Mato mi Pavo is Spanish for "I killed my turkey" and is slang in the Yucatan for "I give up". With the direction our country it taking and the lack of outrage in all quarters, I needed a place to say I DON'T give up.
Here I will share harebrained opinions from my bald head in an effort to keep said head from bursting due to the pressure. Blogging for me is a skill set under development. I hope to find it therapeutic. I hope you find it thought provoking, interesting and above all entertaining.
As the list of Democrat elected officials retiring grows as a rate only exceeded by the growth of our national debt, The ONE is seeing his popularity and approval shrink faster than the hopes global climate change champions in the wake of ever increasing snow drifts in nearly every state of the country.
From what were historically high approval rates and a nearly cult like following, Obama is now polling almost dead even with... well... anybody. ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
A recent Gallup poll shows that the GOP could run just about anyone with a pulse and they would have a chance at unseating the one once thought sure to serve three terms as President before retiring to his rightful place on Mount Rushmore.
Three years, when talking about election cycles, is an eternity so much could change before voters are again lured to the polls by promises of a life uncomplicated by candidates from all parties and the president's downward trend could easily be reversed. All it would take is his going a little gansta.
Politics can be brutal and those in politics can be, and usually are, petty little whining narcissists who make even the slightest of gaffs in to issues requiring letters of apology and review committees of the highest order to be seated.
President Obama recently threw craps for a second time when he said that in these hard financial times, people should not spend college funds gambling in Las Vegas. Everyone from the Nevada state speaker of the house to Harry "he speaks well for a black man" Reid came to the table with Poker faces demanding The ONE settle up his debt to those slighted in the Silver State. Not wanting to hurt anyone's feeling more, the President ordered a minor staffer to draft a letter expressing an appropriate amount of consolation and begging forgiveness. Whew. I am glad we nipped that crisis in the bud.
Last week White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel stirred a few chromosomes in those on the right when he referred to liberal activist groups who were opposed to Health Care reform as F$%*ing retarded. Faster than the your average Special Olympics gold medal winner could run a 50-yard dash the calls arose for his firing. Instead of firing a guy for offending the parents of mentally or physically challenged children (kids who probably already know they are mentally or physically challenged)with an off hand remark, why don't we suggest firing those who retard legitimate progress in our government?
Finally, we come to another verbal gaff by the world's most famous teleprompter reader. During the White House Prayer Breakfast, an event skipped last year and with interesting speeches by each the current and a former First Lady, The ONE read the word corpsman (core man) as "corpse man" several times. As a singular event, this is funny. It is also fodder for every right of center leaning talk show host and television talking head to poke fun at the orator in chief. I can't help but wonder, in light of the over reactions referenced above, how long it will be until the Society of Funeral Parlor Directors or the Affiliated Grave Diggers Local 456 Union begin calling for investigations and letters of apology. What will prove interesting is how the mainstream media reacts. Will they herald this gaff with any of the zeal they did when George W said Nucular (phonetically spelled here)instead of nuclear or any of his many malapropisms? Or will this add to the body of evidence that the media is more interested in shaming a Republican at every turn but Democrats get free rides more luxurious than Nancy Pelosi's recently remodeled jumbo jet?
Let me be upfront about this, I have done everything I can to avoid reading, watching or listening to reports about the Beer Summit held at the White House last Thursday. It is this ignorance of the issue that, it seems, makes me qualified to comment on the greater issue here. After all, when asked about the underlying racially charged arrest that this summit was held to address, the First African American President of the United States felt compelled, after admitting he didn't know the facts, to call the actions of the police stupid.
For those of you who may shun mass media to an even great extent than I have recently, the so-called Beer Summit at the White House was a photo opportunity brought about from an arrest made at the home of a Harvard professor after a neighbor, who was either taking her turn on duty for Neighborhood Watch or feels she is channeling Jimmy Stewart's wheelchair bound character in Rear Window, called the police to report two men breaking in to a house on her street. You see, after a long first class, wine filled, movie watching and nap taking flight from China, the professor couldn't locate his house keys and the chauffeur didn't have a set on the limo's keyring. The well educated and tenured molder of youthful minds had to break in to his own home. Hence the report of the, umm, a break in to the police.
When the police arrived to investigate and make sure everything was Kosher, the Harvard professor took umbrage at being asked if there was anyone else in the home and to provide some identification showing he belonged there and that climbing in the window was his normal method of entry. I guess one slur led to another and soon the well educated one was doing a perp walk to the officer's black and white.
Fast forward to the national beer garden on the White House lawn on Thursday just before the nightly news is scheduled start. Four men are sitting amicably, we assume, discussing the broader issue of race in this country while tossing back an unidentified brand of beer that had been delivered one at a time to their table. The cries of racism and prejudice that emanated from the handcuffed professor a few short weeks ago are now being discussed for how they relate to the population at large. The four men: the professor, the arresting police officer, the Vice President of the United States and The ONE.
You will note I've yet to mention the race of the police officer or the professor. That is because it is irrelevant. Or it was until the professor brought it up and then the President chimed in. So just how oppressed is the break in artist?
Of the four, only one is not a millionaire; the white cop. One professes, and actually brags about, being the poorest member of the United States Senate when he held that title before his current one: the white politician. One makes a living pointing out the differences between the races and perpetuating stereotypes, the like which this Beer Summit is condemning, of the past and has a job from which he can't be fired: the black professor. One rose from average beginnings in a meteoric rise to the most powerful position on the planet: the black President. One is probably not really sure what the hell he is even doing there: the white politician.
Two of the men will soon vacation in multi-million dollar estates in one of the richest areas of the country: the two black men. One will, most likely, never again set foot in a place of such power and opulence as is the White House where the others will be regular attendees: the white cop. One works for the public good in a position of trust where benevolence and civic duty more than monetary reward or power are the draw to the career: the white cop. The other three are in positions where the preceding should apply but unfortunately doesn't seem to.
