Where Do the Candidates Stand on U.S. Homeland Security?
The mere mention of 9/11 brings back vivid memories for most Americans. Many can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when terrorists slammed airplanes into three American landmarks, killing thousands of innocent and unsuspecting people. With that act of terrorism, America’s innocence was lost forever and U.S. homeland security became an issue that will remain relevant for generations to come.
Barack Obama and John McCain will both agree that the safety of Americans is an issue that has to be solved, but how would each candidate address U.S. homeland security and make this country the safe harbor it was before September 11, 2001.
John McCain co-wrote legislation that created the 9/11 Commission and helped implement many of is recommendations. However, the 9/11 Commission gave the country five F’s and 12 D’s for its lack of effort in implementing the commissions recommendations, according to Barack Obama’s official website.
Obama is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee and co-authored legislation that would increase security and safety for chemical plants and the nation’s water supply. According to his website, “This bill requires chemical facilities to enhance security-including improving barriers, containment, mitigation, and safety training, and, where possible, using safer technology, such as less toxic chemicals.”
The Illinois senator acknowledges that improvements have been made at chemical plants, but he wants to establish permanent security regulations that all plants would have to adhere to in order to strengthen U.S. homeland security. Senator McCain would implement Security Vulnerability Assessments and Site Security Plans that would address security concerns at the plants.
According to McCain’s website, “(He) will work to ensure that all States and municipalities that are responsible for water supply or storage function adequately secure those systems in a manner that eliminates any risk of devastating contamination.”
Obama introduced a bill that will give $37.5 million over a five year period “for drinking water systems to upgrade their monitoring and security efforts,” because he believes that if water is contaminated it would disrupt society and produce a health catastrophe and compromise emergency services such as fire protection.
Nevertheless, McCain believes the key to improve U.S. homeland security is to prevent terrorism before a catastrophe occurs. He plans to accomplish this by working with United States allies and breaking up terrorist organizations and interrupting their financing to ensure that they do not obtain weapons of mass destruction. The Arizona senator wants to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to improve intelligence and “to provide in statute clear guidance for future actions that may need to be taken.”
The Republican nominee also sees securing American borders as a key to improving U.S. homeland security. He plans to accomplish this by establishing operational control over the entire U.S. border, providing funding to construct 700 miles of fencing and hiring and training more border patrol agents to prevent terrorists from entering into the country illegally.
The senior senator also sees disaster recovery as a key to U.S. homeland security. He wants to establish a uniform standard of dealing with natural disasters that would better assist state and local governments with relief efforts. Obama also sees disaster recovery as highly important, introducing and passing legislation that requires a mandatory plan for evacuating special needs Americans. He also introduced and passed legislation that creates a national database for family members to locate each other after disasters like Hurricane Katrina.
Todd A. Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/where-do-the-candidates-stand-on-us-homeland-security-623833.html
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April 17th, 2010 at 6:11 am
President Obama's Accomplishments. Do you agree or disagree with them?
Accomplishments
1. Offended the Queen of England.
2. Bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia.
3. Praised the Marxist Daniel Ortega.
4. Kissed Socialist Hugo Chavez on the cheek.
5. Endorsed the Socialist Evo Morales of Bolivia.
6. Sided with Hugo Chavez and Communist Fidel Castro against Honduras.
7. Announced we would meet with Iranians with no pre-conditions while they’re building their nuclear weapons.
8. Gave away billions to AIG also without pre-conditions.
9. Expand ed the bailouts.
10. Insulted everyone who has ever loved a Special Olympian.
11. Doubled our national debt.
12. Announced the termination of our new missile defense system the day after North Korea launched an ICBM.
13. Released information on U.S. intelligence gathering despite urgings of his own CIA director and the prior four CIA directors.
14. Accepted without comment that five of his cabinet members cheated on their taxes and two other nominees withdrew after they couldn’t take the heat.
15. Appointed a Homeland Security Chief who identified military veterans and abortion opponents as "dangers to the nation."
