The glow of the historic inauguration is dimming, our eyes adjusting to the reality of our country's current situation. President Barack Obama is done partying with the stars, and jumping in to the day to day grind that will be the next four years. They are collecting the thousands of port-a-potties off the D.C. Mall. Let's take their cue, and get back to business.
First on my agenda, Timothy Geithner. Oh, poor, remorseful, innocently mistaken, Timothy Geithner. Only days before he was named as President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Treasury, did he pay in full the remaining balance of the $34,000 he failed to pay in taxes from 2001-2004. He blamed TurboTax and his accountant for failing to "catch his error", these taxes being paid on his income he earned while working for the International Monetary Fund. Although most Senator's are hesitant in "sweeping his tax problems under the rug", they feel that Geithner is the only man for the job of healing the recession before us and a very fractured economy." (Senator Charles Grassley, Iowa, Rep.)
This entire debacle, which is making my ears bleed and head explode, reminds me of a few lines from President Obama's inaugural speech. Let's reflect back together:
"Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account...and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government."
I completely agree with you, Mr. President. I don't know about you, but Timothy Geithner's nomination would do the opposite of "restoring my vital trust of the government". Let me be fair. I will give him the benefit of doubt that his tax problems are what he says, "careless mistakes". Fine. There is the possibility that a man who's job is crunching numbers, working for financial firms, is confused by tax codes. Even I get lost. However, even if the mistakes were innocent and repaid, why on earth would we intrust our "fragile" economy in the hands of someone who can't keep his own books properly!? Secretary Paulson hasn't had any tax problems (that we know of) and he can't account for millions upon billions of dollars of the "Rescue Plan". (Which will be another, lengthy, post!) If President Obama is to lead by example, showing us that we need to first take responsibility for ourselves and our house, he should remove Geithner's nomination. As Geithner being the guy "who will manage public dollars", he needs to be "held to account" for his careless mistakes.
Check. Item one on my agenda, done! Moving on to the next....(any suggestions?)
9 comments:
The problem that I have had with the Republican Party is manifesting itself right here in this, they are going to send him through with flying colors. This isn't just an Obama issue, it's a major Republican party issue also. I honestly don't know where to stand anymore. I don't trust either party in our government and don't feel like they even care one bit what the people think. The politicians are running the country. I have heard the words of Regan being echoed over and over again this week "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." Those whom we have elected are the problem on local, state and national levels. When are we going to see the voice of the people reflected in the actions of our elected officials rather than our elected officials being so arrogant that they think they know better than us? Maybe I stand alone in my opinions, but the way the world is going is not anything that I want to be part of. I see the masses being lead astray by beautiful speeches and eloquent words, but when you peel back the music, the words are scary.
I do think this is something to be concerned about, so I went and did a little research on Geithner. He is definitely brilliant and qualified. A decent article was done by the NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/us/politics/15geithner.html
Apparently, he is politically independent, so I do think that is a plus- hopefully he can see both sides of the issues. It will be interesting to watch, and I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt about the tax mistakes- I certainly hope I am never audited, not because I am trying in any way to be dishonest in my taxes, but because I am always scared there was some unforeseen error that I just didn't catch. Plus, if he was going to rip of the gov't on purpose, I would think he would want a lot more money then the seemingly small money he was off on.
So, I guess I agree that this is probably something to watch, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because he does seem pretty brilliant by what I have read about him.
And, I would disagree about the masses being led astray- I am so excited, because it has been a long time since people have actually listened to their leaders, and Obama is pushing for service and for all of us to step and be better citizens, I don't think that is a bad step for our country.
I'm not comparing Obama to Hitler because I do not think that Obama is a Nazi or a mass murderer, but I will say that Germany put a lot of HOPE and faith and was overjoyed by Hitler. So, just because everyone thinks it's a good thing, doesn't mean that it is. Remember the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions. That's why I am always trying to peel things back and look at the message, emotions aside. I think that our nation is on an emotional high right now. I think his policies are very scary. I also think it is scary that we are giving Geithner the benefit of the doubt. Are we really that naive as a nation that with our eyes wide open we are potentially allowing a crook to be the sec. of the treasury!?! Seems a bit irresponsible to me. I don't want to give someone in that position that should know what he knows about taxes the benefit of the doubt, I want someone with an honest, clean record. Sure, taxes are tough and we ALL get confused, but his confusion seems to be over the top and a bit delusional. This isn't a time to hope of the best, we need proven clean track records. I am also not surprised that the NY Times gave this guy a decent write up--it's to be expected from them.
Yes, you are right. We do need to check our leaders- I believe that is why Bush got into so much trouble. After 9/11 he was given carte blanche and was able to do anything and everything he wanted, which was very "Hitler-esque" if you wanted to draw that comparison. He should never have been given that power- so, yes, I agree that we need to check and watch our leaders. I do worry, though, when we start throwing out names like Hitler (even when referring to Bush like I just did) because there are people out there-like my brother-in-law- who really believe that he is another Hitler and that anybody who listens to him is a Nazi- which is, of course, absurd. The Limabaugh's of the world are throwing out terms like "Obama-nation" and crap like that, and that is so incredibly divisive and unpatriotic and completely unethical, so I think we need to be careful not to be led by fear, while still being able to exercise our patriotic right to disagree. Definitely we should question our leaders, but we shouldn't let hate lead us.
