I heard Candy Crowley of CNN ask Governors O'Mally, Bev Purdue, and Mayor Vilragossa if the nation is better off today that it was 4 years ago, and I couldn't but cringe at the simplicity of the question and the timidity of the respondents. Governor O'Mally's pivot to blaming Bush was right-on, but the tame "no" in response to the basic question played into the Republican narrative.
The true response to that simple comparison question is : YES.
In September of 2008, the world's economy was on the ropes. Lehman brother has just collapsed. Indeed, the nation faced economic Armageddon. True, John McCain (the leader of the Republican party) had just famously announced that "The fundamentals of our economy are strong!". And that is for an economy that has been in free fall since 2007. The stock market had started a free fall from its heights. The unemployment rate was climbing precariously. The nation was in a free fall economically. Also in September of 2008, seven years after 9/11 and almost seven years after the initial invasion of Afghanistan, purportedly in search of Osama Bin Laden, the only foreign policy success of the Republican Bush administration was the obvious quagmire in Iraq (a war of choice) and the seeming inability to locate Osama Bin Laden. Leading Republicans, including now candidate were beginning to excuse that failure by belittling the need to capture America's public enemy number 1. The nation was no longer a nation about big things, it was mostly a nation about what can not be achieved. On January 19, 2009, just before President Obama's historic innuaguration, the monthly job loss stood at quarter of a million! The nation was shedding almost 800,000 jobs per month. The credit market was frozen. The nation teetered at the edge of loosing Chrysler, GM and Ford (yes, even Ford would have gone under had the other two done so) and millions of jobs supported by the automotive Industry. Indeed, an entire way of life was on the line, as was any prospect of an American 21st century.
Fast forward to September 2012. The global economy is not in a great shape but no one talks of a global great depression, or even a global recession. America's leadership since President Obama took office helped stanch off the global race to economic cliff. Businesses have seen many quarters of ginormous profits and still hoards ogles of trillions of dollars. The stock market has more than doubled in the last four years, one of the longest streaks ever. Homes are affordable again, and home prices are on the mend (without placing every American under water as Romney's policies would have). Detroit is back again, returning GM to the number one position globally, and the American automobile industry more confident.
Indeed, except for the naysayers, the mood in the nation is far more positive that it has ever been. More people are more confident that they can find jobs today than was true 4 years ago. No one is scared of loosing all their retirement today, like they did 4 years ago. Fewer people are afraid of loosing their homes than there were 4 years ago. And you know what, the nation is less scared of Osama Bin Laden today, than it was 4 years ago.
4 years ago, the nation was engaged in 2 unending Wars. Today, we have left Iraq and have a plan to leave Afghanistan, putting a final end to a long decade of nightmare.
4 years ago, millions worried not only about where to get their next meal, but how to get their next health checkup. Millions (including kids) were cut-out of medical insurance because of pre-existing condition. And millions more had little or no access to insurance because they are either self employed or work for a very small company. Today, thanks to "Obamacare" these people no longer have to worry.
4 years ago, seniors worried about a growing donut-hole in their prescription plans. Today, they not only face a diminishing hole, they also get subsidy to offset whatever is left of the hole. And seniors with retirement plans now have more confidence that their funds will be there when they need it (thanks to the robust rebound in the stock market).
Yes, it is easy for tax cheat Romney, and lying Ryan to promise a utopia after they and their party have done everything they could to derail the nation. Afterall, it was Ryan led Republicans in congress that steered the nation towards its first ever rating downgrade with their unnecessary belligerence - And now we know how triumphant they were that the nation's AAA rating was downgraded, from recent report about some hot summer dip in the holy waters of Galilee.
The Democrats need to remind the nation of where we were 4 years ago, hence silly news anchors like Ms. Crowley will pretend the nation was worse off. This nation is indeed better of today than it was 4 years ago, regardless of what your metric is. And every Democrat, and every American should be proud of how far this Administration, This President, and the Democrats in Congress (2009 -2011 House, and the current Senate) has brought us from the edge of disaster.
Ok now lets move FORWARD to the next 4 year. This President has made America proud. Let's help him get us to the promised land of hope, opportunity, and unity.
The true response to that simple comparison question is : YES.
