Show of Power Needed in Ukraine (Updated)

The situation in Ukraine is fairly bad. After rejecting Putin puppet, Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine is threatened by Russia. Russian soldiers have taken over airports, parliament and government buildings in the ethnic Russian dominated Ukrainian border with Russia, Crimea. Like they did with Georgia when they invaded in the summer of 2008, they are distributing passports to anti government militia and will use the excuse of protecting their citizens for an invasion.

Thoughts on My Brother's Keeper.

Today with all the fanfare, splendor, pomp and pulpit of the presidency , President Barack Obama launched his new initiative, My Brother's keeper, designed to help young men of color and reduce the opportunity gap between them and their caucasian peers. I am traveling so this will be brief so pardon the hurriedness.

Yanukovych has fallen!

Late last year I wrote about the protests that were happening in Kiev's Maidan Square when they were in their infancy, I fully supported the will of the Ukrainian people in having their country's fortunes united with that of the European Union, given that being a client and puppet State to Russia had brought them nothing but misery and oligarchic corruption. Well, today it's my pleasure to announce that dictator-lite and Putin wannabe, Viktor Yanukovych has lost control of all state organs, the parliament has decided to vote him out, and the police and the interior ministry have now joined the people, it looks as if his tenure of terror is over.

Is Executive Action, the Solution to Second Term Blues?

The president will be delivering his fifth State of the Union address to Congress tomorrow, his people have given some hints that, to be honest, I found boring except for one. Floated by Jay Carney, of all people, is the idea that the presidency is getting ready to bypass congress and use executive orders to further his economic goals like income inequality and minimum wage. It's interesting because maybe it is telling us how the president plans to finish his last term in public office.

Some 2013 Stats

Happy holidays, I haven't posted anything for so long, I have been busy with family obligations during this time. Here are some numbers, I thought interesting about this year. Forgive me for the jumbled post.

Unemployment rate:7%
Obamacare enrolment: 1.1 million
Budget bills passed: 1
Marriage equality states: 18 (Utah was definitely a surprise)
Days of government shutdown: 16
Obama approval rating: 39%

If you have any thoughts on these numbers post them in the comments below, guest post are allowed. If you have any suggestion on what i can make better or what I should cover the coming year, post it in the comments or email me at generalpoliticshh@gmail.com

John Boehner Woke Up and Grew Some Balls

'Are you kidding me?' 'Frankly, I just think they have lost all credibility.' Those are words that came from the mouth of Rep. John Boehner, Republican Speaker of the House, he was talking about the conservative outside groups like the Heritage Foundation, Club for Growth etc. This was in relation to the budget deal that was passed overwhelmingly by the House and that was ferociously decried by those organizations. Why, you ask is it surprising or noteworthy? Well John Boehner ever since he got the Speaker's gavel in his hands has been more of a follower than a leader in his caucus, he allowed the crazy Tea Party members of his caucus backed by those groups he slammed earlier, to have a powerful voice that overtook everyone else and made the entire House GOP look like a bunch of right wing crazies.

Washington Did Something Last Night

I should have written about the mini scandals and happenings on the budget deal, but hey, witting about government incompetence all the time gets boring and tiring, this however, is different. Last night the House of Representatives passed a 2 year budget deal that would fund the government until October 2015. The bill was a compromise crafted by Senate Budget Committee chairwoman Patty Murray (D) with Rep. Paul Ryan (R), the House's own Budget Committee chair. In a bipartisan move that has become very rare on Capitol Hill, the House passed the bill 332-94, the Senate is to follow suit and the president has promised to sign the bill into law as soon as it reaches his desk.