Sacerdotus - "Come now, let us reason together." Isaiah 1:18
Showing posts with label President Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label President Obama. Show all posts

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Trump Orders Release of "Alien" Files

In a surprising turn of events that has reignited public fascination with extraterrestrial life, President Donald Trump announced on February 19, 2026, that he is directing federal agencies—including the Department of Defense—to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to aliens, extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The directive came just hours after Trump criticized former President Barack Obama for recent comments suggesting aliens are "real." Trump claimed Obama had disclosed classified information, calling it a "big mistake" and stating that Obama "is not supposed to be doing that."


 The Spark: Obama's Podcast Remarks

The controversy traces back to a podcast interview with Brian Tyler Cohen, released around February 14, 2026. When asked directly, "Are aliens real?" Obama responded: "They're real, but I haven't seen them. And they're not being kept in... Area 51. There's no underground facility unless there's this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States."

Obama later clarified his statement on social media, explaining that he was responding in the "spirit of the speed round" of questions. He emphasized: "Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there. But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us."

Despite the clarification—that Obama had seen no evidence of alien contact during his time in office—his initial quip went viral, sparking widespread discussion and memes across social media.


 Trump's Response and Announcement

Aboard Air Force One on February 19, Trump addressed reporters about Obama's remarks. He expressed uncertainty about aliens himself: "I don't know if they're real or not." He then accused Obama of mishandling classified info, adding jokingly, "I may get him out of trouble by declassifying."

Later that evening, Trump posted on Truth Social: "Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"

The announcement has fueled excitement among UFO enthusiasts, while skeptics question whether it will yield groundbreaking revelations or mostly redacted documents, given ongoing UAP investigations by the Pentagon and Congress in recent years.

Trump's move continues his pattern of declassification efforts and taps into long-standing public curiosity about potential government knowledge of non-human intelligence. Whether this leads to transparency or more questions remains to be seen, but it has undeniably placed the topic back in the national spotlight.

Did Trump inadvertently confirm what Obama stated? If Trump's reply to the reporter was that Obama was not supposed to reveal classified information, then that means what Obama said was true, aliens are real, and this was classified.  Or perhaps this is a distraction from the Epstein files?




 Sources

- Axios: "Trump orders UFO files release after slamming Obama over alien comments" (February 20, 2026) - https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-alien-ufo-government-files-release-obama

- USA Today: "Trump ordering release of government files on aliens after Obama comment" (February 19, 2026) - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/19/donald-trump-barack-obama-aliens-real-classified-information/88762872007/

- The New York Times: "Trump Says He Will Release Files on Aliens and U.F.O.s" (February 19, 2026) - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/us/politics/trump-ufos-aliens-files.html

- CBS News: "Trump says he's directing Pentagon to release any files on UFOs and 'alien and extraterrestrial life'" (February 20, 2026) - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-ufo-alien-and-extraterrestrial-life-files-pentagon

- Reuters: "Alien files incoming: Trump orders government release of UFO records" (February 19, 2026) - https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-claims-obama-revealed-classified-information-when-he-said-aliens-are-real-2026-02-19

- The Guardian: "Trump says he will order the release of Pentagon files on aliens and UFOs" (February 20, 2026) - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/20/trump-aliens-ufos-pentagon-files-release

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Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Obama says Aliens are "Real"

In recent years, former President Barack Obama sparked widespread discussion when he addressed the question of extraterrestrial life during a podcast interview with Brian Tyler Cohen. In a quick-fire "lightning round" of questions, when asked "Are aliens real?", Obama replied, "They're real, but I haven't seen them." He added that they're "not being kept at Area 51" and joked about any underground facility being part of an enormous conspiracy hidden even from the president.

This off-the-cuff remark went viral, leading to speculation and frenzy online. Obama quickly clarified on Instagram and in statements that he was responding in the spirit of the rapid-fire format. He emphasized that statistically, given the vastness of the universe, the odds favor life existing elsewhere. However, he saw "no evidence" during his presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us, and the chances of visitation are low due to immense interstellar distances.

This incident ties into broader ongoing interest in unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP, formerly known as UFOs). Congress has conducted multiple investigations and public hearings since 2023, including sessions in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Witnesses, including military personnel and whistleblowers, have testified about encounters with advanced craft exhibiting capabilities beyond known human technology—such as orbs, vanishing objects, and transmedium travel (air to water). These hearings, held by House Oversight committees and others, focus on transparency, potential national security implications, and declassification efforts, though no conclusive proof of alien origins has emerged.

Speculation often points to Area 51, the secretive Nevada military base long rumored to house crashed alien craft or reverse-engineered technology from alleged incidents like Roswell in 1947. Obama directly dismissed these ideas, aligning with official denials, but the site's mystique persists in popular culture.

From a religious perspective, the Catholic Church has no official doctrine forbidding extraterrestrial life. The existence of aliens—whether microbial or intelligent—remains a scientific question, not a theological one. Church figures, including Vatican astronomers like Fr. José Gabriel Funes, have stated that discovering extraterrestrial life would not contradict faith; it could reflect God's creative power across the cosmos. Intelligent extraterrestrials would be seen as part of creation, potentially redeemable in their own way, without conflicting with core teachings on humanity's unique role.

Scientifically, the sheer scale of the universe makes alien life seem probable. With billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars, and trillions of potentially habitable planets (many confirmed by telescopes like Kepler and JWST), the Drake equation—a probabilistic framework estimating communicative civilizations in the Milky Way—suggests life could be common, even if intelligent or technological forms are rarer. The equation factors in star formation rates, planets per star, habitable zones, life emergence, intelligence development, communication willingness, and civilization longevity. While exact numbers vary wildly due to uncertainties, many astronomers argue the odds strongly favor life existing somewhere beyond Earth.


Reports of alien encounters, particularly abductions, often describe recurring "races." Common ones include:


- Greys: Small, grey-skinned humanoids with large black eyes, bald heads, and slender bodies—most frequently reported in abduction cases.

- Nordics (or Pleiadians): Tall, blonde, human-like beings, sometimes benevolent.

- Reptilians: Scaly, reptilian-featured humanoids, often linked to conspiracy theories.

- Others like Mantis (insect-like) or Tall Whites appear in some accounts.


These claims remain anecdotal and unverified scientifically.

Some theorists propose interdimensional beings rather than extraterrestrials from distant planets—entities from parallel dimensions slipping into our reality. Others speculate visitors could be future humans time-traveling back, explaining advanced tech without interstellar travel paradoxes.

The universe's vastness—containing an estimated 2 trillion galaxies and countless habitable worlds—strongly implies that life has arisen elsewhere. Simple microbial forms may be widespread, while intelligent life could be rarer but inevitable.

The Bible offers intriguing hints some interpret as extraterrestrial encounters. Ezekiel's vision of wheeled, fiery "living creatures" and a throne-like structure (Ezekiel 1) has been likened to a UFO by some. Similarly, Elijah's ascent to heaven in a "chariot of fire" with horses of fire and a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11) evokes a dramatic aerial event, with some viewing it as Elijah witnessing Earth from above in a craft-like vehicle. These are traditionally understood as divine visions or angelic phenomena, not literal spacecraft.