16. Ordered that the word "terrorism" no longer be used and instead refers to such acts as "man made disasters."
17. Circled the globe to publicly apologize for America’s world leadership.
18. Told the Mexican president that the violence in th eir country was because of us.
19. Politicized the census by moving it into the White House from the Department of Commerce.
20. Appointed as Attorney General the man who orchestrated the forced removal and expulsion to Cuba of a 9-year-old whose mother died trying to bring him to freedom in the United States.
21. Salutes as heroes three Navy SEALS who took down three terrorists who threatened one American life and the next day announces members of the Bush administration may stand trial for "torturing" three 9/11 terrorists by pouring water up their noses.
22. Low altitude photo shoot of Air Force One over New York City that frightened thousands of New Yorkers.
23. Sent his National Defense Advisor to Europe to assure them that the US will no longer treat Israel in a special manner and they might be on their own with the Muslims.
24. Praised Jimmy Carter’s trip to Gaza where he sided with terrorist Hamas against Israel.
25. Nationalized General Motors and Chrysler while turning shareholder control over to the unions and freezing out retired investors who owned their bonds. Committed unlimited taxpayer billions in the process.
26. Passed a huge energy tax in the House that will make American industry even less competitive while costing homeowners thousands per year.
27. Announced nationalized health care "reform" that will strip seniors of their Medicare, cut pay of physicians, increase taxes yet another $1 trillion, and put everyone on rationed care with government bureaucrats deciding who gets care and who doesn’t.
Bloomberg: Daschle says, "Health care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them," while former Colorado Governor Dick Lamm says seniors have "a duty to die."
If this does not sufficiently raise your ire, just remember that the President, Senators and Congressmen have their own special gold plated health care plan which is guaranteed the remainder of their lives and they are not subject to this new law if they pass it.
If you disagree, don’t do anything.
If you agree what are you going to do about it or what are you doing?
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keepin it real: well I hear you but Mc Cain isn’t POTUS and he didn’t tout what Obama did and is doing.
Big difference.
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Explect : I know. Like the 30+ CZARS not mentioned. Especially the self proclaimed Communists and Socialist he appointed.
And Sex Ed for 5 year olds that teach them how to please themselves, abortion is ok for mommy ….etc…..
It’s going to be a long 3 years and 4 months to go….. but who’s counting.
April 17th, 2010 at 11:13 am
the man (questionable) makes me sick.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:15 am
I still cant get over the fact that you Americans voted for him. USA is the lolz.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:17 am
I disagree with much of what Obama says and does, but I also disagreed with much of what McCain said. We need better politicians in this country lol and a replacement of at least 80% of the members in our government
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:19 am
All of those except for "1. Offended the Queen of England" are accomplishments to liberals. They don’t like that he offended the Queen because they admire the UK and Europe and want to be socialized like they are.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:21 am
I agree that they occured. lol…But the man is a megalomaniac with a God complex. I just hope he doesn’t accomplish much more damage to our country and constitution before we vote his butt out of office.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:23 am
We will take back America starting in New Jersy!
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Christie (R) is now leading Corzine (D) by double digits.
April 17th, 2010 at 11:25 am
The country was run by a poo-flinging monkey before. Anything is a step up. If a bit of debt will improve the country as a whole, then so be it. Unfortunately, most americans are out for the SELF, not the WHOLE.
No one is perfect. Everyone can make mistakes.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Our Socialist president has had a busy first 8+ months with plenty accomplishments.
Even the most liberal of his supporters couldn’t say he’s represented our country well.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:29 am
And that is just the short list…..
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:31 am
I would disagree with your viewpoint on many of those issues, but it would not change either of our minds. I had a list just like that when Bush was in office and you couldn’t have got me to look at them another way. I say if you don’t agree with the presidents policies you have every right to do everything you can within the law to try to change them. Good luck to you.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:33 am
DOW almost 14,000! (Check!)
Housing markets jumped 9%!
Banks making repayments.
Unemployment rolls and new cases decreasing!
Getting troops out of Iraq as promised.
Taking fight to Taliban as promised.
Proposing healthcare reform as promised.
Proposing environmental protections as promised.
Increased trust and respect internally (you need to come out of the log cabin with Ted K if you don’t know this).
