Obama Inaugural Speech Is Not Anchored in Reality

Like many conservatives across America, I choose not to watch Obama's second Inaugural Speech. I chose to spend the holiday with people and enjoying my favorite restaurant. However, I did read a transcript of his speech. I wasn't impressed because what his speech is hollow and empty because I know that while Obama gives good speeches, it is not anchored in reality. He presents a progressive interpretation of American history and its future which is not anywhere close to the truth about the history of the United States. He also cannot give an accurate or honest description of where America is at the present moment. The best example of this is when he talks about the economy, unemployment and being able to persue the career of your dreams: 

An economic recovery has begun. (Applause.) America’s possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together. (Applause.)

For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. (Applause.) We believe that America’s prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship. We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American; she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own. (Applause.)

We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time. So we must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, reach higher. But while the means will change, our purpose endures: a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every single American. That is what this moment requires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed. 

Despite his speech, Obama was never serious about improving our economy or reducing unemployment.  Obama promised at the beginning of his term as President that unemployment would not rise above 8% if we let Congress pass the bailout/stimulus bills. As of today, unemployment still isn't down to 5.8%. 

2012 Presidential Debate: Educating Yourself On The Candidate's Economic Records

Many of you have been doing your due diligence of conducting your own research into who you should vote for in November. Tonight's 2012 Presidential debate will focus on the economy. A few months ago, I wrote a series of blog articles analyzing various aspects of Mitt Romney's record which will help you educate yourself in preparation for tonight's debate. You can now read the entire series below: 

1. Getting To Know Mitt Romney's Record 
2. Mitt Romney's Faith & Economic Leadership
3. A Look At Mitt Romney's Business Career
4. Mitt Romney's Rescue of the Salt Lake Olympics 
5. How Mitt Romney Turned A $3 Billion Deficit Into A $2 Billion Surplus 
6. Govenor Mitt Romney's Record On Taxes And Fees 
7. RomneyCare 
8. Govenor Mitt Romney's Impressive Record of Job Creation 
9. Mitt Romney's Leadership Style 
10. Concluding Thoughts About Mitt Romney's Record

In contrast, I have prepared a few articles which highlight's Obama's economic record. 

1. Obama's Economic Record: Hope Is Fading For Americans
2. Obama's Dismal Economic Record
3. Who Has A Better Economic Record: Obama Or Romney? 
4. President Obama Has Never Been Serious About Reducing The Deficit 
5. Obama Still Isn't Serious About the Economy
6. Obama Now Irrelevant On The Economy
7. David Axlerod Not Telling The Truth Mitt Romney's Economic Record
8. A Contrast In How Obama And Mitt Romney Have Handled A Down Grade In Credit Rating
9. Obama's Numerous Broken Promises To Focus on Jobs
10. Who Is Right: About What Is The Biggest Driver Of Our Deficit: Obama or The CBO?

Star Of Television Show Dirty Jobs Mike Rowe Posts An Open Letter To Mitt Romney

Mike Rowe, the funny but hard working host of the television show, Dirty Jobs has posted an open letter to Mitt Romney. Here's an excerpt from that letter: 

Though schizophrenic and void of any actual qualifications, my resume looks pretty impressive, and when our economy officially crapped the bed in 2008, I was perfectly positioned to weigh in on a variety of serious topics. A reporter from The Wall Street Journal called to ask what I thought about the “counter-intuitive correlation between rising unemployment and the growing shortage of skilled labor.” CNBC wanted my take on outsourcing. Fox News wanted my opinions on manufacturing and infrastructure. And CNN wanted to chat about currency valuations, free trade, and just about every other work-related problem under the sun.

In each case, I shared my theory that most of these “problems” were in fact symptoms of something more fundamental – a change in the way Americans viewed hard work and skilled labor. That’s the essence of what I’ve heard from the hundreds of men and women I’ve worked with on Dirty Jobs. Pig farmers, electricians, plumbers, bridge painters, jam makers, blacksmiths, brewers, coal miners, carpenters, crab fisherman, oil drillers…they all tell me the same thing over and over, again and again – our country has become emotionally disconnected from an essential part of our workforce.  We are no longer impressed with cheap electricity, paved roads, and indoor plumbing. We take our infrastructure for granted, and the people who build it.

