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January 30, 2009
Lots of 'Change'
... just not the kind we wanted!
It's rather... different to have a tax cheat head the IRS and Treasury, don't you think? It's unbelievable to me that Clinton, with her husband's ties and donations from foreign corporation and governments, was whisked through confirmation. Geithner's egregious tax faux pas (you and I would have been smacked with a hefty fine, but not him), didn't prevent him from getting the aforementioned Treasury job, Bill Richardson withdrew his name from cabinet consideration (there are allegations of pay for play or tax problems), Caroline Kennedy had 'Maidgate' and now Tom Daschle - whose wife is a high paid lobbyist - may have some tax issues of his own. Obama has also made a mockery of his denunciation of lobbyists with many of his appointments.
Boy, this sure is change *I* can believe in!
Thank God the Republicans (in the House, anyway) are showing some spine and none of them voted to pass the travesty of a 'stimulus' bill that Obama is pushing for; some 11 Democrats even joined in voting against it, God bless them. Now it's on to the Senate where our tenured legislators get to "My good colleague" this and "Amendment proposed by my dear friend" that, which will pretty much ensure the bill gets passed, in all it's porcine glory.
The Wall Street Journal refers to it as a '40 year wish list', and if that doesn't sum up the nature of the bill well, I don't know what will. Additional hundreds of millions for HD TV upgrade coupons, more unemployment benefits (how, exactly, does that create a job?), transportation projects (more money for the unions!), even $600 million more to buy additional government automobiles, on top of the $3 billion is spends every year. What's not to love about the 'stimulus' plan? It even allocates $1 billion for nutritional programmes! That's an economy jump-starter if ever there was one!
No, the WSJ is spot on with this; the 'stimulus' bill is just payback for pet causes, organisations or businesses that support the Democrats. It gets even better, as Powerline and Kimberly Strassel of the WSJ point out the 'stimulus' also broadens the requirements to qualify for Medicare, so much so that the CBO estimates by the end of this year, an additional 1.2 million people will be on the doles (read the summary on Hot Air here).
NRO has a good article at The Corner that discusses the stimulus plan in detail, along with it's pitfalls.
But it gets even better, because in a cost cutting move, the Obama administration has already told the Pentagon it will need to scale back spending by 11%. Yep, that's right! While people are added to the government dole and everyone is guaranteed access to HD TV programming, the Pentagon has to cut 11%, for starters (Hat Tip to Ace).
And while the rest of us are battling (in many places), a much colder-than-normal winter, are worried about our jobs, lectured on the patriotism of paying more taxes and helping the environment by inflating our tyres, Obama decides that the Oval Office is a bit... drafty. What a stellar week and a half its been!
In addition to opposing the bailout, some GOP see this as an opportunity to poke fun at politicians who get off with no penalty while the rest of us would have to cough up a fine. Fine by me; the more we poke at people like the mealy-mouthed crook Charlie Rangel, the better.
I feel like I should lighten things up a bit, so here's an exchange I think you'll like:
Posted by hanyap at 5:56 PM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2009
Top Secret Checklist for the Inauguration
An insider got their hands on this paper, which was found crumpled up near the podium on Tuesday where Obama gave his inauguration speech.
Posted by hanyap at 1:54 PM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2009
Countdown
Well, the peace before the inauguration is over, and now begins the downpour. Apres moi le deluge, as Louis XV supposedly predicted ('After me, the flood").
America will be 'deluged' with ideas for growing government from all sides, with programmes from our all-knowing Congressmen who claim that this time their ideas for big government will help us.
Look at the enshrined stupidity in this new bailout bill (from Pajamas Media):
* $650 million for digital TV coupons.
* $6 billion for colleges/universities — many which have billion dollar endowments.
* $166 billion in direct aid to states — many of which have failed to budget wisely.
* $50 million in funding for the National Endowment of the Arts.
* $44 million for repairs to U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters.
* $200 million for the National Mall, including grass planting.
* $400 million for “National Treasures.”
