Tuesday, December 29, 2009
New Look for Our Store! Republican Themed T-Shirts!
We've updated the look of our store, and now, due to popular demand from buyers, are carrying exclusively conservative t-shirts. Right now, we're specializing in Sarah Palin t-shirts, as well as other Republicans. We'll be adding a lot more to this store over the next few months. In the meantime, you can take a look over some of our classic Palin shirts. If you have a suggestion or idea for a tee, we just might make it! Comments are welcome here.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Funny Sarah Palin T-Shirts
Some say she's the best thing since sliced bread. Others are saying since Ronald Reagan. Whatever the case, people are digging Sarah Palin right now. As her approval rating climbs (and Obama's seems to be getting lower and lower), we've decided to roll out a few new funny Sarah Palin t-shirts in honor of everyone's favorite potential 2012 Presidential candidate. Hot off the press:
Most Republicans will agree, that Reagan was a great President. And what wasn't to love about the 80's? Who knows, maybe with a fresh new conservative leader, we can usher in some good times like back in 1980 (to 1988)?
Next up, our Sarah Palin tough cookie t-shirt. I can't help but want to bust open a stack of Chips Ahoy every time I see this shirt. Delicious. And, she is one tough cookie! If nothing else, like Tom Petty said, she won't back down. Maybe Obama's passive nature isn't working so well with the recession, global politics, and the war on terror. A sharper-edged right winger tough cookie like Palin? That might be more like it.
A wise man once said, "all you need is peace, love, and Palin." I'm not sure who said it, but I think they're right! Okay, actually, no one said that, but it's a sentiment that I think you'll be able to agree with.
And finally, we have our Palin girl t-shirt. While it's not all that funny, it's one of our new designs we thought we'd share with you. Pink and red hearts abound on this shirt, along with an elegant scrolling text style. Looks great on this pink long sleeve womens shirt, but is also available on our t-shirts, onesies, and much more.
By the way, if you're looking for more Palin shirts, we have a whole other page dedicated to her here, as well as more Sarah Palin t-shirts here.
Most Republicans will agree, that Reagan was a great President. And what wasn't to love about the 80's? Who knows, maybe with a fresh new conservative leader, we can usher in some good times like back in 1980 (to 1988)?
Next up, our Sarah Palin tough cookie t-shirt. I can't help but want to bust open a stack of Chips Ahoy every time I see this shirt. Delicious. And, she is one tough cookie! If nothing else, like Tom Petty said, she won't back down. Maybe Obama's passive nature isn't working so well with the recession, global politics, and the war on terror. A sharper-edged right winger tough cookie like Palin? That might be more like it.
A wise man once said, "all you need is peace, love, and Palin." I'm not sure who said it, but I think they're right! Okay, actually, no one said that, but it's a sentiment that I think you'll be able to agree with.
And finally, we have our Palin girl t-shirt. While it's not all that funny, it's one of our new designs we thought we'd share with you. Pink and red hearts abound on this shirt, along with an elegant scrolling text style. Looks great on this pink long sleeve womens shirt, but is also available on our t-shirts, onesies, and much more.
By the way, if you're looking for more Palin shirts, we have a whole other page dedicated to her here, as well as more Sarah Palin t-shirts here.
Monday, August 17, 2009
New Anti Obama Bumper Stickers!
Yes, the mere thought of government health care has enraged people to a point where the President's popularity has taken quite a tumble over the past few weeks, leading to a surge in popularity for Anti Obama T-Shirts and bumper stickers. Of course, we've been busy making some new shirts and bumper stickers for the Obama hating masses.
Like what? Well, since health care seems to be the topic of debate nowadays, this is what we decided largely to stick with! For one, the Obamacare bumper sticker. This funny anti Obama sticker is sure to be a hit. Second, the "so you're the sucka that voted for Obama!" sticker. Funny and poignant... and sure to start a fight or maybe get a finger lifted at you.
There's more to come, don't you worry, so stay tuned. We've also updated the home page for easy navigation by product category and even made a nifty list of 25 things you can do to annoy a liberal, all of which involve wearing one of our tees or stickers (or placing them on someone else's car). Yes, it's a cheap plug for us, but it's also entertaining for you. Check them out and pass it along if you feel the need.
