Obama Wants Reform and Change, But Will He Clean His Own House?

Senator McCain and Senator Obama are both calling for change and reform in Washington. It's not just what the people want in this country right now, but what we are demanding. After today's debacle in the financial district, it's alarming that there is still little action being taken to fix the problems instead of using a band aide as a solution.

Which of these candidates will actually bring the change that we desperately need? Will each candidate truly reach across the aisle and work with their opponents to make change happen? John McCain continuously says during his stump speeches that he will reach across the aisle to work with Democrats. During his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination, McCain stated that he would appoint Democrats and Independents in his administration. I tried to find where Senator Obama made the same statements, but was unable to do so.

With these things in mind, I want to test the fact that Senator Obama is not the reformer or change agent that he claims to be. You cannot change Washington without first challenging your own party. Democrats are currently the majority in both houses. In order to actually change Congress, he must immediately call for the resignation of the following members of Congress from their Chairman positions to clean his own house.

Kent Conrad-Chairman of Senate Budget Committee:
Senator Conrad recently admitted that he received a sweet-heart mortgage deal from Countrywide when buying an apartment building. He was part of the "Friends Of Angelo" scandal and eventually donated the money that he did not pay during his closing to charity. ($10,500) I guess he didn't understand the budget...mmmm.

Christopher Dodd-Chairman of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee:
Senator Dodd was also part of the "Friends of Angelo" sweet-heart mortgage deal scandal. He received over a $5,000 discount in his mortgage. The fun doesn't stop there with this one. He also received the most donations from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and AIG of all politicians in Washington. Wow....did he profit from being head of the Banking Committee or what?

Barney Frank-Chairman of the Financial Services Committee:
If you read my blog from yesterday, you know that in 2006 he said that there were no issues with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and that no additional regulation was needed. This is the head of the Finance Committee for the House. Are you kidding me? If the head of the Committee didn't see it coming, how could he do anything about it?

Charlie Rengel-Chairman of the Ways and Means (taxation) Committee:
A few weeks ago, it was brought to Mr. Rengel's attention that for over a decade he paid no interest on a loan for a villa at a Resort in the Dominican Republic. He also failed to report rental income on the property on his Federal and State Tax Forms. HELLO....he is head of the Taxation Committee. He threw his wife under the bus saying that she is the one who takes care of their taxes. Unbelievable.

I won't mention Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. In 2006, Americans voted the Republicans out of office because of the war and corruption. The new Democratic Leadership brought promises of change and an unprecedented level of ethical behavior. This is the worst rated Congress with the worst accomplishment record in history. Don't worry though. I am sure that Senator Obama will bring change if he is elected. I am sure he will stand up to Pelosi, Reid, Howard Dean. Should I continue?

Well, take a look at those who are advising Senator Obama during his campaign. Two of Obama's top financial/economic advisers were the former heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Jim Johnson and Franklin Raines were the heads of the two organizations and made millions off of them. Franklin Raines was one of the heads of Lehman Brothers which just went defunct this week.

Will Senator Obama really bring change and reform to Washington? When will he begin to reach across the aisle? Which Republicans will Senator Obama appoint in his administration? Just a few things to consider when deciding your vote in the next several weeks.

Spare Us More Change.....We've Had Plenty the Last Two Years!

In a letter to the editor of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Dave Bastl of Manor, PA wrote very simply what I have been trying to put to words for a few months:

George W. Bush has been in office for 71/2 years. For the first six years, the economy was fine. A little over one year ago:

• Consumer confidence stood at a 21/2-year high
• Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon
• The unemployment rate was 4.5 percent
• The Dow Jones hit a record high of 14,000-plus
• Americans were buying new cars, taking cruises and vacations overseas-living large!

But Americans wanted "Change." So, in 2006 they voted in a
Democrat Congress. And, yep, we got change alright:

• Consumer confidence has plummeted
• Gasoline hit $4 a gallon
• Unemployment is up to 6.1 percent
• Americans have seen their home values drop by trillions of dollars
• 1 percent of American homes are in foreclosure
• The Dow Jones is probing another low--nearing 11,000--and $2.5 trillion has evaporated from our investment portfolios.

Yep, in 2006 America voted for change! And we got it--a
Democrat Congress led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

Now the Democrats' candidate for President claims he's gonna
really give us change! Just how much more "change" do you thing you can stand?

The fact of the matter is that it has been the do-nothing Congress with their pitiful 9% approval rating that have landed us in this current position. I have my own beef with President Bush. The fact that he has approved almost every spending bill this Congress has sent him is aggravating. However, many of the issues occurring today cannot or could not have been changed by Bush alone. Bush does not write bills, Congress does.

What bills have they written? Nothing significant that would help every day citizens. Yes, the bi-partisan Congress passed a stimulus package, but it was too late to stop the downfall. Have they taken ANY steps to reduce our dependency on foreign oil?

Republicans were voted out in 2006 because of the war and corruption. Well, the war is going better, and now the Democrats have the majority on corruption....Senator Dodd, Senator Rengle, Congressman William Jefferson.

Finally, a thought for my friends here in the Ohio Valley and for that matter OH, PA, WV, and MI......who runs your local, county, and state governments? How many of your Congressman and Senators are Democrats? I know this area. These areas have continued to lose jobs and population for decades and in MOST cases, the Democrats have run their governments for DECADES.........To agree with Mr. Bastl above, it's time for change...just not the change Obama offers.