I normally read and then delete these paranoid, fact-less diatribes that are sent out or forwarded by the same people who believe in UFO / lunar landing / 9-11/ birther conspiracies, but certain ones are absolutely reprehensible, and deserve to be corrected. I spent a few hours doing the research that the author of this email failed to do and conveniently put the finding in blue to make it an easy read. I tried to keep it short, but some required more explanation than others. The complete, original email is at the bottom of the page.
I read your point of view, please give me the courtesy and read mine. Feel free to reply back with any factual corrections you may have.
1. What if I had told you in October 2008, before the last presidential election, that before Barack Obama's first 100 days in office, the federal government would be in control of both he mortgage and the banking industries? That 19 of America's largest banks would be forced to undergo stress tests by the Federal government which would determine if they were insufficiently capitalized, so they must be supervised by the government?
A quick history lesson in the time line of the financial crisis: 2/07/2007 - HSBC announces losses linked to US sub prime mortgages (under the watchful eyes of the BUSH ADMINISTRATION)
June 2007 - two Bear Stearns hedge funds run into large sub prime losses and are dumped. Trouble spreads to Merrill Lynch, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs (BUSH ADMINISTRATION)
June - Oct 2007 - US banks posted record losses in the billions
9/07/2008 - Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac put into "conservatorship" (nationalized) by US Treasury (BUSH ADMINISTRATION)
9/16/2009 - AIG Corp bailed out by US Federal Reserve (BUSH ADMINISTRATION)
10/01/2009 - US Senate passed $700 billion bail-out plan (BUSH ADMINISTRATION)
2. What if I had told you that within Barack Obama's first 100 days in office the federal government would be the largest shareholder in the US Big-Three automakers: Ford, GM, and Chrysler? That the government would kick out the CEO's of these companies and appoint hand-picked executives with zero experience in the auto industry and that executive compensation would be determined, not by a Board of Directors, but by the government?
April 2008 - gasoline prices near $4/gallon, GM sales down 16% from the previous year, Ford's down 12% and Chrysler was down 23% (BUSH ADMINISTRATION). Not necessary to comment on what happens with an oil man in office.
6/03/2008 - GM announces closing of 4 assembly plants
11/18/2008 - big-3 CEO's appear before Congress (remember, they didn't carpool?)
12/02/2008 - big-3 asks Congress for $34 billion in government loans. GM alone asked for $18 billion and an immediate immediate $4 billion to survive past 01/01/2009
12/19/2008 - US automakers granted $17.4 billion in LOANS as part of the auto rescue plan crafted by the BUSH ADMINISTRATION. 3/31/2009 deadline set for the companies to show they are financially "viable"
02/18/2009 GM & Chrysler submit restructuring plonas ans ask for further federal aid, totaling $39 billion.
03/30/2009 - GM CEO resigns after Obama administration unveils tougher terms for federal aid to automakers. Calls for sweeping restructuring of GM and berger between Chrysler and Fiat SpA
05/27/2009 - GM bondholders regected GM's offer to exchange bond debt for stock.
06/01/2009 - GM files for bankruptcy protection
07/10/2009 - GM emerges from bankruptcy after 40 days!
Overall, I'd say the financial bailout was not a good idea, it was a great one, and a bipartisan one at that. Can you imagine how it would've affected our economy, and our national pride if one of our big-3 failed? Not to mention all of the Americans who would be out of a job? Would you rather see all of these people loose their homes and families? This email sure makes it seem like that.
3. What if I had told you that Barack Obama would appoint 21 Czars,without congressional approval, accountable only to him, not to the voters, who would have control over a wide range of US policy decisions. That there would be a Stimulus Accountability Czar, an Urban Czar, a Compensation Czar, an Iran Czar, an Auto Industry Czar, a Cyber Security Czar, an Energy Czar, a Bank Bailout Czar, and more than a dozen other government bureaucrats with unchecked regulatory powers over US domestic and foreign policy.