Where, looking at a photograph of this staged event we should see four men having a beer and leave it at that, unfortunately it is told to us we need to see two black man and two white men and focus on their differences and challenges in society. The race baiters in our society tell us we will never be able to move past issues of race until we can see beyond the colors of one's skin. Unfortunately, it is usually they who are so quick to point these colors out. Personally, I am color blind.
Broadway star and impresario George M. Cohan once quipped "I don't care what you say about me, as long as you say something about me, and as long as you spell my name right."
I am having a hard time figuring out why they pulled the Chia Obama off the shelves. Fortunately, it is still available online. I mean, we have Obama everything else. Just days after the coronation of The ONE, Obama plates, coins, stamps and just about everything else was being offered from outlets as diverse as QVC to the local street corner. I am pretty sure those street corner guys weren't spreading their wealth as Obama requested we do.
It was ridiculous enough having the President's mug plastered over everything in site; including mugs. The Rock Star in Chief did little to dissuade crowds from behaving like teenagers at a Jonas Brothers concert. From New York to Minnesota , New Jersey and even an attempt in Colorado, schools are already being named for the First African American President of the United States. You can eat at the Obama restaurant and provided the country's women leave him alone long enough to pose for it, most likely Mount Rushmore is soon to be updated.
The homages to The ONE extend beyond the porous borders of our own country. In Israel he is "honored" with Obama Huts and Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown has renamed a nearly sacred stretch of beach in France after him!
I would have thought by now the allure of image over substance would have begun to wear thin. As we continue our march to the left side of the political and economic spectrum, as Europe retrenches to the right, the mindless followers of a modern day messiah are not those listeners to a formerly chubby, cigar smoking AM talk radio behemoth, they are those on the left gazing with glossed over eyes at the second coming.
I spent a good portion of today at a GM dealership. This particular dealership is one of the top performers in their market and wasn't fearing the Federal Express van when it pulled in to the parking lot. The same couldn't be said for thousands of other automotive sellers across the country. To them, the Fed Ex guy was about as welcome as a sneezing Mexican immigrant worker in the back seat of the car pool Prius. You see, GM chose to send Dear John letters via overnight mail. I guess it is easier to deliver the "it's not you, it's me" line that way instead of over the phone.
Despite not being at risk, technicians in the service department couldn't help but continually search the web for news about other dealership's situation. Technicians seem to be worse gossips than the Tuesday afternoon neighborhood coupon swap/poker game woman's group.
I've never claimed to be smart so I may come as no surprise when I say I don't really understand what is being accomplished in these mass closings. Automotive dealerships are independent businesses. They are not assets held by the big three (or any other manufacturer) and their employees are not on any corporate payroll in Detroit. These closures are not reductions in expense. Closing them would be akin to Mary Kay telling their Pink Cadillac driving associates their services are no longer needed. Other than further eroding GMs share of the pink vehicle market, this severance would not save Ms. Kay anything. She'd only be limiting her distribution network.
The same is true of the actions being taken by GM and Chrysler. In fact, GM expects sales to further erode precisely because of this smaller network. They also claim most of the ejected dealerships are struggling businesses that would probably be closing soon anyway. Grandpa is slowing down a bit in his old age, too. Should we put him out of his misery now?
The Obama administration claims to not want to be in the Automotive Industry but I somehow feel this cut back of dealerships is partly being done to show Washington "look we are making progress"! Every day another article appears indicating further influence of The ONE's administration in the business world. Reading through them, it becomes painfully clear, these guys just don't get it when it comes to running any company. It is the Automotive Task Force driving many of the recent decisions by GM and Chryser; the dealership closings among them.
No figures are yet available on how many people will be put out of work with these closings but with nearly 3,000 dealerships going away with, I'd guess, around 50 employees each you can do the math. I am sure there is a master plan somewhere in which this decision makes sense. Perhaps it is a way to deepen the prospective pool for civil servants.
I didn't get as much done at work as I wanted today so I ended up working later this evening than planned. And, unfortunately, the blog is suffering a bit tonight.
I have outstanding research on Obama's 600 mile pizza delivery, Michelle's playing the media and the new puppy's piddling. Truth be told, I just don't feel like picking on the First African American President tonight. He did the right thing.
The news is abuzz with confirmation that The ONE gave the "go" order for the taking down of the terrorist Pirates off the coast of Somalia. I think a bit much is being made of his involvement as he didn't give the go order at the time of firing, it was a standing rule of engagement.
Nonetheless, the order was there, it was right and credit goes where credit is due. As conservatives, we need to be sure to provide this. So much was fuss was made over every decision made by George Bush for the past eight years that those on the left could seriously have been diagnosed with a true derangement syndrome.
Let's all come together, like much of the nation will be doing on Wednesday for tea, and give a good job to The ONE who, this time, deserves it.
Reading headlines today I had to check the calendar a few times to make sure it was not still April 1. I wish it still was because, without the hope that what is being reported is really an attempt at a prank, I am left only to assume those in our government really do think we are stupid.
I've seen the video of President Obama not bowing before King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the G-20 meeting in London. Well, according to a nameless White House staffer, one of the 500 in the Pres' European posse,
"It wasn't a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he's taller than King Abdullah,".
If that is the case, I have to wonder who's hand that is rising from Obama's side after straightens his waist. I know he and his administration seem to have their hands in to so many aspects of our daily lives that is seems they are blessed with more than a humanly count of two hands.
Those of you think this is a conservative built mountain erupting like an Alaskan volcano that could blast Obama particles skyward (see below) need to realize this is an example of the First African American President of the United States being able to produce yet another faux pas without being called on it in the fawning mainstream media.
