If you’re a Democrat or liberal, you might find it funny that Republicans were lied to by President Bush. You see, Bush made promises to enforce the Second Amendment, relax gun laws on law abiding citizens, remove the 10 percent tax for being married, flatten the taxes and reduce the size of the government.
What Republicans received was a president who forgot that we had a domestic agenda, fought two wars with no end in sight, stopped spending money on Americans, raised taxes, encouraged the Supreme Court to rule against an individual’s right to have guns and increased the size of government. Disgusted Republicans gave a silent protest by not voting in the last election.
So, in 2008, we elected the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama and in both houses of Congress we elected the Democratic candidates to a super majority. A super majority allows the Democrats the option of voting for a law without needing any Republican votes. The Democratic campaign was one based on changes the American people demanded and voted for. Compare campaign promises from candidate Barack Obama to what President Obama is doing:
“Let me say it as simply as I can: transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency.”
“You’ll get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves.”
“If you don’t have health insurance, then what we’re going to do is to provide you the option of buying into the same kind of federal pool that both Sen. McCain and I enjoy as federal employees, which will give you high-quality care, choice of doctors, at lower costs, because so many people are part of this insured group.”
“The first step to reclaiming America’s standing in the world has to be closing this facility. As president, Barack Obama will close the detention facility at Guantanamo.”
“And I have seen no information that contradicts the notion that we can bring our troops out safely at a pace of one to two brigades a month, and, again, that pace translates into having our combat troops out in 16 months’ time.”
“My presidency will mark a new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change.”
“I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I have also called for us to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Like the Republicans, the Democrats have a President who isn’t doing what he promised. With a super majority in Congress and all branches of the government under Democratic control, we still see no change. Like President Bush, “Mr. Transparency” is having secret meetings with top pharmaceutical executives to discuss health care? Pledging to give us health care “that both Sen. McCain and I enjoy as federal employees” was just another lie. The plan is nothing like the “kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves.” Each amendment to force our elected officials to use the new health care plan gets voted down by the Democrats. They used to call that “separate but equal” before the civil rights movement.
Today, Guantanamo Bay still is open for business and still has hundreds of prisoners. The military still doesn’t ask, so you’d better not tell. Gay couples are no better off under Obama than they were under Bush. Obama and the Democrats still will not support a legally binding reduction of carbon emissions. June of 2010 is only five months away, and we have more troops in Iraq and Afghanistan than we had under Bush. Obama is increasing the deficit more in his first nine months than Bush did in eight years, and there’s no slowing in sight.
They say we need to keep troops in Afghanistan or the bad guys will come and get us. History has shown that when the Soviet Union left Afghanistan after a brutal 10 year war that targeted women and children, the Soviets simply went home. The locals went back to fighting each other and never attacked the Soviets again.
So what does this have to do with the people of Santa Monica? Hollywood has a major influence on the media. Many Hollywood types live on the Westside and are your next door neighbors here in Santa Monica. It doesn’t matter what your political leanings are, if you’re not researching the facts and talking with your friends and neighbors about these issues, you’re supporting corruption. When I say researching the facts, I don’t mean being a mindless lemming that regurgitates what was on Fox News and ABC. That’s how the terrorist operate. If you want to have an opinion of President Obama, start by reading his books and looking at the words he said, and not what someone else told you he said.
Our media has given both Bush and Obama a free ride when it comes to owning up to campaign promises. You see, they figure that you’re too stupid to understand what’s going on or even care. When you forfeit your civic duty, you get a government that’s run by crooks. Enjoy the panem et circenses (bread and circuses).
David Alsabery is a high performance driving instructor and all around nice guy. He can be reached at alsabery@gmail.com.