One intriguing theological perspective on the possibility of extraterrestrial life draws from the precise wording in Genesis regarding God's rest. In Genesis 2:2-3, the text states that "by the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work," and "God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all his work that he had done in creation." Notably, Scripture describes God resting from His creative labors rather than declaring that creation itself was utterly and eternally finished in every aspect. Some interpreters, including those who view the seventh day as an ongoing period (supported by references in Hebrews 4 and Psalm 95, where God's rest extends into the present era), suggest this implies God's creative activity—while ceased in its initial formative phase—may not preclude further unfolding or manifestations of life within the vast cosmos He established. This open-ended rest allows room for the emergence of life forms beyond Earth, as part of the ongoing divine order and providence, without contradicting the completion of the foundational "heavens and earth" framework. Thus, the biblical narrative leaves space for the scientific probability of alien life, portraying a Creator whose Sabbath rest celebrates perfection while permitting the continued expression of His creative will across the universe.

This interpretation aligns with broader Catholic and Christian thought that God's ongoing sustenance of creation (as in Colossians 1:17, where "in him all things hold together") could encompass diverse forms of life elsewhere, reflecting the boundless scope of divine ingenuity rather than a rigidly closed system.

In conclusion, there is a strong possibility that alien life exists somewhere in the cosmos, given its immense scale and the principles of probability. Whether such life has visited Earth remains uncertain and unsupported by definitive evidence. If intelligent beings are out there and have chosen to avoid us, it speaks to their advanced wisdom—perhaps recognizing humanity's challenges and deciding we're not yet ready for contact.


Sources:

- BBC: "Obama clarifies views on aliens after saying 'they're real' on podcast" (bbc.com)

- TIME: "Barack Obama Says Aliens Are 'Real,' But They Aren't Being Kept at Area 51" (time.com)

- The Guardian: "No evidence aliens have made contact, says Obama after podcast comments cause frenzy" (theguardian.com)

- CNN: "Obama clarifies alien comments after telling podcast 'they're real'" (cnn.com)

- House Oversight Committee hearings on UAP (oversight.house.gov, various 2023-2025 sessions)

- Catholic.com: "What's the Catholic position on the existence of Aliens?" (catholic.com)

- Society of Catholic Scientists: Discussions on extraterrestrial intelligence (catholicscientists.org)

- Wikipedia: Drake equation and list of alleged extraterrestrial beings (en.wikipedia.org)

- NASA Science: Revisiting the Drake Equation (science.nasa.gov)

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Saturday, August 25, 2018

Senator John McCain Dead at 81

A day after discontinuing treatment for a brain tumor, Senator John McCain has passed away at the age of 81. Senator McCain was an American hero who was even captured during his service for our nation. He was tortured but survived.

McCain later on became a long-time Republican senator who often took on an independent voice within his party. Twice he attempted a run for the presidency but was defeated by Presidents Bush and Obama in 2000 and 2008. He referred to himself as the "maverick" and had faced skin cancer before and survived plane crashes.

His daughter made the announcement on Twitter:




As with any politician, McCain has had some controversy and has been accused of being a traitor by fellow Republicans for siding with Democrats. Some African American activists have not been fans of McCain either after he voted against the creation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day. Nevertheless, McCain served his nation both in the military and public service. Many have offered kind words, including Presidents Trump and Obama who tweeted:







May John Sidney McCain III rest in peace.  He was a true American hero!



Source:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/25/politics/john-mccain-obituary/index.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-john-mccain-independent-voice-gop-establishment-dies-81-n790971

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/us-senator-john-mccain-dies-brain-tumour-battle-073302052.html



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Tuesday, September 5, 2017

DACA is Deported

The DACA program or "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" was rescinded today by President Donald J. Trump via Attorney General Jeff Sessions. DACA was introduced via the executive branch in 2012 by former President Obama. The program was meant to prevent the deportation of children of illegal immigrants who were brought here. These people obviously grew up in America and know nothing of their nation of birth.

Many find their stories heartbreaking, and rightfully so. These people did not ask to be brought here at an early age. To better the situation, Obama ordered the DACA program be put into place. Along with preventing deportation, DACA applicants would be allowed to work in the United States, but would then have to renew this permit. They were only allowed to stay in the United States for two years. However, no one wants to be deported so obviously, they all stayed here. This is where the problem begins.

Since these people stayed here, they have become a burden on tax payers. Tax payers have been forced to pay for the education, health and other expenses of these illegal immigrants. This is unjust and immoral. Many conservatives were upset when Obama instituted DACA which was a breach of federal law to begin with. Many "dreamers," or DACA receipients have taken to the streets to protest.
















Some in the Catholic Church have even cried foul at President Trump for ending DACA. Cardinal Dolan and many others have joined the cause claiming that Trump's actions are inhumane. The USSCB also issued a statement condeming the action of the president.





I have countered these Catholics leaders by reminding all of what the Catholic Church actually teaches about immigration. See the photo in the tweet below:






The Catholic Church teaches that each nation has a right to protect its sovereignty and borders. Those who come as immigrants must respect the laws of the nation that is housing them. Just because "dreamers" were brought here by their parents does not mean we should reward them. Once they learned that they were illegal and became of age, they should have proceeded to change their status from illegal to legal. Many of them do not do this and want to have their cake and eat it too, so to speak. Some of them have even committed crimes against Americans. Since they are undocumented, it is hard for law enforcement to locate them and prosecute them. This is just wrong. Instead of keeping illegal immigrants legal, The bishops, clergy and religious should advocate that they become legal. They should encourage parishioners who are illegal immigrants to become legal. This is the moral thing to do rather than taking a "Robin Hood" mentality to solving these kinds of problems. We cannot steal from others to help others. It is immoral.

Moreover, I come from NYC which is a very liberal and progressive town. It bothered me greatly in my college and high school years seeing friends of mine who are Puerto Rican get turned away from scholarships and other benefits in favor of illegal immigrants. How can illegal people have it easy in our nation while legal citizens are given such a hard time? This is unjust.

Some have gotten upset with me because of my tweets condemning the "dreamers" and DACA. However, they did not see what I saw in NYC nor experienced the unfairness my friends and others faced due to illegal immigrants. Furthermore, many people have suffered having their identities stolen by illegal immigrants. This is wrong. Imagine working all of your life, doing the right thing, obeying the law and you find out someone was using your social security number to live a lavish life in the shadows of the law. This is what has happened to many people I know. In Puerto Rico, birth certificates had to be reissued because Dominicans and others were stealing the identities of Puerto Ricans. Some were using the certificates and social security numbers of the deceased!

We must not let misguided compassion get the best of us. I as a rational person see black and white, right and wrong. Immigrants are all welcome here, but they must follow the laws. Moreover, the media is painting "dreamers" as kids when in fact they are young adults. Again, they are capable of applying to citizenship. What is stopping them? Do they want freebies? Do they want to live above the law? We cannot have this.

The end of DACA today does not mean lost hope for "dreamers." President Trump tweeted that he wants Congress to find a legal way to keep DACA and gave a six month timeline to do so. If they do not, he tweeted that he will revisit the issue. Clearly, Trump is not this coldhearted man the media is portraying him as. He wants to do things right and legally. While he is not perfect, we must applaud his respect for the executive branch and how it relates to the law.






