Blog @ MoreWhat.com

According to the press release below from House Minority Leader John Boehner the Democrats eliminated middle-class tax cuts in the budget that will be voted on later this week. Imagine that. Do you remember candidate and now President Barack Obama promised that no one making less than $250K would pay ‘one dime more in taxes’? The same candidate, now President who promised to eliminate earmarks and lobbyists and yet signed a bill with more than 9000 earmarks and hired more than a dozen lobbyists for his administration. Of course he also promised to allow the public to view and comment on the stimulus package before it was voted on which also didn’t happen. The really sad thing was not one member of Congress read it before voting either. That must have been a revision to his plan for open, transparent and accountable government.

And yet there are polls indicating most people still have confidence in the new administration and the direction the country is taking. For those who agree with that you may want to start actually paying attention to what is going on in Washington and elsewhere.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Dems Dump Middle-Class Tax Cuts from Budget While Keeping New National Energy Tax That Hits All Americans
Eighty-One Percent of Americans Believe Middle-Class Tax Relief is “Important” to Keep in Budget, New Survey Shows

Washington, Mar 30 - House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today challenged President Obama’s apparent decision to allow the Democratic-controlled Congress to dump his long-promised middle-class tax cut from the FY 2010 budget, and vowed Republicans will offer a better budget that cuts taxes for middle-class families instead of raising them through a new national energy tax.

“This is an epic bait-and-switch that should infuriate every middle-class family in America,” Boehner said. “The American people overwhelmingly believe middle-class tax relief is essential to getting our economy moving again. But instead of cutting taxes for middle-class families, Washington Democrats are raising their taxes by as much as $3,100 a year in the middle of a deep recession.”

President Obama’s budget director, Peter Orszag, has endorsed both the House and Senate versions of the President’s FY 2010 budget – but according to the New York Times, “neither would extend a middle-class tax cut championed by Mr. Obama beyond 2010 unless a source of revenue to pay for it is identified.” Meanwhile, Boehner noted that a new national energy tax insisted upon by the President will hit virtually every American family and small business and could cost every American household up to $3,100 a year. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) confirmed this in public comments last week in which he indicated Democrats will use revenue from the President’s new national energy tax to pay for an expansion of government-run health care.

According to a Rasmussen survey released today, 81 percent of Americans believe it is important for Congress to pass a budget that includes the middle-class tax relief that was frequently promised but now abandoned by President Obama. Only 15 percent say the promised middle-class tax relief is not important.

“The Democratic budget spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much,” Boehner said. “It will hurt middle-class families at a time when they can least afford it.”

“Americans deserve a better budget, and members of all political stripes will have the chance to vote for one when the full text of the GOP alternative being finalized by Rep. Paul Ryan [R-WI] is released this week,” Boehner added. “Instead of raising taxes on middle-class families and all Americans through the President’s national energy tax, Republicans will do what the American people want their government to do: we will curb spending, control the debt, and reduce the tax burden on working families and small businesses to create jobs and ease the strain on family budgets.”

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Cap-and-trade, “reconciliation,” and the death of deliberation (Michelle Malkin) 

Sure, let’s have a pro-choice Governor as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. How can it be considered healthy or a human service to kill babies. A few reminders include the fact that more than half of all abortions performed each year are not the woman’s first. Obama supported infanticide in Illinois more than once. And the new president also stated he did not want his daughters to be ‘punished’ for a mistake with a baby. How’s that for leadership?

Sebelius lowers volume on abortion
Boston Globe -
When Kathleen Sebelius faces the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee this morning, perhaps the biggest hurdle to her confirmation as secretary of health and human services — the abortion issue — will very likely be muted, ...

Sebelius confirmation hearings to be televised Tuesday and Thursday
Lawrence Journal World -
Kathleen Sebelius is the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services in Obama’s Cabinet. She has served as Kansas’ governor since 2002 and before that was insurance commissioner and a state representative. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who has …

C-SPAN will be broadcasting both hearings on the Sebelius confirmation.

