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The tale of two Republicans, Christie and Corbett

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gov.christie

image source:www.leighvalleylive.com

Approval ratings, does policy have an impact on the numbers? One would think that the voter would measure leadership by their success. Employment, taxes, the overall health of the economy, a logical scale. But the tale of New Jersey’s Governor Christie and Pennsylvania’s Governor Corbett has them on opposite ends of approval. Both have enacted similar policies that have not had the same success. Governor Corbett has slashed spending to education, Christie has slashed education. Christie has privatized the states public television which voters seemed to approve of. Corbett’s attempt at privatizing the lottery and alcohol sales as not been met with the same approval.  These are a few examples just to show their similar paths.

Governor Christie’s approval rating, a whopping 70%. Governor Corbett’s approval rating, stands at 36%

The nuts and bolts of Governor Christie’s economy, 9.6% unemployment rate, the highest it has been in 35 years. So when the governor spoke to the people of New Jersey in January (State of the State address), he mentioned unemployment and a jobs plan not once. Housing in the state has followed the same path as the nation, losing value. But as the country began to recover, New Jersey continued to decline and foreclosures have increased from last year to this year as well as 7.7% of NJ homeowners in foreclosure. The New Jersey economy is in shambles.

Governor Corbett’s economy is no economic boom but it is certainly better in regards to jobs. Unemployment in the state is 7.5% and on the decline. Corbett after slashing education has come back to add funding. Taxes, unlike New Jersey is not a burden for the Corbett Administration. Corbett has some of the same issues as Christie in regards to gun control and gay marriage, Corbett has not taken the Christie position, let the voters vote on it.

Just on unemployment and the overall health of the economy Corbett should be doing better in the polls. Christie’s  near 10% unemployment, if it was all about the economy his approval would look more like Corbett’s. Is Pennsylvania voters smarter than New Jersey’s? Well they certainly can recognize that above 7% unemployment is not a success. Which leads me to Christie’s approval rating, it has all to do with personality and nothing to do with success. New Jersey’s voters or that 70% are STOOPID (with a Jersey accent). What can possibly change the mind-set of those 70%? Maybe we should listen to the politics across the river, they seem to have more on the ball.

Smith and Wesson’s profits continue to soar while Washington talks

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image source: http://nikadon.com/free-guns-pistols-shortgun-and-rifles-wallpaper-for-computer-desktop-and-laptop-of-high-resolution/gun-9/

image source: http://nikadon.com/free-guns-pistols-shortgun-and-rifles-wallpaper-for-computer-desktop-and-laptop-of-high-resolution/gun-9/

In the aftermath of the Connecticut school massacre, the country has been the victim yet again of do nothing  Washington. Since the shootings, the leaders of Washington have promised change. Others have taken their typical stances on protecting the Constitutional right to bear arms. President Obama has laid out a plan for change and through Vice President Biden have articulated what they believe is needed.

related information: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-01-25/politics/36542149_1_background-checks-gun-buyers-background-check-system

Through it all, FEAR of change has spurred gun sales, fueling gun manufacturer Smith and Wesson’s projected profits.(quarterly results to be announced today, expected to have tripled). The White Houses key proposal, background checks, could this alone be why sales are soaring? Or is it the gun advocates spreading the fear of bans? What’s the responsible response to the latest massacre certainly requires actual action. While the powers of Washington play politics the big business of manufacturing and selling guns is reaping huge rewards.

More guns on the streets, this seems to be the trend after massacres. What has actually happened after recent tragedies, plenty of shareholder profit, talk and lies. Hopefully this time words will become actions. If Washington has no real intent of changing anything, if they all just shut the hell up, they might keep some guns off the street.

Screwing up Social Security, starting with Reagan and to be finished by his party the Republicans

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anti-labor

image source: www.sodahead.com

Lies and deception, this is how the Republican Party and Mitt Romney have successfully moved many to believe that”entitlements” namely Social Security are bankrupting the nation. We have heard it now for quite some time and many voters have bought in to this belief. To pick on those who are collecting these “huge checks” would seem appropriate considering the state of current politics, so I will jump on the train and pick on those BUMS, SENIOR CITIZENS!

