1. It is becoming altogether too fashionable to label opposition to President Obama as racist, or being tied to race somehow. I have opined on this subject before, but it is really grating on me. The President's supporters are out there on the airwaves making statements about the opposition on the Right (which, I might add, is not where I come from . . . us Independents guard our independence with a vengeance) stoking the flames of racism, purposely trying to undercut The Great One. Even possibly trying to hurt The Sacred Voice by instigating others to violence.
This is nonsense. People are pissed. The country is in poor shape fiscally. Record Trillion Dollar deficits. There is historic unemployment (IL 10.5%, CA 12%, MI 14%). Millions of families are losing their homes to foreclosure. Our Nation is spending money like madmen. In the midst of this chaos, our President, and Congress, are proposing ANOTHER Trillion Dollar spending program. And, the pissed off public is venting on its Government - as is our right.
Obama made this Administration all about him. He said he was going to ride into town and save the day. His new approach would bridge the gaps (bring Red and Blue states together, blah, blah, blah). We need a new way forward. Gotta have hope. Obama has "uncommon wisdom" (I didn't make that term up . . . one of my friends . . . and a reader of this blog . . . has used that term). So now that the President has made it all about him, he is living with the consequences. And, one of the consequences is that people are venting on him.
Yes, there are racists in our midst and, sadly, I am afraid, there will always be. Such is the human condition that some will always want to make themselves feel better by looking down on others. But, that should not de-legitimize political discourse. We can't take a whole wedge of the population and say to them that they need to quiet down because they are riling up our crazy uncle in the attic.
Sorry, this is bugging me. On to the next thing . . .
2. President Obama Lobbying for Chicago 2016. If this isn't the political marker of all political markers being called in, I don't know what is. Daley made Obama and now, Daley needs to be paid back. With a little trip to Copenhagen. While Rome burns, Obama fiddles. He will be the first (and hopefully last) sitting U.S. President to personally lobby the Olympic Committee for a U.S. venue. Kind of humiliating for us, and for him, don't you think? Maybe he can sell Sham-wows next. Rumor has it they are looking for a new pitchman.
3. Why Chicago is so Luke-Warm on the Olympics. Honestly, I have no opinion about whether the Olympics will be good or bad for Chicago, but I do have an opinion about who will end up paying for them. And the answer is sitting right here in front of this PC . . . Illinois Taxpayers. I've seen enough of Illinois and Chicago politics to know that. And, at the end of the day, that's why there is so little support for the Olympics (47% in recent poll).
We know in our guts that this is going to cost us. Big time.
Plus, there is the sense that more important things are going on in Chicago. Like the horrifying beating death of a Chicago high school student this week. Or the number of kids killed in Chicago this year. Or the high unemployment. Or, or, or . . . we've got more pressing matters to worry about than whether some real estate developers are going to get the chance to line their pockets . . . at our expense.
And, sadly . . . we know it will come to pass. And we will pay.
4. Remember Who Your Friends Are. This Administration is striving to love and be loved, by everyone. Maybe President Obama spent too much time watching "Everyone Loves Raymond" and thinks that everyone should love Barack. The reality is that not everyone is going to love Barack, or the U.S.A. Some people actively hate us, and others pursue their own self interest, sometimes at our expense. That's not going to change. Let's not forget who our friends are in the process of trying to be loved by everyone.
Okay, I'll connect the dots on this subject. We are trying to win over the Russians (a dying country if there ever was one) by tossing overboard the Poles and the Czechs (see Missile Defense issue). We are trying to win over the hearts and minds of the Arab Street (whatever that is) by pressuring the Israelis to give concessions to leaders who don't have the legitimacy or power to deliver a peace deal. We are trying to bring Hugo Chavez in from the cold by dialing back on our relations with our close allies in Columbia. All these efforts will yield no lasting benefits for this country. We are being played like a fiddle. And, in the process, our friends are being taught a lesson; don't get too close to the U.S.A. because the next Administration may take a different path, and you'll get burned.