FRC Action Joins Coalition Effort Opposing Sebelius Nomination
FOXBusiness -
WASHINGTON, March 30, 2009 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ —-Family Research Council Action Senior Vice President Tom McClusky, along with twenty-nine other pro-family leaders, sent the following letter today to the US Senate urging opposition to …

You can always help out the folks above by contacting your senator and oppose the Sebelius confirmation. After all, it’s not like the Obama Administration is unfamiliar with failed nominations or people withdrawing from consideration.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Some time ago it was mentioned on this blog that some far left groups seemed to go quiet after their failed surrender in Iraq campaign which included a smear General Petraeus effort that also fell flat.  Mostly by accident while surveying various news sources something came up on the radar.  It was a report featuring the name Palin that got the attention of this blog.  Here’s the trail.

Palin with Bush and Limbaugh on Democrat’s mail, a small bite from Ben Smith at Politico displaying a campaign mailer from the NY-20 special election to fill the vacancy left by Kirsten Gillibrand.  You may recall she was chosen by the NY governor to fill the US Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton when she accepted the nomination for Secretary of State.

Smith writes below the mailer that ‘this can’t say good things about how Sarah Palin polls in swing districts.’  The ‘attack piece’ as Smith puts it features Rush Limbaugh, George W. Bush and Sarah Palin on one side and the Democratic candidate on the other.  Just below this item is a March 29 entry describing a ‘new’ coalition.  There are connections described between the White House, MoveOn, Obama campaign aides and a link to the ‘formidable roster’ of 100 members associated with this group.  The libs including their far left bastions may be going into stealth mode as the piece suggests they are ‘low profile’ nationally focusing on state politics.

As for the NY-20 it seems excessive to distribute ‘attack pieces’ on behalf of a Dem candidate in a blue state unless something has you worried.  Scott Murphy is the Dem candidate facing off against Jim Tedisco the Republican candidate although some references to their party affiliations give a somewhat different description.  If you read the bios of each candidate without knowing their party leanings you might guess the reverse of who is left and who is right.

The one thing that would have me voting for Tedisco without knowing anything else about the candidates than their personal data is he was born in NY and involved in state public affairs for many years.  Murphy on the other hand is from Missouri and has lived in NY for an unknown number of years.  Seems there is a better chance of having a candidate represent a state if they have been there all their life as opposed to a ‘newcomer’.  But it is not like that guarantees anything.

The primary focus of this post was the update of MoveOn and how their strategy may be changing.  Here are a few orgs that are in this group.  You can follow the link above to, go figure, find the other links for yourself.

ACORN, Greenpeace and a boatload of eco-groups, Common Cause, the NEA, OMB Watch, Planned Parenthood, Rock the Vote, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, United Cerebral Palsey, the YWCA and many National this or that lefty groups.  And as an ending note it would appear from Ben’s favorite blog list that he is on the left side of the spectrum.  Not like Politico is non-partisan.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The American public desperately needs to find time away from daily life distractions to focus on matters in the national interest, scope and concern. Those who voted for Obama need to follow up on their choice in the election just as much as those who did not can no longer simply wait for the next election and next contender.

Critical issues facing this nation did not go away just because there was a presidential election. It is good that those who voted, legally, participated in the election and attended to one citizen responsibility. But that is only one responsibility. To assume that the voting is done and things will take care of themselves as expected is nonsense. Those opposing Obama in the election should naturally continue to oppose his flawed and dangerous agenda. But those who supported him in the election are equally responsible to hold him accountable for doing the right thing.

That is not happening. There is plenty of evidence to suggest the new administration is moving in directions that will harm this nation. Even members of the Democratic party and their various left wing bases are becoming worried and uncomfortable about the course of the new President.

Below are some references you should read whether you are paying attention or not. And again it cannot be overemphasized there is a need for you to contact your elected representatives to express what concerns you. Or you can simply ignore it all until the worst happens and continue to dismiss posts such as this while your country is at risk.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Bailing Out of the Constitution

By George F. Will
Sunday, March 29, 2009; Page A15

It is high time Americans heard an argument that might turn a vague national uneasiness into a vivid awareness of something going very wrong. The argument is that the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) is unconstitutional.

