Tomorrow, President Obama is hoping on Air Force One (have you seen the History Channel’s Look at AF1?) and flying to Denver where he will sign THE LARGEST SPENDING BILL in the history of the country. First off, if he wants to help out, why not sign it in his office (which doesn’t require an Air Force Jet to get to)? Secondly, is it really as stimulating a bill as everyone thinks it is?

It’s supposedly going to help create jobs in the Pacific North West upgrading and building a new power grid. However, due to planning and permitting and other factors, any kind of hiring bump may be put off until 2011 if it even happens there. So any immediate effects in that area are going to be negligible. Secondly, there are so many different handouts in here, but nothing to actually stimulate the economy or create jobs (out side of government jobs). Don’t believe me? Read it yourself.

It is interesting to see though, how the candidate of Hope and Change has quickly become the president of Doom and Gloom claiming that he has “inherited the worst economy since the great depression”. A claim that simply isn’t true. In fact according to the Pittsburg Tribune, its really the worst economy since Carter was in office. In fact, the Misery Index (inflation rate added to the unemployment rate) was 21.1 when Regan took office in 1980 and todays Misery Index is only 7.6 (there hasn’t been any inflation). The article at the Tribune also goes on to note another Democrat President “who was not obsessed with class warfare, as today’s Democrats are”. In fact, Kennedy cut taxes and unemployment rates dropped to 3.8 percent and the annual tax revenue rose. Regan proved the point again in the 80’s.

Lastly I want to point out a good article at the Economist discussing the politics of the recession and the fact that despite claims of bipartisianship, its been a “my way or the highway” attitude coming out of the new administration. Arguing that the Democrats are using the current economic climate to push their causes and ideas through as “stimulus”.

It will be interesting to see if the stimulus bill helps the economy or ends up being one of those weight loss products that makes grand promises that it never delivers on.

Related External Links

• Democrat Economy « The American Catholic
• Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » Obama’s Impossible Position
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Yes, I tuned in to Mr. Doom and Gloom last night to see what he had to say. I quickly turned the channel to the Disney Channel (they were showing Twitches last night and who doesn’t like Teen Witches?) when El Presidente started talking about the Private Sector being the Enemy and the only true cure for the “worst economic crisis since the Great Depression” is the Government. Its as if they know how to spend my money better then I know how to spend my money. Which apparently they do and apparently I want to help supply condoms to people who won’t use them anyways.

Apparently I wasn’t alone in my feelings that he painted a bleak outlook. One that wasn’t very promising from a man who just months ago was promising change and Hope. Of course, his first three weeks have been rather lackluster. From cabinet appointments that don’t pay their taxes and are pretty much Politics as Usual players (so much for change huh?) to a “stimulus” package worth over 8 billion dollars that probably won’t do too much to stimulate the economy he hasn’t fared that well. Of course, thats what happens when the only thing you’ve governed before is the local HOA.

Unfortunately, I fear that the package that passed the senate today (narrowly) will do little to benefit home businesses and local companies and more to benefit those who depend on the government for their lively hood. Unfortunately it looks like the people who are going to be responsible for fixing the current problems are those that helped create it.

If you were Obama, what would you do differently??

Related External Links

• Commentary » Blog Archive » Who Said Anything About Change?
• WHITE SOX FANS SHOULD HAVE HOPE | Zoner Sports
• Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » Obama’s Impossible Position

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You heard it during the election with people claiming that Obama would be the be all end all to their problems. Promises of paid bills, government health care and who knows what else. Unfortunately, its more widespread than that. Here’s a clip of one person living a pipe dream.

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/281531.php

Make sure to click the link that says stay till the end. I want to know whats going to happen when it turns out that you’re still responsible for your own bills? Oh, video after the jump!

My Status on facebook generated a lot of comments last night and for good reason apparently. I merely commented that “(I) Wanted to know what’s different today that’s made everyone suddenly proud of their country”. I suppose it stems back to the campaign and the now (in)famous quote of Michelle Obama saying that for the first time in her life she was proud of her country. Yesterday and last night, the media was full of sound bites of people claiming to be proud of their country.

What I want to know is really what has changed that suddenly makes everyone so proud? Its as if the last 250 years of American History aren’t anything to be proud of. Yes, the fact that as a country we have elected and installed our first Black (I refuse to call him African American as he is as American as I am) President and while that was unthinkable 50 years ago, its not all that uncommon of a thing in todays global society. Does it speak well of the country? Yes, but so does the fact that we continually strap a rocket to the six people and launch them in to space, or the fact that we some how managed to cross breed a fish with Michael Phelps to produce the worlds fastest water animal.

America has always been a country where anyone with the will to succeed could and yesterday was just another example of that. I can understand how witnessing yesterday’s events could make someone happy to be an American or even reinstill the sense of hope that many felt was lost, but pride in one’s country? If you had lost your pride in the United States of America in the first place then something bigger is amiss.

As for me, I woke up on January 20th with as much pride in the United States as I had the day before, just a little more reassured about the advances we’ve made.

