Something Good Out of This?

There is not much positive going on in government right now: rampant spending; reckless programs; America bashing from the Obama administration; health care; auto industry takeover; banking and finance industry takeovers; and so on and so on. It is really ugly all the way around. So what good could come out of all of this? Well, it looks like some conservatives are finally starting to emerge in the Republican party. Most notably are Governor Jindal of Louisiana and Senator DeMint of South Carolina. Read up on them and what they are saying. They are actually making sense, even for a politician. Maybe we will actually have some conservative leadership in the next elections. I just hope the Country can last that long....

Catching up on the Idiocy

I have been too busy to write the last couple of weeks, but there are some things that just have to be addressed. In no particular order of insanity:

• The Beer Summit - Is this really the most important task the President of the United States should be attending to? Why is this even a story? Aside from the fact that the idiot, excuse me, Harvard professor acted like an imbicile and the police officer was doing his job and arrested somebody that deserved it? Which is a story that really should be reported more often: 99.9% of the cops are the good guys and do the right thing, but the only ones that make the news are the ones that screw up. For a good review of the situation read this article from the WSJ. Why is it that the common Democrat voter thinks the liberal elite is on their side? Do they just listen to everything they are told? Do they actually ever check the facts
• Could we please get Michael Jackson off the news? Arrest the doctor or give him a medal, but stop talking about it already.
• Why exactly are we trying to reform health care? The quality of care in this country is consistently ranked among the best in the world. Most of the country is covered by some form of insurance, and those that are not are able to get medical treatment at any emergency room in the country. The last thing we need is more government involvement; that never makes anything better. Do we need some changes? Sure! But the opposite kind that they are talking about. We need less government regulation and tort reform. Let the doctors do their job without undue burden of regulation and frivolous lawsuits. Most of the problem solved. Unlike our elected officials that are going to vote on this insanity, Jamie Dupree is actually reading it. Take look at what he is finding.
  
• Hillary vs Sarah - Now, I don't pretend to understand why Sarah Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska and I am not sold as to her future in national politics. However, compare her comments of the last week with the activities of Ms. Clinton. Our Secretary of State has spent her recent world tour condemning and insulting the United States: the country she is supposed to represent and recently wanted to be President of. Palin on the other hand has made statements that actually support, uplift and defend our country. Among the gems: "be wary of accepting government largess. It doesn't come free." ; "How about, in honor of the American soldier, you quit makin' things up?"; “Let us continue to love our country, be proud of our country, never apologize for our country.”; and this one is great! “I wish that some in the media would keep things like that in perspective, what is really important in our country. And what is important is our freedoms, America’s security, our liberty.”Compare that to some Hillary quotes; I'll let you look them up - I just had dinner.
• No free speach at the mall - At a Simon owned mall in Charlotte, NC a Kiosk owner has been denied a renewal of his lease. The reason? Well, Simon has denied any comment, but the common belief is that he is being kicked out because of the conservative nature of products. Bumper stickers asking us to "Impeach Obama", bibs making statements against abortion, and many products promoting free market ideals and a conservative agenda. I firmly believe that Simon has the right to lease space, or not, to anyone they feel like. But, can you imagine the media storm if they were to do the same thing to someone selling pro-Obama products?

There is a lot more, way more than I can cover in a night. The point is... PAY ATTENTION. They are counting on your apathy and unwillingness to engage your Congressman. Watch, listen, read and act.

Which is it?

There is an interview in the Financial Times with Larry Summers, the director of the US President's National Economic Council. The article as a a whole is interesting just in the context of learning a little more about how a member of the Administration really thinks. The key part of the interview that I want to point out though is when he was asked about the state of the economy. His response:

I don’t think the worst is over ... It’s very likely that more jobs will be lost. It would not be surprising if GDP has not yet reached its low. What does appear to be true is that the sense of panic in the markets and freefall in the economy has subsided and one does not have the sense of a situation as out of control as a few months ago.

Essentially, we have not solved the problems, we have just made everyone feel better about the situation. Basically the standard American reaction to most non-life threatening crisis; "that was no fun and I would like to fix it, but it wasn't so bad. I can live with this, just have to do things a little different."

The President, however, continues to sing a different tune. According to him, the "Stimulus" is working according to plan. Better yet, he goes on to define what some of that plan was, which is somewhat different than what was portrayed by the Democrats and the media. Here is how our President defines the success of his plan so far:

July 11 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama said his $787 billion stimulus bill “has worked as intended” as he pushed back against Republican criticism that his recovery program has failed to rescue the economy.