Like what? Well, since health care seems to be the topic of debate nowadays, this is what we decided largely to stick with! For one, the Obamacare bumper sticker. This funny anti Obama sticker is sure to be a hit. Second, the "so you're the sucka that voted for Obama!" sticker. Funny and poignant... and sure to start a fight or maybe get a finger lifted at you.There's more to come, don't you worry, so stay tuned. We've also updated the home page for easy navigation by product category and even made a nifty list of 25 things you can do to annoy a liberal, all of which involve wearing one of our tees or stickers (or placing them on someone else's car). Yes, it's a cheap plug for us, but it's also entertaining for you. Check them out and pass it along if you feel the need.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
The Honeymoon is Over.. Anti Obama Sentiments on the Rise!
With the recent actions of President Obama butting his head into the local case of Crawford and Gates in Cambridge, MA, the President's popularity rating has taken a major nosedive. Roughly half of the population approves of Barack Obama after this situation. It's his first noticeable action that has sparked huge controversy amongst the public, and rightly so.
Why did he do it? Regardless of his friendship with the Harvard Professor, Obama has done something that has struck a nerve with the American people. Why get involved? Yes, he is the President of the United States, but this is a local case, and the nation is involved in two major wars and the worst recession since the Great Depression. Why take time away from your job to host a "beer summit?" This is just as irresponsible as George W. Bush taking a vacation to his ranch in Texas as we were just starting a war. There's work to do, Obama!
So, yes, his poll numbers and approval ratings are slipping, and Anti Obama sentiments are on the rise. The good news is that's a good thing. When someone doesn't do their job, they need to be made aware of the issue. So get back to work, Obama!
Here are some new designs inspired by the recent events in the economy and from Obama that you might enjoy:
The Bartender in Chief Beer Summit T-Shirt shows Obama at his new part time job, bartending at what appears to be Club Med, while speculation continues to rise whether Sarah Palin will be running for President in 2012.
Friday, June 19, 2009
$100 Billion Here, $100 Billion There.. The Spending Spree Continues for Congress
Hey, what's $100 billion dollars? It's not like we're in a ruined economy or anything. Over the past week, there have been more news stories about how congress has passed bills to spend billions of dollars than I can ever remember seeing in a strong economy. Hmm.. perhaps we should be rethinking our spending given the dire circumstance of the U.S. economy? In the meantime, let's just keep passing these bills, they sound great.
You may not be the only one that's not happy with the new administration! Really unhappy about it? You might want to consider the Obama communist t-shirt, which is sure to turn a few heads and get the point across.
You may not be the only one that's not happy with the new administration! Really unhappy about it? You might want to consider the Obama communist t-shirt, which is sure to turn a few heads and get the point across.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
President Obama's Address to Congress Video
In case you missed the address to congress, it's worth watching.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Obama Saint Patrick's Day T-Shirts
Obama and Saint Patrick's Day...an unlikely combination, but one you might see more than you think on t-shirts out there! The traditional Obama campaign logo here is covered in green shamrocks in varying shades. Also availabe in mens styles, and childrens t-shirts, as well as Obama sweatshirts and hoodies. Be sure to enter the coupon code that's found at the top of every page in our store upon checkout!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Key Points from Obama's Speech to Congress on February 24, 2009
Noticably more uplifting than his Inaugural Address, Obama made some key points about the economic recovery and stimulus package during his speech to congress on February 24, 2009. Met with uproarious applause over and over, it was hard for Obama to get some of his words out without being pummeled with deafening praise.
Also, you'll notice Nancy Pelosi's vigorous, enthuasiastic attitude towards anything Obama had said...it was laughable, really. Yes, some great encouragement and ideas were uttered, but she sprung out of her seat at the end of every point Obama made!
Some of the notable key points of Obama's speach to congress:
"...it is only by understanding how we arrived at this moment that we'll be able to lift ourselves out of this predicament.
The fact is, our economy did not fall into decline overnight. Nor did all of our problems begin when the housing market collapsed or the stock market sank.
We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy, yet we import more oil today than ever before.
