The American people have been watching the US Auto industry closely for a number of months. America must have an Auto Industry. We are America for crying out loud. We buy more cars than anyone. But we must have industries that compete in every way from technology, safety, productivity to efficiency and cost.
It is a very hard time for many in the industry that have done all they can do to build the best cars industry has allowed them to build, but these folks are survivors and will overcome. They will lead the new American auto industry with the experience and continuous process improvement cultures that they know are critical to quality.
Our nation is at a crossroads. An eight lane crossroads at rush hour with train tracks to-boot! Now is the time for our government & manufacturing industries to manhatanize the change over away from foreign oil. We cannot just keep kicking it down the road. It cost way to much with each kick. Look at us now, the big three in danger of survival. High efeciency & electric cars should have been the norm for at least five to ten years, but they are not. Had they of been we would be looking at a very different picture. We cannot unscramble that egg, but we must take heed, learn from it and start anew. We must not squander our last chance. Yes, I say last chance. Because the path we are on is not sustainable for another 20+ years.
At this point I believe that it is in the best interest of the nation and the auto industry for GM & Chrysler to go through a pre-packaged bankruptcy, a protected bankruptcy that will let us start fresh with a clean cost effective slate. And what I will add is for this to take the highest of national priority and to make sure it happens right and quickly, so that GM & Chrysler can get back on track and head for better days.
This is the perfect storm for breaking the back of foreign oil dependency and for re-tooling industry over to USA natural gas and electric cars and trucks. The government can play a role in determining a DVEI (dollar value to energy independence.) There are cost factors like national security on dependent energy vs potential independent energy, current greenhouse cost vs more efficient and renewable alternatives. There are other factors as well. Bottom line, there is a dollar value to energy independence and it can be used to assist the nation in a changeover. Even if we are only talking a 5 to 10% change over, that would be the start, and would grow exponentially from there as the cost would also become more affordable.
What I envision is the government working with private industry like trucking companies, UPS, FED-EX, etc.. and companies like BP & Philips to add natural gas to existing stations. Converting existing engine components for tractor trailers and other transport vehicles is where the Auto industry comes in. This and new natural gas engine conversion kits. Re-tooling and building fuel tanks and pumping stations also. Industry would do this as they continue to move forward on advanced electric vehicles. This would also feed a host of different new jobs/demands nationwide.
Tax breaks based on DVEI can be used to leverage and incentivise transport & energy related industry to be a part of the solution and make the switch. In addition the federal government can lead the way by converting government transport vehicles to natural gas and electric.
What we cannot do is to continue to do what we have been doing for the last 20+ years, expecting that we can do it for 20 more. The end of that era is NOW. If it is through the baptism of bankruptcy that will free the US Auto industry to rise again then so be it! Americans are great people and we are intelligent people. We will buy the cars again! They will be better, and we know it. We know when there is sustainable change and we will not allow some false stigmas of bankruptcy to influence us without cause.
If industry turns around and does so in an unprecedented way, as we know they can, then Americans will do their part and step to the plate. Trust me, Americans want to buy American made products. We want to take care of our own, We've had enough. So lets get on with the business of turning our auto industry around and let's seize the opportunity to use it as a vehicle :) to save our nation from the destructive addiction of foreign oil.
Obama's war? Really! Well maybe in the sense that he is now the President & Comander in Chief and is charged with "the buck stops here." But when we start to look at this wreck from all four corners of the intersection we will find some intersting perspectives and facts that cannot be seen from opposing views/corners. Some of which we rather not see, know or accept. In fact, some add up to a dirty little term known as "blowback." Just hurry and write the ticket officer, please!
What the President and his teams are doing with the wars and foreign policy is steering in a direction that will get "US" back on some sense of terra firma. It is what he clearly campaigned on and what we, The UNITED States of America, collectively as a democracy accept through his election.
Some wish that by calling this "Obama's Vietnam" or Obama's war that it will divert attention and erase the previous admin's & congresses history of their handling of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. IT DOES NOT and NOR will it next time. Clicking ones heels wishing it to go away does not work in the real world. As the crude but true saying goes, "wish in one hand & sh*+ in the other, which one do you think will fill up faster?" remains the case for the history/the facts.
When I think about what we, America not just Obama are faced with concerning Afghanistan, I have to look at the history of our involvement and it's legacy. I personally think that the movie "Charlie Wilson's War" is a good depiction of what happened and today's current state of affairs in Afghanistan is clearly a large part of the blowback from it. While the current admin is taking credit good bad or indifferent for the latest round of buck stopping decisions, I recognize that these decisions are crafted to combat the winds and debris of actions and inactions of previous US foreign policy decisions whether out rite, coordinated or clandestine. Decisions that go well into decades of administrations and Congresses.
So let's be clear, WE OWN IT! We the People, not the President. Need I remind you that he, his administration and everyone in Congress reports to & works for YOU & I. So while the "Buck Stops with The President," the President & the Congress stops with "WE The People." And in order for us to heal & grow strong as a nation we must first own what we do. So we own it America!
