Monday, December 30, 2013

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

Friday, December 13, 2013

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.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Something is happening in Kiev


It may have gone under reported in the news but for the past two weeks a revolution, or at least a massive uprising, is happening in Kiev, the Capital of Ukraine. Their president, Victor Yanukovych, refused to sign accords that would have created closer economic ties between the Ukrainian Republic and the European Union in favor of keeping a closer relationship with Russia. You might ask yourselves is every country in Europe supposed to join the EU sooner or later? Or what is wrong with a president not wanting his country to enter in an organization that has proven how perilous it is in the past year? Well the answer is the people.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Remembering Nelson Mandela.


I just learned that Nelson Mandela, former South African President, has passed away. Nelson Mandela has always been the greatest inspiration in my life. As a black man, he truly stand as the embodiment of what you can accomplish under so many hardships, his legacy is gigantic and he stands  as, and will always be, Africa's father. His greatest accomplishment will always be the creation South Africa as a democratic, free, and rainbow nation.

Monday, December 2, 2013

A break for Francois Hollande


After getting battered in the polls, dealing with and unruly government, a charmless Prime Minister and a very down spiraling country, the president of the French Republic received good news. The unemployment rate dropped down 0.6% in October to 10.5%, the first time since Hollande has Occupied the Elysee. This is actually even better news because, it is also the first time that Hollande and his government have kept a promise that they made, they had promised a drop in unemployment for the month of October and they delivered, for politicians it does not get better that than. This of course will help his every deflating fortunes at home and show France and the rest of Europe that Francois Hollande means business, increase his credibility and strengthen his voice in European matters (against the formidable Angela Merkel). The great news are of course are only a small part as France still has many problems, the deficit, and unemployment rate that is still high and a radicalization that is increasing at a fast rate. Hollande of course still has his challenges set up for him as he still deals with his unruly government, and it remains to be seen when Jean Marc Ayeraul will be dismissed. This is definitely a step in the right direction.

HealthCare.gov's small step in the right direction.


If you have an internet connection and you live in the United States of America, you have read the awful coverage that the Affordable Care Act has been getting. Most of the coverage was geared towards the faulty and very malfunctioning website, people were unable to sign up or pick plans, the site froze and generally was awful. That coverage of the glitches was giving the entire law a very negative image, and was reviving the Republican party that had been pretty decimated by the debt ceiling showdown. With his approval ratings in free fall and the threat of the Democrats losing the Senate in 2014, President Obama and his administration announced that they had given themselves a November 30th deadline for the website to be close to fully functioning.