The Sanchez Report

Just The Facts... The Obama Economic Record

No need for added commentary here folks. The facts speak for themselves. You decide. Yes He Did? or No He Didn't?

From Mr. Conservative.com:

For backup research please from the Republican Study Committee please follow this link

Obama Continues To Beat The Class Warfare Drum

The President has made it known loud and clear that his theme for reelection will be class warfare. So much for Hope and Change! He campaigned as a new politician. Someone who was going to change the tone in Washington. Instead, what we have is your typical liberal politician who can't explain why his socialists policies have failed. Never mind that these same policies, ideas and programs have failed everywhere else in the world. He'll go back to the same old tired Democratic playbook. You know how it goes. The rich are out to screw the poor and middle class. They only got wealthy by exploiting those under them. The rich need to pay their fair share. We need to raise taxes on the rich or else the poor will die and grow hungry. Public education will suffer and on and on and on!

From the great Larry Kudlow:

Following the GOP debate that nearly the whole world watched on Saturday night, the president on Sunday made it very clear that he will not back off his class-warfare vision in the coming year. Obama told Steve Kroft on 60 Minutes that middle-class inequality will be his big theme, and that somehow successful earners, investors, and small-business owners are to blame.

The president said that while fat-cat incomes went up 200 to 300 percent over the last few decades, middle-class incomes didn’t grow. This is not true, according to James Pethokoukis, whose blog posts citing various studies show that real median income rose at least 40 to 50 percent.

In any case, whatever the exact numbers, it’s still a mystery to me why successful people getting ahead cause anybody to fall behind. The Jack Kemp idea was always to foster a rising tide that would lift all boats. How can this happen if we penalize success and raise top tax rates on work and investment to 50 percent or more? That’s a mystery.

I should think, in a system of democratic capitalism, that more millionaires are a good thing. Show me a system of redistribution, and I’ll show you a system of economic stagnation.

Gingrich Tops Obama In Latest Poll... 45%-43%

Things continue to look move in the right direction for the former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. In the latest Rasmussen Reports 2012 Presidential Match-up Poll, Newt Gingrich has overtaken President Obama in a head to head match-up. While the results are within the margin of error, they clearly show the uphill battle the President is facing next year to win reelection. They also show the growing popularity of Newt as a GOP alternative to Obama. There's no doubt that a Gingrich-Obama match-up would provide the country with a series of debates that could down as some of the greatest. These would be pay per view material!

From Rasmussen Reports:

The Newt Gingrich surge has moved him to the top of the polls in Iowa, big gains in New Hampshire and now a two-point edge over President Obama in a hypothetical general election match-up.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Gingrich attracting 45% of the vote while President Obama earns support from 43%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Spain Rebukes European Socialism

Spain is the latest European country  to rebuke the failed European Socialist model. In a stunning turnaround for Conservatives, Spain elected Mario Rajoy and his conservative People's Party to take over control of parliament. This brings an end to the Socialists rule in Spain. The outgoing Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero took control in 2004 in a controversial election marred by a terrorist attack on a Madrid train station. This tragedy cause fear to spread throughout Spain and many voters elected the Socialists in hopes that it would prevent further attacks. The incumbent at the time was Jose Maria Aznar who along with Tony Blair served as George W. Bush's strongest European ally.

Spaniards have become fed up with policies that have nearly bankrupted their country. The far left Socialists are so unpopular that the current Prime Minister Zapatero decided not to run for reelection. The Socialists have spent like there is no tomorrow and taxed their way into an economic meltdown. In many ways, the Obama Administration has adopted the policies of Spain and it is for this reason that President Obama and his Democratic Party is headed for a landslide defeat in 2012. In this defeat, President Obama loses one of his strongest supporters in Europe.

From the Reuters article describing Spain's election:

Ana Maria Lopez, a 53-year-old chiropodist, poured scorn on the Socialists and said she intended to vote on Sunday.

"This government is the worst, everything it touches it destroys. I want a change, I'm fed up with this," she said.

"I'm self-employed, this government has never given anything to the self-employed they only want our money and our taxes."

I hope the White House and the Democrats pay close attention to the developments in Europe because this is indicative of what they can expect to see from the American people next year. Socialism has NEVER worked. The European Socialist model has failed and the love affair the the radical left and main stream media have with this utopian dream is finished.

 

So Mr. President...Are We Lazy Or Hard Working?

The President can't seem to make up his mind. Last week at the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference in Hawaii, he told the word that "we've gotten a little bit lazy, I think, over the last couple of decades. We’ve kind of taken for granted" that "people will want to come here and we aren’t out there hungry, selling America and trying to attract new business into America."