The United States of America has ownership and responsibility to the wars in Iraq & Afgahnistan. Damn that hurts when I write it this way. We can argue the finer points of whether we asked for them, and to be quit frank, the answers change back and forth with the magnification and the pursuit of root cause. Like every coin has two sides, until you magnify, it is then when you will see sides, angles and corners that you did not consider at a wider more comfortable view!
And until we as a nation join not as Independents, Democrats and Republicans, but as ACTIVE AMERICAN VOTERS and take a hard clear eyed look at certain aspects of our dysfunctional foreign policy history, understand & accept what the results and ramifications/blow-back has been, then we will constantly block the potential for more sustainable problem solving as opposed to the murky problem pushing that we have engaged in.
But, we must also remember that we are a GREAT NATION and a great people that is great through it's diversity, acceptance and love of freedom. THE NATION that has very much lead the world to greater peace & prosperity. We must learn to discern. Separate the functional from the dysfunctional. It is when "We the People" lower our heads and our uprightness that the two mingle and cloud the waters of foreign policy.
So to say this is Obama's war or Bush's war, Kennedy's Bay of pig's, Nixon's Vietnam, etc.. might be comforting to those on the left or right, it is nothing more than divergence, distraction and a false pealing away of YOUR & MY responsibility as the collective OWNERS of our nations Destiny. It is our responsibility and opportunity to stay abreast, ask the questions, get the facts and vote accordingly.
In America, today more than ever WE are empowered with the tools to mandate our government in the direction that we choose. It only happens when YOU & I, the owner's start acting like we own the greatest most coveted "company" on the face of the earth, The United States of America.
We all have our views on what we think is right. For many of us that changes as new facts are revealed, some quicker than others. We know how it feels when we argue back and fourth and when we win an argument it generally makes us feel somewhat victorious. But maybe we are not feeling so great, if we still do not come to consensus, because maybe what we really want is agreement and alignment.
But think back to a moment in your life when the leaders that you believed in were engaged in agreement with the opposition leadership and they for a brief moment were united and worked together to actually solve problems. It can be an amazing feeling when the Nation and the leadership is united for a cause. The world for that matter. We need only look back to the early days of 911 to remember what that felt like.
Why is it important for many people to see their government leaders working together in a meeting of the minds? Other than the fact that it gives us a sense of security, a sense that they know what they are doing and are working diligently to protect the interest of our Nation. Is it because of something from our past? Possibly the fact that the one thing that is terrifying to children is to see their parents/leadership figures fighting.
Maybe there is a subconscious memory aspect to it all. And maybe that is also why our leaders find it comforting to be in the fight when playing the leadership role. Is our government this giant co-dependant poster child? Yikes! Do we need to enroll the Congress and the Admin into counseling? Pelosi and Boehner? McCain and Obama! But like counseling, when they get there then they have to start unpacking bags. I don't even think Samsonite has that much luggage! But maybe, it would be worth it for both parties to increase the level of bipartisanship if only by single digits!
Where do you start? Do you open a cabinet level office of Homeland Insecurity & Dysfunction. Do we hire Dr. Phil to head the department? Maybe we are better off to just keep rowing up that great African river Denile and send our leadership into divorce court. Somethings gotta give, the kids can't take the pain that Washington continues to dole out.
Like our President & the loyal opposition. We take March Madness serious in this houshold!!! And my power forward is on game! So back up! It's gonna be a Carolina team, not sure which one yet but it is gonna be one!
I would like to see DUKE get there and now that they are pissed off at the President they might, They just have to make a way, where there is no way, and know that if you are trying, you are failing, you either are doing it or you are not! But I will still be happy if the Tarheels win :)
The saying goes, "as long as I have my health" I will be ok. As we claw our way out of this economic recession, it is imperative that we understand what we are dealing with, how we got here and what we need to do to create a sustainable recovery, lest we wind up doing nothing more than flailing money at the problem in a state of drowning man syndrome. It is quite sobering to see tent cities in America and it is clear that many are hurting in many ways, but even in a tent city, one would say "as long as I have my health" in hopes that things will change for a better day.
The current state of affairs is a compilation of various root causes not just one. The president and many Americans on both sides of the isle are working hard and working smart to fix the problems. What I find fascinating is that many if not most of the issues that are crossing the wire are part of the reason we are in this financial mess. Energy policy, un enforced finance regs, outdated regs, unfair trade, health care and more, much more.
At the end of the day we can deal with most issues "as long as we have our health!" With out it, we are done. Ironically, healthcare reform is critical to solving what ails America. At the same time it is like the "we need a bigger boat" comment from the movie Jaws, when looking into the mouth of healthcare reform. At least that is a normal thought when confronted with such a daunting task.
The president has called all hands on deck to work together and solve these problems that contribute to the bigger picture, which really add up to nothing less than national security and the global recession. Healthcare reform will need a bigger ship not a bigger boat! The president was successful in bringing all the major parties to the table. But then what? What next? Well if we do what we have done in the past, then we will fail. We will go back to our corners and tailor our arguments to drive our agendas, which may or may not be aligned with the best possible solutions for the country's health. But everyone must be heard and taken seriously. Because while an individual might not have the answer, that person might have a catalyst/idea that is a step to another idea or viable solution.
