It may surprise some people outside of education that teachers have always been evaluated. When you read the newspapers you might think that Governor Cuomo invented the idea. Traditionally, in districts on Long Island, teachers without tenure can be evaluated at least three times a year and more recently six times a year or more by a number of administrators. Tenured teachers have been evaluated at least once a year, but teachers have always been evaluated on their ability to teach a lesson! The theory was if a lesson was motivating, engaging, and exciting for the students the teacher was doing his or her job. Now, a teacher will be judged on whether the students are doing their job. Being judged for the shortcomings of others just doesn't seem fair. It is simplistic to think teachers can just command their students to pass a test and it will happen.
Teacher evaluations were based on observations of lessons by an administrator, usually a principal or assistant principal. Teachers have also been observed by the head of a department, superintendents, assistant superintendents, or other district office administrators. For each observation, a teacher must sit down with the observer for a pre-observation screening which must be in written form, and then a post-observation evaluation meeting on the lesson. The whole process can take two hours or more including the lesson. It has always been a formal process and it was always a source of stress for most teachers, and for me personally, even after I received tenure. After teaching a super lesson and having a positive assessment as a follow up, a day later or a week later the concept you taught may be gone! You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.
In educational circles we call it," the dog and pony show," but in reality, most teachers want to put their best foot forward, and show their immediate supervisor that they are effective! Even veteran teachers would get a knot in their stomach when being observed, simply because they cared what their principal thought of their teaching ability and took pride in their profession. No one that I encountered in my forty years in teaching was flippant about being observed. In my district, veteran teachers were eventually allowed other options besides observations to advance their professional ability. For example, a teacher can read a book or take a course on a new technique in teaching, demonstrate how it was applied in the classroom, and be required to share it with the faculty. Most teachers thought it was easier to be observed, but I always took the option even though it was more involved than a simple observation. At the end of my career, I thought it was much more valuable for me as a professional.
Now, the good Governor, the President, and the Secretary of Education want to really shake things up by adding children's test scores to the evaluation process. The state tests in math and language arts were meant to measure if a child did what he or she was supposed to do for a particular grade level. It measures what a child has learned or retained, not the ability of the teacher. If they worked hard, studied the rules, paid attention, and did their homework, theoretically they should do well on the test. It is an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned during the year, provided that they actually put the effort into learning. What is never discussed by politicians is that there is a readiness factor, a memory factor, and an ability factor if a child is going to do well regardless of the teacher's ability. Above all, there is no accounting for what a child will do on a timed test.
Even the best students I've had can blank out on the day of the test due to nerves, or lack concentration due to a family crisis. A certain number of them will just put any answer down just to get it done so that they could look smart in front of their classmates. They have learned that it really doesn't matter what you get on the," stupid" test because you go on to the next grade no matter what! Many will fixate on one particular question for ten minutes and then the teacher will announce that there is just five minutes remaining. Most have been trained to not leave any blanks so they will proceed wildly to fill random answers just to put something down. If they skip a difficult question, they often will misnumber the rest of the test and all their answers will be wrong from that point on. Like I said, anything can happen when it comes to children and a timed test!
Yet another factor that enters into the testing is a child's uncanny ability to cheat. They have devised some very sophisticated methods of cheating. They are really quite good at it and will deny it to the end! They will copy answers from a friend no matter how well you supervise the test. Some students know the questions in advance because they have a cousin in another school district who took the test the day before. Although it certainly is not cheating, affluent parents can employ tutors to prepare their child for the tests, distorting the whole process with an unfair advantage. Perhaps what we need to do is to treat these young children like they are taking an SAT. Place them all in the gym with proctors, collect the tests, and immediately ship them off to the Governor's office in Albany. Do we really want to do that to our children?
Now imagine that your entire career, an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in your education, and the time invested in graduate and undergraduate courses can all be wiped out by the scores of your students. You may have worked extremely hard at teaching the necessary material but your students just don't care. It is just human nature that some teachers will be tempted to enhance their scores any way they can. Some will look over their shoulders and guide their students to the correct answer, some will look the other way during a test, and some will be so bold as to change answers before they hand them in. As unethical as it sounds, it will occur because of the extreme pressure that is being placed on these test scores.