Today, we can see the consequences of this disconnect in any number of areas, but none is more obvious than the growing skills gap. Even as unemployment remains sky high, a whole category of vital occupations has fallen out of favor, and companies struggle to find workers with the necessary skills. The causes seem clear. We have embraced a ridiculously narrow view of education. Any kind of training or study that does not come with a four-year degree is now deemed “alternative.” Many viable careers once aspired to are now seen as “vocational consolation prizes,” and many of the jobs this current administration has tried to “create” over the last four years are the same jobs that parents and teachers actively discourage kids from pursuing. (I always thought there something ill-fated about the promise of three million “shovel ready jobs” made to a society that no longer encourages people to pick up a shovel.)

You can read Mike Rowe's entire letter HERE.

Mike Rowe is absolutely correct. American used to be a country that made things. We used to be a country where hard work was done in the fields under a hot sun or in a factory where machines and men banged and clanged on wood, steel and other items.America valued farming, mining, manufacturing, cleaning, or drilling.  If America wants to get back on track, we need to encourage these industries to grow and expand. That means reducing burdensome regulations and lowering taxes so that business can hire workers to do these jobs. Quite frankly, we also need a national discussion on  private sector unions since they can also hinder productivity, competitiveness, job creation and profits.

We also need to encourage society to value this kind of work and not disparage it. This kind of dirty work takes humility, strength, dedication and brains to do. It is not stupid work. Its common sense work. It is honorable work. It is American work. 

This is what made America strong and competitive. If we want to make America work again, we need to get America to work.

Obama's Dismal Economic Record

Unfortunately for Americans, we are enduring the consequences of Obama's inexperience in handling the economy. To make matters worse, Obama is a progressive which means his views on economic matters is not a political philosophy that promotes economic growth. 

Obama's record since he's been in office has never been good. Ace, a fellow conservative blogger, serves up a nice infographic that demonstrates a discrepancy between what Obama's statements on the economy places it next to current economic statistics. The infograph is an eyeopening look at how Obama's incompetence has affected the economic health of our country.

Mitt Romney Clobbers All Other Candidates In Michigan Straw Poll

Mitt Romney left all the other candidates in the dust in the Michigan straw poll taken at the 29th Biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference. He won the poll by a wide margin over other 2012 candidates:

Romney received 51 percent of the 681 votes cast, a whopping 34-percentage point victory over second-place Perry, who garnered 17 percent. It was the second straight defeat for Perry in a straw poll, after he finished second in another contest Saturday in Florida. The twin disappointments, along with weak debate performances, have raised questions about whether the Texas governor will remain the perceived front-runner in the GOP nomination fight.

Here's the breakdown of the polling: 

Mitt Romney 51%

Rick Perry 17%
Herman Cain 9%
Ron Paul 8%
Michele Bachmann 4%
Newt Gingrich 4%
Rick Santorum 3%
Jon Huntsman 2%

If you'd like an idea of what the voters who voted in the straw poll were like, read below:

The straw poll was conducted Friday and Saturday at the biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference. Nearly 700 people cast votes in a poll that was open to all voting-age conference attendees, most of whom were party activists and elected officials. The straw poll is not a scientific survey and it does not necessary reflect the attitudes of Michigan primary voters at large.

Questions exploring the activists' ideological views suggest that while the delegation was overwhelmingly conservative, a strain of pragmatism drove their decision-making. For instance, half said they would be willing to support a candidate who would get the economy moving, even if that candidate supported abortion rights and same sex marriage.

While 80 percent said the tea party will help the GOP in the 2012 elections, 17 percent said they fear the movement could alienate independent voters. Two out of every 10 straw ballot voters hold a negative view of the tea party.

The delegates were split almost evenly on the question of whether they value the qualities of electability or ideological agreement most in a candidate, with ideology getting 51 percent of the vote.

