As we await the administration of President Elect Obama and Vice President Elect Biden; lets look to one area where they along with Secretary of State designee Hillary Clinton and also Secretary of Commerce designee Bill Richardson can make a great step back to rejoining the world community.
We would look to the enlarged Democratic Senate majority to seek more visionary Republican Senate votes to ratify the following Treaties.
Let's start with the Kyoto Treaty, or let's call for a renewed round for what I would call the 2009 Gore Treaty! Let's look at signing on to the World Criminal Court now that we will have a new White House that knows that the Geneva Convention, Human Rights, and a rediscovery of our own Bill of Rights is essential for the United States to reclaim our former moral standing in the world community. Two others for this blog would be the landmine treaty that we have refused to sign onto and the most recent shameful non participation of the Treaty to abolish Cluster Bombs that almost all the world ratified with the exception of our country and other war making and weapons selling nations.
That would be a noble start.
You may have asked why I listed Commerce above. The new Kyoto Treaty improvement has major international economic repercussions. So does a review of NAFTA, CAFTA, and stopping the current Columbia and other sweetheart trade agreements that neglect environmental and labor standards. We have to not allow international trade to make us again a nation that uses gunboat diplomacy in our actions with our hemispheric neighbors.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Who should be the new Car Czar
When we look to the aid offered to the Two of the Three; my Ford Company which has been much more innovative with a number of Hybrid models has not requested loan guarantees, a Presidential appointed Car Czar is often mentioned.
The best choice is simple, Lee Iaccoca! This is a man who in recent years has spoken of the irresponsibility of the current administrations policies and more to the point has decades of hands on experience in what you ask? Why, the manufacture of cars. He was the chief when the great Ford Mustang was first built. He turned around Chrysler the last time and paid back those Federal Loans early.
The best choice is simple, Lee Iaccoca! This is a man who in recent years has spoken of the irresponsibility of the current administrations policies and more to the point has decades of hands on experience in what you ask? Why, the manufacture of cars. He was the chief when the great Ford Mustang was first built. He turned around Chrysler the last time and paid back those Federal Loans early.
Lets review the Arnold debacle
Can we all agree that Governor Arnold has led this State in the same direction as the outgoing President has led this nation. Lets review just a few points for the record.
When Arnold ran to replace Governor Gray Davis, one of his main points was that he wouldn't fund raise to the extent that Gray would and when he was elected he then broke the record for funds raised. One of the most damning fundraising efforts included high ticket events in New York with the Wall Street and Finance communities. You know, the same communities that have brought us to a recession that has many features of a feared depression.
Let's look at how well the Environmental Governor has been by his flagrant inconsistencies. One glaring example is when the State Lands Commission had a meeting to consider the Australian offshore LNG terminal that would have layed two large bore pipelines through the community of Oxnard. The two NO votes came from Lt. Governor John Garamendi and State Controller John Chiang; the Yes vote from the Governor's Department of Finance. His hit and miss support for Green efforts always has a pro corporation subtext.
His failure to sign a well thought out budget proposal that addressed many issues of concern and even had painful cuts along with judicious revenue enhancements means the state of the state is totally his responsibility along with his Republican "Yacht Party" legislative members. Their refusal to look at the needs for California should put the Minority Leadership on a recall hit list.
Keep all of this in mind when you look to who should be the next Governor of California in the 2010 election. I will write more on this in a later blog.
When Arnold ran to replace Governor Gray Davis, one of his main points was that he wouldn't fund raise to the extent that Gray would and when he was elected he then broke the record for funds raised. One of the most damning fundraising efforts included high ticket events in New York with the Wall Street and Finance communities. You know, the same communities that have brought us to a recession that has many features of a feared depression.
Let's look at how well the Environmental Governor has been by his flagrant inconsistencies. One glaring example is when the State Lands Commission had a meeting to consider the Australian offshore LNG terminal that would have layed two large bore pipelines through the community of Oxnard. The two NO votes came from Lt. Governor John Garamendi and State Controller John Chiang; the Yes vote from the Governor's Department of Finance. His hit and miss support for Green efforts always has a pro corporation subtext.
His failure to sign a well thought out budget proposal that addressed many issues of concern and even had painful cuts along with judicious revenue enhancements means the state of the state is totally his responsibility along with his Republican "Yacht Party" legislative members. Their refusal to look at the needs for California should put the Minority Leadership on a recall hit list.
Keep all of this in mind when you look to who should be the next Governor of California in the 2010 election. I will write more on this in a later blog.
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