whatever, that you may like to share to opntalk@gmail.com As always, you never know what you may see here.

Problem With Appointees and Czars

Preview For Sunday 020611

Hey folks,

Happy Sunday to you. Glad you made it. Welcome to the Big Sunday Edition of the OPNTalk Blog. I am your Provocateur of thought, Peter Carlock, and we are fully loaded today.

Some of my more Liberal Friends asked me why I had such a problem with the Obama Czars, and Appointees. "Every President does it." Maybe that's the problem. Doesn't mean it is EVER right. The Problem with Czars and Appointees is no Vetting. No one knows who these people are. No one knows what they get paid. No one knows if they are even qualified to run a Hot Dog stand, let alone represent the US, and or, run a Major portion of Government.

Case in Point? U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg Cynthia Stroum. Here is a chick that is Wealthy, successful Business Woman. But does that mean she is qualified to represent the US as an Ambassador to Luxembourg? No of course not. But she is a Friend of Obama, and she raised and gave a lot of money to his Campaign. So Obama gives her a cushy Diplomatic job in Europe.

Problem is, she is a DISASTER. She, like most Liberals, were power hungry, self absorbed Bully. Without a single clue as to what Reality is.

According to an internal State Department report released Thursday, less than a week after she quit, Stroum's management of the U.S. Embassy in the tiny country was abysmal. The report says her tenure of about one year was fraught with personality conflicts, verbal abuse and questionable expenditures on travel, wine and liquor.

Stroum's case illustrates the pitfalls that presidents can face when they appoint non-career diplomats to ambassadorships as a reward for their political support.

The Luxembourg embassy "has underperformed for the entirety of the current ambassador's tenure," said the report, which was prepared last fall before she resigned abruptly. "At present, due to internal problems, it plays no significant role in policy advocacy or reporting, though developments in Luxembourg are certainly of interest to Washington clients and other U.S. missions in the NATO and EU communities."

She was found to be a typical Liberal. All about herself and what SHE could get out of it. She didn't care about those that worked for her, nor those she was suppose to be representing. According to this AP Piece..

But the report paints a picture of a corrosive atmosphere at the small embassy, with the ambassador running roughshod over staff, threatening to read their e-mails, largely concerned about job-related perks and involved in improper purchases.

The situation was so bad that the inspector general recommended that the State Department dispatch medical personnel to Luxembourg to test the stress levels of embassy employees. It said at least four staffers quit or sought transfers to Iraq and Afghanistan during her tenure, unusual steps for diplomats assigned to a modern, Western European capital.

"The bulk of the mission's internal problems are linked to her leadership deficiencies, the most damaging of which is an abusive management style," the report said. "She has followed a pattern of public criticism of colleagues, including (deputies), who have not performed to her satisfaction."

"Those who have questioned or challenged some of the ambassador's actions state that they have paid a heavy price in the form of verbal abuse and been threatened with dismissal," it said.

Sounds familiar does it not? Look at this Country after 6 years of Liberal Leadership and 2 years of Obama. According to CBS News - U.S. Ambassador Cynthia Stroum Called "Bullying, Hostile" in State Department Investigation Posted by Brian Montopoli

One way that presidents reward their biggest donors is by offering them plum ambassadorships. Which is why it wasn't surprising when the Obama administration tapped Cynthia Stroum to be U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg.

Stroum, a businesswoman and philanthropist, had been a major bundler for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, raising more than half a million dollars for the then-candidate.

It appears that her fundraising abilities did not translate to diplomatic success, however: According to a scathing State Department probe out Thursday (PDF), Stroum was seen by most employees as "aggressive, bullying, hostile and intimidating."

My Problem with Czars and Appointees is simple. Have you ever even heard of this Chick before? Yet she was a full U.S. Ambassador who was "aggressive, bullying, hostile and intimidating." Spending $3,400 of your money on Wine and Liquor. I know that's a Drop in the bucket when talking government waste, but if we had Vetted her. If there was a process for these people to go through, then I doubt she would have even passed. Just because EVERYONE {President, Politician} does it, doesn't mean it's right. These people are who they are, and when you give them Free Reign, this is what you get.

Coming right up today?

World food Prices Reach Record High Levels
Obama Issues NEW Global Warming Rules, But Not For Friends and Supporters
Dads Helping With Kids, Conflicts Rise With Moms
With Obamacare MANY Will Lose Coverage
DLA For Sunday 020611
IWA For Sunday 020611


All this coming right up. But I do have to ask you a question. Is this REALLY a good thing? I know, get ready to call me a Racist. But it IS an Honest Question. New Jersey Owes Population Growth to Latino Community

Between 2000 and 2010, New Jersey's Latino population grew from 1.1 million to 1.6 million, and the Latino share of the population grew from 13.3% to 17.7%. Latinos are now the state's second-largest population group.