It appears that getting the economy back on track was the primary concern among the voters and were pragmatic in choosing who they would support as President. Voters overwhelmingly supported Mitt Romney which indicates they believe he is the best candidate who can get this economy back on its feet. 

Part X: Concluding Thoughts About Mitt Romney's Record

It shouldn't be a surprise that given the current state of the economy, people from all walks of life are looking for a presidential candidate who can revive the economy because the economy has affected everyone regardless of religious, social, political, gender, racial, age or economic status. 

That is why we have so many Republican candidates who are seeking to capitalize on America's need for real economic leadership and are offering themselves as a leader who can fix America's economic and financial troubles. 

With the 2012 Presidential elections around the corner, one of the crucial issues to be debated and discussed by both Republicans and Democrats is the current state of America's economy. Many voters will have this question on their mind: Can this candidate actually fix the economy and get Americans back to work?

By looking the entire span of Mitt Romney's career in business and politics, we have have gotten and in depth and comprehensive look at his record which should help you, the American voter, answer the question of which Republican candidate is qualified to be in the White House in 2012.

Given that the economy will be a major issue in 2012, Mitt Romney's economic record will be scrutinized. So will the economic record of other Republican candidates. However, I hope that I have made your work in learning about Mitt Romney's economic record easier. But more importantly, I hope that I have been some of assistance in helping you answer the question regarding which candidate can save our jobs and the economy. 

I have been following Mitt Romney ever since he ran for president in 2008. As you can see, I have done my research and have come to the conclusion that Mitt Romney actually has a proven record that makes him the most qualified person to be in the White House in 2012.

I hope you come to the same conclusion as well.

Mitt Romney Releases Comprehensive Jobs Plan

Whenever Mitt Romney releases a plan, you know that he never goes light on the specifics. Today, the former govenor of Massachusetts has released his 150 page book that gives the American voter a comprehensive outline of his plan to turn our economy around and create jobs. 

The Washington Post has brief outline of his plan: 

They would include five proposed bills that would: lower the corporate tax rate to 25 percent from 35 percent; implement free-trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea; expand domestic energy exploration; consolidate worker retraining programs and turn them over to the states; and cut non-security discretionary spending by 5 percent. (Obama also supports those three trade agreements, although he has been accused of dithering to satisfy the demands of organized labor.)

If elected, the former Massachusetts governor said he would also issue five executive orders on Inauguration Day. They would roll back President Obama’s health-care overhaul; eliminate Obama-era regulations; issue new oil-drilling permits; sanction China for currency manipulation; and reverse a number of policies that favor organized labor.

Romney also said he would cut the size of the federal workforce by 10 percent through attrition, possibly by hiring only one new government employee for every two who leave.

In addition to proposing 5 bills to Congress and issuing 5 executive orders, Mitt Romney also has 59 concrete steps that he will implement that will spur the economy quickly and create jobs immediately. To see these 59 proposals, you'll have to read Mitt's book which you can also download for free on your Kindle at Amazon.com

No one has ever released a comprehensive plan of any kind in recent primary campaign history. No other candidate has released a sweeping and detailed plan as Mitt Romney. in this election. I think Mitt Romney has started a new trend that should be a permanent part of American campaign elections. Every candidate ought to release a detailed and in depth plan for the economy in every election.

In fact, this is a direct challenge to other candidates because they will have to come up with an equally detailed economic plan if they want to demonstrate to the American people that they are competent enough to be in the White House. 

My challenge for Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann, Ron Paul, Gary Johnson, John Hunstsman, Herman Cain and Thaddeus McCotter is this: Where is your detailed and comprehensive plan for the economy? 

If you don't have one, you don't deserve to be elected as President of the United States.

Mitt Romney Gives America A Sneak Peak Into His New Job Plan

Mitt Romney wrote an op-ed for USA Today giving us a sneak preview of his 59 specific proposals to create jobs for America that he will unveil tomorrow. A copy of his plan can also be found on his website. 

