This is his David Letterman list. No, really. This is how he uses his weekly address
Hi, everybody. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Not just for spreading holiday cheer – but also for list makers. You’ve got wish lists; Santa’s list; and of course, a blizzard of year-in-review lists. So I decided to get in on the action.
As a nation, we face big challenges. But in the spirit of 2015 retiree David Letterman, here – in no particular order – are my top 10 things that happened in 2015 that should make every American optimistic about 2016.
What are they?
Number ten: The economy. Over the past 12 months, our businesses have created 2.5 million new jobs. In all, they’ve added 13.7 million new jobs over a 69-month streak of job growth. And the unemployment rate has fallen to 5 percent – the lowest it’s been in almost eight years.
The number of people who have dropped out of the jobs market in despair is at a historic high. Jobs for those 18-25 are barely existent. Black unemployment is also at historic highs. Wages have been stagnant. The kinds of jobs being created are low wage, often service and base retail ones, and often part-time.
Number nine: More Americans are getting health coverage. The rate of the uninsured in America dropped below 10 percent for the first time ever. In all, 17.6 million people and climbing have gained coverage as the Affordable Care Act has taken effect.
Yet, a goodly chunk cannot afford to pay the deductibles to use this insurance that many are forced to purchase. If you buy car insurance, and cannot afford to pay the deductible to fix the car, what do you actually have?
Number eight: America’s global leadership on climate change. Last week, in Paris, nearly 200 countries came together to set the course for a low-carbon future. And it was only possible because America led with clean energy here at home and strong diplomacy around the world.
This one gave me the morning giggles. What he’s really saying is his leadership. And his leadership led to an agreement that is non-binding, voluntary, and has no force of law. Furthermore, he will never submit this agreement for ratification by the Legislative branch. Doesn’t say much about the agreement nor his leadership.
Number seven: Progress in the Americas. We turned the page on an outdated, half-century old policy by re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba and reopening embassies in both our countries, allowing us to build greater ties between Americans and Cubans.
Perhaps Mr. Obama should ask an actual Cuban dissident, as published by the Washington Post Editorial Board.
Number six: Preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. We succeeded in forging a strong deal to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. In fact, Iran has already dismantled thousands of centrifuges that enrich uranium.
You mean the deal that simply kicks Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions down the road, sorta signed by a regime that has violated sanctions twice in the past few months? One that will allow Iran to restrict inspectors from inspecting? That one?
Number five: Standing strong against terrorism. Even as we continue to grieve over the attack in San Bernardino, we’re leading a global coalition and hitting ISIL harder than ever. In Syria and Iraq, ISIL is losing territory, and we’re not going to stop until we destroy this terrorist organization.
Absurd. Just absurd.
Number four: A 21st century trade deal that makes sure our businesses can sell goods “Made in America†across the Asia-Pacific.
Even a bunch of Democrats were against this, notably Bernie Sanders. It really isn’t that good for the American worker, and when Bernie Sanders quite a bit of sense, yikes!
Number three: A pair of Christmas miracles in Washington! This week, Congress passed a bipartisan budget that invests in middle-class priorities, keeps our military the strongest in the world, and takes the threat of shutdowns and manufactured crises off the table for 2016. Plus, I signed a bipartisan education bill into law to help our students graduate prepared for college and their future careers.
Fortunately, those students will have no jobs, since they will be taken by illegal aliens and imported foreign workers, thanks to the deal, so the students can spend more time getting an education!
Number two: Love won. No matter who you are, here in America, you’re free to marry the person you love, because the freedom to marry is now the law in all fifty states.
So, Obama just gave the green light for bigamy, polygamy, and child marriage. Hey, love is love, right? BTW, it’s not actually “the law”, it’s a court ruling that overruled State laws and constitutional amendments.
