President Obama

We Can’t “Spring Forward” if We’re Going Backwards

March 9, 2013 by Brooklyn Dame 2 Comments

“Spring forward”….yes, that’s a good message to share as we wrap up another week. In taking stock of the past week’s events, we can see that several things took place that lay a foundation for moving forward, including but not limited to improvement in the nation’s employment figures, record-setting stock market averages, reauthorisation of the Violence Against Women Act, and even (some) Senate Republicans broke bread with the President to discuss getting beyond the self-imposed sequester.… [Read more]

Filed Under: Wrap-Up Tagged With: Daylight Savings Time, President Obama, Republicans, Sequester, US Politics

Why Men Need to Stand up for the Equal Rights Amendment

March 9, 2013 by Charlie Meyer 9 Comments

Yesterday was International Women’s Day. Looking at the events and purpose of the day, I now propose we men take a sensible step back from the underarm-applied testosterone supplement bathroom mirror world view of our receding hairlines to reflect on some still unfinished business. In this country, we need a renewed push for the still unenacted Equal Rights Amendment.… [Read more]

Filed Under: Transcending Borders Tagged With: E.R.A., Equal Rights Amendment, Fair Pay, G.O.P., Marcus Bachmann, Phyllis Schlafly, President Obama, Women

Beware of elephants bearing ‘gifts’

March 7, 2013 by Charlie Meyer 3 Comments

So the Republican-controlled House of Representatives proposed a $982 billion bill to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year instead of more brinksmanship. Before we start dancing in the streets, and name a few golf courses and watering holes after House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), the devil is again in the details.

As a former Federal agency budget analyst and before that, a military comptroller, we need to look beyond the spin platitudes and delve into the numbers.… [Read more]

Filed Under: Finance Tagged With: Defense, John Boehner, Military Spending, Mitt Romney, President Obama, Sequester, US Politics

There You Go…Again.

March 7, 2013 by Brooklyn Dame 3 Comments

Here we go again...just spinning our wheels!

For several months, politicians on both sides of the political aisle have been sounding the alarm. We’ve been warned that the sequestered spending cuts are across-the-board and, therefore, without analysis. We’ve also been warned that the draconian measures will slow economic growth and, as a result, cost the nation somewhere in the area of 750,000 jobs – a figure agreed to by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.… [Read more]

Filed Under: The BK Dame Says Tagged With: Budget, Government Shutdown, John Boehner, Military Spending, President Obama, Republican Party, Ronald Reagan, Sequester, Tax Loophole

Rodman to Obama: Call Kim Maybe?

March 6, 2013 by Joe Guardino 5 Comments

In the middle of a week that can only fall under the category of our founder’s favorite phrase –sequestration, an allegedly semi-divine pontiff resigning, sinkholes in Florida, massive Winter Storms from Maine to Virginia, these still do not merit the title of “What the living f*ck!?”

It’s when the first American guest of the last holdout of Stalinesque brutality and Leader Worship is a seven-foot, cross-dressing former NBA star.… [Read more]

Filed Under: WTLF*?!? Tagged With: Dennis Rodman, Foreign Policy, Kim Jong Un, March Madness, North Korea, President Obama

When the going gets tough, the tough go on vacation.

March 4, 2013 by Charlie Meyer 1 Comment

Two-time Pulitzer winning cartoonist Mike Luckovich, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, sketched an appropriate cartoon the other day on the string of inept GOP brinksmanship showdowns. Yes, America is tired of it. Making a mess in the kitchen, and leaving it for the missus is not a path to domestic bliss.

Kowtowing to the Tea Terrorists, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Oh.) “led” his ‘Party of No’ on another sabotage raid on the American economy.… [Read more]

Filed Under: Finance Tagged With: G.O.P., John Boehner, President Obama, Republican Party, Sequester, US Economy, US Politics

“Go Ahead, Make My Day”…Threats of Another ‘Fiscal Cliff’

February 25, 2013 by Charlie Meyer 2 Comments

Boehner Holds Media Briefing At The Capitol

The famous title line from “tough guy” actor, director, and GOP Convention empty chair talker Clint Eastwood is now for President Obama and Congressional Democrats to use against Right-wing foes bent upon driving the nation off yet another fiscal cliff.

Congressional Republicans want to allow dramatic across the board cuts under the sequester. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Oh.), unable or unwilling to provide adult leadership to the more radical ideologues in the ‘Party of No’, now see fit to let the crazed upstarts drive the bus off the cliff.… [Read more]

Filed Under: We Say This Tagged With: Economy, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, President Obama, Sequester, US Politics

When We Look Back, What Will We See?

February 24, 2013 by Brooklyn Dame 1 Comment

Beginnings, endings and periods that mark great changes occur during every moment of every day. Wrapping up this week, a few events in history that took place on February 24th caught my attention:

In 2008, Fidel Castro retired as the President of Cuba after nearly fifty years, and his brother Raul Castro was unanimously elected.
In 2011, the final launch of Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) took place.