The Bush administration had numerous czars as well. Remember Carl Rove, he was the Domestic Policy Czar, and then there were the Cybersecurity Czar, Regulatory Czar, AIDS Czar, Bird-Flu Czar, Manufacturing Czar and let's not forget the Katrina Czar, but the scariest Bush czar that never came to fruition is the War Czar. In fact, the term Czar is an informal name for a person who directs policies in the United States. Nothing more. The term has been around since the early 70's and is most commonly used in reference to the Drug Czar.
The truth is that the media coined the term, as it is much simpler to say Drug Czar than to say Director of the National Drug Control Policy. Every president is allowed to appoint his Cabinet and administration personnel. In fact, a good percentage of Obama's administrations appointments are roll-over's from Bush.
4. What if I had told you that the federal deficit would be $915 billion in the first six months of the Obama presidency - with a projected annual deficit of $1.75 trillion - triple the $454.8 billion in 2008, for which the previous administration was highly criticized by Obama and his fellow Democrats. That congress wouldpass Obama's $3.53 trillion federal budget for fiscal 2010. That the projected deficit over the next ten years would be greater than $10 trillion.
09-27-2000 - Clinton announced a federal budget surplus of $230 billion, the largest in US history (he had a $290 billion deficit when he took office and it was projected to be $455 billion in 2000)
02/02/2004 - Bush sent Congress a $2.4 trillion budget which included a record $521 billion deficit
10/07/2008 - US Budget deficit hits record $438 billion
10/09/2008 - Bush maxed out the National Debt Clock in Times Square
5. What if I had told you that the Obama Justice Department would order FBI agents to read Miranda rights to high-value detainees captured on the battlefield and held at US military detention facilities in Afghanistan. That Obama would order the closing of the Guantanamo detention facility with no plan for the disposition of the 200-plus individuals held there. That several of the suspected terrorists at Guantanamo would be sent to live in freedom in Bermuda at the expense of the US government. That our returning US veterans would be labeled terrorists and put on a watch list.
This false statement came from a RNC questionnaire called the "2009 Obama Agenda Survey", but was in fact a "push poll" ( a political technique which questions are written in a way that aims to convince the respondent of a particular position - read: political statement masquerading as a question). In a 06/12/2009 letter from FBI Director Robert Mueller III to US Rep Frank Wolf he states
"Regarding Miranda, there has been no policy change and no blanket instruction issued for FBI agents to Mirandize detainees overseas," Mueller wrote. "For years, FBI agents have been trained to analyze whether Miranda is appropriate to use on a case-by-case basis and to consider providing Miranda warnings if prosecution in the United States may occur. For detainees held in military custody overseas, approval by the Department of Justice is required before Miranda warnings may be given.
There are cases in which FBI agents have provided Miranda warnings to persons captured and held overseas, at Bagram and elsewhere. In those cases, a determination was made that a prosecution in ... court may be in the interest of national security and that providing Miranda warnings ... was therefore desirable to maximize the likelihood that any resulting statements would be admissible at trial. In practice, Miranda warnings have been provided to Bagram detainees in only a small handful of cases out of over 4,000 individuals detained and interrogated by the FBI."
6. What if I had told you that the federal government would seek powers to seize key companies whose failures could jeopardize the financial system. That a new regulatory agency would be proposed by Obama to control loans, credit cards, mortgage-backed securities, and other financial products offered to the public.
See numbers 1 and 2 for the Bush administration's give aways and corporate takeovers. Again, it seems like the author wants the country to fail. Like they want to see people out of work. I'm going to use a favorite from the Bush playbook and say that the author is quite UN-AMERICAN and UN-PATRIOTIC and if they aren't with us, they must be against us.
7. What if I had told you that Obama would travel to the Middle East, bow before the Saudi king, and repeatedly apologize for America's past actions. That he would travel to Latin America where he would warmly greet Venezuela's strongman Hugo Chavez and sit passively in the audience while Nicaraguan Marxist thug Daniel Ortega charged America with terrorist aggression in Central America.
Obama bowing to the Saudi King was not only customary, but a norm among presidents. American presidents will continue to bow to the King of Saudi Arabia as long as their citizens are addicted to the oil they pump from below their feet. Bush bowed too, but didn't stop there (see pictures below). I'll refrain from making any further commentary on this subject. Obama and Chavez shook hands. I know this may be difficult for some to understand, but ignoring your problems don't make them go away. Dialogue has to start somewhere. Remember when you and Mom made us apologize to each other after a fight? Should he continue the failed Bush policies of ignoring Iran, North Korea and Venezuala? Look where that got us; North Korea successfully detonated a nuclear weapon underground, Iran is now emboldened now that it's most powerful enemy has been taken out by the West and they're on the way to becoming nuclearized.