"Nearly one in five New Jerseyans is Latino. In order to ensure the state's future prosperity and well-being, New Jersey's policies must promote the economic, social and civic progress of the Latino community," said NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Arturo Vargas. "The state's leadership must be accountable to its growing Latino population."

The increase in New Jersey's Latino population was responsible for the state's overall growth during the last decade. Between 2000 and 2010, the Latino population grew by 39.2%, while the non-Latino population declined slightly by 0.8%.

"During the 2010 reapportionment, New Jersey lost a congressional seat, and that loss might have been greater had there not been a substantial increase in the state's Latino population. As New Jersey now undertakes it 2011 redistricting, those who draw its maps must recognize Latino population growth by ensuring the new maps allow Latinos to effectively choose their elected leaders," added Arturo Vargas. "The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) prohibits states from creating districts which may dilute and or divide the votes of Latinos and other underrepresented groups. We call on New Jersey to strictly comply with VRA's requirements during this year's redistricting process."

The Census 2010 data also reveal significant Latino populations in many of New Jersey's largest cities, with Union City having the greatest share of Latinos (85%)

Now NO WHERE does it indicate if they are talking about LEGAL Citizens or Illegal Aliens. Just Latinos. If we are talking about Legal US Citizens moving to NJ, then I get it and I am even all for the redistricting to give them more of a voice in the elections. But if we are talking about Illegals? I'm not sure that is something to brag about.

Remember a while back we did a story about those States with the highest Illegal Alien Populations? These States have Budget Deficits nearly to the Penny of what they spend on them. If they would only ENFORCE Federal Immigration Law, they would not only have a balanced Budget, but in a lot of the cases, a SURPLUS. So if we are talking this massive INCREASE of Latinos in NJ being of the ILLEGAL nature, then I'm not sure this would be something to be proud of.

Going to fill my cup. Don't forget, you can join me on Facebook, Twitter, and find me over at Tom Sullivan Radio Listener's Club. If you want to be a part of the OPNTalk Blog, or just say Hi, the Email is as always, opntalk@gmail.com. Be right back.
Peter

Sources:
AP - Big Obama donor quits envoy job amid criticism
CBS News - U.S. Ambassador Cynthia Stroum Called "Bullying, Hostile" in State Department Investigation
PR Newswire - New Jersey Owes Population Growth to Latino Community

Dupnik Faces Ouster, GOP Continue to Listen to the People

He NEEDS to leave.

Hey folks,

Welcome to the Big Sunday Edition of the OPNTalk Blog. Glad you stopped by. Yes. Baby Eli and Mom are home safe and sound, and I have been enjoying the past Week with my new Son. Well, all my family. But I'm also glad to be back in the Chair.

You all know the story. We have this Horrific Shooting in Arizona, and this Idiot, a half an hour after the shooting comes out and tries to link Sarah Palin, the Tea Party, Talk Radio, and Fox News, to this Murder and attempted Assassination on a Congresswoman. I said this about him.

Yes, our Idiot is NOT a true Law Enforcement Official. He is allowing his HATE and his Political views to cloud his Judgement. He is a Fame seeking Moron, that while he is playing Politician, he is IGNORING the REAL FACTS in this case. He needs to leave Office.

Looks like I'm not the only one that wants this guy out. According to The Washington Times - Outspoken Tucson sheriff faces recall bid By Valerie Richardson

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik has never lost an election, but that was before his remarks assigning blame for the deadly Tucson, Ariz., shooting to political "vitriol" and calling Arizona "a mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

Now it's Sheriff Dupnik who finds himself on the public-opinion hot seat. A group opposed to illegal immigration has begun an effort to recall the sheriff in a special election. Meanwhile, a Pima County tea party group is planning on holding a "Dump Dupnik" rally next week outside his office.

"I haven't been a fan of Dupnik's for a long time, but this really was the straw that broke the camel's back," said Tom Rompel, co-owner of Black Weapons Armory in Tucson. "He's law enforcement. We expect 'the facts, ma'am,' not his opinion. He leans far left, always has, and frankly, people have had enough."

I wish you all luck in getting this guy out. He is a joke that needs to leave. He obviously can't do his job.

Coming right up today?

ACLU Working With Obama For Amnesty, Feds NOT Doing Their Job
Nullification, States Strike Back.
EPA, States Strike Back 2
Labor Induced
DLA For Sunday 013011
IWA For Sunday 013011

All that coming right up in just a minute. First, is there any doubt in your mind that the GOP, the NEW GOP are still listening to the American People? Perhaps this will put your doubts to rest.

