The authors say: "[Franklin D Roosevelt's] interventionist policies and draconian tax increases delayed full economic recovery by several years by exacerbating a climate of pessimistic expectations that drove down private capital formation and household consumption to unprecedented lows."
Although the authors support the Federal Reserve's moves to slash interest rates to just above zero and embark on quantitative easing, pumping cash directly into the system, they warn that greater intervention could set the US back further. Rowley says: "It is also not impossible that the US will experience the kind of economic collapse from first to Third World status experienced by Argentina under the national-socialist governance of Juan Peron."
The study is written by economists Charles Rowley of George Mason and Nathaneal Smith of the Locke Institute. It has been endorsed by nobel laureate James Buchanan. (No, not that one.)
Read more.
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Monday, September 7, 2009
Ahmadinejad Refuses to Negotiate, Wants To Talk
At his first formal press conference since his June 12 re- election, Ahmadinejad said today he didn’t recognize deadlines for talks on Iran’s nuclear plans. “Iran’s nuclear issue is over,” he said. “We will never negotiate Iran’s undeniable rights.”
At the same time, the Iranian president said, “we are ready to discuss world issues with the U.S. president in the presence of mass media. The time of hidden agreements is over, and television debates are the best way.”
Looks like the great negotiation skills of President Obama are working wonders...
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aa7mTee2kpoU
At the same time, the Iranian president said, “we are ready to discuss world issues with the U.S. president in the presence of mass media. The time of hidden agreements is over, and television debates are the best way.”
Looks like the great negotiation skills of President Obama are working wonders...
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aa7mTee2kpoU
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Obama Sets A Bad Example
It is a let down to see our high-moral President not showing children the necessary precautions, but come on media! Is this really news?
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Ridge Confirms That Terror Alerts Were Politicized
A sad revelation in the autobiography of Tom Ridge, the inaugural Homeland Security Chief:
Tom Ridge confirms a long-held suspicion among Bush critics, writing in his new autobiography that he "was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush's re-election, something he saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over."
While it is good on Mr. Ridge, someone long respected for his political honesty, to have resigned, as well as to follow one of the unwritten rules of politics by not revealing this until after the Bush administration ended, it is a sad day for Republicans that we find ourselves seeing that some liberal conspiracies were true.
It is also unfortunate, because this blog now finds itself complimenting President Obama for keeping the Terror Alert level out of the news and downplaying it (while not taking away the transparency.)
Source: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0809/Politicizing_the_terror_alerts.html?showall
Tom Ridge confirms a long-held suspicion among Bush critics, writing in his new autobiography that he "was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush's re-election, something he saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over."
While it is good on Mr. Ridge, someone long respected for his political honesty, to have resigned, as well as to follow one of the unwritten rules of politics by not revealing this until after the Bush administration ended, it is a sad day for Republicans that we find ourselves seeing that some liberal conspiracies were true.
It is also unfortunate, because this blog now finds itself complimenting President Obama for keeping the Terror Alert level out of the news and downplaying it (while not taking away the transparency.)
Source: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0809/Politicizing_the_terror_alerts.html?showall
Majority Believe War In Afghanistan Wasn't Worth It
Scary numbers from ABC News/Washington Post Poll. For the first time ever, a majority of Americans believe the War in Afghanistan was not worth fighting. Not only that, but a 45% plurality believe we should begin reducing troop levels immediately (the opposite of what is needed according to virtually every foreign policy/military expert)!
We've said this before and we'll say it again: Mr. President, this is where you need to be spending political capital. You have always been a strong supporter of this very necessary war, and with all the domestic problems, you are risking the possibility that there will be no support from the left remaining to do what needs to be done in Southwest Asia.
We've said this before and we'll say it again: Mr. President, this is where you need to be spending political capital. You have always been a strong supporter of this very necessary war, and with all the domestic problems, you are risking the possibility that there will be no support from the left remaining to do what needs to be done in Southwest Asia.
Obama Uses Religion To Promote Health Care
"We are God's partners in matters of life and death"
The President said this during a call with Rabbis concerning his health care plan. The obvious question, "Isn't this what liberals got angry with Bush and Huckabee over?"