However, in his weekly radio address this week in Bali, he declared that Americans "are the hardest working people on Earth." We're on the verge of a double dip recession, job growth is non-existent, the markets are in turmoil and this President is speaking out of both sides of his mouth. Mr. President, just leave the private sector alone and it'll fix itself!

Read the entire article at the Los Angeles Times:

 

The Supremes To Rule On Obamacare

The United States Supreme Court today announced that it will hear challenges to Obamacare. Twenty six states have followed Florida in challenging the constitutionality of the individual mandate feature which requires that all Americans purchase health insurance.

This signature piece of legislation was pushed through Congress on a highly partisan vote and against the overwhelming opposition of the American people. This law has become known as Obamacare and is the President's watered down, some would even say backdoor version of universal healthcare. The type of healthcare that has plagued Canada, the UK and most of Europe.

The timing of this case will undoubtedly render a decision of monumental consequences next June at the height of the 2012 Presidential Campaign. The real question is, will Justice Elena Kagan recuse herself from this case? Keep in mind that she is the former Solicitor General of the United States, appointed by President Obama, who crafted the legal defense for Obamacare before her appointment to the Supreme Court. If there was ever a case that provided a conflict of interest, this is it. Let's see what the Democrats say given their insistence for months that Justice Clarence Thomas recuse himself because his wife has been involved with political groups that oppose Obamacare. This connection they say would prevent Justice Thomas from remaining impartial.

From Politico:

Seventy-four House Democrats are asking Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from any health care reform cases, citing reports that his wife financially benefited from efforts to repeal the legislation.

The members, led by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), ask that he “maintain the integrity of this court.”

“The appearance of a conflict of interest merits recusal under federal law. From what we have already seen, the line between your impartiality and you and your wife's financial stake in the overturn of healthcare reform is blurred,” the members wrote.

It looks like we have partisan double standards at work. At the end of the day, it's highly unlikely that Justice Kagan would recuse herself. Given her ultra liberal political views, she would never pass up an opportunity to ensure that the United States move towards the Socialists dream of universal healthcare coverage.

The Libya Quagmire

So here we go again! The US has initiated another Middle East war in the name of democracy and national self interest. The stench of hypocrisy stinks to high heaven! It's been a week since we launched attacks against Libya and I'm still waiting for the mainstream media and liberals to rise up against this Administration. I know, excuse my english, but it ain't going to happen! This Administration and its media allies have ben selling this as a military conflict needed to support freedom fighters and that unlike the Iraq War, this war has broad international support with the backing of the UN and Arab League. What a crock! Let's begin with President Obama's justification for taking action.

President Obama on Libya:

Now, here’s why this matters to us. Left unchecked, we have every reason to believe that Qadhafi would commit atrocities against his people. Many thousands could die. A humanitarian crisis would ensue.
The entire region could be destabilized, endangering many of our allies and partners.
The calls of the Libyan people for help would go unanswered. The democratic values that we stand for would be overrun.
Moreover, the words of the international community would be rendered hollow.

President Bush on Iraq:

Earlier today, I ordered Americas armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces. Their mission is to attack Iraqs nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors.
Their purpose is to protect the national interest of the United States, and indeed the interests of people throughout the Middle East and around the world.
Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons.
Other countries possess weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. With Saddam, there is one big difference He has used them. Not once, but repeatedly. Unleashing chemical weapons against Iranian troops during a decade long war. Not only against soldiers, but against civilians, firing Scud missiles at the citizens of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran. And not only against a foreign enemy, but even against his own people, gassing Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq.
The international community had little doubt then, and I have no doubt today, that left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again.

Sound familiar? The fact is we have no national interest in Libya other than oil. Muammar Qaddafi poses no threat to the United States. Unlike Saddam Hussein, he actually welcomed the UN and the US into his country to oversee the dismantling of his WMD program several years ago. This led President Bush to restore official diplomatic relations with the Libyan government.

So now that we've started this war we need to ask ourselves some important questions.

Why did we wait almost 30 days to offer military support to the rebels? Was this done to gain the support of the UN, Arab League and Europeans? Great, we go their support after one month of trying, but in the meantime, the rebels have lost their momentum and will not succeed without our help in providing ground troops.

Why does the President feel that he didn't need the support of Congress? He waited on the UN and Arab League, but yet he has refused to go to Congress to get their approval. It wasn't long ago that VP Biden, while a Senator, suggested that President Bush could be impeached if he launched an attack against Iran without Congressional approval.

Why is it okay to bomb Libya, but not Iran? We have a much more compelling vested interest to help the opposition forces in Iran.

What is the mission? Are we looking to remove Qaddafi? Are we trying to help protect the civilians or help the rebel ground forces? Who are the rebels? Are they pro-US? Are there any Al-Qaeda influences within their ranks? Are we prepared to impose a no fly zone for the next 12 years like Iraq? What's the end game?