8. Okay, now what if I were to tell you that Obama wants to dismantle conservative talk radio through the imposition of a new "Fairness Doctrine." That he wants to curtail the First Amendment rights of those who may disagree with his policies via Internet blogs, cable news networks, or advocacy ads. That most major network television and most newspapers will only sing his phrases like state-run media in communist countries?
The Fairness Doctrine was introduced in 1949 by the Truman Administration and upheld by the US Supreme Court in 1969. Essentially, the doctrine required the "holders of broadcast licenses both to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was honest, equitable and balanced". Them crazy liberals, what did they know back then? Harry Truman was a Democrat, he must've been a Commie or a Socialist. He must've got a concussion fighting in the trenches in WWI. After all, that wouldn't happen in America.
9. What if I were to tell you that the Obama Justice Department is doing everything it can to limit your Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms. That the federal government wants to reinstate the so-called assault weapons ban which would prohibit the sale of any type of firearm that requires the shooter to pull the trigger every time a round is fired. That Obama's Attorney General wants to eliminate the sale of virtually all handguns and ammunition, which most citizens choose for self-defense.
False. This is a flat out paranoid distortion of the facts. Even Bush supported the 1994 legislation which outlawed the sale and possession of such firearms. This put Bush in direct opposition to the NRA and his base.
10. What if I were to tell you that the Obama plan is to eliminate states rights guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment and give the federal government sweeping new powers over policies currently under the province of local and state governments and voted on by the people. That Obama plans to control the schools, energy production, the environment, health care, and the wealth of every US citizen.
There is actually no argument here, because there is nothing cited, no meat in this sandwich. In fact, in July the Republicans sponsored a bill that would've eroded states rights by forcing states to recognize the laws of another with regards to carrying concealed weapons across state lines. The bill failed.
This is a pitifully executed attempt at promoting racism amongst ignorant, uneducated people. If you doubt me, do a google search for "states rights" and see how many times you see Ku Klux Klan and Robert Byrd.
A little history on states rights; Federal and State powers are defined in the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution and since it's inception, it has been a lightning rod between the states and Federal government, especially during the Civil War and all of the way through the 1950's and 60' African-American Civil Rights Movement. Yes folks, it really is a racial issue. In fact, it was the rallying cry of the Southern states leading up to the Civil War. It currently lives as a rallying cry for racist and bigots like the KKK and Aryan skin heads.
I know I shouldn't be, but I'm quite astounded that this blatantly racist statement was written by a Republican and being forward around republican circles. I would hope to think that my Grandfather (a devout Republican) would be shocked to see what his party has become. If this is the type of people the Republicans prefer, count me out!
11. What if I were to tell you that the president, the courts, and the federal government have ignored the US Constitution and have seized powers which the founders of our country fought to restrict. That our last presidential election may have been our last truly free election for some time to come. That our next presidential election may look similar to the one recently held in Iran. (And maybe under review by ACORN.)
Again, there is NO MEAT IN THE SANDWICH. Just a bunch of paranoid banter trying to rally the base. Please cite some facts (or even fiction like the rest of the email) and give me something to argue. And what the hell does ACORN have to do with reviewing Federal Elections? The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now is the country's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities. Again, this seems a bit on the racist side. Why would the Republicans be so scared of the poor and low income people gaining a voice in this country? Isn't that what our forefathers would've wanted? What does it say under the Statue of Liberty? Something about "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!". Should she have a secondary clause in this sonnet? I'd bet the originator of this email would like to see "unless they be black, or really poor, or wishing equality of thee. These masses should be of pale persuasion, unless they are servant to me." I'm still dumbfounded why the author of this email is so scared of ACORN, the poor, the minorities. I guess if I had the answers, I would be able to cause world peace and goodwill to our fellow man
On Aug 1, 2009, at 8:46 PM, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx wrote:
What would you say if I gave you 11 reasons why the elections in 2012 will be the most important in the history of the United States?
