Comparisions

This blog may be self serving but allow an ageing man an opportunity to "compare" himself to one of his own.
I saw this recent picture of my grand daughter Kelley who runs for the Saddleback College cross country team, and it reminded me of my running days. Even though my joints no longer work and my knees have been replaced with synthetic materials by a brilliant surgeon, I can still "race" vicariously through my grand daughter. If you have never been a runner this "comparison" will not mean much, but to me it brings back the memories of some great times and I am so pleased that Kelley loves to run as much as I did.

"The man behind the curtain"

Generations of Americans remember the scene in "The Wizard of Oz" when Dorothy and her friends brought back the witch's broom and confronted Oz. As he blustered at them Todo the dog pulled the curtain aside and his charade was revealed as he said "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain"

I am almost seventy years old and still remember that scene from this classic movie. It reappeared from the deep recesses of my memory last night as I watched President Obama make his first major speech to the Congress and the rest of the world. Obama is a gifted orator who rivals John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and even Oz (as long as he was behind the curtain). But last night as his golden oratory flowed along and he continued his populist message of free everything for everyone, this scene from my favorite movie came to mind again, but I think the wording should be changed to: "Pay no attention to the man behind the golden voice".

Populism is hard to go up against;

- tax cuts for 95% of the people and tax increases on the "rich"
- bailouts for those who cannot pay their mortgage
- free health care for anyone who cannot (or will not) pay for it
- extended unemployment benefits and then welfare and food stamps
- college tuition grants for everyone who needs it
- development of renewable energy sources that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce global warming (forget that we could be completely energy independent with our own oil and nuclear power)

Who can argue against any of these promises, but there is never any discussion about how this will be paid for, and how can you argue against this populist message when many Americans see these promises as something for "free".

During his campaign, and even in his speech last night Obama said, "There will be no more earmarks". Anyone with a brain can see that the $720 billion stimulus bill is fifty percent "pork" and an independent report estimates that the 2009/2010 budget bill being approved this week includes more that 8500 earmarks - for want of a better word...disgraceful.

So I say: "Pay no attention to the man behind the golden voice". When you pull the golden curtain aside, this gifted orator is an "empty suit" and in my opinion he will go down as one of the more incompetent Presidents in the history of this country along with George W. Bush and Bill Clinton - wow three in a row...we are on a roll (a bad one).

"Comparisons"

This blog has been too serious lately, so I thought I would lighten it up. Have you ever seen two people in completely different professions that have some similarity in their looks and also seem to project the same image? Maybe it's the combination of those images and your own emotional feelings that actually "make" them look like each other. There is nothing like an image to relate this feeling. Why do these two remind me of each other?
















Helen Thomas - Journalist, Heath Ledger - The "Joker" , Dark Knight

Or maybe it's just me...

Financial Madness

"Financial madness" is the only way to describe what is happening in Washington lately. I will not go into the details - anyone with a brain or the least bit of interest about what is going on in this country knows what the numbers are - trillions of dollars of "pork" spending leading to more future debt.

After the first half of the $720 billion "TARP" bill was distributed to banks, and later the government admitted they had "no idea how it was spent", it just confirmed my belief that our politicians are not just idiots, they are mostly incompetent managers who have no idea what economics are all about - the average small businessman in this country would make the average politician look like he failed ninth grade math. Since that first stimulus bill, additional trillions of dollars have been spent and when Obama makes his speeches about all this spending the crowds cheer. Financial madness is the only way to describe it and I would guess a large portion of the people that voted for Obama have no idea what the consequences of these spending bills are...in fact many look at it as "free" entitlements for themselves.

Since the country had a deficit to begin with, these trillions of dollars have to be borrowed. But that borrowing will soon come to an end as the rest of the world begins to worry about the USA's ability to pay it back. At that time our government will have only a few choices - raise taxes on everyone, or print money and let inflation reduce the debt. Both are losing propositions for main street Americans.

I am convinced that this is a power grab unprecedented in the history of this country, aimed at laying the foundation for a socialist government with hopes of securing power for the Democrats for years to come. These bailouts reward homeowners that made poor choices, they reward auto makers and banks that have mismanaged their companies, and they re-establish a broad welfare system in this country. Think about it - most of these programs support people that have "failed' and ask achievers to pay for that failure. It's just a way to redistribute the wealth of this country from the achievers to the non-achievers...classic socialism. Margaret Thatcher, former Conservative Prime Minister of Britain once made a very prolific quote:

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money"

Unfortunately the Democrats have almost total control in Washington and Obama, the "pied piper of socialism" is leading his throngs like lemmings over a cliff. And I think he knows exactly what he is doing.

Priorities?

Any good manager will tell you that when there are serious problems, you work on the most important ones first and forget about everything else.

Obama's first executive orders included closing the Guantanamo prison in Cuba, bringing the terrorists to the USA for trials, and eliminating all harsh interrogation techniques. I'm sure terrorists around the world are running around like Munchkins singing "Ding dong the witch is dead".