Next, the test itself is flawed because on both the math and language arts tests there are extended response questions that can be interpreted differently depending on who is correcting it. Some may be overly generous while others may be too harsh. If students have excellent computation skills but have difficulty reading, they may fail the math test. If students can read but have difficulty physically writing down a response that is legible, they may fail the language arts test. ESL students are especially in danger of failing because they are forced to take these tests after only one year in this country. I'd like to place Gov. Cuomo in a foreign country and have him take a test in another language after one year! Did I mention many of these students were not educated in their native language? So the Governor would have a distinct advantage.
Another variable that is not accounted for is the make up of your class. A teacher in a poor district who is loaded up with ESL students, mainstreamed special education students, or severe discipline problems who create a distraction for others during a lesson, is at a distinct disadvantage. Whereas, a teacher in an affluent district with a minimal amount of disadvantaged students, and parents who are educated or supply tutors if necessary, will have a huge advantage when being evaluated. As you can see, the system is flawed at all levels!
Too much is riding on these state tests and it is not good for teachers or students to have too much emphasis on them. Ask any administrator who their best teachers are and they can tell by the rapport they see in the classroom, the requests they get from parents, and the overall learning environment created by that teacher during any observation. Actually, the best way to observe a teacher is at random. Principals should ask if it is a good time to observe and become part of the lesson, getting involved with the students as they learn. On the other hand, principals know who is not effective by the number of complaints they get from parents, requests for withdrawal from a teacher's class, and the negative atmosphere created by that teacher. Administrators should be in that teacher's room once a week and offer mentoring to that teacher if necessary. Test scores simply measure a child's ability to recall information and apply it. They should never be used to measure a teacher's ability to teach when some students refuse to put in the effort to learn. Wake up, America!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Losing the War
To hear the Republican candidates speak of food stamps, lazy poor people, and the unemployed who are raking in the bucks staying home one would think that they don't read the newspapers! I'm pretty sure that the news media carried the story that this recession was the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of 1929. I guess the Republicans don't read a newspaper or turn on a TV. It is almost like they have declared war on poor people oh, but that would be class warfare now, wouldn't it?
In 2010, Republicans took control of the House of Representatives and in essence, took control of the money. Only the House can raise revenue and they have refused every bill that has any tax increase on the wealthy. Cleverly, they have rigged the system and then blamed Obama for a stagnant economy. They continually protect the wealthy, top 1%, because they are the job creator but they have gotten tax protection for the last ten years and still the jobs picture is anemic. In the meantime, millions of public sector jobs have been eliminated because of their lack of cooperation. So they have favored the top 1% at the expense of middle class public sector workers. It is almost like they declared war on the middle class worker but that would be class warfare, wouldn't it?
Mitt Romney brags that he probably pays only 15% taxes on his 200 million dollar plus annual income because he derives his income mainly from investments. The proceeds from his book went to charity and he only made a mere $374,000 from his speaking engagements which he thought was funny for some reason. Most middle class people are paying 35% in taxes because it is earned income, so once again, the working stiff gets the short end of the stick! It almost sounds like the working class stiff is losing in this class warfare doesn't it? Oh, I forgot, it is only class warfare when you raise taxes on the wealthy, according to the Republicans, so the poor and middle class can't be losing the war!
The Republicans are right! They have been against the socialist idea of redistribution of wealth in America since Joe, the plumber, remember him? Raising taxes on the wealthy is wrong because we would be taking from the rich to give to the less fortunate. I guess those rules don't apply to the middle class guy who pays 35% or more of his salary in taxes. So let me get this straight. It is wrong to redistribute the money of wealthy people but it is perfectly acceptable to redistribute the earned income of the working class who pays a much higher tax rate. If you really don't want to redistribute wealth to the less fortunate, we should just cut them off altogether. Just do away with the social safety net and there will be no more redistribution of wealth in America. After all, it is a socialist idea to have Social Security, Welfare, or Unemployment among others. That would be declaring war against the less fortunate and only Democrats are waging class warfare, right?