New Majority Keeps Pledge to Focus on Jobs & Ending the Job-Crushing D.C. Spending Binge Posted by Speaker Boehner Press Office on January 21, 2011

This week, the new House majority continued working to keep its Pledge to America to focus on removing barriers to job creation and ending Washington’s job-crushing spending binge. Here’s a look:

Removing Barriers to Job Growth & Ending the Job-Crushing Spending Binge

The House voted this week to repeal the job-destroying health care law and then took action to begin replacing it with common-sense reforms that will lower costs and protect jobs. More than half the states are now challenging ObamaCare in court. And job creators, economists, and state legislators representing millions of taxpayers have all spoken out in recent days in support of scrapping the law and starting over.

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) introduced the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act to rein in job-stifling red tape that’s causing uncertainty for job creators. The bill would require an up-or-down vote by Congress on major federal rules and regulations – written by unelected bureaucrats – that have an economic impact of at least $100 million.

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) has been selected to deliver the Republican address to the nation following President Obama's State of the Union speech on January 25. Chairman Ryan will lead a critical effort in the House this year to stop the job-crushing spending binge in DC and cut spending back to pre-“stimulus,” pre-bailout levels.

Every dollar counts, and the House has already begun replacing Congress’ culture of spending with a culture of saving – first by cutting its budget, and then by saving taxpayers millions of dollars by eliminating needless paper copies of legislation. These were just the first of many spending cuts to come.

The speaker also employed the “#hcrcostsjobs” hashtag on Twitter to draw emphasis to the health care law’s devastating impact on families and small businesses.

For more on what’s to come in the weeks ahead, take a look at the Pledge to America. As Speaker Boehner has vowed: “the Pledge is the plan.” Read more here.

As we’ve noted, our goal is to keep improving these emails in the weeks ahead so please contact us here if you have ideas on how we can make them more useful. Thank you again and have a great weekend.

- Speaker Boehner’s Press Office

So far, so good. Keep up the good work. The People spoke loudly and clearly. We WANT you to listen, we want you to follow through.

Don't forget, you can follow along on Twitter, Facebook, new photos of Eli on Facebook, find me over at Tom Sullivan Radio Listener's Club, and as always, if you want to be a part of the OPNTalk Blog, send Congrats, or just say hi, the Email is opntalk@gmail.com.

Going to fill my cup. Be right back.
Peter

Sources:
The Washington Times - Outspoken Tucson sheriff faces recall bid
The Patriot Action Network - New Majority Keeps Pledge to Focus on Jobs & Ending the Job-Crushing D.C. Spending Binge

President Obama's State of the Union Address, 012511

The text of President Obama's State of the Union address:

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Tonight I want to begin by congratulating the men and women of the 112th Congress, as well as your new Speaker, John Boehner.

(Applause.)

And as we mark this occasion, we're also mindful of the empty chair in this chamber, and we pray for the health of our colleague — and our friend — Gabby Giffords.

(Applause.)

It's no secret that those of us here tonight have had our differences over the last two years. The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our beliefs. And that's a good thing. That's what a robust democracy demands. That's what helps set us apart as a nation.

But there's a reason the tragedy in Tucson gave us pause. Amid all the noise and passion and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater — something more consequential than party or political preference.

We are part of the American family. We believe that in a country where every race and faith and point of view can be found, we are still bound together as one people; that we share common hopes and a common creed; that the dreams of a little girl in Tucson are not so different than those of our own children, and that they all deserve the chance to be fulfilled.

That, too, is what sets us apart as a nation.

(Applause.)

Now, by itself, this simple recognition won't usher in a new era of cooperation. What comes of this moment is up to us. What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow.

(Applause.)

I believe we can. And I believe we must. That's what the people who sent us here expect of us. With their votes, they've determined that governing will now be a shared responsibility between parties. New laws will only pass with support from Democrats and Republicans. We will move forward together, or not at all — for the challenges we face are bigger than party, and bigger than politics.

At stake right now is not who wins the next election — after all, we just had an election. At stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country, or somewhere else. It's whether the hard work and industry of our people is rewarded. It's whether we sustain the leadership that has made America not just a place on a map, but the light to the world.

We are poised for progress. Two years after the worst recession most of us have ever known, the stock market has come roaring back. Corporate profits are up. The economy is growing again.

But we have never measured progress by these yardsticks alone. We measure progress by the success of our people. By the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer. By the prospects of a small business owner who dreams of turning a good idea into a thriving enterprise. By the opportunities for a better life that we pass on to our children.

That's the project the American people want us to work on. Together.

(Applause.)