And then last Friday evening during the 'slow news cycle' he quietly reinstates an executive order which provides for the USA to fund overseas "Family Planning Services" which we all know is code for supplying contraception and abortions around the world. It is estimated this will cost our country $400-500 million/year. Whether you are Pro Choice or Pro Life does the Obama administration remember this country is BROKE!

Our economy is in shambles, we are in debt over our heads, millions are out of work, we are involved in two wars, terrorism continues to loom it's ugly head, and Obama's first priorities are to lighten up on terrorists and lead the charge on international population control.

Good work Mr. President, we are pleased to see you and your administration have your priorities in order.

Our "no class" society

The inauguration today was impressive as it usually is. This country knows how to show the world that our democracy can change power in a very civil and impressive way. I did not vote for Obama but he is now my President and I wish him the best.

But two things turned me off about our country today. Obviously the attendance at the inauguration was mostly liberal folks; after all it is their victory. During the introductions the crowd applauded the Clinton's, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and all the other Democratic dignitaries...as they should...they won. But when first President George H. W. Bush and his wife were introduced, the crowd was quiet, and when President George W. Bush and his wife were introduced the crowd booed and some yelled obscenities. Whether you agree with his politics or not he was our President and should get the respect of his office. The reaction of the crowd shows the lack of "class" that many in our country have. I am a hard core Conservative who disliked Clinton and Carter with a passion, but I would NEVER boo a standing President. Whether you agree with our President or not they deserve our respect...another black eye for you Democrats.

And finally I must take exception to the Benediction especially the final paragraph:

"Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right."

I am a 69 year old white man that has always "embraced what is right". So Reverend Lowery I take offense with your prayer and on the day of the inauguration of the first black President, which is supposed to bring us all together, you have by your words kept the racial divide in this country front and center.

"Hope and Change"

I don't know why I have had writers block the past few weeks, perhaps it's the holidays or maybe in my excitement anticipating the inauguration I just can't wait for the "hope and change" coming this year - along with lots to write about.

Here is what I am "hoping" for...

I am hoping that we pack up and leave Iraq and let the Sunni and Shiite Muslims get on with killing each other off. Maybe the Iranians can recruit another 70 thousand Shiite suicide bombers (in addition to those selected for war against Israel), and they can go after the Iraq Sunnis. The Iraqi Sunnis can then go to Saudi Arabia and recruit 70 thousand Sunni suicide bombers and they can all meet in Iraq and have one big self-sacrifice. Allah will have to work overtime to prepare the virgins - but can you imagine the fun those martyrs will have when they get to heaven?

I am hoping the Israelis and Palestinians will finally have peace with each other. But we must have patience; after all they have only had 50 years to work out their differences.

I am hoping Barack sends us all a BIG check to stimulate the economy. Don't worry about where the money will come from or how big the deficit will become. I have heard from a very reliable source that the US Mint has already doubled their order for ink next year in anticipation of the Obama administration. Who knows, someday Barack Obama's picture may be on the $100,000 dollar bill that you will use to put a down payment on your new car.

I am hoping for a 20,000 point stock market in 2009.

But even more important is the "change" we have to look forward to...

Even though Obama has filled his cabinet with more than 50% of Clinton "retreads", obviously they must have learned from their mistakes or the "messiah" would not have selected them. No more corruption or special interests. Forget about Illinois and Blago - Obama had no connection with those corrupt Chicago politics. After all, he has disassociated himself from Pastor Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakhan. He has said his close relationship with convicted felon Tony Resko was a mistake, but assured us there was no wrong doing. He has said that his relationship with the terrorist Bill Ayers was just a distant "friendship" and that kicking off his campaign in Ayers house was not a big deal.

We need to give Obama a break - as he says "The days of old boy politics in Washington are over". Sure his staff dropped the ball in not finding out that Bill Richardson, his designate for Commerce Secretary was being investigated for corruption ("pay to play" - does that sound familiar).

And he is raising the CIA to a higher level installing Leon Panetta as Director - he promises no more harsh interrogations like those in the Bush administration conducted. We will now be a kinder gentler country and convince terrorists that they need to become good guys. No more Metallica playing 24 hours - they will get Lazy Boys, iced tea, and wind chimes. I am sure this gentle treatment will convince them to reject Islam and come over to our side.

If you have a business in these difficult times do not worry, the government will bail you out. Don't be a "capitalist slacker" and try to work your way through your problems...after all the government is there to help.

But the biggest change I look forward to is that finally I will have a government that will take care of me. I worked my butt off all my life and now a "messiah" has come along to tell me that "I do not have to work so hard, the government is there to help" - damn, and here I am retired. Those of you that are out there working for a living - how lucky you are - slack off, the government has arrived.

But if you have been on welfare all your life, what can I say - unfortunately you folks will not experience the exciting "changes" that the rest of us are looking forward to.

I can't wait.