My President Pick

I'm a Democrat. At one point in time I may have considered voting for a reasonable Republican. But in this presidential primary race, none of them are reasonable. So none will be considered.

First, an observation: Obama might still carry the Democrat label. But his policies for a long time now have been Republican. Don't vote against a Democrat because you blame him for your circumstances. He's a Republican in policy and has been for years!!! Blame the Republicans. Of course, if you follow politics, you know that already.

Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are the two most likely to beat Hilary to the big race. The only way I would vote for Hilary is if it came down to her and a Republican. But I doubt she would win at that level. I used to like her, but I was always neutral to her.

This is my order:

Martin O'Malley
Bernie Sanders
Joe Biden

Biden would be before Sanders. But he hasn't technically started running as of this post. Most people don't know who Martin O'Malley is. He's a two-term Maryland Governor that resigned in January of 2015 to run for President. The part in blue is direct from his website (link below).

Fight for Better Wages

Americans are working harder but earning less than they did 12 years ago, and wealth has concentrated in the hands of the very few as almost never before. We must fight for better wages for all workers, so that Americans can actually live on what they earn. That means raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, increasing the threshold for overtime pay to $1,000 a week, and restoring workers’ collective bargaining power.

Me: I'm realistic. With a Republican led Congress this would never pass. But, that's the fault of the selfish, greedy, uncompromising Republicans. Not him. I have been saying this is what we need for years.

Bring Accountability to Wall Street

Despite the 2008 meltdown on Wall Street, just five banks still control half of the industry’s $15 trillion in assets, and not a single executive was ever convicted of a crime. We must reinstate Glass-Steagall, empower regulators to hold law-breakers accountable, and break up big banks before they break us. We need stronger protections for American families, not billion-dollar banks.

Me: I asked my Dad years ago about what happened with the banks. This was around the time of the bailout. He's a very intelligent man and explained it, correctly, like this, "President Bush deregulated the banks. Fewer rules, led to the circumstances we are in today. Businesses need to be regulated. Regulation protects customers".

Expand Equality of Opportunity for the Next Generation

Our country was built on the belief that no matter who you are or where you were born, your hard work should pay off. But for too many of our children, that promise is out of reach from the very start. We must close the gap by making access to safe and affordable childcare and pre-K universal, and college debt-free for all. We should also modernize high school, empowering every student to graduate with a year of college credit, an apprenticeship, or a certificate or credential for a high-pay, high-skill job.

Me: Another thing I don't actually see happening. BUT, we would be better off if it did. It's the Republicans in Congress that would get in the way. I think Pre-school should be added to all public schools (covered by taxes) and full day Kindergarten should be mandatory.

As for college, I think it should be five years but I have a reason for that. Most people go for five years as they explore what they want to be. The first year should be either internships in your desired field, or internships in a variety of fields. One month each learning about the different jobs within a field, or the different options. That will make the following four years more productive and lead to fewer drop-outs. It also means graduates would be better prepared for careers taking away a lot of employer excuses.

Strengthen our Cities and Communities

It has been decades since we embraced a real agenda for American cities and communities. Our country was not built on tax cuts; it was built on better choices, made for the common good. To make our communities more competitive and more equal, we must return to those better choices—from historic investments in infrastructure and mass-transit, to ensuring that every family has access to quality, affordable housing near good jobs and good schools.

Me: I think some of this he'll be able to accomplish even with a Republican congress. Because this is where you see your life improve in the day to day. Those are the places voters use when deciding politics.

Support Women and Families

We have an economy where too many Americans must choose between pursuing their careers and caring for their children. We have to do more to make sure that women are treated fairly and compensated equally in the workplace. Maternity leave, paternity leave, equal pay, and safe and affordable child care are not luxuries. They are the hallmarks of a strong, inclusive economy—because when women succeed, America succeeds.

Me: We are pathetic right now when compared to other countries with how parents are treated. Even when back from Maternity leave parents are more likely to get passed over. Change the laws and over time the mentality will change about Parents in the office.

Break Down Barriers That Keep Families in Poverty

It should be unacceptable that—without safety net programs—one in three American families would live in poverty. Yet, far too many Americans, including 16 million children, are locked in a cycle of poverty today. We should set a bold goal of cutting poverty in half within 10 years—and meet it through greater investments in communities, public education, critical programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit that help families get and stay on their feet.

Me: It would be a fight, but it's necessary!!! You don't know how necessary until you live on $300 a week ($15,600 a year) in an area that costs $100,000 a year to live in. That $300, is minimum wage. do THAT budget realistically.