Ok, last time I checked Bush wasn't president anymore and we aren't talking about his appointees. I love how everything goes back to Bush when we talk about Obama. I'm tired of the yeah-buts. I never blindly made excuses for Bush the way that you and the democrats do for Obama. You can like him and love him and think he his the Messiah of our nation, but he's not perfect and all I've heard from you is how perfect he is. He's a man with many imperfections and I'd like for once to hear you call him out on something instead of constantly defending his poor actions.
Where was your call for patriotism when people were booing bush and calling for his arrest. It seems divisive, unpatriotic, and unethical. Why is it so easy to call for "unity" under Obama and not under Bush. I am sorry, but I don't trust Obama and I don't support his policies. If I am to be "unified" then that means I need to support socialism, welfare, universal health care, abortion etc. I'd rather stand alone. I have often found myself hoping for Obama to be successful, but I have changed my mind because his idea of success goes against my values and what I think it best for this country. Call it divisive if you want, but I NEVER asked you to change your views or to support Bush they way you seem to think I should for Obama. Hitler was more than a mass murderer and many of his high military figures didn't even inform their wives of the atrocities that he was committing. So the country was lead in ignorance and blindly followed a leader they knew nothing about.
(P.S. I guess he decided to stop being "neutral" on abortion when he decreed yesterday to use my tax dollars for abortions in foreign countries. Are you going to defend that one as well?)
WOAH! How on earth did this all of a sudden turn into a hate fest- especially when I AGREED with you 100% that we need to question our leaders? What I said is that it worries me when people start comparing him- or anybody else- to Hitler and the Nazis. Do you have any idea what Hitler did? Do you have any idea of who the Nazi's were- how they gloried in pulling people's brains out of their nostrils for research? Do you know just how evil a man Hitler was? I find it incredibly despicable to make any comparison between anybody and a Nazi and Hitler- and that even includes calling the guy on Seinfeld a "soup-Nazi." I am offended when people say I am a nazi because I happen to like Obama- because if you understand Hitler and what those people did, you would know that what they did is absolutely unforgivable and beyond inhumane. I never said you had to like Obama, you had to support him, you ever even had to listen to a word he said or agree with anything he does. I said it is not appropriate to call him Hitler and to call people who like him Nazi's- there is a big difference.
This is not even near a hate-fest. I just get really frustrated with people dodging bullets for Obama by blaming everything on Bush. Bush had nothing to do with the Sec. of Tres. nor did he have anything to do with the funding of international abortions. I get tired of people defending Obama by blaming bush. I want to talk about the issues and policies at hand, if they happend to relate to Bush, then fine, let's talk about Bush. But this doesn't. I have said it before, the only association I personally make between Hitler and Obama is the blind following that he has. I don't think that Obama is going to set up concentration camps, however I do question what he is going to allow to ethically happen in science ie stem cell research, abortion (yes, my soap box comes up again but it's an important issue) etc. It seems you have dodged another bullet for Obama by making the whole comment about Hitler and not addressing anything else I brought up.
P.S. I know A LOT about Hitler and I am currently studying him which is why I don't hesitate to make the association regarding the cult-like following I see. Also you can discuss fascism and Nazi's without it relating 100% in every aspect to the inhumane things that Hitler did.
How did I get so far behind this banter?
First, bringing Hitler into any discussion is an automatic red flag, 2 minute penalty in my book. Besides tyrannical leaders such as Stalin, Mao, Kim of N. Korea, there can be NO comparison between Obama or Bush and Hitler. (And I have heard it from both sides). I have done extensive research on the holocaust, and I find any sort of comparison absolutely dispicable and disrespectful of those who suffered under those leaders. And it weakens any argument throwing an inflammatory name into the mix.
With that said, let me address you both. Jen, I agree that we need to be careful getting swept into the excitement and general approval of President Obama. You brought up his international abortion funding order, which has flip flopped back and forth between democratic and republican President's since Reagan. I disagree with it, and we should voice our opinions against it.
Christina, thank you for hanging in there. I feel you have always been extremely fair and respectful when voicing your opinions. You never personally attack someone (even the Evil President Bush), just argue the issues (as it should be!) I will disagree with you on most of the issues, but appreciate you pointing out the other side.
I took my two minutes :)
You both have taken my Hitler comparison too far. I have, ONCE AGAIN, only referred to the blind following he is getting--it is obviously very baffling to me. Only praise from the left--it seems there aren't any checks and balances from his supporters, just excuses and deflections on to Bush. I don't think he has ill will for the country and the people of this country, but I do think that he is misguided in his policies. It also frightens me to think of what else he is going to do when just a few days in office he is signing bills to fund the killing more babies--definitely misguided and no one cries from the left--even those who are against abortion, just excuses.
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