This blog had a problem with the undue self-confidence that Bush had when he was sure he was doing God's work and with Huckabee for saying that his surge was supported by God, and we certainly have a problem with this bull. Who do you think you are, Mr. President?
Also, interesting note on the rationing front: Ben Smith points out that this is from the Rosh Hashanah prayer that also says it is decided "who shall live and who shall die." Obviously not intentional, but that just walks into the hands of the Right.
The President said this during a call with Rabbis concerning his health care plan. The obvious question, "Isn't this what liberals got angry with Bush and Huckabee over?"
This blog had a problem with the undue self-confidence that Bush had when he was sure he was doing God's work and with Huckabee for saying that his surge was supported by God, and we certainly have a problem with this bull. Who do you think you are, Mr. President?
Also, interesting note on the rationing front: Ben Smith points out that this is from the Rosh Hashanah prayer that also says it is decided "who shall live and who shall die." Obviously not intentional, but that just walks into the hands of the Right.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
CNN Makes Big Deal Out Of Man LEGALLY Carrying A Weapon
A group of citizens protesting their right to bear arms outside of President Obama's rally, including one man openly caryring a legal assault weapon, made the front page of CNN this morning. Look at this headline:
Man carries assault rifle to Obama protest -- and it's legal
Like it is some sort of unfortunate. surprise. God forbid that carrying a weapon that everyone can see, unloaded, isn't a crime. Additionally, the men were never within close proximity of the President.
In both instances, the men carrying weapons were outside the venues where Obama was speaking.
The Secret Service understood the unimportance of the incident:
Asked whether the individuals carrying weapons jeopardized the safety of the president, Donovan said, "Of course not."
It is unfortunate that, rather than punish the people who commit crimes with guns and keep them out of the hands of felons and mentally disabled, we freak out anytime we see a citizen legally carrying one. The best point is made by the man in question:
"I come from another state where 'open carry' is legal, but no one does it, so the police don't really know about it and they harass people, arrest people falsely," the man, who wasn't identified, said in an interview aired by CNN affiliate KNVX. "I think that people need to get out and do it more so that they get kind of conditioned to it."
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/17/obama.protest.rifle/index.html
Man carries assault rifle to Obama protest -- and it's legal
Like it is some sort of unfortunate. surprise. God forbid that carrying a weapon that everyone can see, unloaded, isn't a crime. Additionally, the men were never within close proximity of the President.
In both instances, the men carrying weapons were outside the venues where Obama was speaking.
The Secret Service understood the unimportance of the incident:
Asked whether the individuals carrying weapons jeopardized the safety of the president, Donovan said, "Of course not."
It is unfortunate that, rather than punish the people who commit crimes with guns and keep them out of the hands of felons and mentally disabled, we freak out anytime we see a citizen legally carrying one. The best point is made by the man in question:
"I come from another state where 'open carry' is legal, but no one does it, so the police don't really know about it and they harass people, arrest people falsely," the man, who wasn't identified, said in an interview aired by CNN affiliate KNVX. "I think that people need to get out and do it more so that they get kind of conditioned to it."
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/17/obama.protest.rifle/index.html
Monday, August 17, 2009
Obama Administration Shifts Funding Away From Civil Society
The Project on Middle East Democracy has done an in-depth study of the Obama State Department Budget, and has an interesting, albeit disturbing, find:
The report calculates that civil society groups received $31.75 million in 2008 but will receive only $7 million this year, and that Obama seeks to eliminate $10 million that had been slated for local Egyptian organizations and NGOs such as Freedom House and arms of the National Endowment for Democracy.
In general, Republican Punk praises the (relative) return to the realism of the Nixon/Reagan/Bush 41 administrations. However, part of that realism was uniquely American, including supporting NGOs and local civil society that would eventually lead to liberalism, if not democracy, in areas such as Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Read the full report here.
Please, Mr. President, don't give up on Hope and Change abroad.
The report calculates that civil society groups received $31.75 million in 2008 but will receive only $7 million this year, and that Obama seeks to eliminate $10 million that had been slated for local Egyptian organizations and NGOs such as Freedom House and arms of the National Endowment for Democracy.