These lousy, self-centered seniors come in two groups, those who collect “HUGE CHECKS” and those who collect “HUGE CHECKS” and support Republican Mitt Romney.

Senior supporters of Mitt: First you must understand that YOU are WHO the Republicans are targeting, which apparently to know this is lost on you. Maybe the double-speaking Mitt Romney has you confused. It could be that you don’t recall how these crazy, over generous benefits have become as the GOP states, “too rich to afford”. So let us take a quick trip down memory lane…

Question #1: Under what President did the acceleration of  borrowing on social security begin? That is when did the federal government begin robbing YOUR Social Security dollars for the federal budget.   1987  and that would be President Ronald Reagan. From 1987 to 1989 the federal government’s borrowing on Social Security went from $50 billion to $100 billion. This theft of YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY DOLLARS also coincided with President Reagan cutting tax rates to include the RICH! President Reagan’s budget, unbalanced running up debt as well, while your Social Security helped in pumping money into the budget.

Since the beloved tax-cutting budgeting of President Reagan, the federal government has never stopped in its mystical money moving. Now in 2012, the federal government “borrows” nearly  $800 billion for social security,selling t-bills to CHINA!

To place blame on the people to include America’s wonderful senior population, what words can possibly come to mind? If we buy into this notion, then the word to label the American people and SENIORS would be IDIOT! BLAME and who to blame? The beginning of this event should be where it is placed should it not? Well taking that to heart, the blame lies at the feet of President Ronald Reagan and you do remember he was a REPUBLICAN don’t you?

GREAT READING OF TRUTH http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/ARTICLE2/budget.php:

Kerry Gauthier and Todd Akin want to “let the voters decide”

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Romney GOP nominee

image source:http://egb63.wordpress.com/2008/11/04/

If we can’t quite figure out yet what the hell is wrong with this country, we are obviously ignoring the obvious. In the news recently two politicians have made the news for their stupid decisions,”gaffes” or whatever label you would like to apply. The GOP, is now burdened with Senate candidate Todd Akin, with his “legitimate rape” opinion. Akin, who is ignoring the calls of resignation by his party, believes that the voters should decide in the fall.

In a totally unrelated Democratic scandal, we have Minnesota House Representative Kerry Gauthier, caught having oral sex with a 17-year-old minor at a rest stop. Gauthier admitted to police that he used Craigslist to seek out sex partners. With the legal age of consent in Minnesota 16, no criminal charges have been filed.

What these two cases have in common is that both as of now believe that  staying in their races is the right thing to do for the country. “Let the voters decide” is the resounding theme from both. It would be hard to imagine that either would win their races but you never know.

Both are two perfect examples of politics as a career choice. The voters/constituents  in both elections, who “will decide in the fall” have no meaning to either Akin or Gauthier. American politics have had plenty of scandals in our history. Many of times the politicians have been executed by the voters so we do have hope that the right thing will be done. In the end, the constituents in the districts of Akin and Gauthier have little option in picking their opponent on election day. And we are worried about voter fraud?

 

August 1, 2012, will this day go down in history as the official start of the end for the Postal Service?

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image source: www.puppetgov.com

August 1, 2012 could go into the history books as the official start to the end of the Postal Service as we know it. Failing to make a $5.5 billion payment into its employee pension fund it shows the continued lack of action by Washington. We should have fully expected this non-payment considering the Postal Service’s recent $12 billion funding to keep it operational. While there are bills in the Senate and House both of which will require cuts in service, neither party seems to be able to come up with legislation that is palatable.

The future of the Postal Service is mired in politics as lawmakers attempt to protect their own interests. The larger picture seems to be lost which is JOBS and providing America with continued mail service. We all can understand that nobody wants to see their local post office shuttered. But the reality is if the do nothing Senate and House continue on this path we will be without any mail delivery at all and more than a half-million will be without a job.

Romney should be apologizing to us for his time at Bain

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Romney gets endorsements

image source: www.rightspeak.net

So Mitt Romney wants an apology from President Obama? The truth of Romney’s time with Bain Capital is what the Republican candidate is upset over. If you believe the Romney camp’s version of what he did with Bain (allegedly a job creator) or not is not what has gotten my attention. For the record I am not buying his “great success as a job creator”. What is a glaring example of spin, is that Romney and his campaign cannot even get his dates of employment right. President Obama’s campaign through government records is exposing that Romney has not been all that truthful in pointing out he ended his work with Bain Capital in 2001. Romney has stated many a time that he left in 1999, when he took up heading the U.S. Olympic Games. This date “mistake” and this alone is glaring and was meant to deceive the public.