Following the anonymous staffer's logic, the President should have been almost on the floor to perform a two handed shake with the Ewok sized Queen of England. Let's go to the tape and see how far he had to bend to shake her hand:
It seems the President's knowledge of bowing etiquette is right in line with his gift giving prowess and mastery of Austrian as a second language. I am thinking the President studied science at the same place as these other subjects. In an effort to curb global warming, The ONE is exploring a plan to shoot pollution particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect the sun's rays and cool the Earth.
The fact that there has been no warming in the past 10 years notwithstanding, isn't pollution (like those particles being launched) one of the things blamed for the supposed warming? The author of Audacity of Hope seems to be quite audacious in his opinion that mankind, sorry personkind, can control nature with what would be a parlor trick akin to making hand shadows on the wall from a table lamp's light.
The plan to stop global warming could be like a cold shower to the maker of the Kyoto Box Oven. This aluminum foil covered cardboard box won the "inventor" of the box around $100,000. I wonder if he is going to reinvest some of this bounty in to developing the Magnifying Glass Microwave?
I wish I could make these things up but I guess truth is stranger than fiction.
I missed the online Town Hall meeting held by The ONE today as, unlike many of those who seem to attend these types of events, I have a job. I haven't had a chance to check out any online replays but I did see a few of the questions. I am afraid that we have reached the tipping point. Why is every question asked of a government official these days centered around what the government is going to do for us. I've news for you folks, it isn't what the government does for us, it is what it does to us.
It does seem like the First African American President of the United States, along with his teleprompter, is everywhere these days. I doubt there is a sole left in our 57 states who hasn't seen him on Jay Leno, 60 Minutes, You Tube and I think I saw him in a cameo in the movie the Watchmen a few weeks ago. He was the one with all the super powers.
I guess when you are a former community organizer, part time Senator and expert on everything, you should be public in your views. Face it, what hasn't The ONE spoken about publicly? I will give you one thing.
In North Dakota, people are working feverishly to protect their belongings and homes from the rising waters of the Red River. It must be Global Warming, sorry make that Global Climate Change, creating automobile size ice chunks that are blocking the river on its northerly trip in to Canada. Or, perhaps, the Canadians think the river is a British activist MP and are denying it entry. Either way, the situation is severe.
Surprisingly, The ONE, just like he ignored the frozen, toothless, inbred hicks in Kentucky a few months ago when more Global Warming caused storms put out the power across the state making Hillcicles out of the country folk not lucky enough to have struck oil while hunting for food and had moved to 'Beverly, has ignored the goings on in Canada's basement.
He did declare a state of emergency. This is good as it frees up government assistance more quickly. But, face it, emergencies are declared nationwide at the first sign of a high wind or when polls begin to falter. And Barack Obama would never pass up an opportunity to increase government spending. Would he?
The fine, hard working citizens up in fly over country should be in our thoughts and our prayers. So far, their work is paying off but Mother Nature can be, well, a mother and it is but a matter of time until the levy breaks. Whether you agree with his policies or not, The ONE is our President. A word of encouragement on behalf of the country to those who, at this moment, probably feel as alone and helpless as an environmentalist on his way to the North Pole to show the effects of global warming stuck, without food, in a blizzard.
Perhaps someone can put a few well wishes in to the teleprompter for you.
Today is one of those days where holding a more than full time job interferes with your supply of witty reportage. In an evening display of multi-tasking that would make a one man band performing a Benny Goodman medley jealous, I rewrote a thirty minute script, burned a dozen CDs to my new network hard drive, Skyped with several co-workers, sent pictures of Snow Leopard cubs and Photoshopped Kim Kardashian images to Mrs. Bald Man electronically from the kitchen table to her office and watched the First African American President of the United State's second nationally televised news conference. To maintain my sanity, I had the sound turned down on The ONE and tried to catch as many of the subtitles as I could. Little did I know, this effort would provide insight that was validated through a quick search of the ever accurate Internet.
Three things struck me watching the President sans sound. First, I immediately noticed the absence of the ever present teleprompters. Second, there was a definite lack of "umm", "err" and "ahhs" in the subtitles. The alignment of these incongruous stars made me pause in my work effort and turn up the volume for a few moments. Sure enough, The ONE was delivering a cogent, crisply delivered but boring speech. There wasn't a verbal pause in earshot. Perhaps my criticism of his public speaking was unwarranted.
Sound turned down on the TV and headphones blasting Crosby, Stills and Nash (but no Young) firmly in place on the smooth dome, I was back to work and periodically watching our dear leader. It seemed he was uniquely focused on one particular reporter in the room. Could there be a Clintonesque scandal brewing? Did Jake Tapper of ABC have a spinach leaf in his teeth? Did Helen Thomas go commando? No. No. And please God NO!!!
Come to find out, thanks to Fox News' wrap up of the conference, the object of the President's affection was none other than his old friend the Teleprompter! The staff had replaced the front of the room glass panels with an LCD, hopefully hi-def and cable ready, television.
OK, all is now right with the world. Honestly, I prefer the impression of watching a tennis match action of his looking left, right, left, right while reading to the singly focused stare at the center of the room. I do notice he has a tendency to read from the right side glass more often. I guess when you are as far left as The ONE, everything seems to be to the right.
I will apologize for not having any deep analysis or insightful review of tonight's conference. I just didn't have time to review it. Then again, anyone coming here for insight and deep thought is in the wrong place.
Instead, I direct you to one of my new favorite places on the net. The home of none other than Obama's Teleprompter. If you don't laugh over there, you never will.