We did that in December. Thanks to the tax cuts we passed, Americans' paychecks are a little bigger today. Every business can write off the full cost of new investments that they make this year. And these steps, taken by Democrats and Republicans, will grow the economy and add to the more than one million private sector jobs created last year.

But we have to do more. These steps we've taken over the last two years may have broken the back of this recession, but to win the future, we'll need to take on challenges that have been decades in the making.

Many people watching tonight can probably remember a time when finding a good job meant showing up at a nearby factory or a business downtown. You didn't always need a degree, and your competition was pretty much limited to your neighbors. If you worked hard, chances are you'd have a job for life, with a decent paycheck and good benefits and the occasional promotion. Maybe you'd even have the pride of seeing your kids work at the same company.

That world has changed. And for many, the change has been painful. I've seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories, and the vacant storefronts on once busy Main Streets. I've heard it in the frustrations of Americans who've seen their paychecks dwindle or their jobs disappear — proud men and women who feel like the rules have been changed in the middle of the game.

They're right. The rules have changed. In a single generation, revolutions in technology have transformed the way we live, work and do business. Steel mills that once needed 1,000 workers can now do the same work with 100. Today, just about any company can set up shop, hire workers, and sell their products wherever there's an Internet connection.

Meanwhile, nations like China and India realized that with some changes of their own, they could compete in this new world. And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on math and science. They're investing in research and new technologies. Just recently, China became the home to the world's largest private solar research facility, and the world's fastest computer.

So, yes, the world has changed. The competition for jobs is real. But this shouldn't discourage us. It should challenge us. Remember — for all the hits we've taken these last few years, for all the naysayers predicting our decline, America still has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world.

(Applause.)

No workers — no workers are more productive than ours. No country has more successful companies, or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs. We're the home to the world's best colleges and universities, where more students come to study than any place on Earth.

What's more, we are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea — the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. That's why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here. It's why our students don't just memorize equations, but answer questions like "What do you think of that idea? What would you change about the world? What do you want to be when you grow up?"

The future is ours to win. But to get there, we can't just stand still. As Robert Kennedy told us, "The future is not a gift. It is an achievement." Sustaining the American Dream has never been about standing pat. It has required each generation to sacrifice, and struggle, and meet the demands of a new age.

And now it's our turn. We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. We need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.

(Applause.)

We have to make America the best place on Earth to do business. We need to take responsibility for our deficit and reform our government. That's how our people will prosper. That's how we'll win the future.

(Applause.)

And tonight, I'd like to talk about how we get there.

The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation. None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn't know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do — what America does better than anyone else — is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We're the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn't just change our lives. It is how we make our living.

(Applause.)

Our free enterprise system is what drives innovation. But because it's not always profitable for companies to invest in basic research, throughout our history, our government has provided cutting-edge scientists and inventors with the support that they need. That's what planted the seeds for the Internet. That's what helped make possible things like computer chips and GPS. Just think of all the good jobs — from manufacturing to retail — that have come from these breakthroughs.

Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we would beat them to the moon. The science wasn't even there yet. NASA didn't exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn't just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.

This is our generation's Sputnik moment. Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven't seen since the height of the Space Race. And in a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal. We'll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology —

(Applause)

— an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.

Already, we're seeing the promise of renewable energy. Robert and Gary Allen are brothers who run a small Michigan roofing company. After September 11th, they volunteered their best roofers to help repair the Pentagon. But half of their factory went unused, and the recession hit them hard. Today, with the help of a government loan, that empty space is being used to manufacture solar shingles that are being sold all across the country. In Robert's words, "We reinvented ourselves."

That's what Americans have done for over 200 years: reinvented ourselves. And to spur on more success stories like the Allen Brothers, we've begun to reinvent our energy policy. We're not just handing out money. We're issuing a challenge. We're telling America's scientists and engineers that if they assemble teams of the best minds in their fields, and focus on the hardest problems in clean energy, we'll fund the Apollo projects of our time.

At the California Institute of Technology, they're developing a way to turn sunlight and water into fuel for our cars. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they're using supercomputers to get a lot more power out of our nuclear facilities. With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.

(Applause.)

We need to get behind this innovation. And to help pay for it, I'm asking Congress to eliminate the billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies.

(Applause.)

I don't know if — I don't know if you've noticed, but they're doing just fine on their own.

(Laughter.)

So instead of subsidizing yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's.

Now, clean energy breakthroughs will only translate into clean energy jobs if businesses know there will be a market for what they're selling. So tonight, I challenge you to join me in setting a new goal: By 2035, 80 percent of America's electricity will come from clean energy sources.

(Applause.)

Some folks want wind and solar. Others want nuclear, clean coal and natural gas. To meet this goal, we will need them all — and I urge Democrats and Republicans to work together to make it happen.

(Applause.)

Maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America's success. But if we want to win the future — if we want innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas — then we also have to win the race to educate our kids.

Think about it. Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education. And yet, as many as a quarter of our students aren't even finishing high school. The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations. America has fallen to ninth in the proportion of young people with a college degree. And so the question is whether all of us — as citizens, and as parents — are willing to do what's necessary to give every child a chance to succeed.

That responsibility begins not in our classrooms, but in our homes and communities. It's family that first instills the love of learning in a child. Only parents can make sure the TV is turned off and homework gets done. We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair.

(Applause.)

We need to teach them that success is not a function of fame or PR, but of hard work and discipline.

Our schools share this responsibility. When a child walks into a classroom, it should be a place of high expectations and high performance. But too many schools don't meet this test. That's why instead of just pouring money into a system that's not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all 50 states, we said, "If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we'll show you the money."

Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation. For less than 1 percent of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning. And these standards were developed, by the way, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic governors throughout the country. And Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that's more flexible and focused on what's best for our kids.

(Applause.)

You see, we know what's possible from our children when reform isn't just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals, school boards and communities. Take a school like Bruce Randolph in Denver. Three years ago, it was rated one of the worst schools in Colorado — located on turf between two rival gangs. But last May, 97 percent of the seniors received their diploma. Most will be the first in their families to go to college. And after the first year of the school's transformation, the principal who made it possible wiped away tears when a student said, "Thank you, Ms. Waters, for showing that we are smart and we can make it."

(Applause.)

That's what good schools can do, and we want good schools all across the country.

Let's also remember that after parents, the biggest impact on a child's success comes from the man or woman at the front of the classroom. In South Korea, teachers are known as "nation builders." Here in America, it's time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect.

(Applause.)

We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones.

(Applause.)

And over the next 10 years, with so many baby boomers retiring from our classrooms, we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science and technology and engineering and math.

(Applause.)

In fact, to every young person listening tonight who's contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child — become a teacher. Your country needs you.

(Applause.)

Of course, the education race doesn't end with a high school diploma. To compete, higher education must be within the reach of every American. (

Applause.)

That's why we've ended the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that went to banks, and used the savings to make college affordable for millions of students.

(Applause.)

And this year, I ask Congress to go further, and make permanent our tuition tax credit — worth $10,000 for four years of college. It's the right thing to do.

(Applause.)

Because people need to be able to train for new jobs and careers in today's fast-changing economy, we're also revitalizing America's community colleges. Last month, I saw the promise of these schools at Forsyth Tech in North Carolina. Many of the students there used to work in the surrounding factories that have since left town. One mother of two, a woman named Kathy Proctor, had worked in the furniture industry since she was 18 years old. And she told me she's earning her degree in biotechnology now, at 55 years old, not just because the furniture jobs are gone, but because she wants to inspire her children to pursue their dreams, too. As Kathy said, "I hope it tells them to never give up."

If we take these steps — if we raise expectations for every child, and give them the best possible chance at an education, from the day they are born until the last job they take — we will reach the goal that I set two years ago: By the end of the decade, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

(Applause.)

One last point about education. Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens. Some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents. They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense.

Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. And I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. I know that debate will be difficult. I know it will take time. But tonight, let's agree to make that effort. And let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing our research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this nation.

(Applause.)

The third step in winning the future is rebuilding America. To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods, and information — from high-speed rail to high-speed Internet.

(Applause.)

Our infrastructure used to be the best, but our lead has slipped. South Korean homes now have greater Internet access than we do. Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do. China is building faster trains and newer airports. Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our nation's infrastructure, they gave us a "D."

We have to do better. America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, constructed the Interstate Highway System. The jobs created by these projects didn't just come from laying down track or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town's new train station or the new off-ramp.

So over the last two years, we've begun rebuilding for the 21st century, a project that has meant thousands of good jobs for the hard-hit construction industry. And tonight, I'm proposing that we redouble those efforts.

(Applause.)

We'll put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges. We'll make sure this is fully paid for, attract private investment, and pick projects based what's best for the economy, not politicians.

Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail.

(Applause.)

This could allow you to go places in half the time it takes to travel by car. For some trips, it will be faster than flying — without the pat-down.

(Laughter and applause.)

As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway.

Within the next five years, we'll make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans. This isn't just about —

(Applause)

— this isn't about faster Internet or fewer dropped calls. It's about connecting every part of America to the digital age. It's about a rural community in Iowa or Alabama where farmers and small business owners will be able to sell their products all over the world. It's about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.

All these investments — in innovation, education, and infrastructure — will make America a better place to do business and create jobs. But to help our companies compete, we also have to knock down barriers that stand in the way of their success.