Romney advisor offers spin: “He actually retired retroactively at this point” states Ed Gillespie as he ended up not going back to the firm after his stint with the Olympics. Another advisor of Romney’s Kevin Madden has come on to further “explain”, “Romney had no choice as his name was on Security Exchange documents as he sought to transfer the company’s leadership to partners.”

The American public is expected to buy into the notion that Romney had no decision-making ability during this two-year period of “retroactive retirement”? If you or I was on a job search and we ALTERED dates of employment on a previous job what would happen if we were caught? WE WOULD BE DISQUALIFIED! This should not be a difficult thing to admit to unless you are trying to hide something. This is the bottom line and now that the opposition has discovered this FLAW in the TRUTH and is exploiting it, Romney CRIES  FOUL. The job application, the first step in getting yourself hired anywhere. Romney’s application, FALSE!

States that bail on Affordable Care Act, led by the GOP

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affordable care act

image source: championnews.net

Since the Affordable Care Act (Obama-Care) was upheld by the Supreme Court, six states have already said they would not be  part of the Medicade expansion. Texas is one of the states to opt-out of the act. Governor Perry in opting out stated, ” neither a state exchange or expansion would result in better patient care.”

The partisan politics that challenged the Affordable Care Act and continue today might have something to do with the numbers. Texas and Governor Perry lead all states in the uninsured category. 25%, of Texas, is uninsured or 6.2 million in Texas. Looking into the numbers, Republican controlled states, seem to have cornered the market in the uninsured. Florida under Republican Rick Scott stands at 21% he has vowed his state will opt-out. Georgia 20% with Republican Nathan Deal , followed by 19% and Jan Brewer Republican Governor of Arizona.

The next two states on the list California and Arkansas also at 19% uninsured and both have stated they will participate in the insurance exchange (Democrat Governors). The costs of the insurance exchange will be paid at 100% the first three years by the federal government. After, the federal government will pick up 90% of the costs. Statements such as “it will bankrupt the state” Governor Perry, Texas are beyond stupid considering the cost of the uninsured today.

Partisan politics via Republicans have lost the battle and they continue to march ahead with their agenda. The real losers, the people who reside in states with Republican Governors.

Walker win has GOP gloating of the demise of unions

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Gov Walker recall

image source: http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com

As the news spread that Scott Walker had won Wisconsin’s recall election, I posted my first thought on Twitter. “Let the Fox News horse shit begin.” It would have been of a better service to say “Let the GOP horse shit begin.” Today, the gloating right is excited about what it all means for Walker and more importantly, what it means nationally. (according to the GOP that is). The reality of a Walker win in Wisconsin bleeding over nationally, will be how much we believe the right-wing spin. Considering how easily Walker won his recall election, by more than 10 points, we know the right will be coming hard and getting the most out of their win.

What to believe and what not to believe, that my friends will be a difficult task. On the first day of their gloating, the right has been quick to throw out numbers like, 40% of union households voted for Walker. This number, seems rather difficult to believe considering the number should have been ZERO. As the unions recover from their loss, if the number of 40% is true, I am sad to say, those voters, deserve their lost jobs and cut pensions that will come under Walker. I have no empathy for their future plight and in reality, the next vote should be the one that throws them out of their respective unions.

What else do these people need to know about Walker and the Republican Party in general? In a very related news piece today, Wal-Mart, has announced that they will be reducing the wages of their warehouse employees. How is this related to Walker? This is part of the Republican Agenda, FREE MARKETS and NO UNIONS! What we get from the free markets with no unions, is the underpaid, taking it on the chin and losing more hourly pay. That is why, you do not vote for anti-union candidates like Scott Walker, especially when you are union.