This whole idea of class warfare and redistribution of wealth is a shell game that Republicans have been playing for years. All taxes can be considered a redistribution of wealth when you take money away from one individual and give it to another. It is a silly argument because that's how tax dollars are utilized, to pay for those who are less fortunate. There has always been class warfare and the poor and middle class have always lost that war! Republicans have always played these cards because they appeal to the worst in people. They want you to resent those who are less fortunate because those people are associated with minorities who are easy to hate. It is such a hot button issue that they could actually get people to vote against their own self-interest! They are masters of the game of manipulation of the masses, better known as politics!
Their latest angle that they are testing out is that it is wrong to speak of the disparity between rich and poor because it divides our country. It is un-american to be so bold as to speak out against the injustice and unfairness in our tax codes. These divisive tactics are being used by the Occupy Movement and anyone who agrees with them is un-patriotic, too! It is very easy to play the patriotic card when the wealthy are winning the game and the poor and middle class are losing! It is laughable that we cannot criticize the wealthy for not paying their fair share without being accused of dividing America! If you buy that argument you have been manipulated once again by the Republican spin machine. Wake up, America!
In 2010, Republicans took control of the House of Representatives and in essence, took control of the money. Only the House can raise revenue and they have refused every bill that has any tax increase on the wealthy. Cleverly, they have rigged the system and then blamed Obama for a stagnant economy. They continually protect the wealthy, top 1%, because they are the job creator but they have gotten tax protection for the last ten years and still the jobs picture is anemic. In the meantime, millions of public sector jobs have been eliminated because of their lack of cooperation. So they have favored the top 1% at the expense of middle class public sector workers. It is almost like they declared war on the middle class worker but that would be class warfare, wouldn't it?
Mitt Romney brags that he probably pays only 15% taxes on his 200 million dollar plus annual income because he derives his income mainly from investments. The proceeds from his book went to charity and he only made a mere $374,000 from his speaking engagements which he thought was funny for some reason. Most middle class people are paying 35% in taxes because it is earned income, so once again, the working stiff gets the short end of the stick! It almost sounds like the working class stiff is losing in this class warfare doesn't it? Oh, I forgot, it is only class warfare when you raise taxes on the wealthy, according to the Republicans, so the poor and middle class can't be losing the war!
The Republicans are right! They have been against the socialist idea of redistribution of wealth in America since Joe, the plumber, remember him? Raising taxes on the wealthy is wrong because we would be taking from the rich to give to the less fortunate. I guess those rules don't apply to the middle class guy who pays 35% or more of his salary in taxes. So let me get this straight. It is wrong to redistribute the money of wealthy people but it is perfectly acceptable to redistribute the earned income of the working class who pays a much higher tax rate. If you really don't want to redistribute wealth to the less fortunate, we should just cut them off altogether. Just do away with the social safety net and there will be no more redistribution of wealth in America. After all, it is a socialist idea to have Social Security, Welfare, or Unemployment among others. That would be declaring war against the less fortunate and only Democrats are waging class warfare, right?
This whole idea of class warfare and redistribution of wealth is a shell game that Republicans have been playing for years. All taxes can be considered a redistribution of wealth when you take money away from one individual and give it to another. It is a silly argument because that's how tax dollars are utilized, to pay for those who are less fortunate. There has always been class warfare and the poor and middle class have always lost that war! Republicans have always played these cards because they appeal to the worst in people. They want you to resent those who are less fortunate because those people are associated with minorities who are easy to hate. It is such a hot button issue that they could actually get people to vote against their own self-interest! They are masters of the game of manipulation of the masses, better known as politics!
Their latest angle that they are testing out is that it is wrong to speak of the disparity between rich and poor because it divides our country. It is un-american to be so bold as to speak out against the injustice and unfairness in our tax codes. These divisive tactics are being used by the Occupy Movement and anyone who agrees with them is un-patriotic, too! It is very easy to play the patriotic card when the wealthy are winning the game and the poor and middle class are losing! It is laughable that we cannot criticize the wealthy for not paying their fair share without being accused of dividing America! If you buy that argument you have been manipulated once again by the Republican spin machine. Wake up, America!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Obama Does an End Run
President Obama has boxed in Republicans once again! He has diffused their attacks upon him as a reckless, tax and spend, liberal socialist which just doesn't get any traction with the general public. Obama has very cleverly beat down his opposition by defeating them at their own game. He has found common ground that both the left and the right can agree upon like doing away with waste in government, immigration, and actually paying for any new government expenditures.
