If George W.. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter installed, to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how he inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?

If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan’s holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?

If George W.. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the nonexistent “Austrian language,” would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?

If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to “Cinco de Cuatro” in front of the Mexican ambassador, when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?

If George W. Bush had misspelled the word “advice” would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoe as proof of what a dunce he is?

If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he’s a hypocrite?

If George W. Bush’s administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?

If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans, would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?

If George W. Bush had created the position for 32 or more  Czars, who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?

If George W Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had spent more than all the Presidents combined since George Washington, would you have approved?

So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive?

Can’t think of anything?

Don’t worry. He’s done all this in 10 months — so you’ll have 3 years and 2 months to come up with an answer.

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
• Tna » The Wrestling Genius: Whatever happened to TNA? – Pittsburg …
• Is Recession Affecting Video Games Sales

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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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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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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….