… [Read more]

Filed Under: Wrap-Up Tagged With: Congress, Middle Class, poverty, President Obama, Sequester, US Economy

Wrap Up: Looking back, moving forward into the week ahead

February 10, 2013 by Brooklyn Dame Leave a Comment

In case you missed it, here is the latest episode of “West Wing Week” posted by the White House. Whether one agrees with the politics or policies discussed, it’s a great way for citizens keep abreast of the decisions made by the President and power brokers in Washington. If you agree with what’s going on in Washington then request more of the same but, if you don’t agree, then raise your voice and make sure that your representatives are aware that the needs of their constituents are not being met.… [Read more]

Filed Under: Wrap-Up Tagged With: Department of the Interior, Environment, President Obama, Sally Jewell, State of the Union, US Politics

Warhawk Redux

February 2, 2013 by Bryan Davies 2 Comments

I was in Nam when you were a gleam in your daddy's eye

Looking across the border this week from my Johnny Canuck bully pulpit, I was reminded why the supposed democratic ‘holding to account’ cited as the US Senate confirmation hearings constitutional rationale is the ultimate political pant load. Thank God for our good old Canadian patronage appointments in similar circumstances – ones done mostly behind closed doors, pure as the driven slush, after you catch an eyeful of this Capitol Hill bozo brigade.… [Read more]

Filed Under: Wrap-Up Tagged With: American Exceptionalism, Chuck Hagel, President Obama, Republican Party, Senate hearings, War Hawk

Unity, Progress and Peace

January 25, 2013 by Mike Scourby Leave a Comment

President Barack Obama’s second inaugural address to the nation on Monday was a reminder how far America has come and how far we need to go. He pointed out so boldly that America is at a turning point in its history. We can retreat back into the 20th century with old, stale and outdated thinking or America can forge ahead with a new dynamic, multiracial democracy, where all men and women of all races, sexual orientations and creeds are truly equal.… [Read more]

Filed Under: We Say This Tagged With: inaugural address, Martin Luther King Jr., President Obama

Let’s wait before we slam the POTUS’ picks for lack of diversity

January 24, 2013 by Brooklyn Dame 1 Comment

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden pose with the full Cabinet for an official group photo in the East Room of the White House, Sept. 10, 2009. - Creative Commons

Criticism is often offered before people know exactly what they are criticising; that goes for politics, interpersonal relationships and it’s certainly evident in social media interactions. Case in point: recent criticism over President Obama’s picks to fill his cabinet have reminded me very much of those people who see an article posted on Facebook and then make comments based on solely on the title without ever having read the article to which it’s attached.… [Read more]

Filed Under: The BK Dame Says Tagged With: Diversity, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Mary Jo White, President Obama, Securities and Exchange Commission, Susan Rice

And The Gloves Come Off: Welcome to Obama 2.0

January 23, 2013 by Erica Guardino 2 Comments

With the sacred oath of office and the conclusion of the inaugural address, we have officially entered the second term of Barack Obama’s presidency. Presidential inaugurations are typically very formulaic: left hand on the Bible, right hand up in the air; a nod to equality here, a toast to freedom there. But this year’s address has left all of us aflutter for one reason or another.… [Read more]

Filed Under: We Say This Tagged With: Climate Change, Gay Rights, Immigration reform, Inauguration, President Obama

Praying for the Death of the President

January 22, 2013 by Barbara Broido and Jeffrey R. Broido 1 Comment

To threaten the life of The President of the United States is a federal offense. To do so would be considered treasonous only in extreme cases but, at the very least, it’s a Class D Felony. And Michael O’Neal — the current Speaker of the Kansas State House of Representatives — has threatened President Obama’s life – not in deed but in word.… [Read more]

Filed Under: Art-itorials Tagged With: Barack Hussein Obama, GOP, Michael O'Neal, Mike O'Neal, President Obama, Psalm 109, Republican, Rev. Wiley Drake, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, treason

Paving the Way to a Legacy: Beyond Inauguration Day

January 21, 2013 by Brooklyn Dame Leave a Comment

Obama And Biden Sworn In During Official Ceremony

With the eyes of the nation focused on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Barack H. Obama will be sworn in for his second term as the 44th President of the United States.

Whether we agree with his politics or policies there is one thing about which we should all agree: we are bearing witness to a powerful, historic event – one which is a significant reminder of the greatness of a democracy.… [Read more]

Filed Under: The BK Dame Says Tagged With: Foreign Policy, Inauguration Day, Medicaid, Medicare, military budget, Obamacare, President Obama

Everyday People

January 19, 2013 by Flower Child 1 Comment

friends_silhouettes_vectors_59271 AllFreeDownloads.com

“Don’t hate the black
Don’t hate the white
If you get bitten
Just hate the bite”

~ Sly and the Family Stone

Everyday people spoke, petitioned, protested, occupied and marched.

Everyday people made their voices heard on Election Day.… [Read more]

Filed Under: Say It In Song Tagged With: Election Day, Inauguration, President Obama, Sly and The Family Stone

A Day to Give Back: National Day of Service

January 18, 2013 by Brooklyn Dame Leave a Comment

“Everyone can be great because anyone can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t even have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve… You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 15th marked what would have been Dr.… [Read more]

Filed Under: The BK Dame Says Tagged With: Activism, Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King Jr., National Day of Service, President Obama, social change, Volunteer