Let us pray for all. I know it is hard for "dreamers," but there are better options. Living here illegally and not doing anything to change that status is wrong. Taking advantage of welfare and other benefits meant for citizens who are struggling is immoral.  Illegal immigrants need to show sincerity and do the right thing by becoming legal if they really love our nation and want their dreams realized.





Source:

http://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2017/09/05/14-things-msm-wont-tell-daca/

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/05/politics/jeff-sessions-trump-daca-decision/index.html?sr=twCNN090617jeff-sessions-trump-daca-decision1055AMVODtop

http://www.illegalaliencrimereport.com/murder/dreamer-shot-young-man-to-death-in-arizona/

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/09/05/ag-jeff-sessions-announces-end-of-daca-immigration-policy/23197431/


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Thursday, March 16, 2017

Obama Classmate Blocks Trump Order



Here we go again. Just as President Trump's new executive order vetting travelers from nations identified as harbors of terrorists was the take effect, a judge has blocked it.  The new order was revised, taking into consideration the problems previous judges have found with it.  However, this was not enough for Hawaiian judge Derrick Watson who claims that the executive order is a ban against Muslims.  Keep in mind that Muslims from other nations not listed in the executive order can travel to the United States without extreme vetting.  In light of this, it is hard to argue that the executive order is a Muslim ban.

Moreover, it is interesting to note that Judge Derrick Watson was a classmate of Obama's at Harvard.  Could this be a sabotage plot?  Many seem to think so based on the judge's poor reasoning. The judge is relying on statements made by Trump during the election campaign to make his decision. This is odd indeed since judges are supposed to make decisions based on the letter of the law.  We are seeing judicial activism once again.  Something has to give.  We must revamp the judicial system so that judges can only make decisions based on the laws in the book, not their own views.  If we do not do this, then a liberal judge will decided based on his or her bias and vice-versa. This is dangerous and will turn America into an oligarchy.  The Trump administration plans to appeal.



Source:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/us/politics/trump-travel-ban.html?_r=0

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/us/politics/trump-travel-ban-campaign.html

http://www.newyorker.com/news/benjamin-wallace-wells/trump-defeated-again-on-the-travel-ban-is-still-trapped-in-his-campaign

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/16/520391884/the-new-rulings-against-trumps-travel-ban-what-was-blocked-and-why

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/opinion/an-ill-considered-travel-ban.html

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/16/politics/derrick-watson-5-things-to-know/



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Monday, January 23, 2017

Defunding Planned Parenthood: Is it Bad?

President Donald J. Trump wasted now time going after abortion and Planned Parenthood. He signed an executive order reinstating the Mexico City policy. This policy prevents American tax dollars from being used to fund abortions overseas. The policy has been in place since Ronald Reagan's presidency and into Bush's. However, President Obama suppressed it during his tenure as president.

Radical feminists have dreaded the Trump presidency for this reason. He has vowed to defund Planned Parenthood and go after abortion like no other president has. He is waiting for a bill to fully defund Planned Parenthood in the States. Feminists believe that this will harm women citing that Planned Parenthood provides sonogram and other medical care. This may be true, but the real issue with these feminists is that they see abortion as healthcare. It is not.

Woman can get all kinds of care in hospitals and other clinics, see: http://getyourcare.org/locations/. Abortion is not healthcare. Getting an abortion will not miraculously cure a woman from a particular illness. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of women, yet pro abortion advocates are mute on this reality and focus their attention on abortion. One can see where the priority is at, and it is not the welfare of women.

Pro abortion advocates have been whining that defunding Planned Parenthood will hurt women. This is not true. "Dr. Raegan" on Twitter tweeted a link on this which I quoted and tweeted "lies" in response. She blocked me.



Is it bad to defund Planned Parenthood? Absolutely not! This organization is a criminal organization which focuses on abortion and the perversion of our children. They get millions of dollars from tax payers which they use for abortions. The organization was founded by Margaret Sanger. Sanger was an eugenicist and racist who wanted to get rid of Black, other minorities and the disabled. She saw them as undesirable and defects in the human gene pool. Planned Parenthood even sterilized Puerto Rican women on the island of Puerto Rico. Despite this, Puerto Ricans like Lin-Manuel Miranda support the organization.

This organization has implemented sex education to kindegarteners under the presidency of Obama!

see:
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/3713/9611/7930/Sex_Ed_in_the_US.pdf

 https://www.plannedparenthood.org/educators/resources/curricula-manuals

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-sex-ed-kindergartners-right-thing-do

I remember kindergarten so well. My teacher Mrs. Fernandez was awesome, gentle and loving. She inspired me and encouraged learning in my life.  We learned the ABC's and 123's using books and other items geared towards young children. We played with blocks and other things in order to develop our skills, reasoning etc. I cannot imagine going to kindergarten and having a teaching teach us about how to use a condom or about sex. The idea just sends goosebumps throughout me. It is nasty! This world is tough to live in. Kindergarten is one of the last times a kid gets to enjoy his or her innocence and childhood. To rob them away from this by forcing them to grow up too fast is wrong.

Look at this from their content given to kids!


This is disgusting!


Planned Parenthood definitely has to be defunded and must go out of business. It has perpetuated evil and immorality for decades. I applaud President Trump for going in the right direction.




Source:

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/does-defunding-planned-parenthood-really-threaten-womens-health-80584/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29&utm_term=daily+news#noredirect

https://www.sba-list.org/newsroom/press-releases/mexico-city-policy-executive-order-stops-u-s-taxpayer-funding-abortion-groups-overseas

http://www.lifenews.com/2017/01/23/president-donald-trump-signs-executive-order-to-defund-international-planned-parenthood/#.WIZBOXP17rk.twitter

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Friday, January 20, 2017

President Trump's Inauguration Day

The day has finally come. Donald John Trump has become the 45th president of the United States of America.  This day could not have come sooner enough.  After eight years of social engineer, restriction of religious freedom, an increase in discord and tension among races and genders, we finally have someone who I think will bring law and order. Obama did some good, but that good was overshadowed by his focus on special interest groups while ignoring the majority of Americans. Donald J. Trump won for this very reason.  Americans had enough of being forgotten.

On a cloudy cool day, many gathered at the mall in Washington DC. Former rivals Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were present. The outgoing president and first lady were visibly uncomfortable.  Michelle had a face of disgust and shade. Other politicians present showed their typical hypocrisy as if they were buddy-buddy with Trump. Then the time came for the swearing in. Cardinal Dolan and other religious representatives offered their benedictions before the swearing in. Using his own Bible and that of Abraham Lincoln, Donald J. Trump was sworn in but Justice Roberts.  Immediately after, Trump gave his inaugural speech. It began to sprinkle on him as if God was blessing Him. Trump then gave a speech which no one has ever heard from by a president. He told the truth. Trump roasted Obama and those politicians present stating that the time has ended where Washington only cared about itself and not the people.  It is time for the power to go back to the people, he stated. The words reminded me of Lincoln's words regarding a nation of the people, by the people and for the people.  The speech reflected a real New Yorker who is blunt and has a no-nonsense personality. I know, I am one ;-)








On Twitter (Trump's favorite medium) the Potus and Flotus accounts immediately switched over to their new owners.






However, not everyone was happy about Trump's swearing in. Some news outlets had posted up comparison photos of Obama's inauguration and Trump's in an attempt to show the disparity in attendance.