Maybe Six Sigma's DMAIC, DMADV, Kaizen, Lean or some other process improvement cultures can be what facilitates the process of healthcare reform and successfully brings all the parties through the process together, and onto unprecedented problem solving! Or it might be that the tools would be used in various combinations for specific project needs and collaborations. This would allow a structure & culture that keeps us on track to solutions or closure on a specific area and not merely chasing rabbits. These tools combined will also teach those involved very valuable problem solving techniuqes that they will use in future opportunities, even at home!
I believe our nation as individuals is lacking in up to date problem solving techniques and maybe even confuses putting out fires with solving problems/eliminating root cause.
How do we solve problems as a team? When problem solving, do we DEFINE what it is we are looking to do, and at the same time define what we are not looking to do so that we do not waste time in areas that will not produce fruit.
Do we collect and MEASURE credible, relevant, un-skewed data, the voice of the customer? Or do we merely seek data that validates/qualifies our agenda?
Do we ANALYZE the data, allowing it to unfold, telling it's own story, speaking its facts? Do we listen to the data, understand it, accept it, even when painful? Or do we manipulate the data, have selective listening and take a ride on that great African river, denial?
Do we carefully develop and pilot solutions tailored to fit and IMPROVE what was defined based on our findings (the voice of the customer) and it's analysis and not what fits an ideology alone or some hidden agenda?
When we finally fix-it, do we all get happy, clap our hands, go have drinks turn our backs and return to our lives? Or do we put CONTROLs in place to monitor and determine future improvements that are inevitable, expected and necessary, as is the case with all continues improvement as we hand off the projects.
In a nutshell, this is Six Sigma DMAIC's (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control!) It is only one of several process improvement tool kits that are used to problem solve. It may or may not be the one for healthcare reform and it's complexities, but certainly the need to explore the various process improvement cultures for healthcare reform is absolutely needed and to not do so is insane. And we all know what the operational definition of insanity is.
Maybe, the president should require that all the teams find, implement and certify a process improvement culture that will facilitate their part of the solutions. Certainly the admin & congress can make the resources (instructors, materials) available. Maybe there should be an office of Process Improvement & Problem Solving Culture.
These tools are great when they are used properly and for the prescribed problems/opportunities. And like anything else, when they are not used correctly they can fail. What I do like about using process improvement tools is that you build your projects and their solutions on the VOC (voice of the customer not your opinion) and data driven facts and not merely assumptions. With these tools come the need to provide validation of findings (data or VOC) at every step. Note that the VOC is not just the external customer/end user but the internal customer/partners as well.
What tends to happen with teams is that a common process improvement language develops and provides the continuity necessary to finish projects successfully. I also love the fact, that team members are deliberately brought in together from every level, high and low. That alone brings amazing strength to a project via the diversity of thought and discussion! That way It is not just a bunch of brilliant people coming together at a meeting brainstorming solutions, voting and throwing them at the problem, without measuring, testing/piloting at every level & stage.
Ultimately, they work best when the top of the top management buys in 100%. It is then when those charged with bringing process improvement to success have the support needed to make it work. The really cool thing about it is, that "as long as you have your health" and you succeed, you will be able to replicate in other areas of concern like energy policy, finance regs, fair trade, etc, because you now have the tools & experience to conduct sustainable, continues process improvement/problem solving :)
I just watched a segment on the Rachael Maddow show featuring Meghan McCain. It was interesting to hear her explain her perspective on the Republican party and where she thinks it needs to go to be an effective sustainable party. I believe that her thoughts resonate with many Republicans and non Republicans alike that are sick and tired of steering far right even when life's road is straight or takes a turn to the left. In all fairness the same can be said for the Dems that steer far left, even when reason, logic and the betterment of America calls for a different direction than hard left.
I am not a member of either party, I am simply an American, and for me that is all I want to be. I feel this way because in my life, like most Americans I am confronted with experiences that will sometimes have me be conservative in my thinking and other times liberal. Not only that, but in my years, life and experience, knowledge can and will change some of your views. While I am not a party member I do believe that it is healthy to have parties that balance the scale, challenge, and test us in our plight to love our nation and make the world a better place. If you had to place me at this time in my life based on an average, I would say, TODAY, I am center left. But it depends on the issues. There was a time in my life when I was two, three clicks to the right of John McCain. Life happens and things change :)
Meghan McCain's position as a Progressive Republican is interesting to me because, of several points.
#1. Out here in the world of blood, sweat & tears, Americans from every walk, with every hat come together and make it happen. It works! We work. We make products together, the UPS man picks them up. The pilots fly them, etc... We make our jobs work, even when we don't see eye to eye on all the issues. Maybe it's because we are to busy working to fight about differences, instead we are connecting on common pourpose. Actually the fights do happen, but in most every case the job continues to it's fruition. So when I hear about people interested in maintaining their core foundation whether it be conservative values or liberal values, but those foundations not eliminating the probability of expanding/embracing difering views for a common pourpose, then I think it is great and is what brings us together to do incredibly wonderful things. It is what America is. We are different but come together for many a common poupose, hence we are "The United States of America."
