Happy Birthday Ronnie!

On February 6, 1911 in an apartment above a bakery in Tampico, Illinois Ronald "Dutch" Reagan was born to John and Nelle Reagan. Few might assume he was presidential material at the time, but one person to perhaps see his potential was Ronald's father. "He looks like a fat little Dutchman," said John Reagan seeing his son for the first time, "but who knows he might grow up to be President someday." This prophecy came true almost 70 years later when Ronald Reagan became the 40th President of the United States. The most unforgettable characteristics of Reagan were his prevailing optimism, his quick sense of humor, and his compassion for people. His confidence in all Americans gave strength to a nation struggling to recover from an economic crisis and still healing from the scars of the Vietnam War. His eight years in office saw an unprecedent economic turn around, the first ever nuclear reduction treaty, and a better relationship with the Soviet Union than at time during the Cold War. His leadership is credited with helping to bring about the collapse of communism in Europe and the Soviet Union.  President Reagan was a true leader, firm but compassionate, strong but flexible, optimistic but not naive, all this and so much more. The truth is no words can fully describe Ronald Reagan. So this Presidents Day remember that a century ago was the beginning of a journey, a journey that would propel an unknown baby boy from Tampico, Illinois to one of America's most legendary Presidents. Only in America.

The 22nd Amendment, A good or bad restriction on presidents?

"No person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once."
It is this part of  Section 1 of the 22nd Amendment that limits all presidents to just two terms in office. The 22nd amendment was ratified by the States on February 27, 1951. The amendment ensured that no one (except Harry Truman) could ever duplicate the four term Presidency Franklin Roosevelt had served. While many supported  it then, and most still do today, there are some who believe that a President should be allowed to serve more than two terms. So I enter the debate, should Presidential  terms be limited? Should we deny the American people from choosing a leader they think is successful more than twice? These questions may not seem like anyone would take them up seriously but some people have. Several congressman have proposed repealing the amendment  at least a dozen times since 1995. Even Ronald Reagan supported abolishing term limits in his post-president years. While no proposals have ever made it out of committee (and it is unlikely they ever will) it is still an issue that triggers a lively debate. it is also an issue that I want to have a solid opinion on.
  Why I Believe Term Limits Should be In place
The argument of some including Alexander Hamilton and Ronald Regan is that term limits prevent the American people from rewarding leaders they believe are successful. Also with term limits a second term presidents is a lame duck from the time he begins his second term as everyone knows he will leave office in four years. Also because they have no elections left to run for, second term presidents care less of what the public opinion think of them and their policies and therefore are more likely to become brewed in scandals or make unpopular decisions regarding policy. On the other side of the argument people say that removing term limits could result in one person being president for decades and that this would stifle the democracy the founding fathers intended to build. A democracy where a common man is elected to serve in the government for a few years and then go home, a democracy without career politicians. But could there ever be a president for life or a multiple term President as long as we continue to hold elections every four years?
Both sides have a good argument. But ultimately I think establishing term limits was the right thing to do. The idea that elections would prevent an unwanted long term presidency is not as powerful a factor as it may seem. The longer one remains an incumbent the more power and influence they gain, weather its through force or providing for others using the power of their position. A great example is Egypt, its clear now that President Mubarak wasn't very popular with the Egyptian people. But then how could the man win five terms as President and serve for over thirty years? Because of his power as an incumbent. Because he continued to impose Marshall Law on Egypt after the assignation of Anwar Sadat he had the power to imprison political opponents, bribe voters, and command advertisement outlets. Many people say this can't happen in the United States because of the freedoms our Constitution protects, but it does happen, just in a different form. Today we still have senators like John Mccain, Joe Leiberman, and Barbara Mikulski who that have served for decades. How have they remain in office for so long? Because of their power as incumbents. Over time incumbents are able to build up their political machines and support bases. Since they have influence on a national level they are able to provide benefits and rewards to those who support them. Eventually their power reaches a point were no one can challenge them and win. With this power and influence some politicians are able to stay in office for life. Senators like Harry Reid and Ted Kennedy remained in office until they died because they were politically impossible to challenge. The same is for our only president to serve more than two terms, Franklin Roosevelt. Despite the war in Europe as being a reason for his election to a third term, his New Deal benefits which many people depended on, created and enviorment were he couldn't lose.This is why term limits our important, they prevent career politicians and create a government where power and alliances our less of a concern, also the limited time in office acts as an incentive for those who wish to pass certain legislation and reforms to work quickly. This is why I think we should consider reestablishing term limits in Congress. I believe it would greatly benefit the American people and the government. As for those who argue that presidents and politicians in their final terms are lame ducks and are more likely to become involved in scandals as they no longer care about what the public thinks of them i have two points. First, the office of an elected official is influential is as much as the person holding it. Regardless of how much time they have in office a true leader can make a major impact on the decision making process. Second, if an official decides to do something he know is wrong because he won't be affected by any political fall out, should not have been elected in the first place. While seeking another term might impact the timing of their decisions, elections cannot change a person.

This is my opinion on weather we should have term restrictions, but I want to hear your ideas to so please comment.

