Just A Few Reasons to Vote For Obama

 Why I'm Voting for Obama Again

The video  outlines some of the major accomplishments of the Obama administration-- like ending the Iraq war, cutting taxes for the middle class and working poor, passing a  health care bill, regulating banks,saving the auto industry and finally, in contrast to Bush's posturing and " dead or alive remarks, Obama just went out and got Osama bin Laden. That's enough to get my vote.

 But wait, there's more.......President Obama also managed to repair our reputation with our friends and allies abroad and  chart a sane foreign policy and to do everything he did by not sinking to the absurdly bigoted and ignorant level of the very hostile and corrupt Congress he had to work with.   Read the President's plan for job creation and fixing the economy during his next term here.

 If he could do all that he has done in less than four years, why wouldn't we want to give him four more?  He's just barely gotten started cleaning up the mess Bush left him.

Who Needs Big Government?

Who needs big government?  Well, for starters, unless you are part of the global elite, YOU do.  Government performs some very necessary functions that cannot be left to private markets-- like regulating Wall Street and Big Corporations and like keeping banks and credit card companies from cheating consumers, not to mention building roads and keeping the public safe.   Who doesn't need it is the crowd that own congress and the supreme court and sees you, the great unwashed, as the problem.

 I'm talking about people like the Koch Brothers, Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs, and  big oil, big pharma and big corporate everything.  Now that the Supreme Court has decreed that corporations are people, the fix is in.  You and I are about to be sacrificed on the altar of big power and big profits. Your only hope is to vote for Obama this November. The alternative is unthinkable.

These same entities are creating big super PACs and spending big bucks on telling the big lie this election year in order to get Obama out of the White House and bring back everything Bush. The big lie is that big government is responsible for all our problems and that  Obama is responsible for a skyrocketing national debt. They want to tell you that government regulation is the reason the economy is in the toilet, not two wars and ongoing tax breaks for the rich.

 Don't you believe it.  According to no less an authority than Robert Reich:

Obama isn't adding to the debt every day. The debt is growing because of obligations entered into long ago, many under George W Bush - including two giant tax cuts that went mostly to the very wealthy that were supposed to be temporary and which are still going, courtesy of Republican blackmail over raising the debt limit.

In reality, government spending as a portion of GDP keeps dropping.

As I said, I don't know who's financing this big lie, but there's good reason to think it's some combination of Wall Street, big corporations, and the billionaire Koch brothers.
According to the reliable inside-Washington source Politico, the Koch brothers' network alone will be spending $400m over the next six months trying to defeat Obama, which is more than Senator John McCain spent on his entire 2008 campaign.

Read the rest of Reich's article for Al Jazeera English here.  It's very interesting and if you have a brain in your head, it will make you madder than hell. Too bad it takes Al Jazeera to call a spade a spade and tell America what is really going on. Where is that  American media with the supposed liberal bias when you need it? Thank you Al Jazeera

Progressive Blogs Political Packrat Recommends

We all know the big liberal and progressive writers out there and the mega players like Politico and The Daily Beast, but some of  the best commentary comes from smaller boutique blogs run by politically opinionated individuals who are good writers and out of the box thinkers.  Thought I'd share a few of my faves with you.  This list is by no means complete-- there are many more out there and I'll get to them eventually, but for starters Political Packrat recommends:

Nuts and Dolts--is one of my favorite political opinion blogs.......newly re-designed and totally wonderful  I'm always pleased when a new post pops up.  One astute observer of the American political scene blogs her thoughts and opinions with style and humor here, writing under the name of Adelia Woodbury. Check it out.

Political Irony-- has a dry humor and a wry take on Washington and the world.  Its tagline  of " Humor and Hypocrisy from the World of Politics"  says it all.  Frequent posts here always with bite-- love it.

Groping the Elephant   is not a blog about Republicans. Rather, it is as much philosophical and spiritual as it is political and it is always a great read for anyone who is basically a seeker.  The author bills himself as reflecting back on his youth as a Fundamentalist Christian and also examing his efforts to construct a worldview to replace the one of his youth.  His political observations are astute and deep.

The Blog of the Moderate Left   is a place I often check in  on and enjoy stopping  always. Free lance writer and blogger, Jeff Fecke doesn't post often, but when he does post it is always well written and thoughtful information that was worth waiting for.

Freak Out Nation  does not mince words. This blogger is passionate and fabulously vocal on all liberal and progressive issues, but is a particular champion of the Occupy movement and women's issues--two things close to my heart.  Her prolific posts reflect intelligence and caring.

Momma Politico   is a California educator and liberal progressive who tells it like it is.  Her specialty is kitchen table politics-- the best kind IMO.  Her posts are long and meaty and she's got a great sense of humor. Check her out.

Nomadic Politics  is a new kid on the progressive block, just in time for the upcoming Presidential election and it looks like it is going to be a terrific additionm with good meaty posts and essays on progressive issues in American politics.

Have so many more but have to run so this will get you started..-- check out my blogroll to find more and feel free to leave your favorites in the comments section.

photo credit: Donkeyhotey on Flickr