By enacting it, Congress did not in any meaningful sense make a law. Rather, it made executive branch officials into legislators. Congress said to the executive branch, in effect: “Here is $700 billion. You say you will use some of it to buy up banks’ ‘troubled assets.’ But if you prefer to do anything else with the money — even, say, subsidize automobile companies — well, whatever.”

Obama’s Fuzzy Math

A trillion here, a trillion there . . .
by Stephen Moore
04/06/2009, Volume 014, Issue 28

In his press conference last Tuesday, Barack Obama said that America must reject the “borrow and spend” policies of the past in favor of a strategy of “save and invest.” Sounds good. So why is Obama proposing to borrow and spend more than any president in the history of the republic? Already in the first 45 days of his administration, the federal government has authorized more debt spending than Ronald Reagan did in eight years in office.

Then last week the Democrats’ own Congressional Budget Office found that the ten-year deficits of the Obama plan will be about $2.3 trillion higher than the $6.97 trillion the White House is projecting. This is the policy of the party that was swept back into power in 2006 and 2008 promising a return to an era of fiscal responsibility.

Follow the money: Enough about the AIG bonuses – focus on the banks’ billions

Sunday, March 29th 2009
New York Daily News
Michael Goodwin

Get ready to take out the AIG pitchforks again. This time, there is an important use for them.

Now that the hysteria over the $165 million in bonuses is cooling, two inquiries aim to find out what AIG did with the bulk of its federal bailout money. Given the $175 billion at stake, those pitchforks can help dig through the details of who is getting huge chunks of taxpayer cash.

It’s a twist on the adage to “follow the money.” Finally, probers are following the big money.

Against the billions that have vanished, and with more on the hook as AIG unwinds its trading portfolio, Washington’s outrage over the millions paid for bonuses counts as a trivial pursuit. And with the Obama administration seeking new powers to take over troubled companies, the handling of AIG is a test case for whether the government can be trusted with that power.

Financial manipulation alert: Did AIG bailout money secretly prop up banks? (Michelle Malkin) 

Obama and crew had a plan to hit the Sunday morning talk shows and continue to pitch their agenda. Tim Geithner was on NBC’s Meet the Press and ABC’s This Week. There is no ‘hope’ that anything will ‘change’ about the approach of the White House or the Obama administration’s agenda.

One clip had a wall streeter saying when Geithner talked about his plan the first time they hated it. Now they love it. Why wouldn’t they? Private investment in toxic assets has the upside guranteed and the downside protected by the American taxpayer at an advertised rate of 7% for the private sector versus 93% for the taxpayer.

Geithner on This Week once again spoke of his desire for redistributing wealth as shown on this site bofore with his call for more broadly shared gains in future economic growth. While the Obama administration and Mr Geithner have done nothing more than stay on message and gain approval from the Wall Street they demonize by handing them a bailout for the bailout with the taxpayer assuming all the risk the plan to increase the role of government and redistribute wealth continues.

Mr Geithner also pointed out that expanding government’s role in education as well as dominating energy, healthcare and spending like mad on infrastructure for ‘make work’ jobs is still the primary goal of their ’stimulus’. There is nothing stimulating about it.

The anti-climatic appearance of Senator John McCain on Meet the Press after Geithner only served to provide comic relief as his words are still the same also. ‘Reach across the aisle’ and ‘compromise’ while keeping the borders as loose as ever. Okay Senator, you got two things right. The surge worked in Iraq and you supported it early compared to many others. You said the fundamentals of the economy were strong during the campaign and got hammered for it. Obama and crew are essentially using the same rhetoric and not being criticized much for it. Wonderful. And you were right to point out that Obama has gone back on his word about campaign promises like eliminating earmarks. To repeat, nothing has changed.

Obama and crew are buying favor with the same people they claim got us into this mess. And they are using your money to do it. If you see that as the hope and change promoted by Barry and friends and like it, you are definitely off your meds.

One more time, nothing has changed.