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In short he’s done EVERYTHING he promised he would, and is doing a great job given the terrible situation he inherited.
April 17th, 2010 at 11:35 am
I agree. I am informing my kool-aiding drinking friends and family of his true colors. Politely of course, and at the right times.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:37 am
All that in nearly eight months in office! You go girl. I’ve washed my hands of the matter. I didn’t vote for the boob. Europeans sang his praise before the election. Hey he’s a great speaker, he’s young. Outstanding credentials aren’t they? Not. That’s the wisdom of youth for you.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Think about what Obama and his cronies are doing behind closed doors.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:41 am
The only thing he has done that has had a positive effect in my life (and he has done this indirectly, with no legislation or regulation) is put more money in my wallet.
Last February, I was in the equipment rental business, and it was failing along with the housing crisis. My partner and I decided to shut it down and enter a new market.
I dusted off my FFL, and started selling guns as my primary method of business.
Life is good, and Barack Hussein Obama has done more for the Gun Industry than anyone since Oliver Winchester.
I would never vote for him, but I believe that I will make enough money in the next three years that it won’t matter if he is re-elected. If he is, the money keeps rolling in. If he isn’t, gun sales may slow, but I’ll already be a rich man, and I will get my Country back.
Win/Win for me in 2012, but I GREATLY prefer ANYONE other than a liberal sitting in the Whitehouse 2012 thru 2016.
Guns are awesome, especially when a liberal is the seated President.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:43 am
I’m going to not do anything and give you the opportunity to prove it.
I’ll support you in this, however…
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:45 am
I hope this is over within the year, unfortunately it’s going to take a lot for people to wake up. I am so glad these protests about Obamacare are taking place, at least we know if people get riled up enough, politicians have to listen.
On the other hand, you can see how these politicians including Obama are angry that they could not screw us, and so the name-calling and bathroom terminology starts. Name-calling is because the person doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
What can we do? Write our Congressmen. What can all of us do? Vote these people out of office. But we must not make the same mistakes again. We need to research the next batch. Too many people voted for Obama because they didn’t want McCain and didn’t like Bush.
Fine. But no one listened to the problems Obama would cause, he said he wanted to tax coal fired power plants into ruin, he said he would make illegal to revive any babies who survived an abortion.
All people heard was, "yes we can." and swooned. But only to our detriment.
Seems all of Obama’s "Czars" are tax cheats and generally shady people. Ben Bernacke whom Obama appointed as the Federal Reserve guy, was scammed over the internet. Isn’t that comforting to know! Somebody who is supposed to regulate the US interest rate which makes or breaks trading, was easily mislead by an internet crook.
But then again, we have people in large crowds around Obama, and some had guns. What were the Secret Service up to? Playing pocket pool or asleep. The whole Administration of this country seems to be amazingly if not willingly incompetent and stupid. Is it because they think they are untouchable and no one can do anything to them?
We are so screwed if this keeps up.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:47 am
The facts speak for themselves. Not to mention the people that are advising him. Self proclaimed Communists and Socialist. Once again THIS IS FACT. I really think that crazy Socialist is trying to bring this country down.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Future . If he continues to keep his promises like he has so far then God help us we wont have a country left.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:51 am
You could have made that a lot shorter;
Obama’s acting like a perfectly ordinary, wholly unremarkable Democrat.
Random point from your list:
Politicized the census – Do you not realize how long Democrats have been trying to STOP actually COUNTING people as Constitutionally required? They want to have Democrat-filled bureaucracies "estimate" populations, particularly among minorities. For example, Gore pressured Congress to pass a bill to STOP COUNTING BLACKS and instead just "estimate" their population. Nearly all Democrats were on board but Republicans killed the bill. Gore then had the gall to tell the NAACP "Republicans don’t even want to count you in the census" which brings-up another IRON LAW of American politics. ALL Democrats ALWAYS blame Republicans for ALL Democrat policies.
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April 17th, 2010 at 11:53 am
Yes. and we wondered why the Scots freed the Libyan?
DTG
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A is A
April 17th, 2010 at 11:55 am
He sad hope and change we sure got it just wasn’t good.
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