The dishonesty was clearly visible. The photo showing a thin crowd was taken prior to the ceremony when people were showing up. Moreover, protesters were blocking people from entering which further delayed the gathering of crowds. Debunking site Snopes clarified the discrepancy. On the topic of protesters, some took to the streets to riot. They broke windows, attacked others, threw rocks and other objects at the police. These people were clearly upset at how the democratic process worked. The same crybabies who protest over anything that disagrees with them caused havoc.



This lady was even crying out like a toddler after the swearing in of Donald J. Trump. It is hilarious and sad at the same time! They even splashed water on those about to participate in the schedule balls.






The immaturity of progressives is so obvious. I myself mocked Lin-Manuel by posting a gif of his ridiculous performance on Saturday Night Live where he said Trump will not be president. Looks like he counted his chicks way too fast:




Outgoing president Obama left on Marine One to Andrews base to board Executive one to California. Many were sad to see him go. Others not so much:








You can see my live Tweets during the day here:




Trump's speech was probably the best one I heard in all the years I have been alive to witness a presidential inauguration. To my knowledge, he mentioned God the most. Said God will protect the United States and mentioned that the Bible calls for unity. President Trump has always signed an executive order easing the burden of Obamacare until it is repealed. Other sources claim that he will sign an executive order on Sunday defunding Planned Parenthood.

The day went well despite protests. Trump participated in a parade, and several balls where he had the first dance with first lady Melania trump.  The Holy Father Pope Francis sent his congratulations to President Trump and asked him not to forget the poor:



Here is the transcript of Donald J. Trump's speech:

TRUMP: Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans and people of the world, thank you.
(APPLAUSE) We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and restore its promise for all of our people.
(APPLAUSE)
Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for many, many years to come. We will face challenges, we will confront hardships, but we will get the job done.
Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
Today's ceremony, however, has very special meaning because today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the people.
(APPLAUSE)
For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs. And while they celebrated in our nation's capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
(APPLAUSE)
That all changes starting right here and right now because this moment is your moment, it belongs to you.
(APPLAUSE)
It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country.
(APPLAUSE)
What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.
(APPLAUSE)
January 20th, 2017 will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.
(APPLAUSE)
The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.
(APPLAUSE)
Everyone is listening to you now. You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement, the likes of which the world has never seen before.
(APPLAUSE)
At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction, that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are just and reasonable demands of righteous people and a righteous public.
But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge; and the crime and the gangs and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.
This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.
(APPLAUSE) We are one nation and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams. And their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny. The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.
(APPLAUSE)
For many decades, we've enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries, while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military. We've defended other nations' borders while refusing to defend our own.(APPLAUSE)
And spent trillions and trillions of dollars overseas while America's infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay. We've made other countries rich, while the wealth, strength and confidence of our country has dissipated over the horizon.
One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions and millions of American workers that were left behind. The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed all across the world.
But that is the past. And now, we are looking only to the future.
(APPLAUSE)
We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it's going to be only America first, America first.
(APPLAUSE)
Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs.
(APPLAUSE)
Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. I will fight for you with every breath in my body and I will never ever let you down.
(APPLAUSE)
America will start winning again, winning like never before.
(APPLAUSE)
We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.
(APPLAUSE)
We will build new roads and highways and bridges and airports and tunnels and railways all across our wonderful nation. We will get our people off of welfare and back to work, rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor.
(APPLAUSE)
We will follow two simple rules; buy American and hire American.
(APPLAUSE)
We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world, but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example. We will shine for everyone to follow.(APPLAUSE)
We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate from the face of the Earth.
(APPLAUSE)
At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.
(APPLAUSE)
The Bible tells us how good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity. We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity. When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.
(APPLAUSE)
There should be no fear. We are protected and we will always be protected. We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement. And most importantly, we will be protected by God.
(APPLAUSE)
Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger. In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving. We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining, but never doing anything about it.
(APPLAUSE)
The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action.
(APPLAUSE)
Do not allow anyone to tell you that it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America. We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.
We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow. A new national pride will stir ourselves, lift our sights and heal our divisions.
It's time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget, that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots.
(APPLAUSE)
We all enjoy the same glorious freedoms and we all salute the same great American flag.
(APPLAUSE)
And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the wind-swept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they will their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty creator.(APPLAUSE)
So to all Americans in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, from ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ignored again.
(APPLAUSE) Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.
Together, we will make America strong again. We will make America wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And yes, together we will make America great again.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
God bless America.












Source:

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2017/01/20/francis-says-trump-guided-concern-poor/

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/us/politics/trump-executive-order-obamacare.html

http://www.npr.org/2017/01/21/510883328/the-many-faces-of-inauguration-day-

http://www.snopes.com/obamas-inauguration-crowd-larger-than-trumps/

http://www1.cbn.com/globallane/archive/2017/01/20/trumps-inaugural-speech-mentions-of-faith-compared-to-past-presidents

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/trump-will-end-obama-funding-of-foreign-abortions-by-roe-anniversary-report

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/20/donald-trumps-full-inauguration-speech-transcript-annotated/?utm_term=.0f46726f4666
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Friday, June 24, 2016

SCOTUS Breaks Executive Pen & Other News

The Supreme Court has shot down the executive branch. Back in November of 2014, President Obama used the power of the executive pen to write executive orders that would apply temporary protection for illegal immigrants. These protections would have prevented or delayed deportation and allow them to obtain work permits. The measures were focused namely on families and their children who entered the United States of America illegally.  Conservatives are celebrating the keeping of a lower court's ruling while liberals are crying foul.

The Supreme Court also ruled that it is okay for universities to use race as a basis for admissions. Affirmative action was instituted decades ago to give minorities a better shot at entering universities which are mostly Caucasian.  The policy has been controversial, especially among Caucasians. Back in 2008, Abigail Fisher was denied entry to the University of Texas.  She claims that it was because of her race.  The university argued that she did not meet academic requirements.

Lastly,the British people have just voted to leave the European Union.  The decision could have many impacts on British society and its economy.  Already the British pound has hit the lowest level against the US dollar since the 1980's.  The decision is not mandatory since the British Parliament has supreme power over the matters of the nation.  However, it may impact the careers of politicians who refuse to follow the vote of the people.



I will update this post later with my thoughts on these current events.  STAY TUNED*









Source:

http://www.vox.com/2014/11/20/7250255/immigration-reform-obama-executive-action

http://www.vox.com/2016/6/23/11916632/united-states-texas-daca-dapa

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/supreme-court-says-using-race-160358515.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live-coverage--the-brexit-vote-184037100.html

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/23/politics/immigration-supreme-court/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-wont-revive-obama-plan-to-shield-illegal-immigrants-from-deportation/2016/06/23/6cea5f1e-3950-11e6-9ccd-d6005beac8b3_story.html



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Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Obama's Final State of the Union Address

President Barack Obama has just given his last State of the Union Address.  He was followed by the Republican response by Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina.

The address was more of a farewell and call to unity rather than an actual state of the union.  Obama stressed that both sides of the aisle must work together.  He highlighted the accomplishments under his administration and stressed that more can be done if Americans worked together. In attendance were people of many walks of life, including and surprisingly Kim Davis, the clerk who was jailed for denying same-sex couples marriage licences.  Muslims were also present including two nuns of the Sisters of the Poor who have been in conflict with the federal government after 'Obamacare.'