The cost of health care eats up more and more of our savings each year, yet we keep delaying reform.
Our children will compete for jobs in a global economy that too many of our schools do not prepare them for.
And though all of these challenges went unsolved, we still managed to spend more money and pile up more debt, both as individuals and through our government, than ever before.
In other words, we have lived through an era where too often short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity, where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election.
A surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future."
Translation: We have overspent too long and now we're paying the price. So, we have to start thinking of practical long-term solutions instead of quick fixes.
"Because of this plan, 95 percent of working households in America will receive a tax cut, a tax cut that you will see in your paychecks beginning on April 1st."
Translation: Money in the form of a tax credit back to most everyone in the United States, but as a reduction of the monthly withholdings.
"...the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy. The ability to get a loan is how you finance the purchase of everything from a home to a car to a college education, how stores stock their shelves, farms buy equipment, and businesses make payroll.
But credit has stopped flowing the way it should. Too many bad loans from the housing crisis have made their way onto the books of too many banks. And with so much debt and so little confidence, these banks are now fearful of lending out any more money to households, to businesses, or even to each other.
When there's no lending, families can't afford to buy homes or cars, so businesses are forced to make layoffs. Our economy suffers even more, and credit dries up even further.
That is why this administration is moving swiftly and aggressively to break this destructive cycle, to restore confidence, and restart lending.
And we will do so in several ways. First, we are creating a new lending fund that represents the largest effort ever to help provide auto loans, college loans, and small-business loans to the consumers and entrepreneurs who keep this economy running."
Translation: Everything is a mess with our banking system, and no one can get a loan. We need to change that, because the economy relies on this system, or things will not change. I plan on changing this by encouraging our banks to give loans again through funding.
"...the average family who refinances today can save nearly $2,000 per year on their mortgage [because of the housing plan that is going to be launched]."
"This time -- this time, CEOs won't be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks, or buy fancy drapes, or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over."
"It begins with energy.
We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we've fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.
Well, I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders, and I know you don't, either. It is time for America to lead again."
Translation: We need to harness clean energy to end our dependence on foreign oil, which can (and has taken part in) ruin our economy.
Earlier in the week, President Bill Clinton offered the advice/critique to President Obama about restoring confidence through his speeches, and how he thought he needed to do so. Apparently, he took the advice.
Also, you'll notice Nancy Pelosi's vigorous, enthuasiastic attitude towards anything Obama had said...it was laughable, really. Yes, some great encouragement and ideas were uttered, but she sprung out of her seat at the end of every point Obama made!
Some of the notable key points of Obama's speach to congress:
"...it is only by understanding how we arrived at this moment that we'll be able to lift ourselves out of this predicament.
The fact is, our economy did not fall into decline overnight. Nor did all of our problems begin when the housing market collapsed or the stock market sank.
We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy, yet we import more oil today than ever before.
The cost of health care eats up more and more of our savings each year, yet we keep delaying reform.
Our children will compete for jobs in a global economy that too many of our schools do not prepare them for.
And though all of these challenges went unsolved, we still managed to spend more money and pile up more debt, both as individuals and through our government, than ever before.
In other words, we have lived through an era where too often short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity, where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election.
A surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future."
Translation: We have overspent too long and now we're paying the price. So, we have to start thinking of practical long-term solutions instead of quick fixes.
"Because of this plan, 95 percent of working households in America will receive a tax cut, a tax cut that you will see in your paychecks beginning on April 1st."
Translation: Money in the form of a tax credit back to most everyone in the United States, but as a reduction of the monthly withholdings.
"...the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy. The ability to get a loan is how you finance the purchase of everything from a home to a car to a college education, how stores stock their shelves, farms buy equipment, and businesses make payroll.
But credit has stopped flowing the way it should. Too many bad loans from the housing crisis have made their way onto the books of too many banks. And with so much debt and so little confidence, these banks are now fearful of lending out any more money to households, to businesses, or even to each other.
When there's no lending, families can't afford to buy homes or cars, so businesses are forced to make layoffs. Our economy suffers even more, and credit dries up even further.
