"We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril, and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again. That is why, even as it cuts back on the programs we don’t need, the budget I submit will invest in the three areas that are absolutely critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education."WIN! Sustainable energy is where it's at, baby!
"I know there are people who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence for climate change..."
...he also knows that they're friggin' tards, and he's going to go ahead making sensible global climate policy anyway. :D
"Democrats: We have the largest majority in decades. People expect us to solve problems, not run for the hills."
Liberals unite!
"Even as we prosecute two wars, we are also confronting perhaps the greatest danger to the American people – the threat of nuclear weapons. I have embraced the vision of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan through a strategy that reverses the spread of these weapons, and seeks a world without them. To reduce our stockpiles and launchers, while ensuring our deterrent, the United States and Russia are completing negotiations on the farthest-reaching arms control treaty in nearly two decades. And at April's Nuclear Security Summit, we will bring forty-four nations together behind a clear goal: securing all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years, so that they never fall into the hands of terrorists."
Or you know, fall into the hands of ANYONE. Nuclear weapons are the worst invention man has yet to devise; it IS absolutely the greatest danger to Americans, humanity, and all life on planet Earth.
"This budget builds on these reforms. It includes an historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform – a down-payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American. It’s a commitment that’s paid for in part by efficiencies in our system that are long overdue."
System = Inefficient + Unaffordable. Solution = Non-existent. Let's put your money where your mouth is, Mr. President.
"We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promise enshrined in our Constitution: the notion that we are all created equal, that no matter who you are or what you look like, if you abide by the law you should be protected by it.
We must continually renew this promise. My administration has a Civil Rights Division that is once again prosecuting civil rights violations and employment discrimination. We finally strengthened our laws to protect against crimes driven by hate."
This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are."
BOUT DAMN TIME. (I will elaborate on this subject below!)
"And let's tell another one million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years –- and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service, because in the United States of America, no... one should go broke because they chose to go to college."
Meanwhile, we rack up thousands of dollars in debt to pay for college... as we desperately hope that maybe 1/10th of these programs will get jostled around through the bipartisan cluster-fuck known as the United States bureaucracy, and make it through looking even REMOTELY like what it did when it went in.
I plan on narrowly escaping to Canada to evade my unpaid obligations... EX-PAT ALL THE WAY!
"In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand."
I am finally excited about to be a part of a country I can be proud of, if at least in our intentions, values, and genuine effort. Let's make this beautiful dream an American reality!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That speech was certainly a figment of magnificence. A few things to go along with it:
Pentagon plan on 'don't ask, don't tell' ready for Congress
from CNN.com
Defense Secretary Robert Gates will unveil the Pentagon's plan to prepare for repealing the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" law regarding gay soldiers at a committee hearing Tuesday, a Pentagon spokesman said.
Gates will discuss options for more "humanely" implementing the current ban, for example, according to a senior Pentagon official. The secretary asked his general counsel's office for options six months ago including how to possibly not expel personnel whose homosexuality is revealed by third parties, the source said.
"As a nation built on the principal of equality, we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger more cohesive military," said Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
U.S. Economy Grew at Fastest Pace in 6 Years Last Quarter
from NYTimes.com:
The United States economy grew at its fastest pace in more than six years at the end of 2009, even as businesses resisted hiring and continued to do more with less.
The broadest measure of economic activity, gross domestic product, expanded at an annual rate of 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter, after a 2.2 percent increase the previous quarter.
The economy grew at an annualized rate of 5.7% in the quarter, faster than expected, but economists still worried about the sluggish job market.
and of course, what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't bring up Scott Roeder's trial?
Talks With District Attorney Nola Foulston on the Scott Roeder Trial and Verdict
from CNN.com
A record verdict, taking only 37 minutes, was pronounced by a unanimous jury that Scott Roeder was guilty of premeditated murder and terrorism.
I really like what the prosecutor had to say, and I wish I could embed the video. Click the link above to redirect to the CNN.com video of this interview. Here's an excerpt:
"There was an elephant in the room. And it was our position that you couldn't really try the case, although it was not actually about the nature of abortion or abortion procedures, that abortion was one of the underlying reasons, is the reason that George Tiller was killed. And as a consequence we needed only to bring in that information that would go ahead and lead to motive. It has been a very divisive issue in our country, and people are still in great conflict. But truly, this was not about a woman's right to choose. This was really about Scott Roeder's choices, and the choices that he made."____________________________________________________________________________________
Well, at least it looks like we're getting somewhere. It's a start, people. It's a start. :)
wildcoyote
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