#2. One of the biggest challenges that I see that face our nation is that our problem solving skills are lacking. Many people solve problems the best they can with the tools they have, I get that. I too do the same. What is different for me is that I am a process improvement guy "Lean Manufacturing guy" Six Sigma Black Belt guy (problem solving, continues improvement stuff kind of guy.) I have had a bit of exposure to various initiatives through out my working career. Some might suggest to much exposure! It has been very enlightening and I cannot imagine effective problem solving without the experience. Just like I can no longer imagine raising a dog minus active & dillegent obedience training. To me it is like raising a child without teaching him to speak. And what i know is that things change and new ways of problem solving are continuesly evolving. Also the one that gets you is continues improvement. Guess what it never stops, that is why they call it continues improvement!
OK, let me get to the point. My point is this, from generation to generation we are becoming better equipped with life's problem solving tools, and I am of the belief that in our efforts to solve problems we are coming closer and closer as a society with every solution and every failed attempt. We are migrating to the center rather than going to the fringes and I believe it is so because that is where the data is driving us. So I find it exciting to see young Meghan McCain holding to her principles but not being blinded by the reflection that can shine from what we hold dear, whether it is conservative or liberal cores. I find it encouraging because I, like most everyone wants to live in a country that truly lives up to the name it has been given. The UNITED States of America. I see a future where we are able to have our foundations and yet respect and work together to make life better. I believe it is inevitable because we live in a world that has information at lightning speed. Every word can be dissected to determine validity. That alone has the ability to drive the population to more consensus, it takes time, but not as much time as it used to!
#3. I do not think that anyone should fear that we will just become one big gray mass. What will happen is that we will still have different points of view but the things we differed on years ago we are more likely to agree on as the data & time reveals it's nature. We will magnify and find new things to differ on. i liken it to the saying "every coin has two sides." Well yes it does when you look at the coin from two feet away, but when you look at the coin through a loop you will see that the coin now has many sides, it has sides on it's sides! So will it be with our political views. As we come closer on issues, we will find new different issues, and we will always have issues to improve upon! And we will become better partners on dealing with and solving problems.
#4. While young people love their parents and can easily hold to various family values, they usually do not want to wear their parents bunched up old underwear. They want their own, rightfully so. Young people will inherently take the info/values handed down and they will make their own way. More and more with every generation. Why? Resources, info, knowledge & life coming at you fast. I don't think that we have to worry about babies picking parties, but certainly the younger generation is older in many ways then the previous similar generations. So the days of hand me down politics gets taken with young grains of salt and will be shaped accordingly. My hope is that it is not just Meghan McCain with her views and position of being a Progressive Republican but young people all over the world in all their beliefs and political perspectives!
I saw Jack Welch on Morning Joe, go off on the President about not focusing his teams energy on the economy and his cocktail buddies are freaking out because they are scared and loosing money. I almost spilled my coffee, thinking about how Jack Welch ran GE, and if he would have had his officers "just focus on one project at a time." I doubt it, I knew someone that was part of that team and it was balls to the walls 24/7 work hard play hard. So I don't know what all the confusion is all about. Hell all you have to do is watch the president on Saturday mornings and it will be crystal clear as to what the hell he is doing, not to mention the fact that he is on the other six days of the week talking to the American people.
I am glad that we have a President that knows to fight a war on various fronts. But lets stop the BS and cut to the chase.
The real problem is that there are those that are loosing their ass, because they can't manipulate what is left of the market like they did for years. That is where their confusion is coming from. Many of those years where in Jacks hot & happy years. If you want to get dizzy Jack, and be confused, then maybe you ought to be a talking head about Madoff, but I guess now that he is not there for cocktails, it's Obama's fault. That's the team spirit, the American way, Jack can do it better! I wonder how your tail end would be puckering as a world leader in this day and time. Just be glad you are not the president. Everyone has the answer when they watch from the side lines.
Give me a break Jack, that little episode was disheartening and shed light on where you really stand. It is amazing what is revealed as the waters of the swamp drain out. The party is over Jack, do you remember that little book you shoved down the throats of GE employees, "Who moved my cheese" dig out and read it.
He is right this time.
"We need earmark reform," Obama said in September during a presidential debate in Oxford, Miss. "And when I'm president,
I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely." A quote from the President and what I voted for.
It is simple for me, if you are trying, then you are failing, you either are doing it or you are not. The notion that this is last years business and needs to pass is crap and I am not buying it. I am actually offended that the president and his cabinet have the gaul to make that the reason for him to wink on this. It is disingenuous and plays us for fools. Apologies are in order for Americans concerning the last year business spin from the white house.
Own it, you wanted the job and either do what you committed to and what we voted for or just tell us the truth. You said things on the trail that now that you are in office you are not able to accomplish the way you intended. Level with us, be honest, and call your dogs (keep your staff in check.)