In general, Republican Punk praises the (relative) return to the realism of the Nixon/Reagan/Bush 41 administrations. However, part of that realism was uniquely American, including supporting NGOs and local civil society that would eventually lead to liberalism, if not democracy, in areas such as Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Read the full report here.
Please, Mr. President, don't give up on Hope and Change abroad.
A Win For Capitalism
President Barack Obama and his top aides are signaling that they’re prepared to drop a government insurance option from a final health-reform deal if that’s what’s needed to strike a compromise on Obama’s top legislative priority.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Sunday that the public option was “not the essential element” of the overhaul. A day earlier, Obama downplayed the public option during a Colorado town hall meeting, saying it was “just one sliver” of the debate.
He even chided Democratic supporters and Republican critics for becoming “so fixated on this that they forget everything else” — a dig at some liberals in his own party who have made the public option the main rallying cry of the health reform debate.
At the same time, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), one of six senators involved in bipartisan Finance Committee negotiations, all but declared the public option dead in the Senate.
“Look, the fact of the matter is there are not the votes in the United States Senate for the public option,” said Conrad, who has pushed an alternative proposal to create a network of consumer cooperatives, on Fox News Sunday. “There never have been. So to continue to chase that rabbit, I think, is just a wasted effort.”
It's good that reality is finally being embraced.
Source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26158.html
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Sunday that the public option was “not the essential element” of the overhaul. A day earlier, Obama downplayed the public option during a Colorado town hall meeting, saying it was “just one sliver” of the debate.
He even chided Democratic supporters and Republican critics for becoming “so fixated on this that they forget everything else” — a dig at some liberals in his own party who have made the public option the main rallying cry of the health reform debate.
At the same time, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), one of six senators involved in bipartisan Finance Committee negotiations, all but declared the public option dead in the Senate.
“Look, the fact of the matter is there are not the votes in the United States Senate for the public option,” said Conrad, who has pushed an alternative proposal to create a network of consumer cooperatives, on Fox News Sunday. “There never have been. So to continue to chase that rabbit, I think, is just a wasted effort.”
It's good that reality is finally being embraced.
Source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26158.html
More T-Paw Goodness
Tim Pawlenty has always counted on dry humor while still addressing the issues as a prime advantage as (likely) seeks the White House in 2012. (See him knocking the Obamacare here.) Well, at his speech to GOPAC this weekend, he has added some new strong statements to his reportoire:
“It appears that President Obama is making great progress on climate change, he is changing the political climate in the country back to Republican,” Pawlenty said during a speech to the second annual GOPAC conference in Chicago.
“He went around the country last fall promising ‘change we can believe in,’ but now we see it’s about changing what we believe in,” said Pawlenty, an anticipated 2012 Republican presidential contender. “We need to be calling out the flaws and misguided decisions of the Democrats in Congress and the Obama administration.”
“Medicaid is essentially bankrupt, Medicare is essentially bankrupt, why the heck would we give the federal government another entitlement program to manage?” asked Pawlenty.
“We had people, leaders in the Republican Party and conservative movement, saying we couldn’t talk about [health care],” the Republican governor said. “Are you kidding me? There is no other pocket book issue that directly affects people as much as this.”
“We need to be more than critics of the Obama administration,” he said. “We can’t just be critics in chiefs.”
“We have an educational system in the United States that isn’t cash for clunkers, it’s clash for flunkers,” he said. “This idea in this country that anyone is forced to go to a bad school is disgraceful.”
“This is the civil rights issue of our time,” he said, describing the plight of inner city schools and urging the state lawmakers in the crowd to address the lower performances of schools in some of their states more depressed areas. “It is a disgrace and it is a moral imperative…we need to rise up and fix this.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26138.html#ixzz0OSI6rsaw
“It appears that President Obama is making great progress on climate change, he is changing the political climate in the country back to Republican,” Pawlenty said during a speech to the second annual GOPAC conference in Chicago.
“He went around the country last fall promising ‘change we can believe in,’ but now we see it’s about changing what we believe in,” said Pawlenty, an anticipated 2012 Republican presidential contender. “We need to be calling out the flaws and misguided decisions of the Democrats in Congress and the Obama administration.”