The Future is Ours to Win

Tuesday night President Obama delivered his second State of the Union address. The focus of his address was to drive down the national debt and improve the economy through extending the Bush tax cuts and investing in education. Obama said we needed to "reinvent" ourselves to compete in the ever changing global economy, especially with China and India's fast growing economies. He said despite talks of our decline as a world power we still have the largest and most prosperous economy in the world. Obama stated he wanted to invest in innovation.  Focusing on more efficient and environmentally friendly technology by supporting companies who come forward with new ideas for more effective technology, anything ranging from cars to nuclear power plants. But to do so Obama wants to take away the billions of dollars from oil companies stating "I don't know if you have noticed but they are doing fine on their own." The President also is taking a drastic measure to reduce the national deficit by freezing all unnecessary government spending for five years. The goal is to reduce the deficit by 400 billion dollars over the next decade. This means cutting government funding from social programs, defense programs, and freezing government employees salaries. Again, as drastic as it may seem, the hope is that it will have an equally drastic effect on the deficit and put a stop the ever growing national debt.

The War on Terror
Obama announced early in his presidency that we would withdraw all military forces from Iraq by the end of 2011. So far it looks like the plan is on schedule, the last combat forces withdrew in August and the troops remaining are for security and training the Iraqi military. The hope is that these soldiers can return home soon as well. While the United States will continue to support the young democratic Iraq, the combat phase of the Iraq war is over. In Afghanistan and Pakistan the President stated Al-Queda is under great pressure and that their safe-havens are shrinking. The troop surge that began last year is scheduled to end in July when the soldiers will begin to return home. Some argue the troops need to remain there longer to have a more profound long term effect on the terrorists. They may be right, but the full effects of the surge are yet to be seen. 

The I Also Ran Row
I noticed from footage of the crowd during the address, Senators John McCain and John Kerry were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder. I find it funny the two recent defeated presidential candidates would end up next to each other. One may call it a coincidence. I would, too, if Joe Leiberman was not two chairs to McCain's left.

The Ryan Response
Shortly after Obama's State of the Union, Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin delivered the Republican Party response.From the Budget committee room, Congressman Ryan addressed the nation on the Republican Party's view of how to deal with the economy in the new year. He expressed the need to reform or repeal the Health Care law passed last March. Ryan stated that it was similar to the socialized medicine of many European countries, where it had created a heavy national debt, resulting in higher taxes and cutting benefits for seniors. Ryan said America was slipping in the same direction, and the Health Care law sped up the process. He said spending cuts on all government levels is needed to contain the national debt that is spiraling out of control. Ryan stated the government was trying to do more than it should; it was doing too much and therefore spending too much. If this is not reversed,  the debt will "eclipse" our gross national product and the next generation would face a stagnate economy. But Ryan said it is not too late "we still have time, but not much time".

Conclusion
I found that one of the comforting and amazing things of the entire night was the concern and prayers for congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and those injured in Tucson along with the black and white ribbons to honor those killed. This as yet another great example  that all Americans, regardless of race, gender, age, religion, political views, or background, come to the aide of one another when needed and stand together in hard times.We are held together by the idea that all people have the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. While there are times we may seem hopelessly divided in arguments ranging from foreign wars to health care initiatives, at our core is a love for freedom and compassion for those in need. We may not feel this bond everyday, but it shows in tragedies like Tucson, and it is this bond that allows us not only to weather the challenges that come our way but to become stronger from them. It is because of this that I believe regardless of who is president or what party controls the house and senate, that we will emerge from this recession and war on terror stronger and better than before.

Mr. Speaker, The President of the United States!

Tonight President Barack Obama will speak before Congress and the nation in his second State of the Union Address. He will use the speech to outline his legislative and national agenda for 2011. President Obama will be continuing a constitutional assignment bestowed on all presidents "He Shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their consideration measures he shall judge necessary and expedient"
Ever since George Washington gave the first address on January 8, 1790, all presidents have delivered an annual State of the Union address. Although the constitution does not give an exact time frame in which the president must deliver the address it simply states "He shall from time to time". Not all presidents have delivered their address in person. Thomas Jefferson, believing the address was to similar to the British Speech from the Thrown, instead sent a written address to congress to be read by a clerk. All Presidents followed this protocol until Woodrow Wilson spoke before a Joint session of Congress in 1913. Since then all presidents, with a few exceptions, have given the State of the Union address in person.

DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
During each state of the union address all government officials gather in the United States Capitol building for the speech. To ensure there would be a commander-in-chief in the event of an attack on the Capitol building killing or incapacitating most leaders of the government, a member of the Presidential line of succession is sent to an undisclosed, secure location for the duration of the state of the union address. In recent years, members of congress have been asked to relocate to undisclosed locations for the speech to ensure the continuation of the legislative branch in the event of an attack.

The State of the union address is a great time for the President to rally his political base in anticipation for the new year. It is one of the longest, grandest, speech's given by the President, and is any speech writers greatest challenge. It requires over a month of painstaking, tough planning, with writers struggling with what can be included in a speech supposed to review the past year and to create a vision for the next. To President Obama, good luck!