The Arguments Against Reelecting Obama

Everyone has their own list of things they feel merit their voting for, or against, some individual.  Here is what has decided me to vote against Obama:

One, the economy and jobs.  Bush may not have been all that helpful in sustaining the American economy.  Clinton may have been far better.  But, Obama is a disaster. He has given absolutely no support to the Simpson-Bowles commission.  (A commission that Obama, to his credit, appointed.)  It is currently the best blueprint America has for working its way out of our current malaise and keeping us from going over a financial cliff sometime in the not very distant future.

Paul Ryan, a Republican over in the House, had his financial bill passed.  It may be a good plan, or a lousy plan, but it's on he table.  Harry Reid, over in the Senate, has allowed no plan to be put forward by his fellow Democrats.  He claims that, if he were to do so, the Republicans would only filibuster it.  Maybe that's true.  But, it's no reason not to set forth a plan.  And, it is noteworthy that Obama has put no pressure on Reid to have his members put out a plan.

And, we know the reason for this situation; namely, that any plan would involve a degree of short term economic pain.  You can't set a broken arm without some pain, and you certainly can't turn our economy around without doing some work on our entitlements.

So, why haven't I mentioned jobs?  Because jobs are a function of the economy.  They're not something that operates independently from the economy.  Develop a good economy and you'll get jobs.  Let the economy go to hell and jobs will surely follow.

Two, Obama's energy policy.  Obama's desire to kill off the growth of hydrocarbon use is doing enormous harm to (a) our economy and (b) to our standing among nations.  Let's take (a) first.  Show me a sound workable solar set up and I'll be the first to applaud.  Ditto wind, tides, nuclear, whatever.  But, in the foreseeable future America, and most other nations, will have to rely heavily on hydrocarbons; more specifically,  on oil.

Obama has not given permits for drilling on land or waters under federal control.  He says that we today have pumped out more oil during his administration than ever before.  And, that's true.  But, it has had nothing to do with his administration.  It's because private companies have drilled aggressively wherever federal approval was not required.

Even more egregiously, he has not to allowed the laying of the XL pipeline from Canada to Texas.  This has badly crimped our ability to free ourselves from dependance on oil from places like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Nigeria.  Also, it has chilled our relations with Canada which must now plan for a far more expensive pipeline to its west coast so it can ship the oil to China.  Does any of this make any sense?

The Obama administration argues that a pipeline down to Texas might develop a leak.  Sure, anything is possible.  But, we have hundreds of miles of pipeline crossing our country.  We know exactly how unlikely such an event would be.  It's like saying we won't let planes fly over the state of Illinois because maybe some plane will come crashing down into Illinois.

Third, Mexico, America, and Mexicans.  There are really only two issues here; namely, America's sovereignty and illegals whether they be Mexicans or other Latin Americans.  Firstly, a sovereign nation must control it's borders.  This country has enemies who clearly intend to do us harm.  We know this.  We know that agents are sent to do us damage.  Defending our borders seems obvious.  But, not to Obama.  He makes jokes.  He says the Republicans want to dig a moat and then, with a chuckle, adds "and fill it with alligators."  Is that how Israel is securing its border with the Sinai?  Of course not.

What Obama is really doing is once again playing politics.  He's telling the illegal Mexicans, we Democrats have your back.  You don't want to vote for those nasty ol' Republicans.

But wouldn't it be better for both the illegals and for Americans to have a reasonable solution worked out to solve a very real problem.  A few Republicans might object (a few in any group will object to anything), but I am confident that if Republicans and Democrats sat down together as John McCain and Ted Kennedy tried to do some years back, they could come up with a solution.  Sure, the Mexicans shouldn't have come here as illegals, but most have demonstrated their love of this country and their willingness to work hard for their families.  We're truly lucky to have most of them here.  And, don't we share some blame for not having had a secure border?  Let's do what we should have done long ago.  One problem with this idea; there's no gain for the Democrats to be seen working with the Republicans, even if it is in the best interest of everyone except the politicians.

Finally, Obama's all flash and no substance.  No doubt our medical delivery systems needs considerable improvement.  But, Obamacare is far from the answer.  Our educational system needs considerable improvement.  Again, far more is needed than Arne Duncan's prescription which seems to consist of giving exemptions from the No-Child-Let-Behind law to states on a selective basis.

Finally, there is Obama's divisiveness.  For him, it's the poor versus the rich.  It's main street, versus Wall Street.  And, if Wall Street becomes old news, it's the mean old banks or hedge funds.  His administation wants what is good -- it's the contentious Congress that's bad.  It's the bad old lobbyist bribing Congressmen (as though he wasn't taking money from people counting on him to further their private agendas.)  His hands are clean.  He leads from behind.

America needs something better.