“Medicaid is essentially bankrupt, Medicare is essentially bankrupt, why the heck would we give the federal government another entitlement program to manage?” asked Pawlenty.
“We had people, leaders in the Republican Party and conservative movement, saying we couldn’t talk about [health care],” the Republican governor said. “Are you kidding me? There is no other pocket book issue that directly affects people as much as this.”
“We need to be more than critics of the Obama administration,” he said. “We can’t just be critics in chiefs.”
“We have an educational system in the United States that isn’t cash for clunkers, it’s clash for flunkers,” he said. “This idea in this country that anyone is forced to go to a bad school is disgraceful.”
“This is the civil rights issue of our time,” he said, describing the plight of inner city schools and urging the state lawmakers in the crowd to address the lower performances of schools in some of their states more depressed areas. “It is a disgrace and it is a moral imperative…we need to rise up and fix this.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26138.html#ixzz0OSI6rsaw
Obama Justice Department Thinks $1.92 Million File-Sharing Suit Is Constitutional
The Obama administration is asking a judge to reject a Minnesota woman's argument that a jury verdict ordering her to pay $1.92 million for sharing 24 tracks is unconstitutional.
"Defendant's suggestion that the actual harm can be measured to the 'tune of $1.29 for each of the 24 songs' ... ignores the potential multiplying effect of peer-to-peer file-sharing," the Department of Justice argues in papers filed today with a federal district court in Minnesota.
In June, a jury found that Jammie Thomas-Rasset willfully infringed on the record labels' copyright by sharing tracks on Kazza and ordered her to pay $80,000 per track. The copyright statute provides for damages between $750 and $150,000 per infringement.
Speechless.
Read More: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=111705
"Defendant's suggestion that the actual harm can be measured to the 'tune of $1.29 for each of the 24 songs' ... ignores the potential multiplying effect of peer-to-peer file-sharing," the Department of Justice argues in papers filed today with a federal district court in Minnesota.
In June, a jury found that Jammie Thomas-Rasset willfully infringed on the record labels' copyright by sharing tracks on Kazza and ordered her to pay $80,000 per track. The copyright statute provides for damages between $750 and $150,000 per infringement.
Speechless.
Read More: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=111705
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Obama Word Study
Politico has a very interesting study of the words used by President Obama since he's been inaugurated. Highly recommended reading it here, but the most interesting tidbit:
He has spoken the words "health" and "economy" each more often than the words “Iraq,” “Iran,” “Afghanistan” and “terrorism” combined, the analysis shows.
He has spoken the words "health" and "economy" each more often than the words “Iraq,” “Iran,” “Afghanistan” and “terrorism” combined, the analysis shows.
Liberal/Media Slanders Against Health Care Protestors Not Working
A new USA Today/Gallup poll reaffirms this blog's continued faith in the American public to see through the Pelosi/Obama/MSNBC attacks on health care protesters as unamerican.
"From what you know or have read, have these town hall meeting protests against the proposed bills made you more sympathetic to the protestors' views, do the protests not make any difference to you either way, or have the protests made you less sympathetic to the protestors' views?" Options rotated
More Sympathetic No Difference Less Sympathetic Unsure
% % % % 8/11/09
34 36 21 10
"From what you know and have read, do you think each of the following is a major factor, a minor factor, or not a factor in why the protests against health care bills are taking place at these town hall meetings? How about [see below]?"
Major Factor Minor Factor Not a Factor Unsure
% % % %
"Concern about the health care bills that average citizens had well before the meetings took place"
8/11/09
57 24 13 6
"Recent efforts by political activists to create organized opposition to the health care bills"
8/11/09
48 27 18 8
As you can see, of the people who are taking these protests into account, significantly more are growing MORE sympathetic rather than less to the protestors. In addition, people recognize that genuine anger plays a bigger role than political groups in getting these groups out, despite the media's best attempts to paint it otherwise.