Even the scriptures/bible say that it is better for a man to be Hot or Cold but to be luke warm is unacceptable. I have been around way to long to hear excuses of why we can't, I know better and Americans know better. Your election is a testament to that, therefore you must meet that standard. If this pig gets to your desk, kill it, plain and simple. The world will not stop turning and the congress will yield and make a way where there is no way. But you signing this corrupt bill is not help, it is nothing less than approving & fascilitating the dysfunction in government that we are determined to eradicate.
Other than this very defining issue, you are doing a great job, and we support you on the good, hard, smart work!
President Obama,
Senator McCain is right concerning the earmarks on the current Omnibus bill. It does not matter if it was last years business. That is like quitting smoking and saying, well I better smoke the rest of the packs because I already bought them.
The fact that the admin would even try to float the last year BS is not acceptable. nothing pisses me off more than when someone trys to play me.
You promised us that you would not allow this garbage. You need to take the lead on this issue and VETO the bill or get line item VETO. Or pray that it gets shut down before it gets to you.
If you do not handle this your credibility goes out the window. I support you, but you made it clear not once, twice, but many times that you would stand up and be a leader and protect Americans from this kind of kurupt washinton lobby laden spending. Look at Pelosi's polls, do you want yours to mirror hers???
I know and understand that we need to spend alot to get back on track, and I support that. but not foolish, Cloack & Dagger questionable earmarks that WILL be used against you/us in the future. You must find a way to cut the earmarks out or you will pay an extremely high political price.
I have written to both of my senators, Republican and Democrat to shut down the foolish spending. I have posted on CNN MSNBC and everywhere I can.
President Obama, please do what is right with our money, Veto the pork laden bill. I am dedicating my extra time creating the needed buzzz/preasure for the Congress & Whitehouse to go through, line by line. Explain to America why we need to know why pigs stink??? And why you think it is a good Idea to use our money to find out. What the heck is this.
And if there are any Senators out there that are standing agaiinst this pork, please do not just vote no. Get the testicular fortitude out and raise hell about it every chance you get, get a gang together and sleeping bags and sleep on the Capitol steps if you must, filibuster this pig, but do not just give some weak handed NO vote. Do something radical and substantial, but legal. Make a way where there is no way.
I encourage everyone to also contact your congress people. That is what we can do. At the very least do some research on this and see if it is what and how you want things to proceed in DC.
A Sample of the 9,287 Omnnibus Bill Earmarks
Amount Recipient/Purpose Congressional Sponsor
$1,049,000 Mormon Crickets, Utah Bennett
$475,000 Sidewalk Construction in Ashland & Cherryland, CA Lee
$225,000 Everybody Wins! LaHood
$200,000 Tattoo removal program in Mission Hills, CA Berman
$190,000 Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, WY Cubin
$237,500 Theater renovation, Merced, CA Cardoza
$75,000 Totally Teen Zone, Albany, GA Bishop, Chambliss
$500,000 National History Day Several Lawmakers
$570,000 Ronald Reagan Parkway, Boone County, IN Buyer
$100,000 Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation Allen, Snowe, Collins
$332,500 Build a school sidewalk, Franklin, TX Edwards (TX)
$381,000 George Eastman House, Rochester, NY Slaughter, Schumer
$380,600 Versailles Borough Stray Gas Mitigation Doyle (PA)$75,000 Wayne Gomes Youth Baseball Diversity Foundation Scott$381,000 Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, NY Nadler$5,813,000 Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate, Boston, MA Kerry, Byrd, Harkin, Durbin, Mikulski, Dodd $950,000 Bus and Bus Facilities, Lawrence, KS Moore, Roberts$300,000 Montana World Trade Center Rehberg$2,673,000 Wood Education and Resource Center President, Byrd$380,000 Lemon Street Reconstruction and Enhancements, FL Bilirakis$17,500,000 FDR Presidential Library renovation Gillibrand, Reid, Schumer $2,000,000 LBJ Presidential Library Hutchison $22,000,000 JFK Presidential Library Markey, Lynch, Kerry $300,000 GoGirlGo! Boston, MA Capuano, Kennedy, Kerry $285,000 Kansas Farm Bureau, Manhattan, KS Brownback $6,838,000 John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Several Lawmakers$427,500 Bicycle/Pedestrian Pathways, Provo, UT Cannon, Hatch$950,000 World Trade Center of St. Louis, MO Bond$725,000 Illinois Height Modernization Johnson (IL), LaHood$298,257 Small business program, Florida Department of Citrus Boyd, Putnam, Martinez $237,500 Sidewalk Construction, Vienna, VA Davis (VA)$190,000 Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI Inouye $100,000 Police Athletic League of Buffalo, Inc Slaughter$206,000 Wool Research Conaway, Rodriguez (TX)$475,000 5th & Market St. Transportation Improvements, PA Specter $494,000 Business incubator, Arkansas State University Berry, Lincoln, Pryor $400,000 Salisbury House, Des Moines, IA Harkin, Grassley, Boswell$138,000 John Nance Garner Museum, Austin, TX Rodriguez (TX)$190,000 Sidewalk Improvements, Williamstown, VT Leahy, Sanders$870,000 Red Wolf Breeding Facility Relocation Shuler$190,000 George C. Wallace Community College-Dothan, AL Everett$142,500 Pregones Theater, Bronx, NY Serrano$6,623,000 Formosan Subterranean Termites Research Landrieu, Vitter, Alexander$1,903,000 Landfill Gas Utilization Plant in NY Schumer $475,000 Replacement of Bus Fleet, Topeka, KS Boyda$285,000 Widening of County Road 222, Cullman, AL Aderholt$2,192,000 Center for Grape Genetics, Geneva, NY Schumer, Walsh, Hinchey, Arcuri $1,791,000 Swine Odor and Manure Management Research, Ames, IA Harkin$950,000 Bossier Parish Congestion Relief Plan, LA Landrieu, Vitter$712,500 Replacement Buses, Detroit, MI Conyers, Levin, Stabenow$4,545,000 Wood Utilization Research Several Lawmakers$200,000 Oil Region Alliance Peterson (PA)$2,565,000 Renovate the Cox Building, Maysville, KY McConnell, Davis (KY) $400,000 Minnesota Teen Challenge Ramstad, Coleman $190,000 Berkshire Theater Festival, Stockbridge, MA Kennedy, Kerry$4,750,000 Shiloh Road, MT Baucus, Tester$143,000 American Ballet Theatre, New York, NY Maloney, Schumer $100,000 Ready, Willing & Able, Philadelphia, PA Brady (PA) $250,000 Lederer Theater, Providence, RI Reed$1,187,500 Wolf Trap Performing Arts Multi-Use Trail, Fairfax, VA Moran$3,800,000 Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, MI Levin$294,500 Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, East St. Louis, IL Durbin $143,000 Historic Jazz Foundation, Inc., Kansas City, MO Cleaver, Emanuel$1,000,000 Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Ruppersberger, Mikulski, Shelby $237,500 Street Rehabilitation, Doral, FL Diaz-Balart (Lincoln)$49,134 Bronx Council on the Arts Serrano$475,000 Pedestrian Bridges, Iowa City, IA Loebsack$167,000 Autry National Center for the American West, Los Angeles, CA Schiff, McKeon, Bono, Boxer $315,000 Music education, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY Maloney, Schumer $122,821 Greater Toledo Arts Commission Kaptur$950,000 55th Street East Grade Separation, Minot, ND Dorgan, Conrad$951,500 Energy Efficiency Street Lighting, Detroit, MI Kilpatrick, Levin, Stabenow $143,000 Stockbridge-Munsee Museum, Bowler, WI Kagen$475,000 Italian American Museum, New York, NY Ackerman, Nadler$1,217,000 Citrus Canker, Greening, FL Several Lawmakers$900,000 Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, Chicago, IL Jackson, Jr., Emanuel, Davis (IL)$142,500 Bus Replacement, Culver City, CA Watson$2,150,000 Wisconsin Height Modernization Obey$1,900,000 Hattiesburg 4th Street Improvements, MS Cochran, Wicker$71,000 Dance Theater Etcetera, Brooklyn, NY Velázquez$333,000 Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, GA Marshall (GA), Isakson $1,235,000 Reconstruction and Upgrade 2300 West Street, Lehi, UT Hatch, Cannon$380,000 Revitalize Aliceville, AL Shelby$150,000 Nashua Police Athletic League Youth Safe Haven Hodes, Gregg $237,500 Paving, sidewalks and streetlights, Islip, NY Israel$238,000 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA Kennedy, Kerry $1,425,000 I-85 Widening, NC Burr, Dole, Hayes, Watt$285,000 Sun Valley Lighting Project, CA Berman$119,000 Children's Discovery Museum, San Jose, CA Honda, Lofgren$385,000 World Trade Center Utah Bishop (UT), Bennett $300,000 Shakespeare and Company Olver, Kennedy, Kerry $476,000 National Council of La Raza in Washington, DC, Menendez, Bingaman $508,000 Karnal Bunt, Manhattan, KS Brownback, Roberts, Moran, Boyda, Tiahrt$300,000 Fairplex Trade and Conference Center Dreier, Napolitano$237,500 SR-91 Congestion Relief, Orange County, CA Miller (CA)$380,000 Construction of On/Off Ramps, Midland, TX Conaway$380,600 Carbon Neutral Green Campus, NV Porter, Reid $150,000 Manufacturers Association of Central New York Walsh$475,000 Calhoun County Highway 1 Resurfacing, IL Hare$45,000 Weed It Now on the Berkshire, MA Olver$24,000 A+ For Abstinence, Waynesboro, PA Specter $819,000 Catfish Genome, Auburn, AL Shelby, Rogers (AL), Everett, Davis (AL) $196,514 Beaver Street Enterprise Center, Jacksonville, FL Brown (FL), Martinez $75,000 Chattahoochee County Family Connection Bishop$2,188,450 Bismarck State College Center Of Excellence Laboratories, ND Dorgan $469,000 Fruit fly facility, HI Akaka, Inouye, Hirono$800,000 Oyster rehabilitation, AL Shelby $238,000 Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley, CA Boxer $475,000 55th Street Extension, Rochester, MN Donnelly, Lugar
Source: Conference Report of HR 1105
You promised us that you would not allow it. You need to take the lead on this issue and VETO the bill or get line item VETO.