Next to the First lady, Michelle Obama, was an empty seat representing those who were killed due to gun violence.  In the speech, Obama made indirect remarks against Trump and Cruz.  He also addressed many of the issues right-wing Americans have criticized him over, including the online assault against the young boy Mohammed who build a clock and was arrested for it at school. Obama stated that the name calling and attacks on the boy made America look bad in the global stage.  He also jabbed at those who deny climate change by stating that decades ago no one denied Sputnik was orbiting Earth which led to the United States going to the Moon in 12 years.

The speech was a mix of many things. The main point was to call all sides together, focus on the accomplishment and continue to work together to keep America going strong.  Governor Haley responded by stating that under Obama, the United States has not improved. However, she also included the Republicans as being culpable of the state of the Union as well and attacked Trump indirectly. Haley mentioned what Republicans can do to make America better and made the emphasis that they will protect and enforce the Constitution, in particular, freedom of religion and gun rights.

Here is the text of Obama's final speech at the Capital building:

President Obama's 2016 State of the Union Address
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans:
Tonight marks the eighth year I've come here to report on the State of the Union. And for this final one, I'm going to try to make it shorter. I know some of you are antsy to get back to Iowa.
I also understand that because it's an election season, expectations for what we'll achieve this year are low. Still, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the constructive approach you and the other leaders took at the end of last year to pass a budget and make tax cuts permanent for working families. So I hope we can work together this year on bipartisan priorities like criminal justice reform, and helping people who are battling prescription drug abuse. We just might surprise the cynics again.
But tonight, I want to go easy on the traditional list of proposals for the year ahead. Don't worry, I've got plenty, from helping students learn to write computer code to personalizing medical treatments for patients. And I'll keep pushing for progress on the work that still needs doing. Fixing a broken immigration system. Protecting our kids from gun violence. Equal pay for equal work, paid leave, raising the minimum wage. All these things still matter to hardworking families; they are still the right thing to do; and I will not let up until they get done.
But for my final address to this chamber, I don't want to talk just about the next year. I want to focus on the next five years, ten years, and beyond.
I want to focus on our future.
We live in a time of extraordinary change — change that's reshaping the way we live, the way we work, our planet and our place in the world. It's change that promises amazing medical breakthroughs, but also economic disruptions that strain working families. It promises education for girls in the most remote villages, but also connects terrorists plotting an ocean away. It's change that can broaden opportunity, or widen inequality. And whether we like it or not, the pace of this change will only accelerate.
America has been through big changes before — wars and depression, the influx of immigrants, workers fighting for a fair deal, and movements to expand civil rights. Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future; who claimed we could slam the brakes on change, promising to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control. And each time, we overcame those fears. We did not, in the words of Lincoln, adhere to the "dogmas of the quiet past." Instead we thought anew, and acted anew. We made change work for us, always extending America's promise outward, to the next frontier, to more and more people. And because we did — because we saw opportunity where others saw only peril — we emerged stronger and better than before.
What was true then can be true now. Our unique strengths as a nation — our optimism and work ethic, our spirit of discovery and innovation, our diversity and commitment to the rule of law — these things give us everything we need to ensure prosperity and security for generations to come.
In fact, it's that spirit that made the progress of these past seven years possible. It's how we recovered from the worst economic crisis in generations. It's how we reformed our health care system, and reinvented our energy sector; how we delivered more care and benefits to our troops and veterans, and how we secured the freedom in every state to marry the person we love.
But such progress is not inevitable. It is the result of choices we make together. And we face such choices right now. Will we respond to the changes of our time with fear, turning inward as a nation, and turning against each other as a people? Or will we face the future with confidence in who we are, what we stand for, and the incredible things we can do together?
So let's talk about the future, and four big questions that we as a country have to answer — regardless of who the next President is, or who controls the next Congress.
First, how do we give everyone a fair shot at opportunity and security in this new economy?
Second, how do we make technology work for us, and not against us — especially when it comes to solving urgent challenges like climate change?
Third, how do we keep America safe and lead the world without becoming its policeman?
And finally, how can we make our politics reflect what's best in us, and not what's worst?
Let me start with the economy, and a basic fact: the United States of America, right now, has the strongest, most durable economy in the world. We're in the middle of the longest streak of private-sector job creation in history. More than 14 million new jobs; the strongest two years of job growth since the '90s; an unemployment rate cut in half. Our auto industry just had its best year ever. Manufacturing has created nearly 900,000 new jobs in the past six years. And we've done all this while cutting our deficits by almost three-quarters.
Anyone claiming that America's economy is in decline is peddling fiction. What is true — and the reason that a lot of Americans feel anxious — is that the economy has been changing in profound ways, changes that started long before the Great Recession hit and haven't let up. Today, technology doesn't just replace jobs on the assembly line, but any job where work can be automated. Companies in a global economy can locate anywhere, and face tougher competition. As a result, workers have less leverage for a raise. Companies have less loyalty to their communities. And more and more wealth and income is concentrated at the very top.
All these trends have squeezed workers, even when they have jobs; even when the economy is growing. It's made it harder for a hardworking family to pull itself out of poverty, harder for young people to start on their careers, and tougher for workers to retire when they want to. And although none of these trends are unique to America, they do offend our uniquely American belief that everybody who works hard should get a fair shot.
For the past seven years, our goal has been a growing economy that works better for everybody. We've made progress. But we need to make more. And despite all the political arguments we've had these past few years, there are some areas where Americans broadly agree.
We agree that real opportunity requires every American to get the education and training they need to land a good-paying job. The bipartisan reform of No Child Left Behind was an important start, and together, we've increased early childhood education, lifted high school graduation rates to new highs, and boosted graduates in fields like engineering. In the coming years, we should build on that progress, by providing Pre-K for all, offering every student the hands-on computer science and math classes that make them job-ready on day one, and we should recruit and support more great teachers for our kids.
And we have to make college affordable for every American. Because no hardworking student should be stuck in the red. We've already reduced student loan payments to ten percent of a borrower's income. Now, we've actually got to cut the cost of college. Providing two years of community college at no cost for every responsible student is one of the best ways to do that, and I'm going to keep fighting to get that started this year.
Of course, a great education isn't all we need in this new economy. We also need benefits and protections that provide a basic measure of security. After all, it's not much of a stretch to say that some of the only people in America who are going to work the same job, in the same place, with a health and retirement package, for 30 years, are sitting in this chamber. For everyone else, especially folks in their forties and fifties, saving for retirement or bouncing back from job loss has gotten a lot tougher. Americans understand that at some point in their careers, they may have to retool and retrain. But they shouldn't lose what they've already worked so hard to build.
That's why Social Security and Medicare are more important than ever; we shouldn't weaken them, we should strengthen them. And for Americans short of retirement, basic benefits should be just as mobile as everything else is today. That's what the Affordable Care Act is all about. It's about filling the gaps in employer-based care so that when we lose a job, or go back to school, or start that new business, we'll still have coverage. Nearly eighteen million have gained coverage so far. Health care inflation has slowed. And our businesses have created jobs every single month since it became law.
Now, I'm guessing we won't agree on health care anytime soon. But there should be other ways both parties can improve economic security. Say a hardworking American loses his job — we shouldn't just make sure he can get unemployment insurance; we should make sure that program encourages him to retrain for a business that's ready to hire him. If that new job doesn't pay as much, there should be a system of wage insurance in place so that he can still pay his bills. And even if he's going from job to job, he should still be able to save for retirement and take his savings with him. That's the way we make the new economy work better for everyone.