There is room for improvement though, as this poll also reaffirm's Republican Punk's views on how these could be properly run:
"Generally speaking, do you consider each of the following actions at town hall meetings to be an example of democracy in action or an example of abuse of democracy? How about [see below]?" Options rotated
Democracy In Action Abuse of Democracy Unsure
% % %
"Individuals making angry attacks against a health care bill and what it might do"
8/11/09
51 41 8
"Booing when members of Congress make statements that the opponents disagree with"
8/11/09
44 47 9
"Shouting down supporters when they speak in favor of a health care bill"
8/11/09
33 59 8
Basically, being angry at the bill and the congressperson if they support it...yes! But be respectful. We kind of wish that was common sense, but what can you do. Let's let the poll numbers reaffirm it.
Source: Polling Report
"From what you know or have read, have these town hall meeting protests against the proposed bills made you more sympathetic to the protestors' views, do the protests not make any difference to you either way, or have the protests made you less sympathetic to the protestors' views?" Options rotated
More Sympathetic No Difference Less Sympathetic Unsure
% % % % 8/11/09
34 36 21 10
"From what you know and have read, do you think each of the following is a major factor, a minor factor, or not a factor in why the protests against health care bills are taking place at these town hall meetings? How about [see below]?"
Major Factor Minor Factor Not a Factor Unsure
% % % %
"Concern about the health care bills that average citizens had well before the meetings took place"
8/11/09
57 24 13 6
"Recent efforts by political activists to create organized opposition to the health care bills"
8/11/09
48 27 18 8
As you can see, of the people who are taking these protests into account, significantly more are growing MORE sympathetic rather than less to the protestors. In addition, people recognize that genuine anger plays a bigger role than political groups in getting these groups out, despite the media's best attempts to paint it otherwise.
There is room for improvement though, as this poll also reaffirm's Republican Punk's views on how these could be properly run:
"Generally speaking, do you consider each of the following actions at town hall meetings to be an example of democracy in action or an example of abuse of democracy? How about [see below]?" Options rotated
Democracy In Action Abuse of Democracy Unsure
% % %
"Individuals making angry attacks against a health care bill and what it might do"
8/11/09
51 41 8
"Booing when members of Congress make statements that the opponents disagree with"
8/11/09
44 47 9
"Shouting down supporters when they speak in favor of a health care bill"
8/11/09
33 59 8
Basically, being angry at the bill and the congressperson if they support it...yes! But be respectful. We kind of wish that was common sense, but what can you do. Let's let the poll numbers reaffirm it.
Source: Polling Report
Obama At Negative Approval In Rasmussen Poll
Overall, 47% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. That’s the lowest level of total approval yet recorded. The President’s ratings first fell below 50% just a few weeks ago on July 25. Fifty-two percent (52%) now disapprove.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 29% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-seven percent (37%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8.
(Republican Punk Note: Presidential Approval is difference between those strongly approving and those strongly disapproving, just in case you didn't notice!)
Source: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 29% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-seven percent (37%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8.
(Republican Punk Note: Presidential Approval is difference between those strongly approving and those strongly disapproving, just in case you didn't notice!)
Source: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
Germany and France Snap Out Of Recession Despite Stimulus Packages That Obama Called Too Small
Germany and France enjoyed a shock return to economic growth in the second quarter of the year, data showed on Thursday, ending their recessions earlier than many policymakers and economists had expected.
German gross domestic product rose by 0.3% in the second quarter, bringing an end to the country's deepest recession since World War Two and boosting hopes of recovery in the broader euro zone.
French GDP also grew by 0.3% in the second quarter. The consensus in a Reuters poll of economists had predicted a 0.3% quarterly contraction in both countries.
An interesting note...their recessions were significantly deeper than that in the U.S. (Germany's GDP contracted by 7.1% on the year compared to 3.9% in the U.S.), but look at the size of their stimulus packages in comparison:
German gross domestic product rose by 0.3% in the second quarter, bringing an end to the country's deepest recession since World War Two and boosting hopes of recovery in the broader euro zone.
French GDP also grew by 0.3% in the second quarter. The consensus in a Reuters poll of economists had predicted a 0.3% quarterly contraction in both countries.