For example, over the years, a parade of lobbyists has rigged the tax code to benefit particular companies and industries. Those with accountants or lawyers to work the system can end up paying no taxes at all. But all the rest are hit with one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and it has to change.

(Applause.)

So tonight, I'm asking Democrats and Republicans to simplify the system. Get rid of the loopholes. Level the playing field. And use the savings to lower the corporate tax rate for the first time in 25 years — without adding to our deficit. It can be done.

(Applause.)

To help businesses sell more products abroad, we set a goal of doubling our exports by 2014 — because the more we export, the more jobs we create here at home. Already, our exports are up. Recently, we signed agreements with India and China that will support more than 250,000 jobs here in the United States. And last month, we finalized a trade agreement with South Korea that will support at least 70,000 American jobs. This agreement has unprecedented support from business and labor, Democrats and Republicans — and I ask this Congress to pass it as soon as possible.

(Applause.)

Now, before I took office, I made it clear that we would enforce our trade agreements, and that I would only sign deals that keep faith with American workers and promote American jobs. That's what we did with Korea, and that's what I intend to do as we pursue agreements with Panama and Colombia and continue our Asia Pacific and global trade talks.

(Applause.)

To reduce barriers to growth and investment, I've ordered a review of government regulations. When we find rules that put an unnecessary burden on businesses, we will fix them.

(Applause.)

But I will not hesitate to create or enforce common-sense safeguards to protect the American people.

(Applause.)

That's what we've done in this country for more than a century. It's why our food is safe to eat, our water is safe to drink, and our air is safe to breathe. It's why we have speed limits and child labor laws. It's why last year, we put in place consumer protections against hidden fees and penalties by credit card companies and new rules to prevent another financial crisis.

(Applause.)

And it's why we passed reform that finally prevents the health insurance industry from exploiting patients.

(Applause.)

Now, I have heard rumors that a few of you still have concerns about our new health care law.

(Laughter.)

So let me be the first to say that anything can be improved. If you have ideas about how to improve this law by making care better or more affordable, I am eager to work with you. We can start right now by correcting a flaw in the legislation that has placed an unnecessary bookkeeping burden on small businesses.

(Applause.)

What I'm not willing to do — what I'm not willing to do is go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a preexisting condition.

(Applause.)

I'm not willing to tell James Howard, a brain cancer patient from Texas, that his treatment might not be covered. I'm not willing to tell Jim Houser, a small business man from Oregon, that he has to go back to paying $5,000 more to cover his employees. As we speak, this law is making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors and giving uninsured students a chance to stay on their patients' — parents' coverage.

(Applause.)

So I say to this chamber tonight, instead of re-fighting the battles of the last two years, let's fix what needs fixing and let's move forward.

(Applause.)

Now, the final critical step in winning the future is to make sure we aren't buried under a mountain of debt.

We are living with a legacy of deficit spending that began almost a decade ago. And in the wake of the financial crisis, some of that was necessary to keep credit flowing, save jobs, and put money in people's pockets.

But now that the worst of the recession is over, we have to confront the fact that our government spends more than it takes in. That is not sustainable. Every day, families sacrifice to live within their means. They deserve a government that does the same.

So tonight, I am proposing that starting this year, we freeze annual domestic spending for the next five years.

(Applause.)

Now, this would reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade, and will bring discretionary spending to the lowest share of our economy since Dwight Eisenhower was President.

This freeze will require painful cuts. Already, we've frozen the salaries of hardworking federal employees for the next two years. I've proposed cuts to things I care deeply about, like community action programs. The Secretary of Defense has also agreed to cut tens of billions of dollars in spending that he and his generals believe our military can do without.

(Applause.)

I recognize that some in this chamber have already proposed deeper cuts, and I'm willing to eliminate whatever we can honestly afford to do without. But let's make sure that we're not doing it on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens. (Applause.) And let's make sure that what we're cutting is really excess weight. Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine. It may make you feel like you're flying high at first, but it won't take long before you feel the impact.

(Laughter.)

Now, most of the cuts and savings I've proposed only address annual domestic spending, which represents a little more than 12 percent of our budget. To make further progress, we have to stop pretending that cutting this kind of spending alone will be enough. It won't.

(Applause.)

The bipartisan fiscal commission I created last year made this crystal clear. I don't agree with all their proposals, but they made important progress. And their conclusion is that the only way to tackle our deficit is to cut excessive spending wherever we find it — in domestic spending, defense spending, health care spending, and spending through tax breaks and loopholes.

(Applause.)

This means further reducing health care costs, including programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are the single biggest contributor to our long-term deficit. The health insurance law we passed last year will slow these rising costs, which is part of the reason that nonpartisan economists have said that repealing the health care law would add a quarter of a trillion dollars to our deficit. Still, I'm willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year — medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits.