The roundtable on This Week featured George Will, Cokie Roberts, Matthew Dowd and Paul Krugman. Krugman of course maintains the Geitherner (Obama) plan is seriously flawed. And he has the credentials to render his opinion worth noting and something more than political opposition.

The rest of the panel provided a reasoned discussion the details of which you may or may not agree. If you are interested in those details it is suggested you view the program on Sundays. Transcripts appeared not to be available at the time of this posting.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Tesla unveils world’s first mass-produced, highway-capable EV
Model S sedan has anticipated base price of $49,900, up to 300-mile range and 45-minute QuickCharge capability

March 26, 2009

HAWTHORNE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE) —Tesla Motors is now taking orders for the Model S, an all electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels 300 miles per charge.

The Model S, which carries its charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes. By recharging their car while they stop for a meal, drivers can go from LA to New York in approximately the same time as a gasoline car. Moreover, the floor-mounted battery pack is designed to be changed out in less time than it takes to fill a gas tank, allowing for the possibility of battery-pack swap stations.

The floor-mounted powertrain also results in unparalleled cargo room and versatility, as the volume under the front hood becomes a second trunk. Combining that with a four-bar linkage hatchback rear trunk and flat folding rear seats, the Model S can accommodate a 50-inch television, mountain bike *and* surfboard simultaneously. This packaging efficiency gives the Model S more trunk space than any other sedan on the market and more than most SUVs.

“Model S doesn’t compromise on performance, efficiency or utility — it’s truly the only car you need,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Tesla is relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicle technology, and this is just the first of many mainstream cars we’re developing.”

Tesla expects to start Model S production in late 2011. The company believes it is close to receiving $350 million in federal loans to build the Model S assembly plant in California from the Dept of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program.

Building on Proven Technology

Tesla is the only production automaker already selling highway-capable EVs in North America or Europe. With 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the Roadster outperforms almost all sports cars in its class yet is six times as energy efficient as gas guzzlers and delivers 244 miles per charge. Tesla has delivered nearly 300 Roadsters, and nearly 1,000 more customers are on the wait list.

Teslas do not require routine oil changes, and they have far fewer moving (and breakable) parts than internal combustion engine vehicles. They qualify for federal and state tax credits, rebates, sales tax exemptions, free parking, commuter-lane passes and other perks. Model S costs roughly $5 to drive 230 miles – a bargain even if gasoline were $1 per gallon.

The anticipated base price of the Model S is $49,900 after a federal tax credit of $7,500. The company has not released options pricing. Three battery pack choices will offer a range of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge.

“Model S costs half as much as a Roadster, and it’s a better value than much cheaper cars,” Musk said. “The ownership cost of Model S, if you were to lease and then account for the much lower cost of electricity vs. gasoline at a likely future cost of $4 per gallon, is similar to a gasoline car with a sticker price of about $35,000. I’m positive this car will be the preferred choice of savvy consumers.”

The standard Model S does 0-60 mph in under six seconds and will have an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph, with sport versions expected to achieve 0-60 mph acceleration well below five seconds. A single-speed gearbox delivers effortless acceleration and responsive handling. A 17-inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity allows passengers to listen to Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps, or check their state of charge remotely from their iPhone or laptop.

Tesla is taking reservations online and at showrooms in California. Tesla will open a store in Chicago this spring and plans to open stores in London, New York, Miami, Seattle, Washington DC and Munich later this year.

About Tesla Motors

San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla Motors Inc. designs and manufactures electric vehicles with exceptional design, performance and efficiency, while conforming to all North American and European safety, environmental and durability standards. The Roadster, which has a 0-to-60 mph acceleration of 3.9 seconds and a base price of $101,500 after a federal tax credit, is the only highway-capable production EV for sale in North America and Europe. Tesla expects to begin producing the Model S sedan in late 2011. Details and photos are available at www.teslamotors.com.