Here's what he had to say to the American people:

Barack Obama has had his turn at fixing the American economy. Millions of unemployed Americans can judge by their own experiences what he has done and failed to do.

For my part, I believe America can do better.

I have spent most of my career in the private sector starting new businesses and turning around ailing ones. Unlike career politicians who've never met a payroll, I know why jobs come and go.

Tomorrow, I will introduce a plan consisting of 59 specific proposals — including 10 concrete actions I will take on my first day in office — to turn around America's economy. Each proposal is rooted in the conservative premise that government itself cannot create jobs. At best, government can provide a framework in which economic growth can occur. All too often, however, government gets in the way. The past three years of unparalleled government expansion have retaught that lesson all too well.

Only the individual initiative of entrepreneurs, workers, investors and inventors enables companies, and our economy as a whole, to flourish. We must once again unleash the tremendous economic potential of the American people. The contrast between what the Obama administration has done and what I would do as president could not be starker.

First, President Obama has raised or threatened to raise taxes on both individuals and businesses. I would press hard in the opposite direction. Marginal income tax rates and tax rates on savings and investment must be kept low. Further, taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains for middle-income taxpayers should be eliminated. Our corporate tax rate is among the world's highest. It leaves U.S. firms at a competitive disadvantage and induces them to park their profits abroad, benefiting the rest of the world at our expense. I will fix these problems with permanent solutions. Ultimately, I will press for a total overhaul of our overly complex and inefficient system of taxation.

With scant regard for the costs imposed on consumers and businesses, President Obama has vastly expanded the regulatory reach of government. The federal government has estimated the price tag for its regulations at $1.75 trillion. I will pare back regulation, including eliminating "ObamaCare." I will direct every government agency to limit annual increases in regulatory costs to zero. The impact of any proposed new regulation must be offset by removing another regulation of equivalent cost. Every one of President Obama's regulations must be scrutinized, and those that unduly burden job creation must be axed.

Where President Obama left America's trade interests untended, I recognize the job-creating potential of international commerce. I will create the "Reagan Economic Zone," a partnership among countries committed to free enterprise and free trade. It will serve as a powerful engine for opening markets to our goods and services, and also a mechanism for confronting nations like China that violate trade rules while free-riding on the international system. I will not stand by while China pursues an economic development policy that relies on the unfair treatment of U.S. companies and the theft of their intellectual property. I have no interest in starting a trade war with China, but I cannot accept our current trade surrender.

The Obama administration has severely restricted domestic energy production. I will ensure we utilize to the fullest extent our nation's nuclear know-how and immense reserves in oil, gas and coal. By rationalizing and streamlining regulation, we will harness these resources everywhere it can be done safely, taking into account local concerns. A huge number of jobs is at stake. So, too, is the price of energy, which strongly influences economic growth. We are an energy-rich country that, thanks to environmental extremism, has chosen to live like an energy-poor country. That has to end.

Seeking to pay back political favors, President Obama has catered to the institutional interests of union bosses at the expense of both workers and businesses. I will fight against measures that deprive workers of basic rights, such as the secret ballot. And I will not tolerate federal intrusions of the kind that the National Labor Relations Board initiated when it filed suit against Boeing for opening a plant in a right-to-work state.

We also need a rational system for worker retraining, instead of the existing 47 separate programs run by nine federal agencies. America can have the world's most competitive workforce, and under my leadership, we will.

Finally, President Obama has engaged in a massive spending binge of choice. He threw dollars at every problem he encountered, running up the national debt and accomplishing worse than nothing in exchange. I will restore fiscal discipline by cutting the federal budget and placing an ironclad cap on spending. I will also press for a Constitutional amendment to balance the budget. Tellingly, while the private sector shed 1.8 million jobs since Barack Obama took office, the federal workforce grew by 142,500, or almost 7%. A rollback is urgently required.

As this catalogue of differences makes clear, our country has arrived at a fork in the road. In one direction lies the heavy hand of the state, indebtedness and decline. In the other direction lies limited government, free enterprise and economic growth. I know which direction is the American way. And I know in which direction lie the millions of jobs we need.

- Mitt Romney