An interesting note...their recessions were significantly deeper than that in the U.S. (Germany's GDP contracted by 7.1% on the year compared to 3.9% in the U.S.), but look at the size of their stimulus packages in comparison:
So smaller, targeted packages (France = Less than 1.5% of GDP, Germany = 4.3% of GDP) appear to have been more effective than just throwing money at the problem (U.S. = almost 7% of GDP). Huh...
Also, who would have thought that the U.S. would be the most Keynesian country in the world (well, besides China, but they were running a massive surplus and are, well, COMMUNIST), and by a lot over France. Oh, how things have changed.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Camille Paglia, While Not Regretting Her Vote, Chastises Obama
It started with homosexuals (who we should make a conservative constituency, but that is a story for another time). Now, "liberaltarians" (Bill Maher's term for libertarians who typically care more about social freedom and mobility, and see some value for government intervention to protect that freedom) are becoming the next group to question and de-couple from the loosely thrown-together coalition that brought Obama/Pelosi/Reid to power.
Salon author and liberal activist Camille Paglia has her new monthly article up here. This blog highly recommends that you read the whole thing, especially if you are one of our pragmatic Democratic readers, as it is the best criticism by an old-school, 60s-style liberal of the first 200 days found so far. She opens with a disclaimer that she doesn't regret her vote last November, but that she does want Pelosi to step down and the entire domestic policy wing of the White House ripped apart and rebuilt.
Highlights (emphasis added):
There is plenty of blame to go around. Obama's aggressive endorsement of a healthcare plan that does not even exist yet, except in five competing, fluctuating drafts, makes Washington seem like Cloud Cuckoo Land. The president is promoting the most colossal, brazen bait-and-switch operation since the Bush administration snookered the country into invading Iraq with apocalyptic visions of mushroom clouds over American cities.
You can keep your doctor; you can keep your insurance, if you're happy with it, Obama keeps assuring us in soothing, lullaby tones. Oh, really? And what if my doctor is not the one appointed by the new government medical boards for ruling on my access to tests and specialists? And what if my insurance company goes belly up because of undercutting by its government-bankrolled competitor? Face it: Virtually all nationalized health systems, neither nourished nor updated by profit-driven private investment, eventually lead to rationing.
I just don't get it. Why the insane rush to pass a bill, any bill, in three weeks? And why such an abject failure by the Obama administration to present the issues to the public in a rational, detailed, informational way? The U.S. is gigantic; many of our states are bigger than whole European nations. The bureaucracy required to institute and manage a nationalized health system here would be Byzantine beyond belief and would vampirically absorb whatever savings Obama thinks could be made. And the transition period would be a nightmare of red tape and mammoth screw-ups, which we can ill afford with a faltering economy.
As with the massive boondoggle of the stimulus package, which Obama foolishly let Congress turn into a pork rut, too much has been attempted all at once; focused, targeted initiatives would, instead, have won wide public support. How is it possible that Democrats, through their own clumsiness and arrogance, have sabotaged healthcare reform yet again? Blaming obstructionist Republicans is nonsensical because Democrats control all three branches of government. It isn't conservative rumors or lies that are stopping healthcare legislation; it's the justifiable alarm of an electorate that has been cut out of the loop and is watching its representatives construct a tangled labyrinth for others but not for themselves. No, the airheads of Congress will keep their own plush healthcare plan -- it's the rest of us guinea pigs who will be thrown to the wolves...
And what do Democrats stand for, if they are so ready to defame concerned citizens as the "mob" -- a word betraying a Marie Antoinette delusion of superiority to ordinary mortals. I thought my party was populist, attentive to the needs and wishes of those outside the power structure. And as a product of the 1960s, I thought the Democratic party was passionately committed to freedom of thought and speech.
But somehow liberals have drifted into a strange servility toward big government, which they revere as a godlike foster father-mother who can dispense all bounty and magically heal all ills. The ethical collapse of the left was nowhere more evident than in the near total silence of liberal media and Web sites at the Obama administration's outrageous solicitation to private citizens to report unacceptable "casual conversations" to the White House. If Republicans had done this, there would have been an angry explosion by Democrats from coast to coast. I was stunned at the failure of liberals to see the blatant totalitarianism in this incident, which the president should have immediately denounced. His failure to do so implicates him in it.