I also know Speaker Ryan has talked about his interest in tackling poverty. America is about giving everybody willing to work a hand up, and I'd welcome a serious discussion about strategies we can all support, like expanding tax cuts for low-income workers without kids.
But there are other areas where it's been more difficult to find agreement over the last seven years — namely what role the government should play in making sure the system's not rigged in favor of the wealthiest and biggest corporations. And here, the American people have a choice to make.
I believe a thriving private sector is the lifeblood of our economy. I think there are outdated regulations that need to be changed, and there's red tape that needs to be cut. But after years of record corporate profits, working families won't get more opportunity or bigger paychecks by letting big banks or big oil or hedge funds make their own rules at the expense of everyone else; or by allowing attacks on collective bargaining to go unanswered. Food Stamp recipients didn't cause the financial crisis; recklessness on Wall Street did. Immigrants aren't the reason wages haven't gone up enough; those decisions are made in the boardrooms that too often put quarterly earnings over long-term returns. It's sure not the average family watching tonight that avoids paying taxes through offshore accounts. In this new economy, workers and start-ups and small businesses need more of a voice, not less. The rules should work for them. And this year I plan to lift up the many businesses who've figured out that doing right by their workers ends up being good for their shareholders, their customers, and their communities, so that we can spread those best practices across America.
In fact, many of our best corporate citizens are also our most creative. This brings me to the second big question we have to answer as a country: how do we reignite that spirit of innovation to meet our biggest challenges?
Sixty years ago, when the Russians beat us into space, we didn't deny Sputnik was up there. We didn't argue about the science, or shrink our research and development budget. We built a space program almost overnight, and twelve years later, we were walking on the moon.
That spirit of discovery is in our DNA. We're Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers and George Washington Carver. We're Grace Hopper and Katherine Johnson and Sally Ride. We're every immigrant and entrepreneur from Boston to Austin to Silicon Valley racing to shape a better world. And over the past seven years, we've nurtured that spirit.
We've protected an open internet, and taken bold new steps to get more students and low-income Americans online. We've launched next-generation manufacturing hubs, and online tools that give an entrepreneur everything he or she needs to start a business in a single day.
But we can do so much more. Last year, Vice President Biden said that with a new moonshot, America can cure cancer. Last month, he worked with this Congress to give scientists at the National Institutes of Health the strongest resources they've had in over a decade. Tonight, I'm announcing a new national effort to get it done. And because he's gone to the mat for all of us, on so many issues over the past forty years, I'm putting Joe in charge of Mission Control. For the loved ones we've all lost, for the family we can still save, let's make America the country that cures cancer once and for all.
Medical research is critical. We need the same level of commitment when it comes to developing clean energy sources.
Look, if anybody still wants to dispute the science around climate change, have at it. You'll be pretty lonely, because you'll be debating our military, most of America's business leaders, the majority of the American people, almost the entire scientific community, and 200 nations around the world who agree it's a problem and intend to solve it.
But even if the planet wasn't at stake; even if 2014 wasn't the warmest year on record — until 2015 turned out even hotter — why would we want to pass up the chance for American businesses to produce and sell the energy of the future?
Seven years ago, we made the single biggest investment in clean energy in our history. Here are the results. In fields from Iowa to Texas, wind power is now cheaper than dirtier, conventional power. On rooftops from Arizona to New York, solar is saving Americans tens of millions of dollars a year on their energy bills, and employs more Americans than coal — in jobs that pay better than average. We're taking steps to give homeowners the freedom to generate and store their own energy — something environmentalists and Tea Partiers have teamed up to support. Meanwhile, we've cut our imports of foreign oil by nearly sixty percent, and cut carbon pollution more than any other country on Earth.
Gas under two bucks a gallon ain't bad, either.
Now we've got to accelerate the transition away from dirty energy. Rather than subsidize the past, we should invest in the future — especially in communities that rely on fossil fuels. That's why I'm going to push to change the way we manage our oil and coal resources, so that they better reflect the costs they impose on taxpayers and our planet. That way, we put money back into those communities and put tens of thousands of Americans to work building a 21st century transportation system.
None of this will happen overnight, and yes, there are plenty of entrenched interests who want to protect the status quo. But the jobs we'll create, the money we'll save, and the planet we'll preserve — that's the kind of future our kids and grandkids deserve.
Climate change is just one of many issues where our security is linked to the rest of the world. And that's why the third big question we have to answer is how to keep America safe and strong without either isolating ourselves or trying to nation-build everywhere there's a problem.
I told you earlier all the talk of America's economic decline is political hot air. Well, so is all the rhetoric you hear about our enemies getting stronger and America getting weaker. The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. It's not even close. We spend more on our military than the next eight nations combined. Our troops are the finest fighting force in the history of the world. No nation dares to attack us or our allies because they know that's the path to ruin. Surveys show our standing around the world is higher than when I was elected to this office, and when it comes to every important international issue, people of the world do not look to Beijing or Moscow to lead — they call us.
As someone who begins every day with an intelligence briefing, I know this is a dangerous time. But that's not because of diminished American strength or some looming superpower. In today's world, we're threatened less by evil empires and more by failing states. The Middle East is going through a transformation that will play out for a generation, rooted in conflicts that date back millennia. Economic headwinds blow from a Chinese economy in transition. Even as their economy contracts, Russia is pouring resources to prop up Ukraine and Syria — states they see slipping away from their orbit. And the international system we built after World War II is now struggling to keep pace with this new reality.
It's up to us to help remake that system. And that means we have to set priorities.
Priority number one is protecting the American people and going after terrorist networks. Both al Qaeda and now ISIL pose a direct threat to our people, because in today's world, even a handful of terrorists who place no value on human life, including their own, can do a lot of damage. They use the Internet to poison the minds of individuals inside our country; they undermine our allies.
But as we focus on destroying ISIL, over-the-top claims that this is World War III just play into their hands. Masses of fighters on the back of pickup trucks and twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages pose an enormous danger to civilians and must be stopped. But they do not threaten our national existence. That's the story ISIL wants to tell; that's the kind of propaganda they use to recruit. We don't need to build them up to show that we're serious, nor do we need to push away vital allies in this fight by echoing the lie that ISIL is representative of one of the world's largest religions. We just need to call them what they are — killers and fanatics who have to be rooted out, hunted down, and destroyed.
That's exactly what we are doing. For more than a year, America has led a coalition of more than 60 countries to cut off ISIL's financing, disrupt their plots, stop the flow of terrorist fighters, and stamp out their vicious ideology. With nearly 10,000 air strikes, we are taking out their leadership, their oil, their training camps, and their weapons. We are training, arming, and supporting forces who are steadily reclaiming territory in Iraq and Syria.
If this Congress is serious about winning this war, and wants to send a message to our troops and the world, you should finally authorize the use of military force against ISIL. Take a vote. But the American people should know that with or without Congressional action, ISIL will learn the same lessons as terrorists before them. If you doubt America's commitment — or mine — to see that justice is done, ask Osama bin Laden. Ask the leader of al Qaeda in Yemen, who was taken out last year, or the perpetrator of the Benghazi attacks, who sits in a prison cell. When you come after Americans, we go after you. It may take time, but we have long memories, and our reach has no limit.
Our foreign policy must be focused on the threat from ISIL and al Qaeda, but it can't stop there. For even without ISIL, instability will continue for decades in many parts of the world — in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in parts of Central America, Africa and Asia. Some of these places may become safe havens for new terrorist networks; others will fall victim to ethnic conflict, or famine, feeding the next wave of refugees. The world will look to us to help solve these problems, and our answer needs to be more than tough talk or calls to carpet bomb civilians. That may work as a TV sound bite, but it doesn't pass muster on the world stage.
We also can't try to take over and rebuild every country that falls into crisis. That's not leadership; that's a recipe for quagmire, spilling American blood and treasure that ultimately weakens us. It's the lesson of Vietnam, of Iraq — and we should have learned it by now.
