Obama Makes Me Happy I'm NOT An American

[Anonymous]

Monte Solberg pretty much nails it here.

I pretty much loathe the American president's annual State of the Union address -- or the SOTU as it's called by cool insiders like us.



Presidents are busy people. Why make them go to Congress and, for the next hour, read a laundry list of their accomplishments and non-accomplishments? Why not send out a press release instead?



Somehow the SOTU manages to make network television even worse than it already is.



And yet, as horribly lame as those speeches are for Americans, it's even worse for us toque-wearing yokels here in the birthplace of the polar vortex. When it comes to the SOTU, Canada seldom merits a mention, except maybe as the punch line in a weather joke.



But some of us watch anyway, if only because the U.S. economy is still a fifth of the world economy, our largest trading partner, and the world's policeman, albeit a tired and bruised policeman. Besides, we like to go to the U.S. in the winter to escape the, umm, weather.



We also watch because it reminds us that our system is infinitely superior to theirs, even with our odd Senate, which will be even odder now that the Liberals have released their senators from captivity. Justin has announced his desire to rid the country of cynical politics so it would be wrong to connect his decision to sever ties with Liberal senators to an impending auditor general's report that will examine Senate expenses.



Either way the Senate is like an enormous skin tag on the Canadian body politic -- it's not attractive but it's not fatal either. On the other hand, the U.S. system might be fatal. So, even with a flock of free-roaming senators clucking and wandering about, and our archaic process for Senate appointments, all in our system is better.



Consider that Stephen Harper's Conservative government is eight years old and Obama's is not even six, but Harper will soon pass a budget. Budget 2014 will boast that the government will be back in the black in the next several months. Stephen Harper even has a fighting chance to win another election.



But in the U.S., President Obama has already done in President Obama. He doesn't work well with others and the obituaries have already been written for him and his teleprompter.



The president and his teleprompter leave to mourn their passing more debt than all the previous 43 presidents combined, and a health care program that might have been designed by affable manatees randomly hitting their shapeless heads against computer keyboards.



While President Obama didn't succeed in giving Americans hope, his spirits might be buoyed by knowing that he has made me feel infinitely better about being a Canadian. I used to admire the Americans for what they could accomplish, but that was a generation ago.



And like so many others, President Obama has proven he's better at talking about what America needs than he is at making it happen. Sometimes I worry the old America will never come back.



I don't understand the sickness and dysfunction that has infected the American system. I just know I don't want it here.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/01/31/obama-makes-me-happy-to-be-canadian">http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/01/31/o ... e-canadian">http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/01/31/obama-makes-me-happy-to-be-canadian

[Romero]

Harper claims he's going to balance the budget every year. I'll believe it when I see it!

Stephen Harper has managed to turn 10 consecutive federal budget surpluses of the Martin-Chretien era into 7 straight consecutive deficits.



The federal debt in the fiscal year 1996-97 was $562.9-billion. By the time the Liberals left office in 2006, it was reduced to $481.5-billion. In contrast, by the year 2014-15, the Conservatives will have added $176,400,000,000 to the national debt.



24% of the total accumulated debt since Confederation was amassed under Stephen Harper, this just since 2008.



http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sean-casey/harper-debt-economy_b_3976972.html">//http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sean-casey/harper-debt-economy_b_3976972.html

A chain e-mail as a source?

A chain e-mail circulating in New Jersey claims that Obama has "added" $6.5 trillion to the national debt, while his 43 predecessors added $6.3 trillion combined.



But the chain e-mail is wrong to suggest the additional debt during Obama's tenure already has exceeded the level of his predecessors. In terms of both debt held by the public and total debt, the Obama administration has added less debt than the amounts in place when he took office.



http://www.politifact.com/new-jersey/statements/2012/may/04/chain-email/obama-has-added-more-national-debt-previous-43-pre/">//http://www.politifact.com/new-jersey/statements/2012/may/04/chain-email/obama-has-added-more-national-debt-previous-43-pre/

This just in:

A new report says the government's budget deficit is set to fall to $514 billion for the current year, down substantially from last year and the lowest by far since President Barack Obama took office five years ago.



The Congressional Budget Office report credits higher tax revenues from the rebounding economy and sharp curbs on agency spending as the chief reason for the deficit's short-term decline.



Last year's deficit registered $680 billion. Obama inherited an economy in crisis and first-ever deficits exceeding $1 trillion.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/04/budget-deficit-cbo_n_4723511.html">//http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/04/budget-deficit-cbo_n_4723511.html

[cc]

Let's put smoke & mirrors aside and take a look @ the Grande Totals



http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm">http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/repo ... histo5.htm">http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm



Historical Debt Outstanding - Annual 2000 - 2012



Includes legal tender notes, gold and silver certificates, etc.



The first fiscal year for the U.S. Government started Jan. 1, 1789. Congress changed the beginning of the fiscal year from Jan. 1 to Jul. 1 in 1842, and finally from Jul. 1 to Oct. 1 in 1977 where it remains today.



To find more historical information, visit The Public Debt Historical Information archives.



