Obama: "No reason" we cannot avoid sequestration
At a ceremony honoring departing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta today, President Obama said there is "no reason" we cannot avoid the automatic defense cuts contained in the so-called sequester, cuts that he said will have a "severe impact on our military preparedness."
"Since we are just weeks away from deep automatic cuts to federal spending, including defense, let me say this: there is no reason - no reason - for that to happen."
"Putting our fiscal house in order calls for a balanced approach," said Mr. Obama, "Not massive, indiscriminate cuts that could have a severe impact on our military preparedness."
The president called on Democrats and Republicans "to come together" to avert the cuts "for the sake of our prosperity."
At the ceremony, the president hailed his defense secretary and former CIA chief as "one of our nation's finest public servants."
"Leon, I'll always be grateful that you agreed to return to public service," Mr. Obama said. "Your leadership of the CIA will forever be remembered for the blows that we struck against al Qaeda and perhaps the greatest intelligence success in American history - delivering justice to Osama Bin Laden."
"You've served with integrity, with decency, and with grace," he continued. "You're a reminder of what public service ought to be
"Just think of the progress under his watch," Mr. Obama said, ticking off a list of accomplishments that include ending the war in Iraq, bringing the war in Afghanistan to an eventual close, helping defeat al Qaeda, repealing "Don't Ask Don't Tell", and opening combat positions to women in the military. That record, the president said, will be remembered "for making our military and our nation that much stronger."
Panetta: Time as defense secretary "a hell of a ride"
Panetta, for his part, thanked the president for the "tremendous honor" of being given "the opportunity to serve this country again as a member of your administration."
"I hope that, in some small way, I have helped to fulfill the dream of my parents," Panetta said. "The dream that they wanted, and the dream that all of us want, of giving our children a better life."
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Let me guess 62+ million foodstamp loafing minorities payed for by BO? Right...
WELCOME BACK AMERICA!
Lets tax the Romneys/Kerrys, reasonably cut spending, get rid of illegals, expose the tea party, fix gun violence while letting people hunt and protect themselves and eliminate Maddow and Hannity from the press.
And if your going to keep bashing America and our President join the no longer illegals somewhere else. He was voted in by over 60 million plus Americans, twice. Get over it!
Because BO started the deficit...
Easy with the accusations.
Obama did almost double the deficit. I don't like it either, but in this case it was the lessor of two evils, long term implosion of the global economy or short term recession. My take. The point is, its getting better. And yes we need to cut spending along with getting revenue from Romneys and Soros. Balanced, as BO states every time its discussed.
Keep in mind that Reagan and both Bush's also doubled the deficit in their terms. The only one's how have not since Carter is Clinton. Yup slick Willy. http://zfacts.com/p/318.html. The difference is they drove the economy in the ground while doing so. BO is taking us out of a disaster.
Relax and have a beer. Its ok to have a black president. Welcome back America! Lobato, join in!
after the Election well let's kick the can down the road again But Mr President we are out of road" "let's build more roads" since the 60s we said Our children will have to pay for this" than Our grandchildren will pay for this ' Now we are saying The Illegal aliens (Made Legal ) can pay for this " soon we will turn this all over to the Hispanic majority who will promptlly default as it wasn't their problem to begin with solution made!
"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. government can't pay its own bills. ... I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America's debt limit."
— Then-Sen. Barack Obama, floor speech in the Senate, March 16, 2006
Best leader since 1999, but that is not saying much.