P.S.
For a reference back to another liberal-on-liberal critique...here.
Salon author and liberal activist Camille Paglia has her new monthly article up here. This blog highly recommends that you read the whole thing, especially if you are one of our pragmatic Democratic readers, as it is the best criticism by an old-school, 60s-style liberal of the first 200 days found so far. She opens with a disclaimer that she doesn't regret her vote last November, but that she does want Pelosi to step down and the entire domestic policy wing of the White House ripped apart and rebuilt.
Highlights (emphasis added):
There is plenty of blame to go around. Obama's aggressive endorsement of a healthcare plan that does not even exist yet, except in five competing, fluctuating drafts, makes Washington seem like Cloud Cuckoo Land. The president is promoting the most colossal, brazen bait-and-switch operation since the Bush administration snookered the country into invading Iraq with apocalyptic visions of mushroom clouds over American cities.
You can keep your doctor; you can keep your insurance, if you're happy with it, Obama keeps assuring us in soothing, lullaby tones. Oh, really? And what if my doctor is not the one appointed by the new government medical boards for ruling on my access to tests and specialists? And what if my insurance company goes belly up because of undercutting by its government-bankrolled competitor? Face it: Virtually all nationalized health systems, neither nourished nor updated by profit-driven private investment, eventually lead to rationing.
I just don't get it. Why the insane rush to pass a bill, any bill, in three weeks? And why such an abject failure by the Obama administration to present the issues to the public in a rational, detailed, informational way? The U.S. is gigantic; many of our states are bigger than whole European nations. The bureaucracy required to institute and manage a nationalized health system here would be Byzantine beyond belief and would vampirically absorb whatever savings Obama thinks could be made. And the transition period would be a nightmare of red tape and mammoth screw-ups, which we can ill afford with a faltering economy.
As with the massive boondoggle of the stimulus package, which Obama foolishly let Congress turn into a pork rut, too much has been attempted all at once; focused, targeted initiatives would, instead, have won wide public support. How is it possible that Democrats, through their own clumsiness and arrogance, have sabotaged healthcare reform yet again? Blaming obstructionist Republicans is nonsensical because Democrats control all three branches of government. It isn't conservative rumors or lies that are stopping healthcare legislation; it's the justifiable alarm of an electorate that has been cut out of the loop and is watching its representatives construct a tangled labyrinth for others but not for themselves. No, the airheads of Congress will keep their own plush healthcare plan -- it's the rest of us guinea pigs who will be thrown to the wolves...
And what do Democrats stand for, if they are so ready to defame concerned citizens as the "mob" -- a word betraying a Marie Antoinette delusion of superiority to ordinary mortals. I thought my party was populist, attentive to the needs and wishes of those outside the power structure. And as a product of the 1960s, I thought the Democratic party was passionately committed to freedom of thought and speech.
But somehow liberals have drifted into a strange servility toward big government, which they revere as a godlike foster father-mother who can dispense all bounty and magically heal all ills. The ethical collapse of the left was nowhere more evident than in the near total silence of liberal media and Web sites at the Obama administration's outrageous solicitation to private citizens to report unacceptable "casual conversations" to the White House. If Republicans had done this, there would have been an angry explosion by Democrats from coast to coast. I was stunned at the failure of liberals to see the blatant totalitarianism in this incident, which the president should have immediately denounced. His failure to do so implicates him in it.
P.S.
For a reference back to another liberal-on-liberal critique...here.
Moral hazard, anyone?
In reference to a new New York program funded by federal stimulus cash (with a little extra from George Soros) that gives $200 for each kid under the premise of back-to-school shopping:
"It's free money!" said Alecia Rumph, 26.
Now, there were definitely worse uses of the stimulus cash around the country, and not being a New York citizen, this blog will not attempt to question the choice.
However, this shows the problem with Obama's promises of everything for everyone with no consequences. Bush did it with his "Go shopping!" request after 9/11, and if someone doesn't step in, it's only going to get worse.