Fortunately, there's a smarter approach, a patient and disciplined strategy that uses every element of our national power. It says America will always act, alone if necessary, to protect our people and our allies; but on issues of global concern, we will mobilize the world to work with us, and make sure other countries pull their own weight.
That's our approach to conflicts like Syria, where we're partnering with local forces and leading international efforts to help that broken society pursue a lasting peace.
That's why we built a global coalition, with sanctions and principled diplomacy, to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. As we speak, Iran has rolled back its nuclear program, shipped out its uranium stockpile, and the world has avoided another war.
That's how we stopped the spread of Ebola in West Africa. Our military, our doctors, and our development workers set up the platform that allowed other countries to join us in stamping out that epidemic.
That's how we forged a Trans-Pacific Partnership to open markets, protect workers and the environment, and advance American leadership in Asia. It cuts 18,000 taxes on products Made in America, and supports more good jobs. With TPP, China doesn't set the rules in that region, we do. You want to show our strength in this century? Approve this agreement. Give us the tools to enforce it.
Fifty years of isolating Cuba had failed to promote democracy, setting us back in Latin America. That's why we restored diplomatic relations, opened the door to travel and commerce, and positioned ourselves to improve the lives of the Cuban people. You want to consolidate our leadership and credibility in the hemisphere? Recognize that the Cold War is over. Lift the embargo.
American leadership in the 21st century is not a choice between ignoring the rest of the world — except when we kill terrorists; or occupying and rebuilding whatever society is unraveling. Leadership means a wise application of military power, and rallying the world behind causes that are right. It means seeing our foreign assistance as part of our national security, not charity. When we lead nearly 200 nations to the most ambitious agreement in history to fight climate change — that helps vulnerable countries, but it also protects our children. When we help Ukraine defend its democracy, or Colombia resolve a decades-long war, that strengthens the international order we depend upon. When we help African countries feed their people and care for the sick, that prevents the next pandemic from reaching our shores. Right now, we are on track to end the scourge of HIV/AIDS, and we have the capacity to accomplish the same thing with malaria — something I'll be pushing this Congress to fund this year.
That's strength. That's leadership. And that kind of leadership depends on the power of our example. That is why I will keep working to shut down the prison at Guantanamo: it's expensive, it's unnecessary, and it only serves as a recruitment brochure for our enemies.
That's why we need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion. This isn't a matter of political correctness. It's a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith. His Holiness, Pope Francis, told this body from the very spot I stand tonight that "to imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place." When politicians insult Muslims, when a mosque is vandalized, or a kid bullied, that doesn't make us safer. That's not telling it like it is. It's just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals. And it betrays who we are as a country.
"We the People."
Our Constitution begins with those three simple words, words we've come to recognize mean all the people, not just some; words that insist we rise and fall together. That brings me to the fourth, and maybe the most important thing I want to say tonight.
The future we want — opportunity and security for our families; a rising standard of living and a sustainable, peaceful planet for our kids — all that is within our reach. But it will only happen if we work together. It will only happen if we can have rational, constructive debates.
It will only happen if we fix our politics.
A better politics doesn't mean we have to agree on everything. This is a big country, with different regions and attitudes and interests. That's one of our strengths, too. Our Founders distributed power between states and branches of government, and expected us to argue, just as they did, over the size and shape of government, over commerce and foreign relations, over the meaning of liberty and the imperatives of security.
But democracy does require basic bonds of trust between its citizens. It doesn't work if we think the people who disagree with us are all motivated by malice, or that our political opponents are unpatriotic. Democracy grinds to a halt without a willingness to compromise; or when even basic facts are contested, and we listen only to those who agree with us. Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get attention. Most of all, democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice doesn't matter; that the system is rigged in favor of the rich or the powerful or some narrow interest.
Too many Americans feel that way right now. It's one of the few regrets of my presidency — that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better. There's no doubt a president with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide, and I guarantee I'll keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office.
But, my fellow Americans, this cannot be my task — or any President's — alone. There are a whole lot of folks in this chamber who would like to see more cooperation, a more elevated debate in Washington, but feel trapped by the demands of getting elected. I know; you've told me. And if we want a better politics, it's not enough to just change a Congressman or a Senator or even a President; we have to change the system to reflect our better selves.
We have to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters, and not the other way around. We have to reduce the influence of money in our politics, so that a handful of families and hidden interests can't bankroll our elections — and if our existing approach to campaign finance can't pass muster in the courts, we need to work together to find a real solution. We've got to make voting easier, not harder, and modernize it for the way we live now. And over the course of this year, I intend to travel the country to push for reforms that do.
But I can't do these things on my own. Changes in our political process — in not just who gets elected but how they get elected — that will only happen when the American people demand it. It will depend on you. That's what's meant by a government of, by, and for the people.
What I'm asking for is hard. It's easier to be cynical; to accept that change isn't possible, and politics is hopeless, and to believe that our voices and actions don't matter. But if we give up now, then we forsake a better future. Those with money and power will gain greater control over the decisions that could send a young soldier to war, or allow another economic disaster, or roll back the equal rights and voting rights that generations of Americans have fought, even died, to secure. As frustration grows, there will be voices urging us to fall back into tribes, to scapegoat fellow citizens who don't look like us, or pray like us, or vote like we do, or share the same background.
We can't afford to go down that path. It won't deliver the economy we want, or the security we want, but most of all, it contradicts everything that makes us the envy of the world.
So, my fellow Americans, whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one party or no party, our collective future depends on your willingness to uphold your obligations as a citizen. To vote. To speak out. To stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us. To stay active in our public life so it reflects the goodness and decency and optimism that I see in the American people every single day.
It won't be easy. Our brand of democracy is hard. But I can promise that a year from now, when I no longer hold this office, I'll be right there with you as a citizen — inspired by those voices of fairness and vision, of grit and good humor and kindness that have helped America travel so far. Voices that help us see ourselves not first and foremost as black or white or Asian or Latino, not as gay or straight, immigrant or native born; not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans first, bound by a common creed. Voices Dr. King believed would have the final word — voices of unarmed truth and unconditional love.
They're out there, those voices. They don't get a lot of attention, nor do they seek it, but they are busy doing the work this country needs doing.
I see them everywhere I travel in this incredible country of ours. I see you. I know you're there. You're the reason why I have such incredible confidence in our future. Because I see your quiet, sturdy citizenship all the time.
I see it in the worker on the assembly line who clocked extra shifts to keep his company open, and the boss who pays him higher wages to keep him on board.
I see it in the Dreamer who stays up late to finish her science project, and the teacher who comes in early because he knows she might someday cure a disease.
I see it in the American who served his time, and dreams of starting over — and the business owner who gives him that second chance. The protester determined to prove that justice matters, and the young cop walking the beat, treating everybody with respect, doing the brave, quiet work of keeping us safe.
I see it in the soldier who gives almost everything to save his brothers, the nurse who tends to him 'til he can run a marathon, and the community that lines up to cheer him on.
It's the son who finds the courage to come out as who he is, and the father whose love for that son overrides everything he's been taught.
I see it in the elderly woman who will wait in line to cast her vote as long as she has to; the new citizen who casts his for the first time; the volunteers at the polls who believe every vote should count, because each of them in different ways know how much that precious right is worth.
That's the America I know. That's the country we love. Clear-eyed. Big-hearted. Optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. That's what makes me so hopeful about our future. Because of you. I believe in you. That's why I stand here confident that the State of our Union is strong.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.



