Commentary

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<p>When Barack Obama campaigned for the presidency, he promised us a less polarized and less partisan political environment and a more transparent and accountable federal government.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, these lofty campaign pledges were nothing more than empty rhetoric. Nowhere is this more evident than with the recently signed health care reform bill.</p>

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<p>President Obama needs to maintain his forceful, proactive leadership approach that he only too recently has adopted.</p>
<p>It took him more than a year to discard the fantasy of bipartisanship on health care reform, even though the Republicans obstructed him every step of the way and showed no interest in meaningful compromise. Their goal, all along, has been to make him fail.</p>
<p>Finally, he’s woken up to this reality.</p>

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<p>It took the killing of two US citizens employed by the Consulate in Ciudad Juarez to elicit President Obama’s comment “….deeply saddened and outraged by the news of the brutal murders…” According to the Los Angeles Times, there have been 10,031 killings in Mexico since 2007 related to the war against organized drug cartels, which at no time has brought signs of sadness or outrage from the White House, be it from Obama or his predecessor. Are Mexican citizens’ deaths any less deserving of sadness and outrage?</p>

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<p>Laredo, Texas, with a population of 250,000 now has the distinction of being the largest city in the nation without a bookstore. B. Dalton’s bookstore shut its doors for good on January 16th. Put another tombstone in the predominantly Hispanic south side of San Antonio now that Waldenbooks has left, leaving no bookstore for miles.</p>
<p>We’re not looking for pity here in Texas, but we are waiting for Republican leaders to recognize that this is an economic crisis of our own making.</p>

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<p>In March we look forward – eagerly anticipating the arrival of spring; and we look to the past – celebrating National Women’s History Month. Looking back, we might ask what our pioneer activists in women’s rights would say about tough choices working women still make to keep their families afloat. Looking forward, we can celebrate Women’s History Month by taking action to pass the Healthy Families Act.</p>

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<p>For many years politicians in Sacramento have seized, borrowed, or diverted billions in local taxpayer dollars typically used for local public safety and dedicated road repairs, transportation improvements and local public transit funds which Californians have voted overwhelmingly to protect. Yet, in spite of these voter-approved mandates, state politicians have discovered new and creative ways to get around them and continue the vicious cycle of seizing, borrowing, or diverting local funds.</p>

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