If you do not handle this your credibility goes out the window. it started bothering me the other night at 3:00 AM. It should be keeping you up at night also.
We know and understand that we need to spend alot to get back on track, and we support that. but not foolish, cloack & Dagger questionable earmarks that WILL be used against you/us in the future. You must find a way to cut the earmarks out or you will pay an extremely high political price.
I have written to both of my senators, Republican and Democrat to shut down the foolish spending. President Obama, please do what is right with our money, Veto the pork laden bill. I will spend the rest of the time creating the needed buzzz/preasure for the Congress & Whitehouse to go through, line by line.
Senator McCain is right concerning the earmarks on the current bill. It does not matter if it was last years business. That is like quitting smoking and saying, well I better smoke the rest of the packs because I already bought them.
The fact that the admin would even try to float the last year BS is not acceptable. You promised us that you would not allow it. Pelosi raised her hand saying she would not put pork in the stimulus. It does not matter if this is not the stimulus. You need to take the lead on this issue and VETO the bill or get line item VETO.
If you do not handle this your credibility goes out the window. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired of wasteful spending. We know and understand that we need to spend to get back on track, and we support that. but not foolish, questionable earmarks that will be used against you/us in the future. You must find a way to cut the earmarks out or you will pay an extremely high political price. You cannot tell us one thing and do another. You do not work for Reid or Pelosi or any of the congress, you work for the American people. We will stand behind you, just do the right thing.
I will be writing to both of my senators, Republican and Democrat to shut down the foolish spending. President Obama, please do what is right with our money, Veto the pork laden bill.
President Obama, Vice President Biden. You guys are the best!!!
Keep the faith and keep on keepin on!!!
Jindal Bells Jindall BellsJindal votes no wayOh how sad it is to see The GOP's disarayay
Please add more verses!!!
The Nation & the World has watched you stretch your hand out to the Republicans to establish bipartisan relations, only to be slapped back and ridiculed by their bulk, some of which who have claimed the mantra of reaching across the isle themselves. And at the same time, many of those to the left of you refuse to turn the other cheek for fear that it continues to get slapped.
What you are doing is part of the mandate that America has set fourth and not necessarily pleasing to the Right or the Left. It is not a new battle but one that has turned swords of every medium into plow shares. Many throughout mankind's history have proclaimed the power in unity and contrastingly the consequences when it is deficient or lacking all together.
The commitment of this country and it's constitution is based on unity, as in "The United States of America." I am one grain of sand out of millions on the shores of this blessed land, and I say to you, do not loose heart, keep the faith, keep on keeping on, lest you become like them. You are re-sculpting what once was precious to us and over time has been worn and destroyed, take the time needed to re-sculpt the unity that will ultimately change the world for the better, but never, ever stop doing it.
Senators Spectar, Collins & Snow rock! They are spot on and they have worked tirelesly to produce a bill, unlike the other Repulicans that insist on lock-down.
Now, left wing House Democrats rolled the dice and screwd the pooch on this bill from the begining, which in turn will cost the loss of some important funding that they could have gotten had they of seriously brought moderate Republicans to the table. Now we pray that they do not commit double jeopordy and change what the three Republicans agreed to.
If the house Dems loose this bill for the nation, the continual economic losses will be on their shoulders.
So, I say to those Dems that think they will tread on the three GOP Senators that have signed on.
If you screw this up, you screw the President, and if you screw the President then you screw the American mandate that he was given and you will pay with your seat, while your Republican colleuges laugh you out of the House.
So take a chill pill, go on vacation, do whatever it takes.
BUT DO NOT INSIST ON CHANGING THE SENATE STIMULUS BILL. YOU WILL FAIL AMERICA.
Americans are demanding that Congress telvise the conference meetings. Enough of the closed door meetings that do not disclose to Americans who is saying what, on their behalf. We need to know and we are demanding transparancy on this very important piece of legislation.
People, please take a moment and e-mail your President, Congress & media demanding televised meetings of this very important stimulus bill reconciliation between the House and Senate. We where promised transparancy and these meetings warant it. Feel free to copy and paste my statement to your letter if you wish, or do a video on U-Tube.
Where is John "Reach across the Isle" McCain??? You can tell a tree by it's fruit and like his vote on Veterans benefits he is MIA. Republican senators need to heed the call and set aside bitter feelings of the major loss in Nov. A NO vote is inaction. Go to work or get out of the way. They forget that this country belongs to Americans not Republicans or Democrats. Democrats need to also grab their Republican coleuges by the hand and drag them into the meetings for bipartisan solutions. THAT IS AMERCA'S DIRECTIVE, in a word "UNITY."
