Obama focuses on fairness
'The state of our union is getting stronger'
People gathered at the Concord Obama Office at the Democratic Party Headquarters in Concord to watch the State of the Union on Tuesday night, January 24, 2012.Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
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Doug Bois watches the State of the Union at the New Hampshire Democratic Party headquarters in Concord on Tuesday night, January 24, 2012. About 10 people gathered at the local Obama office for a watch party.Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
People gathered at the Concord Obama Office at the Democratic Party Headquarters in Concord to watch the State of the Union on Tuesday night, January 24, 2012.Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
Declaring the American dream under siege, President Obama called last night for a flurry of help for a hurting middle class and higher taxes on millionaires, delivering a State of the Union address packed with re-election themes. Restoring a fair shot for all, Obama said, is "the defining issue of our time."
Obama outlined a vastly different vision for fixing the country than the one pressed by the Republicans challenging him in Congress and fighting to take his job in the November election. He pleaded for an active government that ensures economic fairness for everyone, just as his opponents demand that the government back off and let the free market rule.
Obama offered steps to help students afford college, a plan for more struggling homeowners to refinance their homes and tax cuts for manufacturers. He threw in politically appealing references to accountability, including warning universities they will lose federal aid if they don't stop tuition from soaring.
Standing in front of a divided Congress, with bleak hope this election year for much of his legislative agenda, Obama spoke with voters in mind.
"We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by," Obama said. "Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules."
A rare wave of unity splashed over the House chamber at the start. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, survivor of an assassination attempt one year ago, received sustained applause from her peers and cheers of "Gabby, Gabby, Gabby." She blew a kiss to the podium. Obama embraced her.
Lawmakers leapt to their feet when Obama said near the start of his speech that terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, killed by a raid authorized by the president, will no longer threaten America.
At the core of Obama's address was the improving but deeply wounded economy - the matter still driving Americans' anxiety and the one likely to determine the next presidency.
"The state of our union is getting stronger," Obama said, calibrating his words as millions remain unemployed. Implicit in his declaration that the American dream is "within our reach" was the recognition that, after three years of an Obama presidency, the country is not there yet.
He spoke of restoring basic goals: owning a home, earning enough to raise a family, putting a little money away for retirement.
"We can do this," Obama said. "I know we can." He said Americans are convinced that "Washington is broken," but he also said it wasn't too late to cooperate on important matters.
Republicans were not impressed. They applauded infrequently, though they did cheer when the president quoted "Republican Abraham Lincoln" as saying: "That government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves - and no more."
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, offering the formal GOP response, called Obama's policies "pro-poverty" and his tactics divisive.
"No feature of the Obama presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us, to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others," Daniels said in excerpts released before the address.
In a signature swipe at the nation's growing income gap, Obama called for a new minimum tax rate of at least 30 percent on anyone making over $1 million. Many millionaires - including one of his chief rivals, Republican Mitt Romney - pay a rate less than that because they get most of their income from investments, which are taxed at a lower rate.
"Now you can call this class warfare all you want," Obama said, responding to a frequent criticism from the GOP presidential field. "But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense."
Obama calls this the "Buffett rule," named for billionaire Warren Buffett, who has said it's unfair that his secretary pays a higher tax rate than he does. Emphasizing the point, Buffett's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, attended the address in first lady Michelle Obama's box.
Obama underlined every proposal with the idea that hard work and responsibility still count. He was targeting independent voters who helped seal his election in 2008 and the frustrated masses in a nation pessimistic about its course. (next page »)
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So what exactly is fair?
Is it fair that people who don't pay any income taxes get subsidized even further by the half who do pay income taxes. This country was not founded on: "from those according to their ability to those according to their need".
Democrats, Republicans and Obama realize that our corporate tax rate is second highest next to Japan in the industrialized world and Obama is now talking about lowering that to stimulate growth.
Yet, he does not see that the same thing working on income taxes.
A bit of cognitive dissonance there, I would say.
But seriously, what is fair. Two people make choices.
Sam decided to study hard in school, go to college, never smoked or consumed alcohol, saved money and worked 60+ hours per week to get ahead. He decided to work two jobs starting out. He has been responsible on spending and lives within his means.
Joe partied hearty in school and did not go to college, he never smoked but did like his alcohol, he spent his paycheck from a 40 hour job as it came in and never felt he should work more than 40 hours per week. He never saved anything and he spent his money freely.
Now jump ahead 25 years. Sam now earns $125,000 per year, Joe makes $45,000. Sam has a net worth of $1M, Joe $100,000. Does Sam owe Joe something?????????
From what I can tell, progressives thing so, please explain???
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Good work, Dan.....you said what needed to be said. In addition, in response to RabbitNH, Mr. Obama did NOT say that businesses that ship their jobs overseas would pay higher taxes. He asked Congress to remove any incentives they receive to send those jobs overseas, and to instead give those incentives to businesses who bring jobs back from overseas and create them here in this country. That's a huge difference, Rabbit, one that I would have thought you might understand, but I guess it was too subtle for you.