So while we attempt to make sense of the Walker win, we will have to listen to how the union’s are dying and no longer relevent from the right. In correcting the course we are on we can look to the union members who supported Walker. They should be discarded from the union ranks like the trash we put out at the curb. If members are not going to support their livelihood they are useless and should be eliminated. We can afford to lose the membership because I doubt it’s 40%.

 

Jobs that don’t require college, are they hiring?

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unemployment

image source: marketmixup.com

The reality of getting a good job without a college education, MANY WILL BE FIGHTING FOR THE FEW. The economic downturn and the Republican Agenda of cutting secondary education monies, has many looking for jobs that simply do not exist. Looking to the web for ideas on a career path for the high school diploma holder, provides idea’s with little reality.

www.askmen.com has a posted article, 9 Jobs that don’t require a degree. The top three on their list, Firefighter, Police Officer and Mechanic. The article does date back to late 2011 but not much if anything has changed in the job market since this post. To dismiss the first two on the list, you can dismiss largely by geography and political affiliation. If your search has you in New Jersey, you have slim chance of getting hired anywhere in the fields of policing or firefighting. The state, led by Republican Chris Christie, has slashed funding to cities and towns resulting in lost employment. New Jersey is not alone in cutting back the public sector as this can also be seen elsewhere in the country and not limited to just the GOP run states.

The third job on the list mechanic, offers the most opportunity. For starters, it is not impacted by the harsh reality of politics. Secondly, with the economy struggling along, many are keeping their automobiles longer, resulting in more repairs. The on the job training through apprenticeship programs makes this field a winner for the highschool graduate.

Job’s, jobs and jobs, we need them and we need them now. Politics play a huge role in who’s hiring and who is not especially in the public sector. Your job future, if you go to college or not will be impacted by the policies of the people we elect. This statement can be quantified by the list of jobs suggested by the post on www.askmen.com . Taking politics out of the equation, they hit a home run with their suggestions. With politics, “who’s on first?”

 

Where’s all the noise now? Gas prices coming down

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Gas prices decline in April 2012

pic: defenderofthemiddleclass.com

The sound of silence  and a break on our wallet! Gas prices have seen a steady decline over the past few weeks and with it the GOP has gone silent. Just a few short weeks ago, the Grand ol Party was taking advantage of the rise at the pump and hammering President Obama’s position on the XL pipeline and poor energy policy. Wholesale gas prices fell 1.7% last month taking the cost at the pump with it. In New Jersey, you have prices as low as $3.56 a gallon off their recent peak of $3.89. This is all good news for the consumer’s wallet and our ears!

To be noted, nothing has changed in America’s or Obama’s energy policy. The XL-pipeline has not been approved. We have no extra supply coming from Canada and no new oil has been discovered in our country while out shooting raccoon (Jed, Beverly Hillbillies). The learned lesson here is pretty simple. Commodity trading and those who speculate on oil are the reason we have fluctuations in cost, which can be used by the politicians who favor big oil and for those who are against them. So let us not get too excited by the cost at that pump! President Obama and his policies are no better or worse than before and we still face the same challenges as we did way back in March. The long-term energy policy of America needs to be the same regardless of the price and political noise. EVERYTHING MUST BE ON THE TABLE, oil, natural gas,wind,coal,electric and solar. If the prices at that pump continue to drop and fall below $3.00, tune out the Democrats, who are sure to be the party making a lot of energy noise. 

Presidential politics in 2012, should equal rights be an issue?

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first amendment being violated

image source: dangerousintersection.org

What issues are important to you this presidential election? As we move towards the November election, you would hope that the candidates get down to what is really important, unlike what we have heard the last day or so? President Obama has come out and taken the position that marriage is not exclusive to a man and a woman. Followed by the story of Mitt Romney accosting an allegedly homo-sexual male while in high school. Romney has said that he does not remember the event, though he was a prankster in high school. Ironic, that this story would become public some 40 years after it occurred and on the heals of Obama’s announcement, yes??

President Obama’s position on gay marriage is one that should have been taken a long time ago. If you believe that he is wrong in taking this position you obviously are not an individual who believes in FREEDOM or separation of church and state. Has it not been the focal point of the GOP’s argument against the mandates of Obama-care? Yes it has, so attempting to think within the box, how can you argue against equal rights?  The spine-less who have pushed this issue off on the voters to decide has side-stepped their obligation to govern within the constitution. Voting equal rights, is nothing new to our country and it is as wrong today as it was back in the 1960′s.