CONTACT:

Rachel Konrad
Tesla Motors, Inc.
+1 (650) 701-2664
rachel@teslamotors.com

A big old fashioned hat tip to Maggie’s Notebook for the following video but you are required to read her post to, as Paul Harvey would have said get ‘the rest of the story’. This is one of those posts that screams ‘are you paying attention America’? One can still muster some optimism that the American public will come to its senses as the insanity continues in Washington but the anticipation is extreme frustration. What the hell will it take to cause ordinary Americans to hold their elected officials accountable? Watch the vids and read Maggie’s post for a dose of what you apparently need, a wake up call.

Wake up, smell the coffee, socialism and corruption then act on it and get involved. Stop believing your involvement will make no difference. That will only be true if you do nothing. And if you do nothing long enough you may lose your right to get involved, SO, pull your head out of the sand or other location it may now be in and get on with it. And don’t expect one action to get it done. It has to do with rights and responsibility. You have to earn your freedom, every day. Let this become a habit. You will then see that your involvement does make a difference.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

An earlier post here indicated this blog’s hopes for Wisconsin success at the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship after the first round. Well now, here it is late Friday night or early Saturday morning about a week later and another March Madness result curbs the expectation of a fan. With Marquette and Wisconsin out in the second this fan’s support moved to any other Big Ten Teams that remain. The last review when unable to watch the tourney indicated Purdue was out and Michigan State was what remained of the Big Ten heading to the elite eight.

Spartans and Jayhawks clash in Sweet 16

Detroit Free Press -
By SHAWN WINDSOR • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • March 27, 2009 Michigan State leads Kansas 63-60 in the game’s final minute.

The scoring during this game is what one might expect with a two and three seed team doing battle.

Michigan State beats defending champion Kansas 67-62 Chicago Tribune

That’s my kind of game. Only a five point spread at the final. Basically this was a close match throughout. Now State gets to face number one Louisville.

Ouch!! Along with everything else in March Madness there is the occasional ‘thumping’ that one team must endure while the other basks in the satisfaction.

Louisville dominates Arizona in 103-64 victory

The Associated Press -
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Rick Pitino enjoyed watching Friday night’s game almost as much as his Louisville players enjoyed celebrating.

And there is the maybe not so cute plays on words or team names that seem popular in the press.

Orange peeled: Oklahoma rolls past Syracuse with 84-71 romp

USA Today - ?2 hours ago?
By John Bazemore, AP By Tom Weir, USA TODAY MEMPHIS - Tony Crocker picked an excellent time to break out of his long-range shooting slump, as he pushed Oklahoma into the Elite Eight with a barrage of three-pointers Friday.

Here is one common denominator within professional and amateur sports emerging again during March Madness. In an industry in which many participants ‘earn’ massive incomes, receive an inordinate quantity of press coverage and end up in the tabloids no less than any other ‘celebrity’ group the method by which public statements follow regime changes is as hollow as victories tainted by bad officiating.

It would be impressive if those who are supposed to be in possession of quality educations from institutions of higher learning throughout this country could manage an eloquent or at least original statement when attempting to produce an illusion to explain the firing of a coach. Funny how it is a ‘team’ thing when the highest performance results in a championship season but when that is not the case you fire the coach and lay all the blame at his feet deserving or not.

It is my responsibility to ensure that the University of Kentucky continues to be a special place in the hearts and minds of our fans across the nation, and that the right pieces are in place to return the basketball program to a championship level and continue those proud traditions of success.

This is not a place I thought we would be at this point, or one that I would want to be. However, after long and deliberate discussions, President (Lee T.) Todd and I have decided we must charter a new direction for the University of Kentucky men’s basketball program.

If you’re interested you can follow the link for the complete press conference opening statement. There is much sputtering about ideals and lofty sentiment accented with ‘the coach did it’ and even a few not so subtle ’slams’ toward the outgoing leader. Must be taking their cues from politics.

So how did that 93 year old do against Shaq in their bracket challenge??

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Welcome to Blog @ MoreWhat.com’s Open Trackback

Secure the Borders Linkfest

This is an open trackback linkfest. For now it opens on Saturday and closes by Monday. The Secure the Borders theme is intended as a reminder to all for obvious reasons. If you have any suggestions, criticisms, questions or just feel the need to communicate, trackback or post it in the comments. If you want to be added to the Blogroll, register and/or inquire to make arrangements. The Honor Roll is reserved for blogs viewed as special by this blog’s owner.