Reform Our Immigration System

Bringing undocumented immigrants out of the shadows will grow our economy, expand our tax base, create jobs and lift wages–benefiting our country as a whole. We must boldly advance comprehensive immigration reform, while also using executive action to its full authority to end unnecessary detentions and expand deferred action. As Americans, when refugee children arrive on our doorstep, we shouldn’t turn them away—we should act like the generous, compassionate people we are.

Me: Somewhere in everyone's family, there is a child of an immigrant. I've done an immigration blog post. I doubt he'll fully get this. But there might be a compromise that makes things better. Progress can't be made until opinions change.

Protect the Dignity of Retirement

We can’t grow our economy if we resign a whole generation of our citizens to spending their golden years living in poverty. And we know for a fact that 401(k)s won’t leave enough for many seniors to live on in retirement, especially after Wall Street’s meltdown took its toll on families’ savings. Rather than reducing Social Security benefits or privatizing them, we must expand benefits so all of our seniors can retire with dignity.

Me: A reachable up-hill battle. Mainly because, ironically, so many Republican voters rely on Social Security after retirement. They are collecting less under Republican policy now. Whether they realize the connection or not. There isn't a way to save enough for retirement anymore. For a lot of people, there isn't a way to save at all....for anything. (See the comment of poverty above)

Launch a Jobs Agenda for the Climate Challenge

Clean, renewable sources of energy represent one of the biggest economic opportunities in a century. And the threat of climate change is real and immediate. We must make better choices for a more secure and independent energy future—by limiting carbon emissions, setting renewable energy targets, driving innovation, seeding new industries, and creating good local jobs.

Me: This two birds approach is reasonable and I think he can pass it!!! It creates jobs and is an easier sell for Republican voters because it means they will have reduced expenses as a result. With compromises, this can happen.

Restore Competition to Our Economy

The largest corporations have become more powerful than ever, smothering open competition, and shipping jobs and profits abroad. We need 21st century economic solutions that empower family businesses, entrepreneurs, and consumers to keep wealth within their communities, instead of sending it away to the top one percent. This should start with aggressive enforcement of our anti-trust laws. We must also say “no” to bad trade deals that would further benefit the largest corporations, while costing American workers their jobs.

Me: I think this would make a big difference in our economy. he can even get Republican support if businesses are shown they can still profit well. Income inequality is directly to blame for a lot of this country's problems. Businesses are avoiding paying taxes here, removing jobs from the country, and still controlling our Congress. It's gone too far for too long.

Put Elections Back in the Hands of American Voters

Restoring our economy requires us to revitalize our democracy. We must return to a government of, by, and for the people—one that builds an economy that works for everyone and ensures voters’ voices are heard. While fixing the Citizens United decision is important, we can’t afford to wait for a Constitutional amendment to solve the problem of out-of-control money in our political system.
We should start by embracing citizen-funded elections, to reduce the outsized influence of special interests and the very wealthy in our politics. Small donors should have their contributions matched by six-to-one or more, and be rewarded through a refundable tax credit that encourages more people to give and participate. And we should make it easier, not harder, to vote – by modernizing registration, restoring the Voting Rights Act, and tearing down barriers like ID requirements that make it difficult for people to exercise their most fundamental right.

Citizens United single handedly ruined our country. It just took a while. We need to put the power back in the ballots and remove the power from the bank accounts.

Insist on Transparent, Accountable, High-Performing Government

We must have a clearer view of the most important things our government is trying to accomplish and why. This requires clear goals that reflect what we actually value as a nation. But above all, it means our government must precisely measure its progress, and present that information in an accessible, transparent way to the public. We can use this smarter and more efficient way of governing to fight against the sway of beltway lobbyists and special interests – and to build a better government focused on delivering real, measurable results for its people.

Journalists are often writing based on personal opinion. I'd like to hear the facts and not opinions.

Reduce Threats to our National Security through a strengthened economy and middle class.

The first responsibility of the Commander in Chief is to keep America safe. And today, we face a daunting array of threats – from climate change, to cyber attacks, to violent extremism. Above all, we must understand that our strength in the world depends on our economic strength at home. Maintaining our security in the long run will require expanding the American Dream and making sure the economy works for all Americans. No fighter jet or troop battalion will keep us as safe as a vibrant economy, a strong democracy, and a growing middle class.
Eliminating the scourge of extreme poverty is a moral, economic and national security imperative. Supporting international development is a reflection of our most deeply held values, and will help us build the next generation of American political and economic partnerships. Protecting the dignity of human lives in fragile states will help reduce the threat of being drawn into costly future conflicts.

I agree fully with this. A stronger economy means a stronger middle class. There is a war on the poor on American soil. The rich versus the poor. It's a new kind of civil war that needs to end.

https://martinomalley.com/vision/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/05/29/martin-omalley-plays-hail-to-the-chief-and-7-other-things-to-know-about-the-former-maryland-governor/

https://martinomalley.com/bio/