Most recently, President Obama has asked Congress to grant him the power to shrink the size of the federal government by merging trade and business agencies that would replace the Commerce Department, saving three billion dollars and cutting up to two thousand jobs over ten years. Also, he wants to decrease the bulging defense budget by streamlining the military with a smarter, high tech approach and a redeployment of troops. Most military experts agree it is the right thing to do. In doing so, it would be very difficult for his opponents to label him as a big government socialist. In fact, the Republicans have increased the size of government under Bush, along with the deficit, so it seems that they have lost all credibility on that argument too.
Obama's jobs bill was another example of a much needed program that was paid for and would have given the economy a second shot of adrenalin just at the right time. Included in that bill was money to repair our crumbling infrastructure which, in the past, was always agreed upon by both parties, and this was paid for without adding one cent to the deficit. Republicans want to keep Bush tax cuts which were never paid for, along with the two wars, the prescription drug plan, and the expansion of the Department of Homeland Security, all of which gave us record deficits. So who is the party of deficit reduction?
Tax cuts are another area in which Obama has demonstrated that he doesn't fit the label of "tax and spend liberal". He has never suggested a tax increase on the middle class but he has insisted on increasing taxes on the wealthy. Polls show overwhelming support for this plan but the Republicans refuse to give in, knowing we are in desperate need of increased revenues. Under Bush and Obama, emergency funds were needed to avoid a worldwide financial collapse. Republicans recognized the severity of those times and want to pay for them by gutting government rather than raise taxes on the wealthy. A tax increase on the wealthy is a small price to pay for avoiding a depression. Obama has since granted seventeen tax cuts to small businesses and has aggressively tried to bring manufacturing jobs back to our shores with his new insourcing program. The Republicans are usually the party of big business and should be cheering him on!
Obama has demonstrated a willingness for offshore drilling opening a record eighty new sites in the Gulf last year and he will approve the Canadian pipeline at the risk of losing the environmental vote. He has shown real toughness when it comes to immigrtation by deporting more illegal aliens than any other president. He is a reasonable man who has proven to the American people that he is far from this left leaning, liberal socialist that Republicans insist that he is. In essence, Obama has diffused their game and it will be very difficult for them to convince the informed American voter otherwise!
Perhaps more than any else, Obama has stripped away the mantle that Republicans are the party of national defense and are the only ones to protect us from terrorism. In this area, Obama has proven to be an intelligent Commander-in-Chief, making it a priority to get Osama bin Laden along with scores of other top Al Qaida leaders. From the very first threat from pirates in the Indian Ocean, right up to the victory in Lybia in which no American blood was spilled, this President cannot be faulted when it comes to foreign policy and national defense. He kept his word on pulling out of Iraq, and reneged when he had to on closing Guantanamo which was the right thing to do. He has worked tirelessly on sanctions against Iran which is really our only alternative. We cannot afford to attack Iran economically and doing so would be reckless. It is estimated that such actions would disrupt the supply of oil, cause the price of gasoline to go up to $10 to $12 a gallon, and set off a worldwide depression. I don't think anyone is in favor of that!
When you examine the decisions this President has made it is clear that he is an intelligent leader who has made the right choice regarding the economy and international affairs. Considering the fact that we as a nation have survived and are slowly recovering from the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression, our economy is not that terrible. Globally, we are still considered to be the best in the world. The dollar is getting stronger, the Stock Market is getting better, and unemployment is moving in the right direction. Obama saved the auto industry against the wishes of Republicans who would have let them go under, and now they are expanding, creating new jobs, and producing superior products. Even the much criticized health care program rejected the big government public option for a more free market approach.
On balance, you can't argue with success and even his harshest critics must give him credit for working hard, and making the tough decisions when they arise. Obama is in favor of tax cuts and he is for gradually balancing the budget, and making government more efficient. He is more of a center right President than the socialist he is made out to be and the polls show that the American people agree with more of his positions than Republicans. He deserves a second term and has proven to be far superior than anyone running against him. Wake up, America!