A picture recently emerged which apparently shows Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, back in the days when he was listening to American diplomats do the nasty with USSR hookers and making telephone calls on his right shoe a la Maxwell Smart, posing as a tourist and talking to then President Ronald Reagan.
I don't think this comes as any surprise to those of us who lived during the Cold War. We knew that spies were everywhere.
Not to be outdone by some former Commie turned Capitalist turned Commie again leader, Barack Obama, the socialist turned capitalist campaigner turned socialist, released this photo of him infiltrating the "hood" during a Summer away from the Law Review and Community Organizing. Stars Paul Micheal Glaser and David Soul both stated they couldn't tell the difference between the original Huggy Bear, Antonio Fargas, and his politically savvy impersonator. Although Glaser did quip, "there were days he didn't seem, you know, as Urban".
If you asked former President's if they would go on a television talk show to state their opinions most would have said, "When Pigs Fly". Unfortunately, our mold breaking current Campaigner in Chief thinks going on Jay Leno's show and quipping about popular culture gives him credibility.
Yeah I know. I wonder where they hid the teleprompters?
No, not the company, the letters. Surely over the past two days these three letters have been worn nearly through on the keyboards of reporters, bloggers, newspaper typesetters and Presidential Teleprompter Input Specialists. OK, they are probably Presidential Teleprompter Input Czars as that seems to be the title du jour in the Obama administration.
It is amazing the amount of anger, disdain and vitriol being put forth by average citizen and elected official alike toward AIG. In the case of the former it seems like class warfare and in the latter it is political expediency and advantage.
With so much being written about this topic, I am wondering why I am bothering to add my few pennies to the discussion. I guess it is to serve as a bit of a reality check. Let's look quickly at the two aforementioned angry mobs busily pitching their torches and grabbing their permanently pitched forks in preparation of a march on Castle AIG to exact 160 million pounds of flesh from bonus recipients and slay this monstrous practice of fulfilling a contract.
Yes, that is right. AIG, in paying these bonuses, was fulfilling a contract they had with their employees. We can pass judgement as to the morality of paying bonus money to individuals who performed their duties so poorly they caused the near collapse of their company and on those same individuals for taking the payments. It is right for us to ask for the money to be returned based on this alone; not for moral reasons but to assuage the fraud perpetrated in these bonus transactions. I would hold this same opinion if the bonus was $1000 dollars as I do with seven figure payouts but I don't think we would see groups rallying to protest a smaller payment. No, the comments being made in by regular Joes in the newspapers all refer to the exorbitant amounts being paid. Let's just remember, these individuals had a contract with their employer stating the terms and amounts of these bonuses and these contracts were in effect before the company received bailout money.
When Henry "where's the camera" Paulson negotiated the initial terms of the bailout, Timothy "who needs a Turbo Tax instruction manual" Geithner was in the room. The future Treasury Secretary and tax evader, who was too smart and important to fail, should have known and probably has known for months these payments were about to happen. News reports contradict claims by the First African American President of the United States administration's claims that they just learned of these payments. The feigned indignation of The ONE will be on full display tomorrow night when he debases the office of the Presidency of the greatest country on Earth, and possibly himself, to go on a television talk show like some narcissistic celebrity touting their most recent cinematic effort or covering for a social faux pas. Granted Obama has several of these social errors to explain away but I am sure the permanent campaigner will do what he is best at tomorrow: campaign. Or he could, once again, tell how his stimulus package will benefit Caterpillar workers. I wonder where they will hide the teleprompters.
The most wretched among the indignant are those in Congress who, after getting us in this whole economic mess in the first place, now feel they have the right to take back by force the bonus money should the incompetents who received it not choose to do the right thing while ignoring equally wrong bonus payments to Fannie Mae executives. Bonuses they made possible. This angers me more than the payments. If Chuckles Shumer stood in front of me and spewed his threat of taking back this money through Government fiat I would have pimp slapped him harder than Chris Brown hits a woman on their third date.
We can not allow Congress to set the precedent of selectively going after anyone who they feel is not playing nice. Opening this Pandora's box of retroactive legislation is yet another step on the road to Socialism and social engineering; a road that seems to be flowing like the out of town side of the expressway during morning rush hour.
Where is the anger? Where is the contempt? Where is the moral outrage over the recent acts by our government in their continued power grab and blatant disregard for the intentions of our founding fathers.
"Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." Rudyard Kipling (Barrack-room ballads, 1892)
When the expatriated Brit Rudyard Kipling inked this phrase about the inability of his native countrymen to effectively communicate with those he was living with in the sub-continent, he most likely used the local writing fluid of India. Rudy surely attributed this gulf of understanding to cultural differences but applying the same sentiments to today's political views makes it no less observant but clearly less eloquent: Liberal is liberal, and Conservative is Conservative, and John McCain was still defeated.
As the writer of an opinionated blog I've been called partisan, as well as homophobic, neanderthal, bigoted, sexist and, recently, English, but to be honest, none of these apply. Since partisan most usually refers to one fervently devoted to or biased in support of a party or group I don't accept that label. In recent years I've been as disgusted as much by Republicans as I am by Democrats for, despite their proclaimed divergent viewpoints, there is little difference in them when the rubber stamp goes down the spending road.
Evidence of this sameness exists everywhere. Senate Republicans fought hard against the recent spending of nearly half a trillion pork laden dollars after sowing (sic) it full of enough bacon of their own to fill the sties of every lobbyist President Obama supposedly refuses to hire. When it comes to accepting money in some muddied up scheme, Democrat John Murtha and Republican Orrin Hatch seem to be two pigs in a poke. And, I am letting no cat out of the bag (Yes, that is a pig reference. Look it up.) to say the bank bailout plan during the Bush Administration was as much of a swine-dle at the one currently happening under The ONE's watchful eye.