That is why this administration is moving swiftly and aggressively to break this destructive cycle, to restore confidence, and restart lending.
And we will do so in several ways. First, we are creating a new lending fund that represents the largest effort ever to help provide auto loans, college loans, and small-business loans to the consumers and entrepreneurs who keep this economy running."
Translation: Everything is a mess with our banking system, and no one can get a loan. We need to change that, because the economy relies on this system, or things will not change. I plan on changing this by encouraging our banks to give loans again through funding.
"...the average family who refinances today can save nearly $2,000 per year on their mortgage [because of the housing plan that is going to be launched]."
"This time -- this time, CEOs won't be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks, or buy fancy drapes, or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over."
"It begins with energy.
We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we've fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.
Well, I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders, and I know you don't, either. It is time for America to lead again."
Translation: We need to harness clean energy to end our dependence on foreign oil, which can (and has taken part in) ruin our economy.
Earlier in the week, President Bill Clinton offered the advice/critique to President Obama about restoring confidence through his speeches, and how he thought he needed to do so. Apparently, he took the advice.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
To Obama: We're Patient, Skeptical, and Tired.
A new video is a great represenation of some of the feelings of the American public these days: poptech.org
Here you'll see people expressing their feelings with just a single word. Some of the words are tired. Skeptical. Patient. Alive. Happy. Joyful. Angry.
What are you feeling?
My personal one that I would like to add is numbness. I'm numb to any promises that will or have been made. I just want results. The age of promises no longer exists, we just need some progression. Maybe that would fall under skeptical?
Here you'll see people expressing their feelings with just a single word. Some of the words are tired. Skeptical. Patient. Alive. Happy. Joyful. Angry.
What are you feeling?
My personal one that I would like to add is numbness. I'm numb to any promises that will or have been made. I just want results. The age of promises no longer exists, we just need some progression. Maybe that would fall under skeptical?
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Mike Huckabee on the Stimulus Package
This is a brief video on Fox News from Mike Huckabee about the wreckless nature of passing the spending bill. Is this being passed quickly before people have time to even read all of this? There is an awful lot of reading to do...how could they have had the time to go through all of this? It's pretty hard to believe. Let's hope something we all will regret isn't stuffed inside those pages. Only time will tell...
Friday, February 20, 2009
A Sign that the Economy is Recovering?
We're all looking for a sign, any sign, that the economy might be starting to recover. Are people spending more? No. Is the stock market doing well? No. Are home foreclosure rates going down? Not yet...but they might be.
Builders are building less new properties, which is actually a good thing. This could create a domino effect of sorts. When builders build less, buyers will buy foreclosed homes or homes that are in danger of being foreclosed upon. This will be a small, tiny, minute spark that could be a step in the right direction. When there are less foreclosed properties on the market, these homeowners can move on with their lives, banks can breathe a sigh of relief, we won't have to bail them out, and they'll also be spending money again.
It might not be a major sign, but it's a small sign of hope, even though the results of this happening may not be visible for months.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Mortgage Relief on the Way?
While the economy may not have bottomed out just yet, the foreclosure rate on homes might just be slowing down. Banks are not as eager to foreclose on homes as they have been, while it is being discussed today whether or not to use $50 billion of the money from the bailout plan to help subsidize home owners that are on the brink of defaulting on their mortgages. Will this benefit us, or is this a huge mistake?
You can read the full article here featured at Marketwatch.
You can read the full article here featured at Marketwatch.
Monday, February 16, 2009
SideSplitteres Featuerd on T-Shirt Legends
This past week, SideSplitters was lucky enough to be featured on the T-Shirt Legends blog. There's a link to our store, as well as a small blurb by me, the shopkeeper that should be coming soon.
I wanted to point this blog out to other CafePress shopkeepers. Links have enormous importance to the success of your shop. If you don't have inward links to your shop, your long term success is very limited. The great part of this blog is that it's a free way to get out there and tell the world a little bit more about your t-shirt store, and what makes it unique.
You can visit the home page of T-Shirt Legends here and see all of the posts, as well as submit your own blurb if you're a fellow CP shopkeeper.