Most recently, President Obama has asked Congress to grant him the power to shrink the size of the federal government by merging trade and business agencies that would replace the Commerce Department, saving three billion dollars and cutting up to two thousand jobs over ten years. Also, he wants to decrease the bulging defense budget by streamlining the military with a smarter, high tech approach and a redeployment of troops. Most military experts agree it is the right thing to do. In doing so, it would be very difficult for his opponents to label him as a big government socialist. In fact, the Republicans have increased the size of government under Bush, along with the deficit, so it seems that they have lost all credibility on that argument too.
Obama's jobs bill was another example of a much needed program that was paid for and would have given the economy a second shot of adrenalin just at the right time. Included in that bill was money to repair our crumbling infrastructure which, in the past, was always agreed upon by both parties, and this was paid for without adding one cent to the deficit. Republicans want to keep Bush tax cuts which were never paid for, along with the two wars, the prescription drug plan, and the expansion of the Department of Homeland Security, all of which gave us record deficits. So who is the party of deficit reduction?
Tax cuts are another area in which Obama has demonstrated that he doesn't fit the label of "tax and spend liberal". He has never suggested a tax increase on the middle class but he has insisted on increasing taxes on the wealthy. Polls show overwhelming support for this plan but the Republicans refuse to give in, knowing we are in desperate need of increased revenues. Under Bush and Obama, emergency funds were needed to avoid a worldwide financial collapse. Republicans recognized the severity of those times and want to pay for them by gutting government rather than raise taxes on the wealthy. A tax increase on the wealthy is a small price to pay for avoiding a depression. Obama has since granted seventeen tax cuts to small businesses and has aggressively tried to bring manufacturing jobs back to our shores with his new insourcing program. The Republicans are usually the party of big business and should be cheering him on!
Obama has demonstrated a willingness for offshore drilling opening a record eighty new sites in the Gulf last year and he will approve the Canadian pipeline at the risk of losing the environmental vote. He has shown real toughness when it comes to immigrtation by deporting more illegal aliens than any other president. He is a reasonable man who has proven to the American people that he is far from this left leaning, liberal socialist that Republicans insist that he is. In essence, Obama has diffused their game and it will be very difficult for them to convince the informed American voter otherwise!
Perhaps more than any else, Obama has stripped away the mantle that Republicans are the party of national defense and are the only ones to protect us from terrorism. In this area, Obama has proven to be an intelligent Commander-in-Chief, making it a priority to get Osama bin Laden along with scores of other top Al Qaida leaders. From the very first threat from pirates in the Indian Ocean, right up to the victory in Lybia in which no American blood was spilled, this President cannot be faulted when it comes to foreign policy and national defense. He kept his word on pulling out of Iraq, and reneged when he had to on closing Guantanamo which was the right thing to do. He has worked tirelessly on sanctions against Iran which is really our only alternative. We cannot afford to attack Iran economically and doing so would be reckless. It is estimated that such actions would disrupt the supply of oil, cause the price of gasoline to go up to $10 to $12 a gallon, and set off a worldwide depression. I don't think anyone is in favor of that!
When you examine the decisions this President has made it is clear that he is an intelligent leader who has made the right choice regarding the economy and international affairs. Considering the fact that we as a nation have survived and are slowly recovering from the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression, our economy is not that terrible. Globally, we are still considered to be the best in the world. The dollar is getting stronger, the Stock Market is getting better, and unemployment is moving in the right direction. Obama saved the auto industry against the wishes of Republicans who would have let them go under, and now they are expanding, creating new jobs, and producing superior products. Even the much criticized health care program rejected the big government public option for a more free market approach.
On balance, you can't argue with success and even his harshest critics must give him credit for working hard, and making the tough decisions when they arise. Obama is in favor of tax cuts and he is for gradually balancing the budget, and making government more efficient. He is more of a center right President than the socialist he is made out to be and the polls show that the American people agree with more of his positions than Republicans. He deserves a second term and has proven to be far superior than anyone running against him. Wake up, America!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Growing a Backbone?