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is to cut the corporate tax rate which is the second highest in the industrialized world next to Japan.
There is a big difference in an incentive and a penalty. One gives you good reason, the other is a threat.
Obama is all about the latter, everyday, in every way.
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I kind of thought if the tax break was removed, that means you pay higher taxes. What did I miss?.
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The incentive for those same businesses to bring their jobs home. They may lose one tax break, but they gain another if they provide those same jobs at home.
Do you oppose the concept of creating jobs at home, rather than outsourcing them?
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Do I oppose creating jobs at home? Come on Gaia, that is an insane question. I live ibn the US. I want jobs here of course.
You think a tax break will bring those jobs back?
Obama has done everything in his power to make sure that he is the enemy of business.
Now he wants to crash the stockmarket with his 30% on capital gains. Not to mention how that tax hike will affect your 401K.
What you do not know about the economy is a lot Gaia.
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So let me get this right............congress is going to write new laws..... and repeal others........ that will produce an incentive for corporations to bring home jobs?........do you believe that gobbledygook....well then again......... a bunch of people did fall for that Hopey Changey thingy
Hmmmmmm
Obama had absolute power for 2 years with a filibuster proof senate
....why hasnt it gotten done in the last 3 years?
while they are at it why dont they give corporations an incentive to repatriate the $$$$ TRILLIONS in off shore profits? hmmmmmm
ECONOMIC Principle - money and jobs are like water - they always flow the path of least resistance
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Why didnt he fix that then?
HMMMMM
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...in the country single handedly with no help from the do nothing Republicans.
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a simple question
Obama pledged during the campaign and after in 2 state of the union speeches to "FOCUS LIKE A LASER ON JOBS"
Obama and the democrats had a filibuster proof congress..........AND OBAMA DID NOT NEED ONE SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE.........why did they NOT address an issue that the democrats always cry about.........."businesses that ship their jobs overseas"
hmmmmmmmmmmm
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Plus 57 or 58 does not = 60
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word from the wise........when in a hole ..........stop digging
your democrat "Leader" Obama hasn't even been able to get your own democrat controlled Senate to pass a budget in the last 1002 days........how could he possible lead them to actually pass some legislation
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Republicans have been digging it for us for 3 decades with their tax cut legislation.
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more federal government spending and redistribution of wealth. Interesting icy exchange between Obama and Scott Brown after SOTU. Brown could take him on the BB court and at the polls.
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Brown could neither take Obama on the court, nor can he even take Elizabeth Warren at the polls. He may have to start posing again after November....
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Brown / Warren .......dead heat last poll I saw
and she is in a downward trend after her ~$3 Million income became news
She is a 1% and MA citizens are waking up to her scam
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you are forgetting that you are talking Mass...the land where voter fraud is alive and well.
The Monitor should change the rules for this post and let each one of us conservatives vote twice.
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I think he generally did well and was polished, as usual, but there was too much partisan politics in his tone. Yes, I know he is frustrated with nothing getting through Congress, but taking the role of Daddy reigning in his children is only going to further stir the pot. I give big credit for him taking the risk of putting out a plan for the future. I did not see any hint of that in the Republican Response and instead only saw what I interpreted as a message the Republicans will see to it that the President will accomplish nothing more before the elections. For that reason, I hated the Response. I was further astounded when the president talked of opening new land for drilling, and reigning-in wasteful spending by discontinuing subsidies for the oil industry when they are currently astronomically profitable, and none of the Republicans applauded.
I wish Congress could work together to compromise and move forward even if they reject the President's leadership. Instead, some in Congress hold the nation hostage in the name of making the President fail and to arm for the elections. We elect Congress to serve in the nation's best interest, not to serve in the political party's best interest. I give the President passing marks for trying to lead. I give Congress failing marks for failing to serve the nation.
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did you know that the democrat controlled senate led by democrat Harry Reid has not passed a budget resolution in 1001 days - almost 3 years
Do you even know why ?
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Distribution of wealth, Fairness are socialist code words. I am part of the so-called 99% struggling to get by and I don't blame the rich for the economy I blame big intrusive government. The state of the union is very weak and everyone knows it.
Lets use Ronald Reagan's formula for success less regulations and less tax and get off Obama's fool's path to economic disaster.
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Reagan did a good job in many ways, but your posting conflicts with his actual actions in other ways. The deficit jumped under Reagan, largely due to huge jumps in defense spending. When he saw that action, he raised taxes to slow the deficit. Yes he was for smaller government and I think that is a good concept and I also think he was generally fair minded. But contrary to today, he governed in a different time when Congress worked more to compromise, unheard of today.
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When Ronald Reagan was President . . . people in Mitt Romney's income bracket paid 20-20 % in taxes!