(Applause.)

To put us on solid ground, we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations.

(Applause.)

We must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans' guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market.

(Applause.)

And if we truly care about our deficit, we simply can't afford a permanent extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans.

(Applause.)

Before we take money away from our schools or scholarships away from our students, we should ask millionaires to give up their tax break. It's not a matter of punishing their success. It's about promoting America's success.

(Applause.)

In fact, the best thing we could do on taxes for all Americans is to simplify the individual tax code. (Applause.) This will be a tough job, but members of both parties have expressed an interest in doing this, and I am prepared to join them.

(Applause.)

So now is the time to act. Now is the time for both sides and both houses of Congress — Democrats and Republicans — to forge a principled compromise that gets the job done. If we make the hard choices now to rein in our deficits, we can make the investments we need to win the future.

Let me take this one step further. We shouldn't just give our people a government that's more affordable. We should give them a government that's more competent and more efficient. We can't win the future with a government of the past.

(Applause.)

We live and do business in the Information Age, but the last major reorganization of the government happened in the age of black-and-white TV. There are 12 different agencies that deal with exports. There are at least five different agencies that deal with housing policy. Then there's my favorite example: The Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they're in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them when they're in saltwater.

(Laughter.)

I hear it gets even more complicated once they're smoked.

(Laughter and applause.)

Now, we've made great strides over the last two years in using technology and getting rid of waste. Veterans can now download their electronic medical records with a click of the mouse. We're selling acres of federal office space that hasn't been used in years, and we'll cut through red tape to get rid of more. But we need to think bigger. In the coming months, my administration will develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the federal government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America. I will submit that proposal to Congress for a vote — and we will push to get it passed.

(Applause.)

In the coming year, we'll also work to rebuild people's faith in the institution of government. Because you deserve to know exactly how and where your tax dollars are being spent, you'll be able to go to a website and get that information for the very first time in history. Because you deserve to know when your elected officials are meeting with lobbyists, I ask Congress to do what the White House has already done — put that information online. And because the American people deserve to know that special interests aren't larding up legislation with pet projects, both parties in Congress should know this: If a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it. I will veto it.

(Applause.)

The 21st century government that's open and competent. A government that lives within its means. An economy that's driven by new skills and new ideas. Our success in this new and changing world will require reform, responsibility, and innovation. It will also require us to approach that world with a new level of engagement in our foreign affairs.

Just as jobs and businesses can now race across borders, so can new threats and new challenges. No single wall separates East and West. No one rival superpower is aligned against us.

And so we must defeat determined enemies, wherever they are, and build coalitions that cut across lines of region and race and religion. And America's moral example must always shine for all who yearn for freedom and justice and dignity. And because we've begun this work, tonight we can say that American leadership has been renewed and America's standing has been restored.

Look to Iraq, where nearly 100,000 of our brave men and women have left with their heads held high.

(Applause.)

American combat patrols have ended, violence is down, and a new government has been formed. This year, our civilians will forge a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people, while we finish the job of bringing our troops out of Iraq. America's commitment has been kept. The Iraq war is coming to an end.

(Applause.)

Of course, as we speak, al Qaeda and their affiliates continue to plan attacks against us. Thanks to our intelligence and law enforcement professionals, we're disrupting plots and securing our cities and skies. And as extremists try to inspire acts of violence within our borders, we are responding with the strength of our communities, with respect for the rule of law, and with the conviction that American Muslims are a part of our American family.

(Applause.)

We've also taken the fight to al Qaeda and their allies abroad. In Afghanistan, our troops have taken Taliban strongholds and trained Afghan security forces. Our purpose is clear: By preventing the Taliban from reestablishing a stranglehold over the Afghan people, we will deny al Qaeda the safe haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11.

Thanks to our heroic troops and civilians, fewer Afghans are under the control of the insurgency. There will be tough fighting ahead, and the Afghan government will need to deliver better governance. But we are strengthening the capacity of the Afghan people and building an enduring partnership with them. This year, we will work with nearly 50 countries to begin a transition to an Afghan lead. And this July, we will begin to bring our troops home.

(Applause.)

In Pakistan, al Qaeda's leadership is under more pressure than at any point since 2001. Their leaders and operatives are being removed from the battlefield. Their safe havens are shrinking. And we've sent a message from the Afghan border to the Arabian Peninsula to all parts of the globe: We will not relent, we will not waver, and we will defeat you.

(Applause.)

American leadership can also be seen in the effort to secure the worst weapons of war. Because Republicans and Democrats approved the New START treaty, far fewer nuclear weapons and launchers will be deployed. Because we rallied the world, nuclear materials are being locked down on every continent so they never fall into the hands of terrorists.

