Diggapedia

This is by no means an expansive review of the 2012 political year.   Nor is it a top ten list, as every cable news station and talk radio show has created their lists and checked them twice.   Instead, here are my thoughts on what was the political year. Let me start by saying that political tricks and shenanigans are like most movies and television shows: there is very little original material or innovation.   Pick any time in American History   and you will find the same wheeling and dealing, the same attack pieces, the same gamesmanship, the same special interests, and the same political manipulations.   In 2012 we were worried that the Citizens United decision would cause such an influx of special interests’ money that and that government of the people, by the people, for the people would no longer exist.   Irrespective of Citizens United, our government is unduly influenced by special interests and their lobbyists.   Every industry spends ...

  How will a second Obama term go?   Is it too soon to make a prediction considering the 2012 election outcome is still unknown?   Will congressional gridlock be the same, not as bad, or sadly worse?   Will Iran develop a nuclear weapon?   What will the cabinet look like?   How about the supreme court?   Will we go over   the fiscal cliff or just hang dangerously close to the edge? I believe President Obama will champion deficit cutting and attack the building debt.   Contrary to the pundits on the right, the president is not a tax and spend liberal (as opposed to a borrow and spend Republican).   He believes in fiscal responsibility, but also realizes that during deep recessions where the credit markets have seized, that it is up to the government to provide necessary stimulus.   However, unlike FDR, President Obama has fought the pressure to turn to austerity too soon, and as the economy continues to heal in 2013, expect...