Here is the Republican response:


“Good evening.
“I’m Nikki Haley, Governor of the great state of South Carolina.
“I’m speaking tonight from Columbia, our state’s capital city. Much like America as a whole, ours is a state with a rich and complicated history, one that proves the idea that each day can be better than the last.
“In just a minute, I’m going to talk about a vision of a brighter American future. But first I want to say a few words about President Obama, who just gave his final State of the Union address.
“Barack Obama’s election as president seven years ago broke historic barriers and inspired millions of Americans. As he did when he first ran for office, tonight President Obama spoke eloquently about grand things. He is at his best when he does that.
“Unfortunately, the President’s record has often fallen far short of his soaring words.
“As he enters his final year in office, many Americans are still feeling the squeeze of an economy too weak to raise income levels. We’re feeling a crushing national debt, a health care plan that has made insurance less affordable and doctors less available, and chaotic unrest in many of our cities.
“Even worse, we are facing the most dangerous terrorist threat our nation has seen since September 11th, and this president appears either unwilling or unable to deal with it.
“Soon, the Obama presidency will end, and America will have the chance to turn in a new direction. That direction is what I want to talk about tonight.
“At the outset, I’ll say this: you’ve paid attention to what has been happening in Washington, and you’re not naive.
“Neither am I. I see what you see. And many of your frustrations are my frustrations.
“A frustration with a government that has grown day after day, year after year, yet doesn’t serve us any better. A frustration with the same, endless conversations we hear over and over again. A frustration with promises made and never kept.
“We need to be honest with each other, and with ourselves: while Democrats in Washington bear much responsibility for the problems facing America today, they do not bear it alone. There is more than enough blame to go around.
“We as Republicans need to own that truth. We need to recognize our contributions to the erosion of the public trust in America’s leadership. We need to accept that we’ve played a role in how and why our government is broken.
“And then we need to fix it.
“The foundation that has made America that last, best hope on earth hasn’t gone anywhere. It still exists. It is up to us to return to it.
“For me, that starts right where it always has: I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants who reminded my brothers, my sister and me every day how blessed we were to live in this country.
“Growing up in the rural south, my family didn’t look like our neighbors, and we didn’t have much. There were times that were tough, but we had each other, and we had the opportunity to do anything, to be anything, as long as we were willing to work for it.
“My story is really not much different from millions of other Americans. Immigrants have been coming to our shores for generations to live the dream that is America. They wanted better for their children than for themselves. That remains the dream of all of us, and in this country we have seen time and again that that dream is achievable.
“Today, we live in a time of threats like few others in recent memory. During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation.
“No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country.
“At the same time, that does not mean we just flat out open our borders. We can’t do that. We cannot continue to allow immigrants to come here illegally. And in this age of terrorism, we must not let in refugees whose intentions cannot be determined.
“We must fix our broken immigration system. That means stopping illegal immigration. And it means welcoming properly vetted legal immigrants, regardless of their race or religion. Just like we have for centuries.
“I have no doubt that if we act with proper focus, we can protect our borders, our sovereignty and our citizens, all while remaining true to America’s noblest legacies.
“This past summer, South Carolina was dealt a tragic blow. On an otherwise ordinary Wednesday evening in June, at the historic Mother Emanuel church in Charleston, twelve faithful men and women, young and old, went to Bible study.
“That night, someone new joined them. He didn’t look like them, didn’t act like them, didn’t sound like them. They didn’t throw him out. They didn’t call the police. Instead, they pulled up a chair and prayed with him. For an hour.
“We lost nine incredible souls that night.
“What happened after the tragedy is worth pausing to think about.
“Our state was struck with shock, pain, and fear. But our people would not allow hate to win. We didn’t have violence, we had vigils. We didn’t have riots, we had hugs.
“We didn’t turn against each other’s race or religion. We turned toward God, and to the values that have long made our country the freest and greatest in the world.
“We removed a symbol that was being used to divide us, and we found a strength that united us against a domestic terrorist and the hate that filled him.
“There’s an important lesson in this. In many parts of society today, whether in popular culture, academia, the media, or politics, there’s a tendency to falsely equate noise with results.
“Some people think that you have to be the loudest voice in the room to make a difference. That is just not true. Often, the best thing we can do is turn down the volume. When the sound is quieter, you can actually hear what someone else is saying. And that can make a world of difference.
“Of course that doesn’t mean we won’t have strong disagreements. We will. And as we usher in this new era, Republicans will stand up for our beliefs.
“If we held the White House, taxes would be lower for working families, and we’d put the brakes on runaway spending and debt.
“We would encourage American innovation and success instead of demonizing them, so our economy would truly soar and good jobs would be available across our country.
“We would reform education so it worked best for students, parents, and teachers, not Washington bureaucrats and union bosses.
“We would end a disastrous health care program, and replace it with reforms that lowered costs and actually let you keep your doctor.
“We would respect differences in modern families, but we would also insist on respect for religious liberty as a cornerstone of our democracy.
“We would recognize the importance of the separation of powers and honor the Constitution in its entirety. And yes, that includes the Second and Tenth Amendments.
“We would make international agreements that were celebrated in Israel and protested in Iran, not the other way around.
“And rather than just thanking our brave men and women in uniform, we would actually strengthen our military, so both our friends and our enemies would know that America seeks peace, but when we fight wars we win them.
“We have big decisions to make. Our country is being tested.
“But we’ve been tested in the past, and our people have always risen to the challenge. We have all the guidance we need to be safe and successful.
“Our forefathers paved the way for us.
“Let’s take their values, and their strengths, and rededicate ourselves to doing whatever it takes to keep America the greatest country in the history of man. And woman.
“Thank you, good night, and God bless.”






Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/12/politics/state-of-the-union-2016-transcript-full-text/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/01/12/full-text-gov-nikki-haley-republican-response-state-of-the-union/78710990/

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/2016-state-of-the-union-stream-and-live-blog-184139563.html

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/265501-report-kim-davis-to-attend-state-of-the-union

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/read-excerpts-president-obamas-final-state-union-speech/story?id=36250583

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35299364

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/01/10/in-state-union-obama-to-leave-empty-seat-to-honor-gun-victims-underscore-gun-control-effort.html



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