By the way, are you using Squidoo to promote your CafePress items? This is another place that will help get your work out to the masses and showcase it so it looks great. It also has a PageRank of 8! If you're not using it, you're missing out, plain and simple.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Anti Obama? Why Not?
During the election of 2008, Anti Obama merchandise was almost just as hot of a seller as the pro Obama merchandise. Why? There's several theories. Maybe there was too much competition in the Obama t-shirts category, and there were just too many products to compete with. Or, maybe there really is a genuine huge audience of people that do not support our new President. There's a difference between supporting the opposite party and being "anti Obama." So what does it mean?
If you're anti, you're very against what this person stands for. Or, you can't stand the person because of what they are. Or, you could be so strongly aligned with the opposite party that you automatically despise anyone who tries to run that's a Democrat. I think we experienced sales from all of the above during the 2008 election. The sentiments of these people are not going anywhere, they're just waiting for the year 2012, and they're waiting to see what the big change is going to be, if any at all.
Whatever your political stance, we can all agree that the President has a lot to prove, and a lot of people to win over. And to those anti Obama supporters, why not? It's a free country, and that's what makes it so great.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
New Site Design for SideSplitters
I've updated the site and given it a new look, I think you'll like it much better. The page features a Republican/Democrat theme background with our best images right at the forefront of things. As new great designs are created, they'll be added to the front page. I also added a button to follow us on Twitter. I'm happy with the way it came out, and the page loads much faster than before..now to just reformat this blog! I'll be redesigning more pages on the site, as well as cleaning up things and adding more content as time goes on. As always, new designs will be added weekly (new designs are being worked on diligently right now!).
Thanks for supporting this store and spreading the word!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Obama Biden Announce Middle Class Task Force
The economy shrank by 3.8% in the last three months of 2008 in the United States. Business are making fewer investments, there are fewer jobs, and people aren't spending. Layoffs continue, 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008, and another 2.8 million had to settle for part time employment.
Personally, you must know someone who has lost their job, lost some of their retirement, lost their home, or a car. To combat this downward economy, Obama has proposed the Middle Class Task Force.
What is the middle class task force?
Joe Biden is the leader of the middle class task force. As a working class kid from Scranton, Pennsylvania, Obama feels Biden is an excellent pick to head this task force. To focus on policies to benefit the middle class, to make sure workplaces are fair, to strenghten the labor movement of the United States.
Obama's argument is that when workers prosper, they buy products and help the overall economy. Part of his proposed changes will also prevent taxpayer dollars going to contractors to reimburse federal unions. Investments in cleaner energy technology were proposed, as well as educational investments to benefit the middle class.
Personally, you must know someone who has lost their job, lost some of their retirement, lost their home, or a car. To combat this downward economy, Obama has proposed the Middle Class Task Force.
What is the middle class task force?
Joe Biden is the leader of the middle class task force. As a working class kid from Scranton, Pennsylvania, Obama feels Biden is an excellent pick to head this task force. To focus on policies to benefit the middle class, to make sure workplaces are fair, to strenghten the labor movement of the United States.
Obama's argument is that when workers prosper, they buy products and help the overall economy. Part of his proposed changes will also prevent taxpayer dollars going to contractors to reimburse federal unions. Investments in cleaner energy technology were proposed, as well as educational investments to benefit the middle class.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Is it too Early to See Change from Obama?
Obama vowed in the first 100 days of his Presidency, to bring change to America. So what change have we seen so far? The Daily Telegraph outlines 10 of the things Obama has done in the ten days he has been President, like meeting with Republicans to discuss the stimulus package, his online radio address, and new rules for emissions standards.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Obama Official Presidential Photo
In case you missed it, here's Obama's official Presidential photo:
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Energy Policy Windfall in the Obama Administration?
There has been a lot of talk about changing the way the United States gets its energy, making more of an effort to find clean energy sources like wind energy, geothermal, hydroelectric and ethanol based technology. Obama stated in his campaigning that he would make major changes during his administration on energy policies, which would reduce the emissions in our atmosphere, keep jobs ashore, and reduce our reliance on foreign energy and oil sources.
So what energy changes are being made by President Barack Obama?