It is only during the heated debate of a campaign that a sliver of discernible difference shows through with enough light to illuminate a separation between the country's two most powerful, and therefore the only one's electable, political parties. However, once the ballot boxes have been suitably stuffed and mostly counted, the elected ones tend to tweez this sliver and the rift of electioneering differences heals quickly. Two examples arose just this past weekend.
During the election, candidate John McCain caught flack for pronouncing, "The fundamentals of our economy are strong." Candidate, and soon to be the First African American President of the United States Barack Obama went on the offensive to say just how offensive he found that statement.
Just yesterday on Meet the Press, Presidential Economic Advisor Christina Romer volunteered this regarding the state of our economy, "The fundamentals are sound in the sense that the American workers are sound, we have a good capital stock, we have good technology." Deja vu or similar view? You decide. Before you do though, consider this further statement that Ms. Romer attributed to The ONE: "There are no such things as Democratic or Republican ideas, there are only ideas."
My vote for McCain was, like many on the right, a vote more in favor of Sarah Palin and it seems more and more like the left's vote for Obama was one for McCain. During the campaign the former full time organizer and part time senator from Illinois berated the former POW over his proposal to tax the health benefits employees receive. Several of the Sunday "talking head" shows yesterday mentioned the trial balloon being floated by the ever campaigning President's White House to do the exact same thing. Of course, the President won't refute or deny this. This is kind of like voting "present" isn't it?
New York Democrats, rather than cutting spending propose to tax fatty foods. Not to be outdone, Utah Republicans propose to tax the highly addictive Caffeine. Finally, there's not an F'ing bit of difference talking to Joe Biden or Dick Cheney when you are just in range of a still on microphone.
Sometimes one of the twin parties births a fraternal rather than identical candidate and a politician of a different stripe takes office. Governors Sanford and Jindel (when he isn't on teleprompter) are two examples. They are candidates who refuse to think, act and dress in the time tested sameness of a Washington bureaucrat. In a few months (if not already) candidates will be appearing in your neighborhood seeking contributions for their run for office. It is up to you to determine if there is a dollar's worth of difference between them and if that difference is worth your support.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that once elected they won't, Chameleon like, change their colors to blend in with the other lizards who cold bloodily continue to lay the eggs of more and bigger Government in indistinguishable nests.
If you can find the man or woman who will hold true to their cause, be it on either side of the political spectrum, when all about them are losing theirs, you surely are a better man than I Gunga Din.
Way back in the 1980's the group Missing Persons had a quasi hit song called "Words". One of the lines in the refrain was "What are words for, if no one listens anyway." Looking back on the video today I am somewhat embarrassed to admit this was (actually still is) one of my favorite songs. It has also been playing in my mind quite a lot since the coronation of Barack Obama.
So much is made of the oratory skills of The ONE that I've made it a point to listen carefully to him every time he speaks. Sure, the majority of the time he is simply reading from his teleprompter but, on occasion, actual audio leaks of him speaking as extemporaneously as any President ever speaks. It is during these times the real Barack "above my pay grade to decide when Life begins" Obama is revealed.
The other day a New York Times reporter, in an interview on Air Force one, asked the First African American President of the United States if he was a socialist. Obama sort of laughed off the question but it must have left an impression. So much so that the President made it a point to call the reporter to clarify a few things.
Here is a portion of the audio from that Oval Office call and my painstakingly crafted transcription of it:
"...uuhh just one thing that uh I was thinking about as I was uh as I was getting on the uh copter cause uh ya know, it was hard for me to to believe you were entirely serious about that socialist question."
"Uh ah I I did think it might be useful to point out that uh it wasn’t under me that we started uh buying a whole bunch of shares of banks. It wasn’t on my watch. And it wasn’t on my watch that we passed uh a massive new entitlement uh-– the prescription drug plan -- without a source of funding. Ah and so I think that uh it’s important just to note ah when you start uh hearing folks uh throw these words around that um uh we’ve actually been operating uh in a way that uh is entirely consistent with free-market principles uh and that uh uh some of the same folks who are uh throwing the word 'socialist' around can’t say the same."
The New York Times asked, "So whose watch are we talking about here sir?" but Obama wouldn't name names.
"Well ha ha ha, I I just think it’s clear by the time we had uh by the time we got here, uh err there already had been uh an enormous infusion of taxpayer money into the financial system. And eehhayyyeehh the the thing I constantly try to emphasize to people is that if that coming in, the market was doing fine, nobody would be happier than me uh to stay out of it. I eh you know uh I I have more than enough to do uh without having to worry the financial system. uh and the fact that uh we’ve had to take these extraordinary measures uh and intervene uh is uh not an indication of my ideological preference, uh but an indication of the degree to which uh ehhh lax regulation uh and extravagant risk taking uh has precipitated a crisis."
He concluded the brief call by saying, "I think that covers it."
-----End Transcription and resume scintillating commentary-----
That call may have covered it but it didn't answer it! Like learning what the meaning of "Is" is, often more is revealed in what isn't said than in what words are used. Let's look, just like the President said he would do at the budget in search of earmarks, line by line at uh the uh eloquence of The ONE and see if we can ascertain the meaning behind the uhs and the points he is trying to make.
Obama: "...uuhh just one thing that uh I was thinking about as I was uh as I was getting on the uh copter cause uh ya know, it was hard for me to to believe you were entirely serious about that socialist question."
Bald One: Right off the bat, the President needs to demonstrate his manliness while simultaneously establishing his authority by citing he rides in a "copter" to and from the corner grocery and not in a Prius like most reporters for the New York Times. He also finds it surprising, not that he was thought of as being a socialist but, that someone from his sycophantic media actually asked him the question out loud and on the record.