That's right! The economy will be stimulated if they hand out several hundred million dollar's worth of coupons so people can upgrade to digital TV. Wow! Why didn't someone think of that sooner?
Grass planting... DC area landscape firms are going to be excited about that!
Not listed but being discussed is giving money to states like, California, where the government will cover the cost for state employees to get sex-change operations. It is a medical cost, after all!
I have many friends who are Dems and it is difficult to be friends with them, because they are so delusional; I wonder if they have a grip on reality and when I remember that they are a taxpayer and a voter, it makes me really irritable.
I saw Fran Drescher on Hannity's new TV show the other night and she in essence said that anyone who lives in America needs to help support others who are less successful. You know, the usual liberal mantra that if you're successful you have to pony up the funds so THEY can go on a social shopping spree and spend your tax money on their pet projects.
If you look at the details, not only did Barney Frank set the stage for the demise of Freddie and Fannie with his recklessness, he was key to writing in a provision that specifically allowed a home-town bank of his, OneUnited, to receive Federal TARP funds; funds it would probably have been denied otherwise. I guess a Democrat idea of someone who is 'less successful' is a bank that has perks like an executive Porsche. Then of course you have Robert Reich, (former Labour Secretary under Clinton), testify that there should be some criteria for aid money, to ensure it doesn't go to people who are already skilled professionals, or 'white construction workers'. Those were his words; Hot Air has the video. So much for fairness!
Democrats are all good at talk, in other words; do as I say, not as I do, could be their mantra. This week, not only have we had a tax-dodger (Geithner) nominated for Treasury Secretary ('Paying taxes is patriotic", anyone?), but Obama has signed an order to close Gitmo, doesn't know where to put the Gitmo detainees after its closed, and halted numerous trials of unrepentant terrorists like Khalid Sheikh Mohamed, one of the 9/11 masterminds. This, as we learn that a former Gitmo detainee repatriated to Saudi Arabia is now a leader of al-Qaeda in Yemen. I bet you all feel a thrill going up and down your leg at how much safer you're sure to be after these moves! With the economy in shambles and the market hitting a historic low for inauguration day, you'd think that Obama would be elbow deep in helping out the little guy. Wrong! He's too busy worrying about terrorists' rights and making sure that aid we give to other countries can be used for abortions. What priorities! What a way to take charge!
Really, he makes me sick. What's almost worse though are the aforementioned Democrat friends who don't see the hypocrisy in the actions of their leaders, either because they don't want to or they don't care enough to follow up and think about what's going on.
Mr. Man and I talked about this before the inauguration and it's even more solid now; like Rush, we want Obama to fail, miserably, with his liberal agenda. It seems that instead of the centrism that everyone hoped for, he is an unapologetic liberal hack and I don't want that for America. If Obama was moving towards the centre some I wouldn't be so fervent in my desire to see his nose pushed in. I don't consider socialism and liberalism succeeding as a 'win' for America. People might say that I'm wishing ill on America but I am NOT. Liberalism becoming more prevalent in America is a bad thing and I'm against it, and right now Obama is that standard bearer. I WANT a healthy America, and granting rights to terrorists above and beyond the Geneva Convention (which they technically aren't eligible for either), including KSM is NOT a good thing at all. Not only is Obama's cabinet and aides line up flawed, but his priorities appear to run counter to his pledge to protect and defend this country and the Constitution.
What does it say about an administration when the incoming chief of staff was acting childish just before the inauguration?
Additional reads:
Bailout funny business: Hot Air , NetRightNation
UPDATE: I forgot to add... how could you NOT have respect for a Commander-in-Chief who neglects to go to an inauguration ball for Medal of Honour winners/wounded vets, and it's the first such time in the history of the 'Salute to Heroes' ball that the President hasn't attended? How can you help but love the President after that? I mean, there was an MTV ball and all these other star studded balls and it was just too damn busy a night for him to make time for the Heroes ball. Something had to be cut, you know... things happen.
I'm sure Michelle Obama's pledge to reach out to military families will be enough to make up for it. I'm sure the Obamas hold our military in VERY high esteem.
Posted by hanyap at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)