Even the scriptures/bible teaches that a house divided will not stand. And when it falls NO ONE wins. A mandate was clearly set, McCain quickly acknowledged it that night. Elections in this country better mean something or else we are dead in the water as a Nation. I expect more of you Senator.
The Ideological battles of the past are old, tired and do not produce $$$ when they alone are implemented.
Real Life Example: You are a Lender and your customer defaults on the home. Your company tries to collect and ultimately has to reposes. They won't leave the house, you will have to file a writ with the sheriff.
You have two choices, proceed on with the repo as planned the cost $4,000.00 for attorneys, the cost of funds?, repair & clean-up, replace apliances. and about one year of it sitting on the books.
Or, you can negotiate a "Cash for Keys" deal, where the defaulting customer gets some money to help them move and get on their feet, say $1000.00, if they sign the home over, clean it, and do not destroy the appliances.
The ideologues say WHAT, they are the ones that are going back on their commitment, NO WAY, Why should we pay them, it is fundamentally wrong.
The pragmatist say, yes you are right, they have fallen on their commitment, but $1000.00 is less then $4000.00 by $3000.00. And we have 30,000 repoes.So if we can actually pull it off for 1 in 20 we can save $4,500,000.00And besides not only do we loose money by trying to enforce an ideological perspective alone, but it won't work in substantial percentages because we are not addressing the root cause, we are further up the rung.
So, we save what we can $$$ and find root cause and work on eliminating the defect/root cause, if nothing more than reducing it percent by percent as we develop viable solutions.
OK, so you can do the same scenario with, unwanted pregnancies, AIDS, and many programs that Ideologues believe we should not fund. They may be right on principle. But the Feds do not print principle, they print money and we trade & tax in money.
So to me the answers are: Will it cost us money or save us money on the bottom line? If we don't have these programs does it cost Americans more to treat AIDS rather then prevent AIDS, etc? But this alone is not the answer, throwing money at the problem alone will not work, you have to find root cause/culture and address it also so that people learn best practices and in turn reduce the problem by percentage.
Fellow Citizens, there are real & good problem solving techniuqes that the Congress can adopt and use to solve problems, but they cannot, until they check their party hats at the door.
Why? Because they will have to where a different hat. A Six Sigma, Lean, problem solving hat. And i will tell you that when you put on those hats there is no room for nothing that does not come to the table with reliable concise data & facts.
I am sick and tired of the obstructionist to a bill that works for Americans in this crucial time of need, obstructionist on both sides of the isle. The Dems that put crap like tennis courts and stuff we may need and want but not in this bill and Republicans that are seizing the opportunity to throw the new admin under the bus by not coming to the capitol with America's mandate at the forefront. We are not stupid we smell the Karl Rovian type crap that drags and stalls and ultimately creates a situation where Republicans can try and fool people in thinking that Obama failed. IT AIN' T GOING TO HAPPEN.
We will re-Elect President Obama if we think that he is the best man for the job. We will also throw Democrats and Republicans out of Congress if they fail to come together and get the job done on this bill. I fire people that fail to do their job, and I have the energy, experience and will to campaign hard to put competent people in Congress. NOTHING is more important to America.
We know that President Obama has come to the table in the spirit of delegating and bi-partisanship. He did not come to Washington to be a Bush type Dictator. But the fact is that it does not matter what he does there are those that will always be bitter that they/GOP lost and they will always say that he is not doing enough, or he didn't do it this way or that way.
The Majority of America has spoken and you better listen because we support our President. You have eight years of crap to clean up before your next election, get it done. And I am not a Democrat or Republican nor do I want to be, I am an American and that is all I need to be.
I have written many posts on my blog ThE OpEn DoOr and have been onboard since about Iowa. I have been watching closely and gathered my notes/thoughts on election night but still have not written them. I have written lesser stuff since then. The same thing happened when I watched the Inauguration. Lots of thoughts but not ready to write, until now.
Congratulations, WE did it!
But one thought that is so profound in my mind and one that I can relate to is the swearing in ceremony. The ceremony certainly is a testament to the office of the Presidency. But, your specific swearing in ceremony is a stark and clear reminder that nothing worth having comes easy. Like you, I have been blessed with this type of affirmation throughout my life, but at the same time I am mindful that there are those that experience this even more so than I. It has helped me to be the type of person that will "make a way, where there is no way." So let the swearing in and the scrambling of it be an affirmation to these facts & attributes. It did not come easy, so why should it start then, right?
But what can come easy is loosing the understanding & connection that brought you this far. While America recognizes that your wonderful wife and family will do all they can to keep you grounded, ONLY YOU can really keep you grounded. Because only you are you, and only you have your thoughts and directs your own thinking. Corinthians 10: 12 in the New Testament is a verse that should sit squarely before you on your desk. Wisdom is the key. Your understanding of this is what brought me to the table.
I believe that with wisdom we can solve most every problem/opportunity that we face. Time will tell, and I will sweep my side of the street. But I cannot and you cannot sweep anyone else's. The test of life is for each one of us to do our part.
Thank you Mr. President for doing your part this far.