Who is in charge?The UN, NATO, French or British? Where are the coalition forces that have been promised? We 122 of the 124 Cruise Missiles during the opening night of the war. The British fired 2. We have supplied almost all of the aircraft thus far. For all of the criticism of President Bush's coalition during the Iraq War, this effort looks much more unilateral than anything we saw during the Iraq War.

 

Fidel Castro Cheers The Passage Of Obamacare

This week President Obama succeeded in passing his massive government takeover of the healthcare industry. While an overwhelming majority of the American people disapprove of his plan, the President and the Democrats received an endorsement from none other then their comrade Fidel Castro.

From the (AP):

It perhaps was not the endorsement President Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress were looking for.

Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on Thursday declared passage of American health care reform "a miracle" and a major victory for Obama's presidency, but couldn't help chide the United States for taking so long to enact what communist Cuba achieved decades ago.

"We consider health reform to have been an important battle and a success of his (Obama's) government," Castro wrote in an essay published in state media, adding that it would strengthen the president's hand against lobbyists and "mercenaries."

Real Healthcare Reform

It's no secret that I've been a staunch critic of President Obama's domestic policy agenda. His attempt to shove Obamacare down the throats of the American people tops my list of reasons to oppose him. I'm amazed that he and the Democrats have been successful in their attempts to fabricate a health care crisis. How can we have a crisis when most polls show that 85% of the American people are happy with their health care? There's no doubt that something should be done to control the cost of health care. The question is whether or not he should have made this his top priority when unemployment is at 9.7%.

The card has been dealt and so where do we go from here. I've often been asked why would the Democrats move forward in the face of strong public opposition to Obamacare? They see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to move closer to the liberal utopia of universal, single payer health care. They have longed for the day when the federal government would take over health care and move it from the private sector to government control.

The Democrats have combined the need for reform with their desire to provide universal coverage. These are two separate issues. This debate started in during the 2008 campaign and we were led to believe that there were 46 million Americans uninsured. According to Blue Cross, approximately 14 million qualify for an existing government program such as Medicare and Medicaid but have chosen not to enroll. Another 13 million have incomes above $50,000 and could probably afford some type of coverage on their own. In addition, there are 6 million who are considered "short term uninsured" or people who are in between jobs. That leaves around 6-8 million people who are chronically uninsured. That's a far cry from 46 million. Nevertheless, the question we need to answer as a nation is whether we should blow up our entire health care system in order to insure those who fall into the chronically uninsured category? The President's allies have accused their critics as obstructionists with no real ideas or alternatives. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm no expert in this public policy area, but even I have a plan that makes more sense.

Several of my friends have asked me to step up and give my vision of health care reform and so I’ve taken them up on the challenge.  Here you go:

1) Health insurance should be easy, flexible and accessible like purchasing your car insurance. There should be plenty of competition across state lines. Your employee should provide a credit that YOU can use to purchase your own plan online. We shouldn't be forced to choose from just a few plans through our HR department. You should be able to customize your own plan, just like car insurance based on your family's needs. This would drive efficiencies in the delivery supply chain, which would lower costs.

2) Tort Reform- We should reform the laws concerning frivolous lawsuits. One of the reasons costs are out of control is because of the cost of malpractice insurance. Your doctor pays tens of thousands of dollars each year for insurance. They need to make up the cost by charging inflated rates for some services. This reform would lead to the biggest reduction in costs.

3) Young people in their 20's, who are relatively healthy do not need a traditional managed care health plan. They should have access to cheap catastrophic plans that they can tap into in case of an emergency. This would immediately cover most of the 6 million short-term uninsured who are in school or between jobs.

4) We need to change the law as it pertains to pre-existing conditions. People should not be prevented from purchasing health insurance or have their policy canceled because of a change in their status. This would lead to higher premiums, but those are costs that I'm sure some families would pay if they were just given the opportunity.

5) You would be left with 3-5 million families that truly need the government to pay their way. If that's the case, it would be far cheaper for the govt to provide a debit card with $300-400 per month to temporarily pay for their plan. That would amount to no more than $25-30 billion per year. Much cheaper than what President Obama is trying to push through!

Unfortunately, it looks like the Democrats are hellbent on ramming through their plan. If they were to take a step back and truly seek compromise, they would find that it is much wiser to fix health care in incremental steps. We still have the best health care system in the world. Leave it in the hands of the private sector.

Welcome To The World Of Chicago Style Politics

Many critics of President Obama often use the term "Chicago Style Politics." Well, what exactly does this mean? I stumbled upon a chart that visually explains what this administration is trying to do to push their agenda with or without the support of the American people. From redstate.com:

h/t JakeW, via Smitty over at The Other McCain, by way of Moonbattery, originally plucked from Americans For Prosperity

In this chart you see a clear pattern of behavior established by this president.