Gone is the talk of bipartisanship. Gone is the spirit of let's work together to solve the nation's serious problems. Gone is the thought that if we cooperate and compromise with each other, government can work for the good of the people. The Republicans said no, one too many times and killed any hope of getting things done. Speaker Boehner bragged that he got 98% of what he wanted by extending the Bush tax cuts and Obama's approval ratings have gone down ever since. At that point, Obama became their whipping boy. They thought they could run the table on this weak, spineless President who lacked leadership and who had lost the respect of his constituents. Suddenly, President Obama has found religion! Could it be that he has grown into the Presidency and has finally figured out how to lead?
It started with the two month extension of the payroll tax deduction and unemployment benefits. Obama stood firm and was granted a two month extension. It was a very small victory for him but it was a sign that they can be broken! We shall see what the outcome will be in February when the extension runs out. In the meantime, Obama appointed Richard Cordray director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau which was an appointment that was being stonewalled by Republicans since the summer. The appointment over the holiday recess was a defiant move by Obama signaling once again that he is ready to take them on. The more he runs against this right wing Congress, the higher his approval ratings will go because most people disapprove of this Congress much more than the President!
It is obvious at this point in time that team Obama has figured out that there will be no cooperation from the opposition party. They were naive to ever think that Republicans would ever give this black President a victory. Their game was simple, to stonewall, to play rope-a dope, to obstruct so that government became dysfunctional and then blame Obama and the government for failing the American economy. It was working so well, Obama's approval rating dipped into the low forties, unemployment was stubbornly stuck between 9-10%, and there was talk of a double dip recession. Consumer confidence was in the crapper, the government bond rating dropped, and any advances in the economy always seemed to have set backs, like a tsunami in Japan or the European debt crisis which has a direct effect on our economy. All of which was blamed on the failed Presidency of Barack Obama.
It was a perfect setup for a Republican victory in 2012. The American people would be eager to blame this black, inexperienced President for all the woes this country has suffered. It may still happen that Republicans take total control of Congress and the Presidency, except that this President, all of a sudden, has grown a backbone! Finally, he stood firm on the extension payroll deduction rollback, at least for the next two months, along with the extension of unemployment benefits. People in this country respect defiance, arrogance, and boldness which we got a glimpse of in this last round of the manufactured fiscal crisis. Clinton stood up to them in the nineties and allowed the Republicans to shut the government down. He was respected for standing up to the bullies and left office with an approval rating in the sixties even after the impeachment. The American people recognized that right is might and blamed the Republicans for the shutdown. Obama could learn a great deal from Bill Clinton!
Another thing the Republicans didn't count on was the number of buffoons who would run in their primary. With each passing debate, each of their candidates exposed themselves as the most pathetic, small minded, empty suits one could ever imagine. Not one of them would be capable of getting elected dog catcher, let alone President. Again, with each passing debate, Obama's approval rating climbed higher and higher. People started to realize that he may lack leadership but he works hard, has a plan, and he doesn't give up. Obama is growing into the job! People like him and even though he has his faults, they are seeing that he is much more capable than any one of his opponents.
The last thing the Republicans didn't count on was that regardless of all the fiscal crises they manufactured, the economy has been steadily improving! In spite of their obstruction to virtually every plan Obama has come up with, the economy is slowly getting better! Twenty three consecutive months of job growth with the last five months producing over hundred thousand jobs, unemployment down to 81/2 %, Detroit having a banner year, and the DOW over 12 thousand are all signs of a recovering economy. The Holiday season was great, housing is improving, and a mild winter so far is also helping the economy.. If private sector jobs had been retained, another million jobs would have been saved nationwide. Good economic news is bad news for the Republicans because they can't run on ideas, so they must run on fear and anger. People are hopeful that maybe we have weathered the storm and we can now start to chip away at the deficit.
Now Obama needs to capitalize on the good economic news and stop apologizing because we are not out of the woods yet. Every good forecast is followed by the grim reminder that there are still millions of people suffering and without a job. We know that, and don't need the reminder. What we need is a cheerleader who is going to keep it positive. We need a leader to encourage and reinforce the idea that Americans can overcome any adversity in spite of the obstructionist opposition party. Obama needs to remind us that if his jobs bill had been passed, the economic forecast would be even better. Basically, he needs to stop being so humble about his successes and start to brag more about the comeback of the American auto industry, which he saved, and the profit the American taxpayers made on the bailout of the banks! Hopefully, he will get the message and grow into this job! Wake up, Obama!