(Applause.)

Because of a diplomatic effort to insist that Iran meet its obligations, the Iranian government now faces tougher sanctions, tighter sanctions than ever before. And on the Korean Peninsula, we stand with our ally South Korea, and insist that North Korea keeps its commitment to abandon nuclear weapons.

(Applause.)

This is just a part of how we're shaping a world that favors peace and prosperity. With our European allies, we revitalized NATO and increased our cooperation on everything from counterterrorism to missile defense. We've reset our relationship with Russia, strengthened Asian alliances, built new partnerships with nations like India.

This March, I will travel to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador to forge new alliances across the Americas. Around the globe, we're standing with those who take responsibility — helping farmers grow more food, supporting doctors who care for the sick, and combating the corruption that can rot a society and rob people of opportunity.

Recent events have shown us that what sets us apart must not just be our power — it must also be the purpose behind it. In south Sudan — with our assistance — the people were finally able to vote for independence after years of war. (Applause.) Thousands lined up before dawn. People danced in the streets. One man who lost four of his brothers at war summed up the scene around him: "This was a battlefield for most of my life," he said. "Now we want to be free."

(Applause.)

And we saw that same desire to be free in Tunisia, where the will of the people proved more powerful than the writ of a dictator. And tonight, let us be clear: The United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia, and supports the democratic aspirations of all people.

(Applause.)

We must never forget that the things we've struggled for, and fought for, live in the hearts of people everywhere. And we must always remember that the Americans who have borne the greatest burden in this struggle are the men and women who serve our country.

(Applause.)

Tonight, let us speak with one voice in reaffirming that our nation is united in support of our troops and their families. Let us serve them as well as they've served us — by giving them the equipment they need, by providing them with the care and benefits that they have earned, and by enlisting our veterans in the great task of building our own nation.

Our troops come from every corner of this country — they're black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And, yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love. (Applause.) And with that change, I call on all our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one nation.

(Applause.)

We should have no illusions about the work ahead of us. Reforming our schools, changing the way we use energy, reducing our deficit — none of this will be easy. All of it will take time. And it will be harder because we will argue about everything. The costs. The details. The letter of every law.

Of course, some countries don't have this problem. If the central government wants a railroad, they build a railroad, no matter how many homes get bulldozed. If they don't want a bad story in the newspaper, it doesn't get written.

And yet, as contentious and frustrating and messy as our democracy can sometimes be, I know there isn't a person here who would trade places with any other nation on Earth.

(Applause.)

We may have differences in policy, but we all believe in the rights enshrined in our Constitution. We may have different opinions, but we believe in the same promise that says this is a place where you can make it if you try. We may have different backgrounds, but we believe in the same dream that says this is a country where anything is possible. No matter who you are. No matter where you come from.

That dream is why I can stand here before you tonight. That dream is why a working-class kid from Scranton can sit behind me.

(Laughter and applause.)

That dream is why someone who began by sweeping the floors of his father's Cincinnati bar can preside as Speaker of the House in the greatest nation on Earth.

(Applause.)

That dream — that American Dream — is what drove the Allen Brothers to reinvent their roofing company for a new era. It's what drove those students at Forsyth Tech to learn a new skill and work towards the future. And that dream is the story of a small business owner named Brandon Fisher.

Brandon started a company in Berlin, Pennsylvania, that specializes in a new kind of drilling technology. And one day last summer, he saw the news that halfway across the world, 33 men were trapped in a Chilean mine, and no one knew how to save them.

But Brandon thought his company could help. And so he designed a rescue that would come to be known as Plan B. His employees worked around the clock to manufacture the necessary drilling equipment. And Brandon left for Chile.

Along with others, he began drilling a 2,000-foot hole into the ground, working three- or four-hour — three or four days at a time without any sleep. Thirty-seven days later, Plan B succeeded, and the miners were rescued. (Applause.) But because he didn't want all of the attention, Brandon wasn't there when the miners emerged. He'd already gone back home, back to work on his next project.

And later, one of his employees said of the rescue, "We proved that Center Rock is a little company, but we do big things."

(Applause.)

We do big things.

From the earliest days of our founding, America has been the story of ordinary people who dare to dream. That's how we win the future.

We're a nation that says, "I might not have a lot of money, but I have this great idea for a new company." "I might not come from a family of college graduates, but I will be the first to get my degree." "I might not know those people in trouble, but I think I can help them, and I need to try." "I'm not sure how we'll reach that better place beyond the horizon, but I know we'll get there. I know we will."

We do big things.

(Applause.)

The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it's because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our union is strong.

Thank you. God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

(Applause.)