Obama: "Uh ah I I did think it might be useful to point out that uh it wasn’t under me that we started uh buying a whole bunch of shares of banks. It wasn’t on my watch."
Bald One: Citing this as evidence that he isn't a socialist is akin to telling the nice Officer, after blowing a 0.08 on the breathalyzer, that you are aren't drunk because your buddy who's passed out in the back seat started drinking first. The ONE didn't start the bank bailouts but he and his tax evading Treasury Secretary sure aren't changing the strategy much.
Obama: "And it wasn’t on my watch that we passed uh a massive new entitlement uh-– the prescription drug plan -- without a source of funding."
Bald One: No, it was on his watch that a Trillion dollar stimulus package was passed, uh, without a source of funding. And now a nearly half trillion dollar spending package with close to 9,000 earmarks in it is about to pass and will be signed by him.
Obama: "Ah and so I think that uh it’s important just to note ah when you start uh hearing folks uh throw these words around that um uh we’ve actually been operating uh in a way that uh is entirely consistent with free-market principles uh and that uh uh some of the same folks who are uh throwing the word 'socialist' around can’t say the same."
Bald One: If by free market principles he means fascist control of banks and laying the groundwork for a socialist take over of our health care system and a Marxist redistribution of wealth through confiscatory taxation I don't disagree with anything he said there. Even former socialist country leaders think he is on the wrong path. So does the leader of my next homeland.
Obama: "Well ha ha ha, I I just think it’s clear by the time we had uh by the time we got here, uh err there already had been uh an enormous infusion of taxpayer money into the financial system. And eehhayyyeehh the the thing I constantly try to emphasize to people is that if that coming in, the market was doing fine, nobody would be happier than me uh to stay out of it."
Bald Man: The best "infusion" of "taxpayer" money in to any financial system would be to allow the taxpayer to keep a bit more of his or her hard earned money to infuse when and where he or she sees fit and let real free market principles work. But basically the main point to take away from this sentence is that the President is wrong. I, and millions like me, would be far happier if he stayed out of it.
Obama: I eh you know uh I I have more than enough to do uh without having to worry the financial system."
Bald One: He has plenty to do with a White House party night every Wednesday and attending every festivity that is a Copter flight away from the nearest runway large enough to land Air Force One. Is it any wonder he was "too tired" to properly receive the British Prime Minister last week?
Obama: uh and the fact that uh we’ve had to take these extraordinary measures uh and intervene uh is uh not an indication of my ideological preference, uh but an indication of the degree to which uh ehhh lax regulation uh and extravagant risk taking uh has precipitated a crisis."
Bald One: Actually the fact that he has taken these particular measures and ignored free market/capitalist solutions to these "extraordinary" measures is truly an indication of his ideological preference. Combine these actions with his rabid support of Card Check for Unions, disregard for the lives of the innocent in his support of the Freedom of Choice Act and reversal of Bush's Stem Cell Research ban and his effort of having government encroach in to virtually every aspect of a United States (and soon the World's) citizen's life and he reinforces his "ideological preference. I would mention his affiliation with Reverend "God Damn Amerikka" Wright and William "let me stand on this flag and blow up this building over here" Ayers but it seems these are being scrubbed from the public record.
Obama: "I think that covers it."
Bald One: This doesn't begin to cover it. It was true in the 1980's when Ronald Reagan said "Government is not the solution, it is the problem" (slightly paraphrased) and it is true today; Words mean things.
If Nancy Pelosi and her ilk in Congress have their way, soon the words of many free thinking Americans will be stifled under the latest incarnation of the Fairness Doctrine. We might lose our right to question out loud whether the President is a socialist. He is already rallying his Hitler Youth like base via the internet as the campaign has begun. Those on the left continue to call Republicans Nazi's without consequence and our public officials are becoming more and more arrogant.
The author of the Audacity of Hope who exhibits the arrogance of victory has nothing on these two:
I'd like to have a word or two with them sometime.
What separates great from good is an attention to detail. The extra effort you put in to doing even the most mundane task shows character, desire and caring.
It was rumored that the magician Blackstone, Sr. would have cakes baked with coins in them and distributed around the theaters where he was performing so he could, while walking around, do an "impromptu" coin trick where a borrowed coin would vanish and reappear inside of a "cake that just happened to be there" at a local vendor. Everyone was amazed and the resultant word of mouth advertising virtually guaranteed a packed performance the next evening.
A few weeks ago I posted on how the Obama administration ticked off the Brits by returning a bust of Churchill that was loaned to GW Bush. I guess The ONE is a little behind on his reading of this blog as he didn't learn anything from that incisive and poignant review of his actions.
Just this week, the Prime Minister of the England, Gordon Brown and his wife, arrived in Washington for a meeting with the first African American President of the United States and his fashionable First African American First Lady wife.
I don't know if I've witnessed a Brit treated with such carelessness since Elizabeth Hurley was tossed aside for a two bit hooker by Hugh Grant. Then again, that was Brit on Brit disrespect. First, a press conference was cancelled due to snow. I guess Obama's protestations of a wimpy DC crowd regarding a little snow a few weeks ago was, like most of his statements, more "show than go".
Mr. Brown bestowed upon our fear inspiring leader gifts such as an ornamental desk pen holder made from the oak timbers of Victorian anti-slaver HMS Gannet, once named HMS President. The forethought of this gift became apparent when the holder was placed on the Oval Office's Resolute desk which just happened to have been carved from the salvaged timbers of Gannet's sister ship, HMS Resolute. Carrying the "theme" forward, the President was also bestowed the framed commission for HMS Resolute, a vessel that came to symbolise Anglo-US peace when it was saved from ice packs by Americans and given to Queen Victoria. Finally, Mr Brown gave Obama a first edition set of the seven-volume classic biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert.