It started with the two month extension of the payroll tax deduction and unemployment benefits. Obama stood firm and was granted a two month extension. It was a very small victory for him but it was a sign that they can be broken! We shall see what the outcome will be in February when the extension runs out. In the meantime, Obama appointed Richard Cordray director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau which was an appointment that was being stonewalled by Republicans since the summer. The appointment over the holiday recess was a defiant move by Obama signaling once again that he is ready to take them on. The more he runs against this right wing Congress, the higher his approval ratings will go because most people disapprove of this Congress much more than the President!
It is obvious at this point in time that team Obama has figured out that there will be no cooperation from the opposition party. They were naive to ever think that Republicans would ever give this black President a victory. Their game was simple, to stonewall, to play rope-a dope, to obstruct so that government became dysfunctional and then blame Obama and the government for failing the American economy. It was working so well, Obama's approval rating dipped into the low forties, unemployment was stubbornly stuck between 9-10%, and there was talk of a double dip recession. Consumer confidence was in the crapper, the government bond rating dropped, and any advances in the economy always seemed to have set backs, like a tsunami in Japan or the European debt crisis which has a direct effect on our economy. All of which was blamed on the failed Presidency of Barack Obama.
It was a perfect setup for a Republican victory in 2012. The American people would be eager to blame this black, inexperienced President for all the woes this country has suffered. It may still happen that Republicans take total control of Congress and the Presidency, except that this President, all of a sudden, has grown a backbone! Finally, he stood firm on the extension payroll deduction rollback, at least for the next two months, along with the extension of unemployment benefits. People in this country respect defiance, arrogance, and boldness which we got a glimpse of in this last round of the manufactured fiscal crisis. Clinton stood up to them in the nineties and allowed the Republicans to shut the government down. He was respected for standing up to the bullies and left office with an approval rating in the sixties even after the impeachment. The American people recognized that right is might and blamed the Republicans for the shutdown. Obama could learn a great deal from Bill Clinton!
Another thing the Republicans didn't count on was the number of buffoons who would run in their primary. With each passing debate, each of their candidates exposed themselves as the most pathetic, small minded, empty suits one could ever imagine. Not one of them would be capable of getting elected dog catcher, let alone President. Again, with each passing debate, Obama's approval rating climbed higher and higher. People started to realize that he may lack leadership but he works hard, has a plan, and he doesn't give up. Obama is growing into the job! People like him and even though he has his faults, they are seeing that he is much more capable than any one of his opponents.
The last thing the Republicans didn't count on was that regardless of all the fiscal crises they manufactured, the economy has been steadily improving! In spite of their obstruction to virtually every plan Obama has come up with, the economy is slowly getting better! Twenty three consecutive months of job growth with the last five months producing over hundred thousand jobs, unemployment down to 81/2 %, Detroit having a banner year, and the DOW over 12 thousand are all signs of a recovering economy. The Holiday season was great, housing is improving, and a mild winter so far is also helping the economy.. If private sector jobs had been retained, another million jobs would have been saved nationwide. Good economic news is bad news for the Republicans because they can't run on ideas, so they must run on fear and anger. People are hopeful that maybe we have weathered the storm and we can now start to chip away at the deficit.
Now Obama needs to capitalize on the good economic news and stop apologizing because we are not out of the woods yet. Every good forecast is followed by the grim reminder that there are still millions of people suffering and without a job. We know that, and don't need the reminder. What we need is a cheerleader who is going to keep it positive. We need a leader to encourage and reinforce the idea that Americans can overcome any adversity in spite of the obstructionist opposition party. Obama needs to remind us that if his jobs bill had been passed, the economic forecast would be even better. Basically, he needs to stop being so humble about his successes and start to brag more about the comeback of the American auto industry, which he saved, and the profit the American taxpayers made on the bailout of the banks! Hopefully, he will get the message and grow into this job! Wake up, Obama!
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