“It has already extended unemployment insurance and health insurance to those who have lost their jobs in this recession,” Obama, who is traveling today in Ghana, said in his weekly Saturday radio and Web address. “It has delivered $43 billion in tax relief to American working families and business.”

Further:

Obama, in his speech, said the stimulus program is helping state governments save jobs. Were it not for the program, the president said, “state deficits would be nearly twice as large as they are now, resulting in tens of thousands of additional layoffs -- layoffs that would affect police officers, teachers, and firefighters.”

OK.... Looking at these points one a a time:

1. We were told that somehow the $787 billion was going to create jobs, yet unemployment continues to climb. now we are told that the stimulus money went to pay unemployment benefits and provide health insurance to the unemployed (how does that work? Medicaid?). This is "working as planned"?
2. $43 billion in tax relief? Again, I must be confused or uneducated. Where is this tax relief? I know my paycheck has not changed. Correct me if I am wrong, but if there is no change to the tax rates then you do not see a "relief" (someone define that for me Please!) until you file your return in the form of a credit of some kind. Of course, we could always use the logic that says that since you stayed unemployed you were not receiving an income, therefore paying no taxes. What a relief!
3. Now the good part: the stimulus has saved Jobs according to Obama. What kind of jobs? Why, government jobs, of course. This is insane!!!!! We took taxpayer's money and gave it other government entities so that they would not have to lay off government employees! Guess what? Those governments that we are bailing out collect their own taxes to pay their employees. If we provided true stimulus that encouraged jobs and income growth with less tax burden then these state and local bodies could collect enough from the local citizenry to pay their employees. WITHOUT FEDERAL HELP! How does it feel to know that your money has gone to keep some bureaucrat employed somewhere that you probably do not live?
   

The whole thing is completely bonkers, and they want to do it again. The first one did not do the job so lets do the same thing again! Someone look up the classic definition of insanity.

So my original premise that the stimulus is either working or its not is flawed. The reality is that, according to the administration's definitions, it is both. We have still not hit bottom economically and unemployment is going to continue to rise, but the stimulus is doing what we planned. It is just that what we had in mind is not what we told you.

Some "Change". Do you believe in it yet?

Morality? What's That?

We really are a nation that has lost its way. We have become enslaved to our entertainment: our television, the computer, sports. By "enslaved", I mean that we are so infatuated by and so dedicated to the entertainment mediums that they have become what is most important in our lives. Heaven forbid that we miss the next episode of "24". But, that will be OK if we remember to set the DVR ahead of time (we can't plan our future beyond next week financially, but we will remember to set the DVR!). We are so embroiled in the escapism that is embodied in our entertainment that we have started to accept the soap opera morality portrayed by the story lines as our own. We now consider the absurd behavior of actors and athletes as something to be overlooked. "That is just how celebrities act". We excuse adultery, alcohol and drug use, criminal behavior; all because of their status.

Over the last week we have been inundated with a media deluge on the subject of Michael Jackson. It has been impossible to pick up a newspaper, turn on the radio of television or check a news website without stories about the death of Michael Jackson. I will be the first to admit that he was an icon in the music world. He was extremely talented and a great performer. However, has everyone forgotten the whole "touching kids inappropriately" thing? The only mention I heard (and I will grant that I did not hear much; I kept turning it off) was one reporter slipping in that "he did have his demons" into the midst of his fawning. But for Michael, that is OK. No one holds it against him, or even thinks it should be mentioned. Because he is a celebrity, and under the pressure of the public spotlight, irrational, immoral and criminal behavior is overlooked.

The biggest story from the sports world of the last week was the shooting death of Steve McNair; the former NFL quarterback of the Titans and Ravens. Once again, a tremendously talented individual and a real star in the NFL with great accomplishments. His death is a tragedy. But, amidst all the reminiscing about his feats and skill, everyone seems to be glossing over the circumstances of his death. He was killed along with (and possibly by) his girlfriend. The problem? He was Married! With four sons! He was in the middle of an adulterous affair with a women 14 years younger then himself that had apparently been going on for some time. He had purchased cars for her; paid for her condo; went on vacations together. But no one is willing to stand up and say "his actions and behavior were wrong and probably lead to his death". So far the only thing I have seen that criticizes him at all was Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock: and he refused to be a "sanctimonious moralizer". He sees nothing wrong with the affair (he does not know the state of their marriage or what "agreement" they may have), and seems to condone the chasing of younger women. His complaint against McNair, and a very valid one, is the obvious neglect of his children and the harm he has caused them.