Yet more proof that The Gipper would be considered "too liberal" to be elected by "today's RepubiKKKan party."
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Dan it is 8:28 aren't you suppose to be teaching our kids? RepubiKKKan party. Where is the evidence of that? It is a sure sign that liberals lose an argument they go right straight to the false racist attacks.
Dan, you said at one time that you don't pass your political beliefs to your students with writings like this while you should be teaching our children I don't believe you.
Indoctrinating our kids any way they can.
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The job of a community organizer is to incite those within the community to get money to come into their community from outside their community to fix their perceived ills....and that is all Obama knows........ and he proved it again in his SOTU campaign speech
When you take that concept on a national scale it obviously fails as there is no outside to steal the money from. To overcome that economic hurdle - Obama has gone on the worlds largest spending spree with the nations credit card
Leftists believe the size of the pie is static and they always want a bigger slice of the pie
Obama in his SOTU campaign speech did not outline any plans to make the pie bigger .......all he wants to do is redistribute the money from the earners to the takers
The only way to get out of this mess is to grow the economy not redistribute it
Shamefully Obama did not address the elephant in the room - Social Security and Medicaid
That is NOT leadership
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thats the plan? Raise taxes on the rich, more govt panels to investigate the mortgage crisis, and several incoherent reference about growth and hiring.
Wiley E Obama...super genius.
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More panels set up to check out ideas, go after business and try and control them, praise teachers,green energy, fair share, etc.
I thought it was ironic that Steve Job's widow was there and he was praising Apple. Yet he was saying two sentences later, that business who ship their work overseas will be fined with high taxes. And of course Buffet's Secretary, who pays more on her taxes than Buffet does. You know those capital gains are not fair. Why encourage anybody in this country to invest. Obama is the poster child for how to ruin an economy.
.
I do think he toned down his arrogance. His class warfare was disguised a bit more.
I had to laugh at his "Put That Bill On My Desk And I Will Sign It".
He did show his hand about more programs to help everybody. Grow Govt even bigger.
As usual, he never tells you how any of this will be paid for, except by the evil businesses in this country.
He has no clue. A very dangerous President. One that will destroy this economy if allowed to.
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FEWER panels, NO ideas, DENEGRATE teachers, DIRTY, POLLUTING energy, UNFAIR share, etc.
Yeah . . . that's what this country needs!
Or you could look at it the way those three idiots on FOX 'n friends did this morning. I saw that Doocey (sp?) guy claiming that the rich actually pay most of the taxes in this country. Yeah, they do if you go by dollar amount. But when you look at it in terms of a PERCENTAGE (which Doocey and company cannot comprehend) they pay MUCH LESS.
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I would like to hear your take on NH getting a D- on Teacher Quality Choices. I would be be curious on your views on that ranking.
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Let me see if I can sum up the answer in a few sound bytes.
Tea Party!!
Knuckle draggers!!
Obrien!!!
Extremists!!
Anti education!!
1-25-12 5:37 pm
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I'll read and respond.
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Right here on the CM Breaking News. Scroll down it is after DOT working on Toll Booths.
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"New Hampshire has made almost no progress in enacting policies that promote teacher quality in the last two years . . . "
Hmmmmm . . . and just WHO has been in power in NH politics in the last two years? The Tea Party/Free Staters that's who! So are you blaming all those "good new republicans" for not doing their job???
"The National Council on Teacher Quality is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit . . . "
GEESH! Sounds like one'a them damn liberal big govt. committees to me - I'm surprised you even bothered to read any further LOL!
Here's the rest of the highlights as I see them . . .
Strength - we're able to collect evidence of teacher effectiveness
Weakness - we do not yet have a way of including student achievement as a measure of teacher success(but they're working on this as I write this)
Strength/Weakness??? - we're 26th out of 50 - smack-dab in the middle
Weakness - no mentoring program (my school has had this since I started teaching there. I went through it even though when I started I was far from a new teacher - it was a great way to acclimate myself to my new teaching environment)
Weakness - SIGNIFICANTLY underfunding the pension system . . . GEE, WHO COULD'VE SEEN THAT COMING LOL!!
Weakness - no assurance that bad teachers will be fired (again, in my experience at the NH school I teach at this is not the case as I've seen plenty of teachers let go.)
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AP January 25, 2012
CONCORD, N.H.—New Hampshire has made almost no progress in enacting policies that promote teacher quality in the last two years and continues to score poorly in a national report being released Wednesday.
Many states saw a dramatic improvement in their grades this year compared to 2009, when the highest grade given was a C and Florida was the only state to receive it. New Hampshire's overall grade of D-minus was unchanged, however. It received grades of D or D-minus in four categories -- the same grades it got in 2009 -- and in one category, improved from an F to a D.
Oh yes the pension system. Contracts, pensions, the golden parachute of 9 month wonder warriors, protected by the union and complaining about how poorly they are treated for their 25 year careers. Most of all being able to blog on the public dime.
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