In return, Barack tossed to Gordon a collection of 25 DVD movies he got from Roland Burris as a White Elephant gift at Governor Blago's house last year. I don't even think he wrapped them.
Mrs Brown didn't fair much better with America's top model of a First Lady. Sarah Brown gave Sasha and Malia Obama an outfit each from Topshop, which has just opened its first American store in New York. She also picked six children's books by British authors which are shortly to be published in America. What did Michelle offer in return? She handed over a toy replica of Marine One. British columnist Sarah Vine sums it up so well writing in the Times:
'These were gifts chosen in the true spirit of present-giving: to please the recipient, not the giver.'
Giving the Browns' two young boys a helicopter was 'fair enough'.
But she added:
'Marine One? It’s not as though anyone needs reminding that Barack Obama is President or that he has his own helicopter.
'Short of giving the boys Action Man models of her own husband smiting the evil forces of neoconservatism, Mrs Obama’s gesture could not have been more solipsistic or more inherently dismissive of Mrs Brown.
'Not only did she demonstrate that she spent approximately three seconds contemplating the needs of the Brown boys (having an aide pop to the White House gift shop for a piece of merchandising does not imply a great deal of thought), she appeared to show a most uncharacteristic lapse of judgement.'
Lapse of judgement seems to be a part of the Obama standard operating procedure. Britain, once we kicked her ass off this continent, has long been our closest ally. The simpatico between Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher was benefit for not just our two countries but for the world as a whole as these resolute leaders won the Cold War and free millions from Communism and the fear of the actions of Communists.
I only hope that, while Gordon Brown fattens up on popcorn watching his DVDs, Barack Obama pages through a few of those volumes of Churchill's life. There is little chance of that, I know.
Back when Bill Clinton was in office and Rush "leader of the Republican party" Limbaugh still had a Television show, the radio turned TV star would put up a picture of the White House covered in graffiti and with obvious signs of a party having been held. The joke was Bubba was spending his late nights with pizza, beer and Monica and Bambi and Jennifer and Amanda and, well...you get the point. The assumption wasn't that they were having Bible reading sessions. Perhaps, after three terms, it is time to roll away the rock and resurrect that image.
Word has it Michelle and Barrie are cutting a few rugs in their new digs. From Super Bowl parties with The ONE handing out cookies to concerts and conga lines, the White House is turning in to a frat house and the events seem to have Mass appeal.
Like flying on Air Force One, I don't begrudge the First African American president having a bit of fun while in office but I can only think if George Bush had done anything remotely like this, the media would have Crucified him. They would have accused GW43 of reckless behavior. Instead, Obama is seen as being "one of us".
A few weeks ago, after spending approximately 40 daylight hours and 40 nighttime hours wandering around the White House, the first couple made a quick exodus to save their sanity. Next it was off to Chicago for a weekend getaway. Last night, the President joined the crowd on the mount to watch the Bulls and Wizards basketball game. I can only imagine him feeding the entire crowd with five hot dogs and a six pack.
Every time I see The ONE fiddling around "being a regular guy" while the stock market plummets I can't help but thinking of Nero fiddling while Rome burned. I am sure the president's handlers have told him that to lessen the comparisons of him to the Savior he must appear to be your average 40 something 9-5 guy. The reality is, while he is no Savior of any kind, the President of the United States is not a regular person with a regular job. I don't want to see the most powerful man in the world sitting court side having a Sam Adams as it will make me wonder if he will be home in time to answer Hillary's famed 3 AM phone call when it comes.
I've commented before in this blog on how I see a much different work ethic in this President than in one's past. From the lack of a Suit Jacket in the tropical Oval Office to ending arguments with "I won", their remains the sin of Audacity (I hope he regrets that book title someday) about the man and a smugness that no amount of regular Joe the Plumber activity can absolve him of.
If the first 100 days of a Presidency is a Baptism by fire I pray Obama is up to the task. I fear the lots of socialism being cast in the form of stimulus and budget will damn us to a hell full of woe. The stock market closed below 7,000 today. Perhaps it is time to remove the air of the ordinary and ascend to the role of committed leader. Then again, where he is leading us may not be where we want to go.
I've been taking notes on various issues to write about all day. Watching The ONE talk to Congress tonight has left me with way too much to say. Rather than try to analyze every utterance in an address that had 65 interruptions of applause from the thieves, liars, adulterers, tax cheats and nincompoops (wow, that was actually in my spell checker!) who were eating up everything he was serving up, I will just share a few of my gut feelings.
Today is Fat Tuesday. In honor of the folks in New Orleans busy debasing themselves for several cents worth of beads after consuming several gallons of alcohol I have simmered over the first African American President's first address to Congress to reduce it, like a fine Louisiana Roux fit for a fattening meal, to serve up this salient observation: Despite all his promises, Government can't and shouldn't do it all for us.
The recurring theme in my posts is one of self-reliance and the recurring theme from our President is one of government dependence. To say I am diametrically opposed to the vast majority of what he proposed tonight is like saying Octo-mom has her hands full at feeding time!
In the speech tonight, that hasn't been posted anywhere yet, The ONE spent 95% of the time announcing new programs, spending and initiatives to save us from everything from catastrophic illness (he is going to cure cancer) to hang nails. There wasn't an area of our lives that wasn't put on the plate of Washington programs. He is biting off as much as he can chew. Near the end of his speech, he made reference to a businessman who took millions and gave it to his employees (both current and former) as bonuses. He mentioned a young girl who, despite being educated in a poor quality school, was able to rise above and is working to get her school much needed support.