I didn’t vote for him. I don’t agree with most of his ideologies (both economic and social) nor the policies he promotes. I’m not sure that even he knows what he means when he says “Change for America” (it became clear during the election that most of his supporters had no idea. I will however, support President Obama and his decisions because like it or not, he is the leader of our Country. The Hawg says it best today though as he writes about the double standard displayed by many Obama supporters who are calling for the Country to support our new president while they “scraping the ‘Bush is not MY president’ stickers off their bumpers”. And I do agree with him.

While our country is founded with the idea of Freedom of Speech that so many misuse, its hard for us to take ourselves seriously when we drive around with bumper stickers that say “Don’t Blame Me, I Voted for the Other Guy” or “F (and in really small letters) The President”. Yes, we have the right to make those statements, but just because we have the right doesn’t mean that we should.

Barack Obama was sworn in today as our 44th President and as the 43 men before him he deserves our respect. If we, as a country cannot show him the respect he deserves, then we certainly cannot hope that the world will and if thats the case, then we’re in a heap of hurt.

Besides we do it all over again in 4 years anyways.

Well, the Terrible Twosome from the Left seem to be at it again. Obama was finally backed in to a corner where he had to admit that he was friendly with ACORN and had given them some dough. Of course, the fact that this wasn’t mentioned on his website was blamed mostly on a low level staffer (what else are they good for right?) though many are beginning to speculate if this could be the beginning of the end for the once chosen one. He’s begun making more and more gaffes on the trail this month like the one over the weekend with Plumber Joe (Joe the Plumber is so passe) where he basically said he wants to take the wealth and spread it around.

Kind of like Biden did with campaign funds and his family. These two seem to be a real pair. Don’t they? Obama claims he was on the forefront of sounding the alarm with regards to Fannie and Freddy, claiming he wrote a letter to the Sec. Tres. Why then, didn’t he stand up and do something then? Instead, it appears he continued his record of voting “present” when it served him best. By writing the letter he could effectivly claim to have done something with out having to actually do anything at all. Don’t you wish it worked that way for all of us?

Oh and its interesting to note that the man behind getting W. elected isn’t so sure that this election is over yet despite the MSM all but having an inauguration party.

It appears that as we get closer to November 4th, people (by people I mean the WSJ) all across the country are beginning to look closer at Obama’s proposed “tax cuts” and other tenants of his campaign. One of the most startling things people are finding is that while he promises to cut taxes on 95% of families (40% of which do not pay taxes) he’s “proposing one of the largest tax increases ever on the other 5%”. Something hardly anyone was talking about a week ago.

Now MSM (main stream media) and Others are finally taking note. So yes, while he would “cut” taxes, the truth is that just like other democrats before him who promised lower taxes, he’s actually raising them. In fact, according to the WSJ article:

Some families with an income of $40,000 could lose up to 40 cents in vanishing credits for every additional dollar earned from working overtime or taking a new job. As public policy, this is contradictory. The tax credits are sold in the name of “making work pay,” but in practice they can be a disincentive to working harder, especially if you’re a lower-income couple getting raises of $1,000 or $2,000 a year.

Thats something you won’t hear any of the talking heads on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN or any other MSM outlet mention or ask him about. Its only a wonder why we haven’t heard that from the McCain Camp yet.

Its Friday afternoon. I’m leaving in a bit to head to the mountains for the weekend with a friend and I don’t feel like posting today. That being said, I came across two good articles on RealClearPolitics that were written by two Washington authors (one from the WSJ one from the Post) which I thought were worth passing on for reading today.

The first by Kimberley Strassel of the WSJ, takes a look at the magic act of Barack Obama in an fun and enlightening way. Note that while her editorial is light and glib, ALL of what she’s talking about is verifiable and can be confirmed with a simple search on google. Its a fun read and it does subtly point out how often times Democrats say one thing and do another.

The second article by Charles Krauthammer (who is painful to watch on TV as he seems as stiff as the tinman) of the Washington post takes a look at the importance of Obama’s Character and his associations and calls in to question whether or not this should have been brought up earlier in the campaign process (like in 2006!).

Both are good and enlightening reads and should provide some entertainment in my absence….

So 95% percent of Americans are expecting a tax cut if Obama gets elected this November. There’s just one little problem with that… the math doesn’t work. Apparently, 47% of Americans DO NOT CURRENTLY PAY ANY INCOME TAX AT ALL! That means he’s either going to make them pay taxes or he’s going to GIVE them a check instead. Which do you think it will be??

One of the best things that can be done in persuading someone to vote for or against a candidate is often times letting them see the real person. Not the rhetoric. Not the media hype. Not the Rose Colored Glasses view of the candidate, but the real person.

As is often the case during greatly contested political races, candidates tend to stretch the truth, forget what they have already said (or written) and make up stuff that helps bolster their case. If you want proof, look at Kerry’s run for election in 2004, or look at Bidens’ fantasies….

This political season has been no different, except that the media has been focusing on EVERYONE except for one of the main candidates himself due to their self appointed righteousness and need for “their guy” to be declared the winner. In his latest series of articles, Thomas Sowell takes a look at the real Obama and isn’t too sure he likes what he sees.

The media may finally be looking at the Ayers links, the Rezko links and his links to fanny mae and freddie mac (of which he was one of the largest recipients of donations!) organizations.