- They're proposing some major energy changes in New England
- The Presidential Climate Action Project proposed many renewable energy changes for Obama to make
- At the White House, Obama's plans for energy independence have been revealed.
Energy is a huge issue in the new administration and is even more important in a downward economy. With energy prices back on the rise, it's only a matter of time before we see the high gas prices we saw just a short time ago. Being proactive can help us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, a finite source that some estimate can be completely drained within the next 50 years.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Obama: "Change Has Come to America"
With the end of the Bush era comes change. A change of President, a change of attitude. Whether you voted for Obama or not, we're all (mostly) rooting for him to succeed and bring our economy back to a healthy state. We've created an Obama t-shirt that states just that:
Obama Change Has Come to America T-Shirt
It's only been 3 days since Obama took office, but there seems to be an air of encouragement throughout the country, and a feeling of hope. Here's to America!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Obama: "We are Ready to Lead Once More"...But are We Ready to Sacrifice?
There's no question that the United States wants to make a comeback in a big way. We're all ready to "lead once more," as Obama put it at his inaugural address on 1.20.09. But are we ready to make the sacrifices that are necessary in order to lead once more?
In order to get back on top, America is going to have to repair relationships, repair confidence, and repair the economy. We can't fall back into the same problems that got us into our current situations in the first place. Things have to change.
Our biggest sacrifice is going to be the notion that there's always an easy fix. Shortcuts have been the root of the problems we are now facing. From no-doc mortgage loans to bailouts to credit card debt, these shortcuts built the house of cards that should have never been built in the first place.
Hard work and sacrifice are going to be the only way out. We can duck it, dodge it, try to find the newest make money quick scheme, or try to ignore it, but all of these will all lead to the same place: right where you started.
Decades of overspending, wasting, tricking, ignoring and lying have finally caught up with us, and we all know what the only way out is. Sacrifice and hard work. Only after we've proven ourselves once again will America be seen as a leader once again. As President Obama stated, "greatness is never given, it must be earned."
Are you ready for us to lead once again, and are you willing to do what it takes to get there?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Obama's Inauguration Speech Transcript
Obama's Inauguration Speech on January 20, 2009
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world…that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive…that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world…that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive…that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Michelle Obama Rocks!
With a rather silent 8 years as first lady, Laura Bush didn't make much noise during the Bush years. Already, it seems Michelle Obama has hit the ground running and isn't shy about getting publicity. Some have compared her to Jacqueline Kennedy, but have we had long enough to really tell her true personality? According to Wikipedia, Michelle Obama "would like to focus attention as First Lady on issues of concern to military families and working families," something nearly all of the country can appreciate.
Due to her tenacity, law credentials, independence, public speaking skills and her overall likability, we'd say that Michelle Obama rocks!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The Top Five Political TV Parodies of 2008
2008 is a year to remember for so many reasons. Change. Alaska. Shoe throwing. Blagojevich. Here we'll count down some of the five funniest moments of political parodies (because no one has the attention span for ten, let's face it) on television that we saw in 2008.Blagojevich Parody on SNL. Here Jason Sudakis parodies Blagojevich by telling everyone what else he has to auction off to the world.
Mad TV - So You Think You Can Dance (Obama vs. McCain). You can deny that this is funny, but it is. Bobby Lee makes the most offensive John McCain impersonation possible as he portays him as an old, out of touch guy that does a slightly outdated dance number with his wife.
John McCain Uses Facebook on MadTV. Again, Bobby Lee cracks us up by getting 'Nam flashbacks when a digital camera flashes in his face, and tries to cook a chicken pot pie in the laptop.South Park's Obama Parody. This one slipped by many people, but it's worth watching. Making a joke of the huge Obama hysteria that many people had, this cartoon pokes fun at how obsessed some people became with the "change/yes we can" slogan and attitude before the election. Nice job, South Park!
Tina Fey on SNL as Sarah Palin. No surprise here, this was definitely the most popular political spoof of 2008. Tina Fey played a spot on impersonation of the oft-made-fun-of Alaska governor, as Amy Poehler reprised her role as Hillary Clinton one last time. Tina says she's hung up the Palin character for now, but who knows, maybe we'll see it again in 2012?
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