JIHAD stands for Jesus I Have A Deathwish.

This linkfest is dedicated to the guest worker who never left.There are plenty of illegal immigration posts on this blog.

If you’re here legally and behavin’ yo self, welcome aboard.
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We suggest using the Linkfest Haven Deluxe Trackback pinger for ease of use and time savings to catch all the festive linking activities today. Or, if you have done this less than we have, the permalink for this Open Trackback is the title link and the trackback is located near the bottom of the permalink page for this post. Just poke around, you’ll find it.

links in the sidebar

NOTE: It may be worthwhile to comply with the unofficial standard of submitting your blog’s best work for open trackbacks whether here or at multiple sites. The practice may have been inspired by a desire for increased quality versus quantity as well as providing greater impact from the power of the blogosphere.

When will the manure stop flowing? It may be close to the planting time of year in many states but how much ‘fertilizer’ do we need? Obama has said many times that people should not simply complain or say ‘no’ but offer a ‘good idea’ for solving problems.

So what happens…..AGAIN?! One of his crew ‘diss’ the GOP for being short on details. What? A lame rebuttal to someone offering a different strategy? And one Republican assists the Messiah by ‘distancing himself’ from the House Majority Leader saying the real deal will be disclosed soon. Are you people all on crack?

Obama Budget Director Dismisses Republican Spending Blueprint
By Brian Faler

March 27 (Bloomberg) — White House Budget Director Peter Orszag dismissed a budget proposal offered by Republicans for providing few details on how they would stanch a projected gusher of government red ink in coming years.

So where were all the details from Obama’s crew on resolving issues? Geithner, Orzag, Obama hisself all promising hope and change with, go figure, little details until the budget to end all budgets was disclosed.

And a headline from the Dow Jones component of the Dow Jones component, the Wall Street Journal, saying Obama’s meeting with bankers was ‘ productive.’ Hello? The headline refers to Uh Uh Gibbs and the White House as the sources of the headline description.

White House: Obama’s Meeting With Bankers ‘Productive’
By Michael R. Crittenden
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)–President Barack Obama’s meeting with top banking executives was a “good, productive and frank conservation” about the need to restore stability to the financial system and help economic recovery, the White House said Friday.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters that Obama discussed a variety of issues with the executives, including Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s plan to deal with toxic bank assets, executive compensation issues, and a revamp of the U.S. regulatory system.

“The president emphasized that Wall Street needs Main Street and that Main Street needs Wall Street; that everybody has to pitch in,” Gibbs said at a briefing.

This is like a commentary here earlier in which the title asks if the ‘whole world is drunk’? Or other recent titles like ‘ stupid is as stupid does.’ Can anyone provide coherent leadership in what was at least once referred to as a leading nation on this pathetic planet?

Thank God for March Madness. Not only does the name reflect politics these days but it offers a brief respite from maximum dumb. Will you people kindly get your collective acts together?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

It’s Friday and it still sucks.

The second reporter called on by President Obama in his 3/24 press conference was entirely lame and appears to be a White House ploy to waste time rehashing the Obama claim that their plan for bailouts will impose sanctions on recipients and transparency and accountability no one has seen with the first half of TARP. The reporter asked if anyone would be asked to sacrifice and mentioned that those acting irresponsibly were ‘cushioned’ from the consequences of their actions by the bailout programs.

Several actions have been the focus of many reports discussing irresponsible acitivity by those looking for bailouts. Wall Street packaged bad subprime loans as worthy investments. Some borrowers speculated on the bubble or lied on their loan docs or accepted a loan for more house than they could afford. Countries all around the world, hence the term global crisis, were as greedy as the rest for buying up CDO’s and other instruments as fast as they could. There is plenty of blame to go around on who acted improperly.

