In the seventh state of the Union Address for U.S. President George W. Bush, he has already set the tone for his waning few months in the White House. He said he wants to salvage his legacy in domestic diplomacy and politics before leaving for office in January 2009. His first agenda was to push Congress in passing a stimulus package that will avert recession in their economy.
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Because the United States is still in financial disarray, with US President Barack Obama continuing to deal with the multiple issues that plague America. He has recently stated an aid grunt to two members (Chrysler and General Motors) of the the Big Three – the biggest American automotive companies that are struggling with the times. Obama has also extended his campaign towards other counties, Muslim countries particularly, calling for unity and an end to all hate and animosity. He is also slated to meet with different European leaders in a summit where they will discuss the possible solutions to the growing financial woes; as well as visit Turkey, where he is expected to reiterate his appeal to Muslims. Last but not the least of course, is the US governments’ $800 billion stimulus package designed to rejuvenate America’s ailing economy.
President Obama has won the election and is in control, or is he? Much speculation has been raised on his experience and actions during this early years of his presidency which would be a difficult time indeed. The Recession is taking its toll on the economy and not even the might of the Federal Bank may solve the problems being faced by the US economy. His team has their hands full in coming up with solutions to the ever growing problems they have to solve and they have do do it quickly for even the mightiest companies have been hit so hard they may not have enough time before they collapse as they go down on the domino effect as the sub-prime market collapse ripples globally.
In the rest of the world, governments are looking to the US for inspiration for they are the biggest economy on earth, what they do may give clues to what they can achieve and what may be too far fetched for their capabilities. Global banks collapse and multi-national firms file for bankruptcy, seems the economic troubles of this year are just beginning to take their toll as we ride through this recession. The world is facing even more pressure from global warming as economies try to enforce laws that will help make the earth last longer. But even with such pressing issues, the world seems to be trying its best, just hope it’s good enough to make it count.
It will be a fight indeed, the fight to fix the US’s struggling economy. President elect Obama has begun putting together his economic team who would form his cabinet and advisers as he prepares to take office January 20, 2009 in what would be hailed as the most expensive inaugural event ever dwarfing the budget of previous presidents. His team is working to boost the reach of the bailout proposal which is to be used by them to re-structure and fix the economy. Vice President Biden is also hard at work trying to lobby for the proposed additional money from the Federal government but they are in for a rough ride.
News of misspending of previous bailout funds are starting to surface and congress won’t make it easier this time for the new presidency. They are trying to get the money out of the banks and into the pockets of the ordinary American as fast as they could. Just hope it comes in time to make a difference for people are still losing jobs, homes and just about everything in what has been seen as the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression.
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People’s look upon for the Republican presidential nominee has worsen across-the-board since September, an Associated Press-Yahoo! News poll showed Friday, with McCain losing ground in how favourably he’s seen and in a long list of personal merits voters seek in White House contenders.
Perceptions of Obama have enhanced or remained steady. Beyond views of the two rivals’ character traits, McCain faces another trouble — Obama is more trusted on the economy, the contest’s commanding issue, including a 15-percentage-point edge for better grasping how the raging financial crisis is upsetting people.
Obama’s image has been sturdy even as voters’ views of the overall campaign have tumbled downhill since September. The portion of people saying the contest excites them has sunk to 32 percent while those calling it frustrating have grown to 41 percent — and in both cases, six in 10 of those whose feelings have worsened are McCain backers.
Sen. Barack Obama was strongly criticized by Sen. John McCain because for turning down another senator’s suggestion of a joint trip to Iraq which he has not visited the country for a little more than two years. He is also targeted by McCain for not seizing opportunities to meet with Gen. Petraeus, the leader of the U.S. troops in Iraq. The last time Obama visited Iraq was in January of 2006, and the only time he met with the Gen. Petraeus was in a hearing. Later, McCain invited the Democratic presidential to accompany him on his upcoming trip, saying that it would be an “educational opportunity” for Sen. Obama. Obama’s spokesperson Bill Burton calls this move a “political stunt” after he declines the offer.
Eight civilians were killed by a helicopter strike by the U.S. forces who conducted raids in Iraq. Three of these eight civilians were children, and they were said to be fleeing in their vehicle to a safer area. Col. Mudhher al-Qaisi of the Beiji police says that the U.S. troops in the helicopter grew suspicious of this fleeing vehicle that they opened fire killing the said civilians. The U.S. military says that their forces were actually targeting a facility used as weapon storage which was believed to be somehow connected to the network of suicide bombing. These civilian deaths could have an effect on the treaties between the Sunni Arabs who are now against the al-Qaeda, and the U.S. military. The American forces say that they truly regret the death of innocent civilians.
President Bush addressed the Israeli Parliament, talking about the “unbreakable” bond of the United States and the Jewish state’ alliance. He also gave calls to negotiate and settle things with the “terrorists and radicals.” After this talk in Jerusalem, he will be meeting with the king of Saudi Arabia during his visit to the said country. This visit commemorates the 75th year of the establishment of the relationship between. U.S. and Saudi, according to the White House. Then, U.S. President will fly to Egypt with President Hosni Mubarak, another ally of the U.S. Bush will deliver remarks regarding the world economy.
Since the House Democrats can’t force the United States to withdraw from Iraq, they’re going to do the next best thing: spend the $108 billion dollar war request to pass billions of dollars in election-year domestic spending.
“I reject the president’s view that all this supplemental should be is for spending money overseas,” House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, said yesterday. “We believe Americans have needs.
Some of the programs in dire need for funding is the Hurricane Katrina relief and the extension of unemployment benefits. However, according to President Goerge Bush, he will veto any supplemental war-funding bill that exceeds his $108 billion spending limit or that micromanages the war or “ties the hands of our commanders.”
This has a lot of Democrats in rage. According to the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, the President, “seems to think that he can issue pronouncements like the great Yoda and that the American people and the Congress will comply.”