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/08/12/2009-08-12_billionaire_feds_give_out_175m_to_aid_neediest_students_around_the_state_its_fre.html
"It's free money!" said Alecia Rumph, 26.
Now, there were definitely worse uses of the stimulus cash around the country, and not being a New York citizen, this blog will not attempt to question the choice.
However, this shows the problem with Obama's promises of everything for everyone with no consequences. Bush did it with his "Go shopping!" request after 9/11, and if someone doesn't step in, it's only going to get worse.
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/08/12/2009-08-12_billionaire_feds_give_out_175m_to_aid_neediest_students_around_the_state_its_fre.html
Thursday, August 6, 2009
A Democrat We Can Get Behind
Claire McCaskill, Senator from Missouri and a big-time Obama supporter-turned-leading administration critic from the moderate wing of the Democratic party, has made it her goal to kill Pelosi's push for three new, top-shelf jets to ferry congresspeople and other "dignitaries" (quotes laced with heavy sarcasm) around.
“This just makes no sense. Talk about the wrong message at the wrong time,” McCaskill said. “While American families are tightening their belts there is no way we should be buying extra executive jets. No wonder so many people think we don’t get it."
Everyone who has a grain of fiscal common sense should be getting right in line behind her. This blog is.
Source: Glenn Thrush
“This just makes no sense. Talk about the wrong message at the wrong time,” McCaskill said. “While American families are tightening their belts there is no way we should be buying extra executive jets. No wonder so many people think we don’t get it."
Everyone who has a grain of fiscal common sense should be getting right in line behind her. This blog is.
Source: Glenn Thrush
Military Experts in Senate Write Obama On Trials For Terrorists
Jim Webb (D-VA), John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), and Joe Lieberman (I-D - CT) have penned a letter to the President in an attempt to dissuade him from trying Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of 9/11, in the United States. Hopefully, this won't be necessary, as commons sense dictates that what he did was an act of war and should be handled by the military as such, but just in case the ACLU and the like try to strong-arm the left wing of the White House:
“We write to you today to express our concern over reports that your Administration may prosecute Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and other alleged war criminals in civilian courts in Virginia, New York, and the District of Columbia. Such trials would treat the war on terrorism as a law enforcement operation, rather than a war, and would treat its alleged perpetrators as common criminals, instead of violators of the law of war."
Source: http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=f0af834e-802a-23ad-47dc-13a1c834e1e6
“We write to you today to express our concern over reports that your Administration may prosecute Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and other alleged war criminals in civilian courts in Virginia, New York, and the District of Columbia. Such trials would treat the war on terrorism as a law enforcement operation, rather than a war, and would treat its alleged perpetrators as common criminals, instead of violators of the law of war."
Source: http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=f0af834e-802a-23ad-47dc-13a1c834e1e6
Senate Approves "Cash for Cows"
With most attention being paid to Sonia Sotomayor's pending approval to the Supreme Court, the House's request for three new high-end jets, and the ongoing Health Care debate (not to mention the attack on all dissenting opinion), most people missed this vote late last night.
A 60-37 roll call late Tuesday set the tone as an unlikely combination of bipartisan rural farm interests and New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer corralled just enough support to waive budget rules and provide $350 million to help struggling dairy farmers.
It is sad to say that Maine's two Senators joined in this debt-adding measure, which required 60 votes because it increased the Agriculture department appropriations beyond what the Obama administration requested without paying for it with new revenues. There are few times where we get a clear example of Congressmen voting for vested interests (usually there is some claim for "greater good"), but we get a nice juicy one right here.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25858.html#ixzz0NQipCIP2
A 60-37 roll call late Tuesday set the tone as an unlikely combination of bipartisan rural farm interests and New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer corralled just enough support to waive budget rules and provide $350 million to help struggling dairy farmers.
It is sad to say that Maine's two Senators joined in this debt-adding measure, which required 60 votes because it increased the Agriculture department appropriations beyond what the Obama administration requested without paying for it with new revenues. There are few times where we get a clear example of Congressmen voting for vested interests (usually there is some claim for "greater good"), but we get a nice juicy one right here.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25858.html#ixzz0NQipCIP2
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