Death at such young ages, 50 and 34, is always a tragedy. Especially when it comes as unexpectedly as these did. These men had families and children that I am sure grieve for them, and I mourn for their loss. But we cannot excuse their behavior because of their position. In fact, it should be the opposite. We used to hold these type of people to a higher standard. They were role models that we were happy to have our children look up to. Now we use them as an example of how not to act. At least, I hope we do....

What makes America Great?

Quite simply, it's people. And not people in terms of groups; Individuals. The people that go out everyday and do extraordinary things with no expectation of recognition and no thought of reward beyond what they can produce for themselves. Look around you. Somewhere today you will run across someone that is a hero. You would never be able to guess it just by looking at them, and they would never tell you.

How about a construction worker in Iowa that harnessed himself to a crane and rescued a women drowning in a turbulent river. Or an Iraq war vet that refused to let the loss of his legs stop him; instead overcoming his challenges and motivating others. A couple risking their life to pull a stranger from a burning truck, or that driver himself that wrecked his rig instead of ramming the minivan full of kids that had stopped in front of him on an icy road. A young soldier returning from his tour and going out of his way to visit the classroom of my son. Just because they wrote him a letter as a class while he was deployed. For that matter, pick a Soldier, Marine, Sailor or Airman. All those that serve meet every definition of Hero.

These people do what they do for reasons we may never know. Some feel compelled to serve; some respond under pressure. Most just do the right thing, because it is the right thing.

Recognize the heroes you know. Do something for those that serve and protect our freedoms.

More George Will....

Once again, read George Will every time you have the opportunity.

Reverse racism in Connecticut: As obvious a case as there has ever been. And the only reason I call it "reverse" is that the standard acceptable definition is white discriminating against black, Hispanic, Muslim, etc. The really sad thing though, as Will points out, is that there were still four liberal judges against it. They, liberal judges, are never going to issue a ruling that favors a white male, a Christian or big business. They will ignore the law, establish policy from the bench instead of interpreting the law as is their job, and continue to promote the liberal left's ideology. Elections matter: Presidents appoint judges, judges now make policy.

Health Care "Reform": This is an excellent primer on why health care cost what it does and why we should oppose the government plan.

Where is the outrage?

Seriously, where is the media outrage? Anyone that does not think there is a serious left wing bias to media reporting is delusional. Remember a month or so back when the Federal Government threatened California with losing federal money if they did not cave in to the Service union demands? The State was trying to save money by cutting services; unfortunately, they dared to cut a program that employed union workers. Union workers that happen to belong to a union whose leader happens to be in really tight with President Obama. A Chicago Tribune article this week outlines an ongoing relationship between the White House and Andy Stern, who leads the Service Employees International Union. It seems that Mr Stern visits the White House at least weekly, and according to Stern, "We get heard".

Why would a union leader get such intimate access to the President? Just follow the money.

The Obama-Stern relationship has emerged as among the more curious within the young administration.

The SEIU spent $60 million to help elect Obama, according to the union. Stern says the group deployed 100,000 volunteers during the campaign, including 3,000 who worked on the election full-time, and made 15 million phone calls. Chicago Tribune

More, this is not a new relationship:

But Stern notes that SEIU's political loyalties are solid, reaching back to the 2004 race for the U.S. Senate in Illinois, when Obama was a long shot but earned the union's endorsement. "Our relationship was built in an earlier era," Stern said. CT

So, what happens when you spend $60+ million to get a Senator elected and then get that Senator into the White House? Perks! Favors! Benefits! You can threaten the state of California and be backed by the President; you can be instrumental in forming public policy on health care and immigration (big time issues for the unions); and jobs for the cronies!

Stern, for his part, can boast that union officials are scattered in jobs throughout the Obama administration. White House political director Patrick Gaspard is a former executive at an SEIU local based in New York. No other union has placed anyone at such a high level in the White House. Anna Burger, secretary-treasurer of SEIU, was appointed to Obama's economic recovery board. And union associate counsel John Sullivan was named to the six-member Federal Election Commission. CT

Imagine, just for a minute, if President Bush had appointed employees of Haliburton and Exxon to positions of power and influence over energy policy. The media firestorm would have been off the charts! We would not have heard the end of it until those people were removed from their positions.

I am starting to think that there is not anything that the mainstream media will not give Obama a pass on. After all, they probably helped get him elected more than the unions did; can't make him look bad now.