Not good for us, in the long run. Barack may enjoy being welcomed the World over, but at the end of the day, he is hurting our country's credibility on the World Stage.
Woldy
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A few rantings . . .
1. Jimmy Carter has a way with words, doesn't he? The ONLY reason anyone pays attention to what that cranky old guy says any longer is that he used to occupy an office suite at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. No other reason. He has not added anything meaningful in the public arena in many years.
As far as what he said this last week, clearly, there are racists still in this country. That is indisputable. I suppose it is safe to assume that most racists are offended by having an African-American President. But to come out and suggest, as Carter did last week, that opposition to Obama is tied to racism is less than honest, at best, and manipulative of headlines at worst. This kind of "analysis" is clearly intended to quiet down the opposition. Who wants to be called a racist? Not too many people.
Jimmy, go build some houses for folks. Do something useful. For a change.
2. Missile Defense. Right or wrong with the decision, what we did this week will undercut our credibility with Central European countries (and possibly others) for a long, long time. The Czech and Polish leadership went out on a limb in an effort to help the U.S. with its missile defense plans. Now it looks like they walked the plank instead. We left them hanging and they won't forget it.
And, for what? To placcate the Russians? Seems to me that without something tangible (i.e. specific promises and actionable items in return for this move), we just pissed off our friends to try to curry favor with our enemy.
3. Stop Spending. Please Stop Spending. Is anyone in Washington listening? We are saying this pretty unambiguously and consistently. The American Public does not like spendthrifts and the current Administration (and, let's be fair, the last Administration) are turning us all into spendthrifts.
We are in a hole. The quickest way out of the hole is to stop digging and start climbing. Seems that the Wrecking Crew in charge of our Government right now is intent on digging.
4. Arrogance. If you want to view arrogance up close and personal, then check out Henry Waxman's actions these last couple of weeks. He is throttling any chance of correcting a clearly flawed law (yes, I am referring to the CPSIA) that is inflicting real, and lasting damage on corporations in a wide array of industries.
This type of "leadership" will end up costing the Democrats . . . big time.
As far as what he said this last week, clearly, there are racists still in this country. That is indisputable. I suppose it is safe to assume that most racists are offended by having an African-American President. But to come out and suggest, as Carter did last week, that opposition to Obama is tied to racism is less than honest, at best, and manipulative of headlines at worst. This kind of "analysis" is clearly intended to quiet down the opposition. Who wants to be called a racist? Not too many people.
Jimmy, go build some houses for folks. Do something useful. For a change.
2. Missile Defense. Right or wrong with the decision, what we did this week will undercut our credibility with Central European countries (and possibly others) for a long, long time. The Czech and Polish leadership went out on a limb in an effort to help the U.S. with its missile defense plans. Now it looks like they walked the plank instead. We left them hanging and they won't forget it.
And, for what? To placcate the Russians? Seems to me that without something tangible (i.e. specific promises and actionable items in return for this move), we just pissed off our friends to try to curry favor with our enemy.
3. Stop Spending. Please Stop Spending. Is anyone in Washington listening? We are saying this pretty unambiguously and consistently. The American Public does not like spendthrifts and the current Administration (and, let's be fair, the last Administration) are turning us all into spendthrifts.
We are in a hole. The quickest way out of the hole is to stop digging and start climbing. Seems that the Wrecking Crew in charge of our Government right now is intent on digging.
4. Arrogance. If you want to view arrogance up close and personal, then check out Henry Waxman's actions these last couple of weeks. He is throttling any chance of correcting a clearly flawed law (yes, I am referring to the CPSIA) that is inflicting real, and lasting damage on corporations in a wide array of industries.
This type of "leadership" will end up costing the Democrats . . . big time.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Another Bad Decision
Want to start a trade war? Bend to political pressure from unions and put a 35% duty on some small item and see what the other side does.
That's exactly what our President decided to do in a little-noticed move late last week when he put the duty on Chinese made tires in response to pressure from unions in this country.
Surprise, surprise. China is now studying two categories of American products for possible dumping duties.
This is how trade wars start. And, they don't end well.