President Obama used this second question from reporter number two as an aid to once again push his argument that has failed more than once already. Blame the prvious administration. Remind whoever will listen that the problem started before he got here. Long term economic growth is his message for deficits that will go out for years and his interest in expanding government including meddling in health care, energy and education more than it already does. The only jobs that may be created are temporary make-work jobs funded by taxpayer dollars.

The only difference in his argument this time is avoiding the punchdrunk laughter suggested in the 60 Minutes fiasco which Mr Chuckles could not hold back when discussing effects of the economic crisis. And we did not have to shake our heads due to another joke in poor taste like the one on Leno’s program. Nothing has changed. Hope and change have been turning to ‘ backlash.’ In past rebuttals to his budget ideas Mr Obama stated that those criticizing his plan had not produced their own. That is not true. The GOP produced a plan more heavily layered with tax cuts and provisions to create more jobs than Mr Obama’s. Yet they were closed out of discussions on the matter by the party in the majority.

Much of what Mr Obama has promised is nowhere to be found. People trying to make contact with his ‘open government’ have been ignored or contacted with irrelevant form letters. Lobbyists are still in the White House and elsewhere in the administration. Earmarks and pork barrel spending still rule the day. Changes to the government have tightened information not loosened it. Disclosure, transparency and oversight are not improved and could be argued to be worse than before. To keep pounding the same message after you have been rebuked numerous times says nothing for one’s leadership skills. All the talk of vetting and having discussions seemed to miss the mark on unveiling an agenda that could have been well received. Not unlike so many failed nominations the President’s agenda appears DOA.

A related item that seems worthy of repeating comes from the 60 Minutes interview when Steve Kroft asked the President if there is a limit to what we can spend? The President replied that we can spend as long as we can borrow the money. The fact that this question and answer were not major headlines throughtout this country rather than the punchdrunk laughter story or the bad joke on Leno is as troubling as Obama’s answer.

If you think we’re in trouble now. Wait until this country’s fine leadership spends us to the point where the governement can no longer borrow money. That will make burying future generations in debt look like a great idea. Trouble is by then it will be a moot point. Think about it.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

One noticeable feature of President Obama’s March 24, 2009 press conference is that he likes the word ‘ host.’ According to the transcript he used it seven times during the press event but it seemed like many more than that. For a scripted press conference one could expect this distraction would have been removed from the program. It makes even more sense now why The Messiah prefers campaign mode and teleprompters. Had to get that out of the way first.

The second issue is the scripting of his performances. Yes, they are more like Hollywood performances reminiscent of the 2008 Presidential campaign and the use of Greek columns for backdrops and concert type venues for The One. At least in press briefings or conferences more typical of Washington it is known that who the speaker calls on for questions has been determined in advance with perhaps an occasional ad hoc invitation for a question or two. But calling on reporters like kids in an elementary school classroom is another unwelcome departure from past practice. Now the second item is out of the way. On to the meat of the subject.

The first reporter tried to ask a pointed question. That is, if using different words, the question could have been are you really a socialist Mr President and will you nationalize much of the private sector using the recession as an excuse? But instead she asked if the public should support or reject Geithner and Bernanke’s errand boy trip to the Hill asking for just such an action. Obama replied that not having the power to take over the private sector is exactly why the bailout mess happened. Gee Mr President, have you ever considered that not acting correctly on mergers and acquisitions that can stifle competition could have avoided the opportunity to call some companies too big to fail? Gee Mr President, is the Justice Department charged with the responsibility of oversight in this regard? Perhaps the SEC as well as other agencies and departments are involved also?

If you want to criticize other administrations for dropping the ball on unrestrained mergers and acquisitions that is quite understandable. But looking to nationalize private sector entities in whole or in part using the excuse of current dilemmas as justification is perverse. So is the growing evidence that Mr Obama and crew would be quite satisfied with a socialist regime in the good ol US of A. Go ahead, criticize this post and author for mentioning the ‘S’ word but then have the rebuttal evidence to support your position. Obama continues to promote nationalizing banks, businesses, energy, health care and increasing government control over education. In other words expanding the role of government in everything about private lives. Inidividual freedom and responsibility will be lost in a country founded on such principles if Obama has his way. Even George Will in a piece cited on this blog suggests the Obama answer and Washington DC in general is to fix things by expanding the role of government. While he has rejected the notion of socialism from Obama in the past this is about as close as he may get to saying it.