Moving to the accusations that Romney accosted an alleged homo-sexual male, holding him down and cutting his hair in high school. Should he be held accountable for his actions in high school? Does this make him a homo phobic man? My answer to both these questions is NO. What is important is how he feels and acts today.

Romney taking the position that marriage is only between a man and a women, now this should be the focus. Romney clearly does not believe in equal rights for all, which is a clear difference from President Obama.

The title of the post asked, presidential politics in 2012, should equal rights be an issue? Apparently it is and we have plenty of constitution hypocrites to prove it. The issue of equality, would not be in the forefront if it were not for the violators of our constitution. Is it an issue that is important when it comes to election time?  For the ones that are being discriminated against, YES it is!

New Jersey’s Homestead Rebate, don’t qualify? THANKS for the form

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executive order

image source: www.nowpublic.com

Governor Christie’s war on wasteful spending or at least what he views as waste, education, workers benefits, property tax rebates, etc, has missed the obvious. Late last week I received the unexpected, a Homestead Rebate application. Why was it unexpected? Because I do not qualify for the rebate and haven’t for quite a few years now. Since the limit for the under sixty-five was reduced to $75,000, I have not been mailed an application.  After receiving this years application, I opened it expecting to see something different. I WAS DISAPPOINTED AND I MUST SAY, THANKS CHUBBY!

In the application, it states the income limits, the same as in previous years, with one difference. The difference being a glimpse of delusion. Stating that even if you do not qualify, fill it out anyway in case something changes in the states 2013 budget. You will be rejected, but fill it out anyway. Does this mean that in 2013 Governor Hamburger will finally live up to his campaign promise of reducing property taxes? Or that he will finally give a crap about someone other than his millionaire pals? I think I know the answers to those questions, so all that is left is he will be leaving New Jersey to become Vice President or all those twinkies he is eating will do him in. Now I AM DELUSIONAL!

What I am left with is the one word question, WHY? Why would you waste the money to send me something that you know I do not qualify for? Why would you waste the time of some state worker to process the NO, that was already disclosed in my state tax return? This is called waste Governor Hamburger! It might not add up to much, but it is waste none-the-less. Couldn’t the state use the information they already have, save the money and put it to better use? Maybe on one of those wasteful programs you cut, like EDUCATION.

Chicken processing, are you ready to work when we ship the illegals out of the country?

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illegal workers

http://www.labspaces.net

“Work till you drop”, that is the title of an article, in THE NATION’s May 2012 edition. The article, written to bring attention to the brutal working conditions at chicken processing plants, that are soon to get worse, under changes proposed by the USDA. The chicken processing plant discussed is located in Alabama and has the capacity to produce 1.5 million chickens a week. Under the current safety standards by the USDA, the production line is set at 91 chickens per minute. In their future, the new standards will allow the plant to run at 175  per minute. The increase in speed will be gained by having fewer USDA inspectors at the plant, saving taxpayers $90 million over three years and allegedly improving food safety. The savings by the businesses that run these plants, $257 million a year. Studies of poultry workers have found that 43% have reported symptoms of Muscular Skelton Disease (MSD). The study done in 2007 by Duke University, has been used by the Charlotte Observer in a six-day series investigating poultry workers. Other studies have been done by Wake Forest School of Medicine and the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, highlighting these injuries to undocumented immigrants.

Now that you have some background on the issue of worker safety, lets head to the other issues that this article brought to the forefront. Undocumented workers, or for the champions of protecting the borders, ILLEGALS, the group of people who have entered the country and taken these jobs, to provide us with our endless supply of food, or in this case chicken. Are we prepared to take over this work when we ship them all back where they belong? Are we prepared for the potential shortage of chicken in our supermarkets after stricter laws are passed/upheld? Currently, we are waiting on the Supreme Courts ruling on Arizona’s immigration law along with Alabama’s. This ruling could possibly change our food supply for the worse and have we even given this a consideration?