The amazing thing about both of these examples is that government didn't need to do anything in either case. The people did. We have a President and administration that honestly, hasn't done anything. Obama has never (unless you count running his campaign for President which was really run by people for him) met a payroll and has never been the one responsible for decisions. Biden, the idiot, is in the same boat without oars. This career politician is now in charge of reshaping our economy? The man in charge of the President's economic task force is the man who has run GE in to the ground and is turning the stock in to a penny stock. Almost no one on his Auto Bailout task force owns an American car and a few of them don't own any!
I'd go on but now I am rambling. This week, congress is sending a spending bill of another half trillion dollars to the President and he will sign it. This bill is, once again, full of pork projects soaked with the juices of salivating Democrats drunk, like Mardi Gras revelers, on the power of being in charge. The talk tonight by The ONE about reigning in Government is lip service and is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. The announcers on CNBC, NBC, ABC and CNN are all saying what a great job Obama did tonight. True, the President can whip up a crowd with more flare than Emeril Lagasse "bams" out a Crawfish Etouffe but, like this high in fat meal, the taste is good but it is not good for you. Just like too much fatty food, too much government will be as harmful to the nation's welfare because of waste as a diet of Bananas Foster is to your waist.
If the spending package was the apertif for four years of gluttony, tonight's speech was a look at a menu of high calorie entrees that will leave our country bloated and out of shape. It is time for us to go on Weight Watchers and control our intake of government largesse. Like Governor's Jindal and Sanford in LA and SC respectfully it is time to say no thank you when the waiter offers the dessert tray.
Wait a minute, I thought all was going to be put right with the passage of the Spendulus Package. The crisis that is our current economic condition required late night sessions and back rooms deals to be struck with expediency not seen since the courtship of Kenny Chesney and Renée Zellweger. Let's hope the effects of the stimulus are longer lasting and more positive than these two stars marriage. I don't have high hopes though. This package will herald the return of "W". Not George W, but the W of welfare.
For weeks we've heard how important it is that this pork laden bit of government intrusion be passed forth with and, now that the Senate, with the help of three turncoat Republicans, has passed it, the first African American President of the United States is taking a few days off in Chicago before signing the bill on Tuesday in a Campaign stop in Denver before a second Campaign stop in Phoenix. So much for hurry up. It seems this guy takes a lot of time off, doesn't it?
I've read quite a bit of this bill (which explains why I haven't posted much recently, I have been sleeping a lot) and seen in it's entirety it is a scary bit of legislation. And it is not going to have the desired effect of stimulating anything other than a growth spurt in the Federal Government bigger than a pre-pubescent Shaquille O'Neil.
Most economists, even those initially in favor of the stimulus package, have stated that, without a "fix" for the financial sector of the economy, the bill would be useless spending. Knowing that, I find it strange that in 1000 pages and a trillion dollars, nothing for the ailing banks is mentioned other than limiting the salary and bonuses of those in charge.
Of course, come Tuesday when the bill is signed in to law and the money has been officially spent, the Obama administration might get to work on what he admits is the real problem.
“To truly address this crisis, we will also need to address the crisis in our financial sector to get credit flowing again to families and businesses. And we need to confront the crisis in the housing sector that's been one of the sources of our economic challenges,” Obama said. “I'll be discussing that extensively soon.”
I've decided that I am going to be an expert. I haven't yet decided at what I am going to be one but it doesn't seem like it will be too hard to become one once I finally do decide. Thanks to internet chats and blogs, talk radio and 24 hour news channels there seems to be no shortage of experts. It's a cottage industry and in recent years experts are sprouting up faster than bachelors on a Viagra factory tour. You can't toss out a newspaper wrapped fish without one showing up before garbage day to proffer an opinion on the now odorous headline. In fact, I'll bet there are experts at finding experts for each of the media mentioned above. But don't worry, if you aren't sought out, your expertise can be self-proclaimed.
You too can be an expert. Look at some of the more recent experts of the day in the media and you'll see that immediate experience is of equal if not more value than long term experience, education or research. By the criteria of CNN, Fox News and MSNBC I am an expert in crime because my MP3 player was stolen from my hotel room this week and my flatulent dog knows as much about poison gas as Iraq's Dr. Death.
Ask a presidential candidate an innocent question about wealth redistribution and you'll be the whipping boy of just about every media outlet in the country. One month later instead of fixing a leaky faucet you'll be jetting off to the war zone of the Middle East as a reporter because you're an expert on media bias. The only prize likely to be awarded this war correspondent is a P U litzer. Hello America, this is common sense calling. Edward R. Murrow must be turning over in his grave. Good night and good luck to us all.
Comely conservative siren Ann Coulter has for years pointed out the absurd authority ascribed to the 9-11 widows. I am truly sorry for the losses experienced by families and friends from the horrific acts of Jihadist cowardice back in 2001. But losing a loved one to a terrorist act makes you no more an expert at terrorism than being flipped the bird by angry taxi driver makes you an expert at international relations.
Finally, if I see one more survivor from yesterday's plane dunking in the Hudson River on TV telling folks how they helped lead everyone to safety I am going to scream. By my current count there were 148 leaders on the plane and two followers in that crash. Good on the passengers for working together and not panicking, but again, are they now experts at airplane engine failure and evacuation and rescue techniques? Their full body baptisms in the frigid river has them speaking in forked tongues to whatever camera happens to be pointing in their general direction.
In four days the leader of the free world will be sworn in. Our leader, our political expert is 47 years of polish and style and very little substance. One speech in Boston created a leader. One speech does not an expert make.
Hey, maybe that is my expertise; taking any topic and turning it in to a potential criticism of PEBO!!!
I am a left-handed, right-leaning, foul-mouthed, fair-scented biped living in beautiful Salt Lake City, UT with my lovely wife and a slew of four footed creatures. This blog is my way of sharing all the crap I yell at the TV and radio with anyone who cares to read it.