Bad move, President Obama.
That's exactly what our President decided to do in a little-noticed move late last week when he put the duty on Chinese made tires in response to pressure from unions in this country.
Surprise, surprise. China is now studying two categories of American products for possible dumping duties.
This is how trade wars start. And, they don't end well.
Bad move, President Obama.
Please Read This
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203706604574370712943409146.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Friday, September 11, 2009
Joe Wilson is an A-hole . . . but he may be right
Okay, Rep Wilson is a jerk. Let's agree on that. In the U.K., parliamentarians can stand up and call out the Prime Minister during questions. They can call the P.M. all kinds of names, including a "liar". But we don't have that tradition here. Usually, the President is treated with deference by the Congress and they politely listen to what the President has to say and show some respect for the Office. Agree or disagree, we are all Americans and the President is the President of all of us. So, ding Rep Wilson for being a jerk. It will be interesting to see if he gets re-elected.
But, that's where it should stop. Let's move on. There are far more important things to do than to focus on this guy from South Carolina who blurted out something stupid (are we talking about their Governor or one of their Congressmen . . . sorry, I lost my train of thought).
Regarding the speech the other night and its implications, I have an observation.
Much has been written about the way that President Obama was walking a thin line in that speech between the liberal wing of his Party and the conservative wing of his Party (along with Independents who are concerned about mundane things like deficit spending and leaving our children with a gi-normous bill to pay for our profligate spending). It seems to me as I read this commentary, and listened to, and re-read portions of the speech, that President Obama said things that mean different things to different audiences. Maybe this is an old politicians trick, and maybe he is just damn good at this, but he said things in such a way that a wide range of the political spectrum can project their beliefs onto what he said and nod their head and say "yeah, that's more like it".
For instance, the President said that if you like your current coverage, you can keep the coverage you have today, but the legislation is just going to enhance its value by eliminating waste and inefficiency. Sounds great and who can argue with that? Only thing is, nobody who thinks about these issues seriously believes that this is anything other than fantasy or political posturing.
This was, in my view, an effort to stifle the dissent from the disgruntled masses who have currently health insurance and largely like what they have, which is a very large majority of us, by the way. By telling us what we want to hear, he's hoping that we now will go silently along with his proposals.
It is an interesting political game he is playing. I think he feels he needs something (anything at this point) to pass so he can claim victory and go home. It is not so much about fixing what's wrong, as it is about making incremental change and hoping he comes out looking good in the end.
The game is afoot.
But, that's where it should stop. Let's move on. There are far more important things to do than to focus on this guy from South Carolina who blurted out something stupid (are we talking about their Governor or one of their Congressmen . . . sorry, I lost my train of thought).
Regarding the speech the other night and its implications, I have an observation.
Much has been written about the way that President Obama was walking a thin line in that speech between the liberal wing of his Party and the conservative wing of his Party (along with Independents who are concerned about mundane things like deficit spending and leaving our children with a gi-normous bill to pay for our profligate spending). It seems to me as I read this commentary, and listened to, and re-read portions of the speech, that President Obama said things that mean different things to different audiences. Maybe this is an old politicians trick, and maybe he is just damn good at this, but he said things in such a way that a wide range of the political spectrum can project their beliefs onto what he said and nod their head and say "yeah, that's more like it".
For instance, the President said that if you like your current coverage, you can keep the coverage you have today, but the legislation is just going to enhance its value by eliminating waste and inefficiency. Sounds great and who can argue with that? Only thing is, nobody who thinks about these issues seriously believes that this is anything other than fantasy or political posturing.
This was, in my view, an effort to stifle the dissent from the disgruntled masses who have currently health insurance and largely like what they have, which is a very large majority of us, by the way. By telling us what we want to hear, he's hoping that we now will go silently along with his proposals.
It is an interesting political game he is playing. I think he feels he needs something (anything at this point) to pass so he can claim victory and go home. It is not so much about fixing what's wrong, as it is about making incremental change and hoping he comes out looking good in the end.
The game is afoot.
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