Listening to the groups that want our borders protected, I do not think they have considered all of the other problems that will occur if they are successful. The right, has framed the issue of illegal’s to make one think of drug dealers, gun smugglers, rapists, murders, etc. But what happens to our society if laws such as Arizona’s are upheld? The law will not discriminate between drug dealer and chicken processing plant worker, they will be treated the same. So what will happen then? Will America be able to continue the path of having everything they want in the supermarket without these workers?

The supposed battle for our borders and protection of Americans and their jobs is once again political bullshit. We have states such as Arizona and Alabama passing laws that do not consider the consequences of their actions. “Illegals are taking away jobs”, well here is one job that could have plenty of openings, so get yourself in shape. In the benefit of the taxpayer and big business, the USDA is speeding up the production line just in time for you to take over. So are you ready to work? The chicken processing plant, you too can cut them up at a rate of 175 chickens per minute. I will bet the pay’s great as well.

article source: The Nation, May 2012

 

 

Pensions are bad, they destroy our economy, so says the Republicans

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online billing,wasting money?

image source prankplace.com

“Extravagant pensions, We can’t afford  these rich pensions”. Pensions are destroying our economy, crippling businesses and that is why business is not hiring. This is what the Republican’s and their media Fox News is selling, are you buying it?

The selling out of the American worker and their golden years is nothing new as the Republican party would like you to believe. Pensions, and their so-called lavish benefits, could be a non-issue if it were not for the lax rules in place. The Employment Retirement Income Security Act, enacted in 1974 and amended numerous times, was supposed to protect the worker. So why has it failed? It is pretty simple once you cut through all the bullshit and get to the bottom line. That bottom line is funding requirements, a minimum of 80% funding is required to make a plan solvent. The other 20%, why is this not needed? It does say in the title, Income Security, doesn’t it? What happens when the stock market TANKS and your plan is 80% funded? You end up like a General Motors, who were left  billions in the hole in a period of six months and bankrupt.

The Federal Reserve Bank of San Fransisco published an article in 2003, warning of underfunded pensions.In the warning, a simple graph showing a shortfall of $222 billion. Out of the 327 plans reviewed, 297 were underfunded. The mandated requirements by ERISA, doesn’t just look at the plan year, but the previous two years. As long the plans have been 90% funded in the past two years, contributions can be waived. Makes sense doesn’t it? A company is 10% short, skip the payment and hope market gains correct it. So way back in 2003, we have the majority of pension plans in the red and nothing is done by Washington to fix it. Washington along with the companies themselves wait and hope the market goes up and their problems are solved. Private and public alike, dreaming of the perfect scenario, to allow them to avoid paying into their pensions.

In 2012. we have the Republicans blaming you the worker for the state of our economy. Your pension, is costing us jobs and bleeding business of much-needed money. Do you believe it?  Do you believe that the 401-k is the alternative to the dinosaur pension plan?

You figure it out under todays conditions :   If by the end of your career you have managed to save $1 million dollars….you are a millionaire!!! Retire at 65, you better be dead by 85! $50,000 a year to live for twenty years, a modest retirement. After the twenty years and earning a paltry 1%, you’ll have less than $20,000 left to bury you. And there’s no need for defined benefits?

The rules are in place to benefit business and their bottom line. You being the problem??? The ultimate LIE!

STOP the GOP whining!! If Bin Laden was killed under Bush you’d be spinning a different story

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white house visits

image source: teamamericapac.org

Under President Obama, Bin Laden was killed!  This fact and the use of it for campaign purposes has the RIGHT-WING all upset. The news coverage from the R-Wing Fox has been nothing but a cry-fest. Hannity, The Five and the rest of the whiners attempt to give credit to Bush’s presidency for the intelligence gathered as being the only reason he was killed. The question which will never be answered and yet we know what the answer would be, “If Bin Laden was killed under Bush would the spin be different?”

The GOP MEDIA….” BUSH KILLS BIN LADEN, our hero will be added to Mount Rushmore! “

President Obama who has been slammed continuously for his foreign policy in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, China, Israel, etc, by the GOP deserves credit and should use it. The GOP/media who has defended water boarding, the invasion of Iraq and simply everything related to WAR, need to stop the hypocrisy. Bush the Cowboy as the GOP media calls him, would have already been carved into Rushmore. Better yet, he might have just replaced Lincoln on our worthless penny.