In September of 2008, the world's economy was on the ropes. Lehman brother has just collapsed. Indeed, the nation faced economic Armageddon. True, John McCain (the leader of the Republican party) had just famously announced that "The fundamentals of our economy are strong!". And that is for an economy that has been in free fall since 2007. The stock market had started a free fall from its heights. The unemployment rate was climbing precariously. The nation was in a free fall economically. Also in September of 2008, seven years after 9/11 and almost seven years after the initial invasion of Afghanistan, purportedly in search of Osama Bin Laden, the only foreign policy success of the Republican Bush administration was the obvious quagmire in Iraq (a war of choice) and the seeming inability to locate Osama Bin Laden. Leading Republicans, including now candidate were beginning to excuse that failure by belittling the need to capture America's public enemy number 1. The nation was no longer a nation about big things, it was mostly a nation about what can not be achieved. On January 19, 2009, just before President Obama's historic innuaguration, the monthly job loss stood at quarter of a million! The nation was shedding almost 800,000 jobs per month. The credit market was frozen. The nation teetered at the edge of loosing Chrysler, GM and Ford (yes, even Ford would have gone under had the other two done so) and millions of jobs supported by the automotive Industry. Indeed, an entire way of life was on the line, as was any prospect of an American 21st century.
Fast forward to September 2012. The global economy is not in a great shape but no one talks of a global great depression, or even a global recession. America's leadership since President Obama took office helped stanch off the global race to economic cliff. Businesses have seen many quarters of ginormous profits and still hoards ogles of trillions of dollars. The stock market has more than doubled in the last four years, one of the longest streaks ever. Homes are affordable again, and home prices are on the mend (without placing every American under water as Romney's policies would have). Detroit is back again, returning GM to the number one position globally, and the American automobile industry more confident.
Indeed, except for the naysayers, the mood in the nation is far more positive that it has ever been. More people are more confident that they can find jobs today than was true 4 years ago. No one is scared of loosing all their retirement today, like they did 4 years ago. Fewer people are afraid of loosing their homes than there were 4 years ago. And you know what, the nation is less scared of Osama Bin Laden today, than it was 4 years ago.
4 years ago, the nation was engaged in 2 unending Wars. Today, we have left Iraq and have a plan to leave Afghanistan, putting a final end to a long decade of nightmare.
4 years ago, millions worried not only about where to get their next meal, but how to get their next health checkup. Millions (including kids) were cut-out of medical insurance because of pre-existing condition. And millions more had little or no access to insurance because they are either self employed or work for a very small company. Today, thanks to "Obamacare" these people no longer have to worry.
4 years ago, seniors worried about a growing donut-hole in their prescription plans. Today, they not only face a diminishing hole, they also get subsidy to offset whatever is left of the hole. And seniors with retirement plans now have more confidence that their funds will be there when they need it (thanks to the robust rebound in the stock market).
Yes, it is easy for tax cheat Romney, and lying Ryan to promise a utopia after they and their party have done everything they could to derail the nation. Afterall, it was Ryan led Republicans in congress that steered the nation towards its first ever rating downgrade with their unnecessary belligerence - And now we know how triumphant they were that the nation's AAA rating was downgraded, from recent report about some hot summer dip in the holy waters of Galilee.
The Democrats need to remind the nation of where we were 4 years ago, hence silly news anchors like Ms. Crowley will pretend the nation was worse off. This nation is indeed better of today than it was 4 years ago, regardless of what your metric is. And every Democrat, and every American should be proud of how far this Administration, This President, and the Democrats in Congress (2009 -2011 House, and the current Senate) has brought us from the edge of disaster.
Ok now lets move FORWARD to the next 4 year. This President has made America proud. Let's help him get us to the promised land of hope, opportunity, and unity.
Well said! I'm not sure if the republicans just have amnesia or choosing to forget, but we all need to be reminded of where we were. The gains the coutry have made have not been trivial or by accident. Let's hope those who are being asked about the country's progress will state the facts!
ReplyDeleteAmnesia. That is the right word. Republicans (Mitch McConnell, John Boehnor, Eric Canto, John McCain, lyin Ryan, and cheatin Mitt) all hope we have collective amnesia. And many in the press are dutifully playing along - cowardly longing for love from the Republican - they call it fair and balance. Well weont forget where we are coming from. And we know where we are heading - FORWARD to a more perfect union. FORWARD to a more equitable nation. FORWARD to a better future for the next generation. FORWARD to a better world.
ReplyDelete