And the number one reason I’m optimistic going into 2016: It’s you—the American people. All of this progress is because of you—because of workers rolling up their sleeves and getting the job done, and entrepreneurs starting new businesses. Because of teachers and health workers and parents—all of us taking care of each other. Because of our incredible men and women in uniform, serving to protect us all. Because, when we’re united as Americans, there’s nothing that we cannot do.
Interesting. This guy is the most divisive president in history. He works hard to isolate and demean his political opponents.
Crossed at Right Wing News.
The President is right! He’s accomplished quite a lot in the face of withering criticism from the luddite right.
For a gay, communist, anti-American, fascist, brown-shirt, half-black, thuggish, Chicago-machine, socialist, birth certificate forging, drug-addicted, Mao/Hitler/Stalin admiring, college record forging Kenyan Muslim he’s done OK. Radical rightists have seized the Congress and Supreme Court, but he’s done OK.
The President’s steady policies stabilized the economy from the conservative Great Recession (but conservatives blocked policies that would reduce the likelihood of the next recession). We still must recognize the damage done to our economy by decades of conservative economic policy; stagnant wages, jobs going overseas, union busting…
A current running through the new conservative movement is the rejection of evidence, science and data, and this current shows in their attitudes toward global warming and economics. As Stephen Colbert stated “The truth has a well-known liberal bias.”
those would be the policies that most economists feel extended the length of the recession. Those are the policies that saw the greatest number and percentage of people drop out of the workforce. Those are the policies that killed people working while adding onerous tax and fee burdens on individuals and companies. Those are the policies that saw for the first time in US history new banks not opening. Those are the policies that added billions of dollars of regulations with no discernible benefits. Those are the policies that took over the health care system which continues to show what a disaster it is as well as needing massive tax bailouts.
Yeah…..good job.
Jeffery loves these talking points. He forgets that the housing crisis was caused by liberal policies when it comes to forcing banks to lend money to people who were not qualified. He forgets the “John Doe” indictments of Wisconsin which were finally declared illegal. What Jeffery calls “union busting,” others call the right guaranteed by the Constitution to associate with whom they want and not be forced.
Liberals and progressives hate people making their own choices. Democrats continue to be the party of death and slavery.
Jeffrey quoting Stephen Coldbeer!…about the Truth!
Put the bong down and call your therapist!
“Radical rightists have seized congress and the Supreme Court…” Oh, please. J’s back to doing the drama queen thing, which he does so well. Anyway, was that a radical rightist Supreme Court that gave Obamacare the OK? I thought so.
This is just not true. Conservatives like to blame lazy Blacks and a gay man for the Great Recession, but it resulted from Mr. Greenspan’s unsustainable housing bubble exacerbated by crooked Wall Street banks and others. Conservative Repubs have opposed every effort to rein in the abuses.
It is true. Banks were forced by Democrat legislation to make risky loans. In 2003 the Bush administration warned Congress that things were not going well and there was a developing housing bubble. The Democrats – like you – cried “racism” even though the problem crossed all lines of race.
Obviously, you have problems reading.
The Republicans passed legislation changing the policies. Obama and the Democrats have threatened either with legislation or through an executive order to require banks to make more high risk loans.
It is always amazing how you are the one who always brings race and sexual orientation into any conversation. I will say that it is refreshing to see a liberal show their racism and bigotry out in the open. Of course, you won’t address it or see it that way, but it is good to know that you are a card carrying member of the party of hate and death.
Recent Republican proposals…
Carpet bomb Syria
Ban Muslims from entering US
Monitor Muslims in US mosques
Cut taxes
Build a big wall on the US-Mexico border
Deport all undocumented residents
Repeal universal healthcare
Cut Social Security benefits
Shoot down Russian jets over Syria
Drill baby drill
Stop gays from marrying
Ban abortion
Remove all limits on private ownership of arms
Enact a balanced budget amendment
Deregulate corporations – cut corporate taxes
Repeal minimum wage laws
Eliminate the EPA
Enact a flat tax
Further erode effectiveness of labor unions