Date   ................Dollar Amount

01/04/2014 17,321,762,409/763.00

09/30/2012   16,066,241,407,385.89

09/30/2011   14,790,340,328,557.15

09/30/2010   13,561,623,030,891.79

09/30/2009   11,909,829,003,511.75

09/30/2008   10,024,724,896,912.49



http://www.usdebtclock.org/">http://www.usdebtclock.org/ - TODAY

[Anonymous]

It makes me laugh how Obongo gets a free pass for leaving more debt for American kids than any other president because he took over in a deep recession. Harper took over shortly before the same recession started and we are on track to produce a balanced budget next year.



Why is Obama given a pass for producing massive budget deficits while simultaneously pulling in record revenues while Harper will be one of the only G7 leaders to return his country to the black post-recession and yet blamed for the same recession?? Hmmmmm, maybe he needs a few more deep pockets like Obongo has

[cc]

People like Querky & his diligent sources work diligently to achieve that "pass"



Smoke, mirrors and distortion bullshit aside, The total is up 7 Trillion in 5 yrs of  his reign

[Anonymous]

People like Querky & his sources work diligently to achieve that "pass"



The total is up 7 Trillion in 5 yrs of  his reign

With no end in sight to more deficits. Meanwhile Canada is on track to produce a balanced budget next year. Obama's apologists act like he is the only world leader to have to deal with a deep recession.

[cc]

He has finished the US. It can never recover from him



As to his continuing it, O'Care alone will set them back a T or 2 while he is in office

[Romero]

People like Querky & his diligent sources work diligently to achieve that "pass"



Smoke, mirrors and distortion bullshit aside, The total is up 7 Trillion in 5 yrs of  his reign

My source is the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. The budget deficit is in fact set to fall to $514 billion.

[cc]

You can't hide that the total is up 7 Trillion in 5 yrs of his reign (Govt Numbers)



with O'Care alone now known to set them back a T or 2 yet to come while he is in office - CBO



And that does not include greatly reduced income (and the taxes lost as a result)

OUT TODAY

The CBO reported today Obamacare will reduce the total number of American work hours by 1.5% to 2.0%.

Obamacare is slowing growth – contributing to job losses.



This follows CBO reports that Obamacare is forcing more Americans into part-time positions.



Of 953,000 Jobs Created In 2013, 77%, Or 731,000 Are Part-Time



Play the numbers any way they want but the current & upcoming hole cannot be dug out of

7 Trillion in 5 yrs +++++++++ for next 3

[Anonymous]

For gawd sakes, Obama is the debt president and yet with record revenues he will leave a legacy of deficits behind for either Hillary or the GOP to clean up. Due to cheap energy costs(compared to competitors) the US economy is growing. He should start getting serious about fiscal responsibility. What he has been doing is the opposite of leadership.

[Romero]

You can't hide that the total is up 7 Trillion in 5 yrs of his reign (Govt Numbers)

The deficit goes up every year under every president. Obama has cut the yearly deficit in half.

[cc]

Please tell me you didn't say that



Date   ................Dollar Amount

01/04/2014 17,321,762,409/763.00

09/30/2012   16,066,241,407,385.89

09/30/2011   14,790,340,328,557.15

09/30/2010   13,561,623,030,891.79

09/30/2009   11,909,829,003,511.75

09/30/2008   10,024,724,896,912.49



You should not have skipped those econ classes



He started at 10, took it up to 17.3 already and O'Care cost coming



Watch the "total" clock - It keeps climbing faster and faster -



It is the ONLY proof o the pudding - The end result regardless of all the raw bullshit / smoke / spin

[Anonymous]

You can't hide that the total is up 7 Trillion in 5 yrs of his reign (Govt Numbers)

The deficit goes up every year under every president. Obama has cut the yearly deficit in half.

Obama's cut the deficit???                        

August 6, 2011|3:13 am



For the first time in modern history the United States credit rating was downgraded. Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's made the announcement late Friday saying that it has cut its top, long-term rating from triple-A to AA+ for the U.S. Treasury's debt.



It is the first time the nation's rating has been lowered since the U.S. won the top ranking in 1917.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/sp-downgrades-u-s-credit-rating-53486/">http://www.christianpost.com/news/sp-do ... ing-53486/">http://www.christianpost.com/news/sp-downgrades-u-s-credit-rating-53486/

and

meanwhile

Canada is the only G7 country with a stable AAA debt rating from Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings.

http://business.financialpost.com/2013/03/22/flahertys-thrifty-budget-keeps-canada-worthy-of-top-credit-rating-in-g7/">http://business.financialpost.com/2013/ ... ing-in-g7/">http://business.financialpost.com/2013/03/22/flahertys-thrifty-budget-keeps-canada-worthy-of-top-credit-rating-in-g7/

[Romero]

I know the total deficit is going up. I said so. It goes up under every president every year.



I'm correct that the yearly deficit has been reduced to $516 billion. It was $1 trillion when Obama first took office.

[Anonymous]

I know the total deficit is going up. I said so. It goes up under every president every year.



It's also true that the yearly deficit has been reduced to $516 billion. It was $1 trillion when Obama first took office.

Let me get this straight, Obongo record level recessionary deficits go down and he has cut the deficit in half? The Tories recessionary deficits have been less than halved and unlike Obama will be in surplus next year, but you don`t say they have reduced the deficit by more than half???



We will be in the black next year unlike the ineptly lead country to the South.