While the nation has been focused on healthcare and jobs, 2010 has already witnessed a significant spike in the number of injuries and deaths for US troops fighting in Afghanistan. Compared to the first three months of 2009, the number of US troops killed has approximately doubled, while the number of injured US troops has more than tripled over the same period.
Like George W. Bush, President Obama promised to unite a nation deeply divided by partisan politics. However, a year into Obama's first term, America is more polarized than ever according to a Gallup Poll.
While President Obama proposes a three-year spending freeze on domestic spending, he churns out a record military budget. Here are the pertinent highlights from the campaign's latest press release*:
In 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger stated that he was going to become California's job czar. Six years later, Californians are still waiting for those jobs. On January 6, 2004, the Governor made "jobs, jobs, jobs" his first priority with unemployment at a modestly elevated 6+%.
Although Governor Schwarzenegger is one of the very few Republicans supporting Democratic-led healthcare reform, he has issued a letter outlining a number of fiscal concerns to House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and the California congressional delegation.
Independent progressive, Ralph Nader, offered some pointed advice that is especially relevant to California and the rest of the nation. While providing a point by point critique of President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize speech, Nader highlighted a critical economic reality that is fundamental to any budget, be it at the state or federal level.
The Tea Party movement is at a crossroads. It will either morph into a viable, third party by 2012, or it will fade away as most populist movements do. It will either develop into a platform of credible fiscal conservatism and constitutional fidelity, or it will be co-opted by GOP bigwigs whose sole agenda lies in bashing President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Senator Reid.
Last night, President Obama's war speech was especially relevant for independent-minded voters, both in California and across the nation. For the second time in less than a year, our Nobel Peace Prize winning President ordered a massive troop surge into a raging, eight-year war zone. In a year's time, Obama will have boosted troop levels in Afghanistan by a staggering 100%.