1. What if I had told you in October 2008, before the last presidential election, that before Barack Obama's first 100 days in office, the federal government would be in control of both he mortgage and the banking industries? That 19 of America's largest banks would be forced to undergo stress tests by the Federal government which would determine if they were insufficiently capitalized, so they must be supervised by the government?
Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America."
2. What if I had told you that within Barack Obama's first 100 days in office the federal government would be the largest shareholder in the US Big-Three automakers: Ford, GM, and Chrysler? That the government would kick out the CEO's of these companies and appoint hand-picked executives with zero experience in the auto industry and that executive compensation would be determined, not by a Board of Directors, but by the government?
Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America."
3. What if I had told you that Barack Obama would appoint 21 Czars,without congressional approval, accountable only to him, not to the voters, who would have control over a wide range of US policy decisions. That there would be a Stimulus Accountability Czar, an Urban Czar, a Compensation Czar, an Iran Czar, an Auto Industry Czar, a Cyber Security Czar, an Energy Czar, a Bank Bailout Czar, and more than a dozen other government bureaucrats with unchecked regulatory powers over US domestic and foreign policy.
Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America."
4. What if I had told you that the federal deficit would be $915 billion in the first six months of the Obama presidency - with a projected annual deficit of $1.75 trillion - triple the $454.8 billion in 2008, for which the previous administration was highly criticized by Obama and his fellow Democrats. That congress wouldpass Obama's $3.53 trillion federal budget for fiscal 2010. That the projected deficit over the next ten years would be greater than $10 trillion.
Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America."
5. What if I had told you that the Obama Justice Department would order FBI agents to read Miranda rights to high-value detainees captured on the battlefield and held at US military detention facilities in Afghanistan. That Obama would order the closing of the Guantanamo detention facility with no plan for the disposition of the 200-plus individuals held there. That several of the suspected terrorists at Guantanamo would be sent to live in freedom in Bermuda at the expense of the US government. That our returning US veterans would be labeled terrorists and put on a watch list.
Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America."
6. What if I had told you that the federal government would seek powers to seize key companies whose failures could jeopardize the financial system. That a new regulatory agency would be proposed by Obama to control loans, credit cards, mortgage-backed securities, and other financial products offered to the public.
Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America."
7. What if I had told you that Obama would travel to the Middle East, bow before the Saudi king, and repeatedly apologize for America's past actions. That he would travel to Latin America where he would warmly greet Venezuela's strongman Hugo Chavez and sit passively in the audience while Nicaraguan Marxist thug Daniel Ortega charged America with terrorist aggression in Central America.Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America."
8. Okay, now what if I were to tell you that Obama wants to dismantle conservative talk radio through the imposition of a new "Fairness Doctrine." That he wants to curtail the First Amendment rights of those who may disagree with his policies via Internet blogs, cable news networks, or advocacy ads. That most major network television and most newspapers will only sing his phrases like state-run media in communist countries?
Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America."
9. What if I were to tell you that the Obama Justice Department is doing everything it can to limit your Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms. That the federal government wants to reinstate the so-called assault weapons ban which would prohibit the sale of any type of firearm that requires the shooter to pull the trigger every time a round is fired. That Obama's Attorney General wants to eliminate the sale of virtually all handguns and ammunition, which most citizens choose for self-defense.
Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America."
10. What if I were to tell you that the Obama plan is to eliminate states rights guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment and give the federal government sweeping new powers over policies currently under the province of local and state governments and voted on by the people. That Obama plans to control the schools, energy production, the environment, health care, and the wealth of every US citizen.
Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America."
11. What if I were to tell you that the president, the courts, and the federal government have ignored the US Constitution and have seized powers which the founders of our country fought to restrict. That our last presidential election may have been our last truly free election for some time to come. That our next presidential election may look similar to the one recently held in Iran. (And maybe under review by ACORN.)
I know, I know what you will say. That will never happen in America.
If we don't do everything in our power to stop this madness in 2012, may God have mercy on our worthless souls. Pass this on to every freedom loving American you can. Thank you.
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