Obama's Congress One Year Later

It has been one year since Obama and his powerful democratic congress was elected. Let’s see where they have taken us and what the citizens think of it.

The famous pollster Scott Rasmussen is predicting that Obama better hope things improve over the next calendar year or the Democrats are in trouble for the midterm election. I agree with him. It is not difficult to predict. Following are the TOP-10 reasons, as I see them (in no particular order).

First off, it is normal for the minority party to gain seats in the midterm elections. There are only four exceptions: Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Clinton and GW Bush.

Second, the Dems benefited from Mr. Obama’s popularity in 2008 but since he does not run in midterms the tag-along voters won’t be voting. The History News Network explains it well.

Third, according to popular UK publisher, Telegraph News, Obama’s own poll numbers are fading faster than any other drop in last 50 years. Independents and Blue Dog Democrats are less likely to show up let alone vote for the party they currently blame for things getting worse.

Fourth, Obama’s popularity was not all that substantial to begin with. To the surprise of many, he only received 52.9 % of the popular vote. That is unimpressive considering the overwhelming media bias, the grossly lopsided fund raising (nearly two to one), the questionable tactics of Acorn and the relatively weak opponents: McCain and Palin.

Fifth, according to another Rasmussen poll, nearly 70% of the population is for drilling for oil and refining more of it to escape the clutches of foreign nations. Even in the wacky East Coast land of greenies, there are more people for off-shore drilling than oppose it. But the Dems have done precious little about it during the four years they have had control of the Congress. If the price of a gallon of gas should return to $4 per gallon, heads are going to roll on election day. Naturally, the democratic politicians will blame “Greedy Oil Companies” but more and more people are coming to realize that the Feds themselves steal over twice as much money from us (18.4 cents per gallon), when we buy a gallon of gas, than the oil companies do (approximately 8 cents). Chart of your own state’s gasoline tax.

Sixth, the bulk of people are opposed to bail outs. But we have watched the auto industry, AIG Insurance, the banks and Wall Street Big Shots pocket billions of our dollars. Gallup tells us that 6 out of ten were opposed to auto bailouts and the numbers are nearly identical for all of the other industries discussed. Throw in a bunch of refinancing programs for people who cannot pay their home loans and a “Cash for Clunkers” program and it is easy to understand that responsible Americans are tired of subsidizing misbehavior. And, to compound the foolishness, the faster the President’s poll numbers decline, the harder his push to ram crazy spending plans through. Even the liberal CBS recognizes the pattern with the current Health bill. For those who have had enough of bailouts and back-room paper-shuffling, there is one sure-fire way of filing a protest: VOTE!

Seventh, 10% unemployment rate. Bush may have some blame here but Obama’s policies have clearly made things worse. More jobs have been lost in the first 8 months of Obama’s administration than all of 2007 and 2008 combined. Absent some miraculous turn-around, this will be the worst year for job losses since 1945. Practically everybody can finish this paragraph with a personal story of somebody who they know that is out of work but had a job under Bush.

Eighth, The unions have lost power because they have abused the country and their own members. The Auto Workers Union and the Teachers Unions have been huge pluses for the Dems over the past few decades, but there is change in the wind. I know of teachers who don’t even belong to the union any longer. They despise the protection of their mediocre counterparts and the schools are not turning out a very impressive product. Truly motivated teachers are seeking alternatives to the union–driven Public School System. As far as the Auto Workers are concerned, it was they who had egg on their collective faces when the auto bail-out discussions were in full swing. Americans were shocked to find out how much cushy union contracts have added to the price of our cars. Now we are all losers and we don’t like it. Real ”change” is in order.

Ninth, Most Americans love their country, or at least like it, and so do the common folks whom I have met from other countries. But some governments and radicals, both here and abroad, take pleasure in bashing our way of life. Obama misread the importance of standing up for his citizens and he has traveled the globe trying to find favor by demeaning us. He assumed that other countries would appreciate his humility and align with us on various national issues, but instead they have perceived us as weak. Even David Frum sees the signs. Many Americans think any perceived weakness is an invitation to disaster via terrorists and they will show up on election-day to address their fear.

Tenth, over a dozen “czars” and other officials have been granted unprecedented power without accountability. Government power-grabs are the product of Marxists not a Democratic-Republic. Our country was founded on the important idea that the government derives its power from the people, not the other way around. This power-taking will not be tolerated, beyond election-day 2010.

These are the forces that are already in place and causing Tea Parties and other unrest. At the moment we are in the heat of a discussion regarding health insurance. The President and his supporters seem to forget, or at least ignore, the fact that we went down this road with the Clintons. As long as this program is perceived as just another way to grow government, the sentiment will remain as it was in the 90’s. If such a bill is passed, this will amount to throwing millions of barrels of oil on the current fire, but it won’t be our own oil.

We don’t have much of that.

Comments welcomed!