The primary election process is the greatest cancer on our political landscape. They have become a moral issue, driving politicians to make choices based on survival instead of reasonable policy and personal conviction. Primaries have driven moderate thinking out of the mainstream, and created an environment where compromise is the new four letter word. Primaries… Continue reading The Primary Concern
Category: Elections
2012 Election Not a Mandate for More Gridlock
When Barack Obama was re-elected to the presidency last November, House Speaker John Boehner observed, “the American people have spoken. They have re-elected President Obama. And they have again elected a Republican majority in the House of Representatives.” Republican House Minority Leader Mitch McConnell noted that the voters, “have simply given [Obama] more time to… Continue reading 2012 Election Not a Mandate for More Gridlock
Understanding the US Budget
The United States budget can be broken into two groups, DISCRETIONARY spending and MANDATORY spending. About 7% of the budget is interest paid on our debt – which will only increase, but should also be considered mandatory as defaulting is not an option. As you can probably guess mandatory spending is outside of the President’s… Continue reading Understanding the US Budget
President Obama Endorsed by Mormon Democrats
In 2008, President Barack Obama was elected into one of the worst economic disasters since Franklin Roosevelt stepped into the Oval Office. The United States economy was shedding approximately 800,000 jobs per month. Home foreclosures were skyrocketing and the stock market plummeted. From continuing the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and the Recovery Act, to the… Continue reading President Obama Endorsed by Mormon Democrats
An Economy on the Rebound
When President Barack Obama took the oath of office on January 20, 2009, the U.S. economy was in free fall. During the preceding year and half, some of the nation’s largest and most important financial institutions went bankrupt, including Bear Stearns, Countrywide, and Lehman Brothers, as risky loans and other investments failed. Many other large… Continue reading An Economy on the Rebound
The Case Against Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney’s nomination as the 2012 Republican candidate for President is an important and historical moment for me and many other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the U.S. and the world. A thick glass ceiling was shattered when Romney, a prominent member of my faith, overcame anti-Mormon bigotry prevalent… Continue reading The Case Against Mitt Romney
Reagan vs. Obama on Unemployment
For those of you who read my posts on a regular basis you know I have a deep respect for President Reagan. Not the Reagan fantasized by the Tea Party today but the real Reagan that negotiated with the left instead of holding them hostage, was liberal on social platforms, and used religion only as… Continue reading Reagan vs. Obama on Unemployment
One More Reason to Support Obamacare
I am constantly criticized by my Republicans friends about the apparent contradictory position of being a pro-life Democrat. To them this position is contradictory and dishonest. To me voting with this political platform is irrelevant and insignificant. Why? Because whether or not someone is pro-life is a moral argument, and these kind of arguments are… Continue reading One More Reason to Support Obamacare
Does Romney Believe Laziness Causing High Unemployment?
Remarks that Mitt Romney made to wealthy donors back in May 2012, have put Romney in an awkward position. Romney denigrated nearly half of the population of the U.S. and erroneously claimed that Obama supporters were all dependent on government assistance. After receiving a question about how Romney would be able to win the election,… Continue reading Does Romney Believe Laziness Causing High Unemployment?
Politics and Mormonism Q&A
I was asked a series of questions about Mormonism and the progressive wing of American politics by a UK periodical. I typically try to separate religion and politics in my essays, but given this election and the nature of our blog, I thought these responses should be shared. Written to Denis Campbell, Editor in Chief,… Continue reading Politics and Mormonism Q&A
What is Driving Unemployment?
With the presidential election heating up there is one soundbite we hear from both sides on a regular basis – unemployment. Although each side will lay out persuasive stories to drive awareness to their positions, unemployment is an elusive number driven by multiple levers. Using only one measure to judge economic health is not only… Continue reading What is Driving Unemployment?
Stop the Madness!
With November right around the corner our country is bracing for a barrage of political attacks, skewed data, and faulty logic. It is our job as citizens to vet these political distortions and hold our politicians accountable. Forwarding emails, trolling on Facebook, or posting links from partisan blogs does little to support positions and creates… Continue reading Stop the Madness!
No More Oil Subsidies!
I smile every time a pundit tries to link escalating gas prices to our president. Not because I am satisfied with the erroneous connection, but out of amused exasperation at the hypocrisy that continually plagues polarizing talking heads. Gas pricing is a function of market dynamics, meaning that it is driven by supply, demand, and speculation. Any action… Continue reading No More Oil Subsidies!
Did President Obama Double Our National Debt?
Who is the bigger fool….President Obama for doubling our national debt?…or the individual who believes such a canard? Like all political claims, the devil is in the details. More has been added to our national debt under President Obama than all the other presidents combined. Partially true. However, of the $5.1 trillion added to the… Continue reading Did President Obama Double Our National Debt?
Thank Romney for Underscoring Need for “Buffet Rule”
After losing the South Carolina Primary to Newt Gingrich, possibly in part due to his waffling at the pre-Primary debates about releasing his tax returns, Mitt Romney released his tax returns for the past two years, which show that he paid about 14% in federal taxes on income of nearly $43 million. The timing of… Continue reading Thank Romney for Underscoring Need for “Buffet Rule”
A Pivotal Moment for President Obama and America
President Barack Obama visited Osawatomie, Kansas last week to speak about the danger of the growing economic inequality in America and the threat this currently poses to the middle class and our country as a whole. I thought this was the most important speech of his Presidency thus far because it clearly illustrated the monumental… Continue reading A Pivotal Moment for President Obama and America
Values Voters for Newt
As former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has recently become the latest fad in the never-ending search for an ‘un-Romney’ in the GOP Presidential Primary race, I think it is important to reflect on a matter of character. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles noted in an interview a few years… Continue reading Values Voters for Newt
WhichMitt.com Part 2
I recently posted two video clips of Mitt Romney contradicting himself on economic stimulus and President Obama’s health care reform bill. While most politicians’ views on various issues change a little over time, Romney’s shift on these issues was a complete 180 degree shift and only occurred since Obama has been in office. The Republican… Continue reading WhichMitt.com Part 2
Kudos to Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney – And I Mean It!
On August 18, Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman Tweeted, “To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy.” With that short statement, Mr. Huntsman proved himself one of the few reasonable figures in the Republican Party. While most of the Republican field has run away from previously stated… Continue reading Kudos to Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney – And I Mean It!
WhichMitt.com
WhichMitt.com is a hilarious website put out by the DNC. Take the quiz! Mitt Romney’s constantly changing opinions make him a really easy target. This highlights his contradictions on abortion, the need for an economic stimulus plan during the current recession, health care, and more. Romney’s penchant for flip-flopping makes John Kerry look like an… Continue reading WhichMitt.com