The next post will pick up on the question of the next reporter chosen by President Obama. Otherwise these posts will get much too large and unruly.

A related item that seems worthy of repeating comes from the 60 Minutes interview when Steve Kroft asked the President if there is a limit to what we can spend? The President replied that we can spend as long as we can borrow the money. The fact that this question and answer were not major headlines throughtout this country rather than the punchdrunk laughter story or the bad joke on Leno is as troubling as Obama’s answer.

If you think we’re in trouble now. Wait until this country’s fine leadership spends us to the point where the governement can no longer borrow money. That will make burying future generations in debt look like a great idea. Trouble is by then it will be a moot point. Think about it.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Now, they tell us - Pt II: AP really catching on to Obama math! (Michelle Malkin) 

Presenting another overdue installment of a series on civics literacy becomes much easier when one defers to the wisdom and skill of George Will. Blog projects like this one can demand a great deal of time per unit of output. Not only saving that but providing resources which draw the connection to civics literacy in terms of current events is more useful than only referencing history.

The Toxic Assets We Elected is a piece by George Will that exemplifies the justification for his name being on anyone’s must read list. This particular offering addresses current folly by those in Washington and historical reference to the danger of such actions.

TARP has done no tarping. A note or two on currency which also supports the notion this administration’s agenda has something in common with much less democratic nations. The only part that may bring pause is mention of NAFTA. Yet the argument presented renders rebuttal a severe challenge. Although trade agreements and other treaties have raised concern about the North American Union and America’s slip to European style government.

The hypocrisy of some politicians is demonstrated by various statements from those now rejecting the value of the secret ballot in preserving voter’s rights. This compelling reminder and description of what is wrong continues with the Federal Reserve and with Democrats suggesting their party’s heritage is connected to Jefferson yet they dismiss his warnings.

Won’t spoil the conclusion here as reading this from beginning to end is half the enjoyment. You decide what the other half is.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The Toxic Assets We Elected
By George Will
March 24, 2009

WASHINGTON — With the braying of 328 yahoos — members of the House of Representatives who voted for retroactive and punitive use of the tax code to confiscate legal earnings of a small unpopular group — still reverberating, the Obama administration Monday invited private-sector investors to become business partners with the capricious and increasingly anti-constitutional government. This latest plan to unfreeze the financial system came almost half a year after Congress shoveled $700 billion into the Troubled Asset Relief Program, $325 billion of which has been spent without purchasing any toxic assets.

crossposted to:
Maggie’s Notebook
Conservative Thoughts

If you did not watch the Tonight Show or 60 Minutes when President Obama was interviewed you may also have missed some of the commentary around the internet and various news outlets indicating both venues were not without problems further suggesting puzzling choices by the White House.

Mary Kate Cary at US News and World Report is of the opinion that the 60 Minutes interview was a good choice because Steve Kroft is not a professional comedian and no gaffes were present by her observation plus it was done at the White House causing Obama to look Presidential.

Other reports and commentary feature criticism of Obama’s special olympics gaffe on Leno and describe what Kroft said about his laughing on 60 Minutes as being punchdrunk. You would not have to look far to find more reports or reactions to President Obama as responding in puzzling ways to other serious events. And news in general has started showing a lack of confidence in President Obama and his team.

Here are some blog links reacting to Obama’s 60 Minutes display or Leno appearance.

Comedian-in-Chief at Flopping Aces

Obama laughs during interview on failing economy at Amy Proctor’s Bottom Line Up Front

Why Can’t Obama Tell a Good Joke at Michelle Malkin

The Punchdrunk Presidency at Patterico’s Pontifications

But if you somehow feel the MSM is superior to the blogosphere you can check these reports.

The Kansas City Star offers a report from Politico….

His remarks came in a“60 Minutes” interview in which he was pressed by Steve Kroft for laughing and chuckling several times while discussing the perilous state of the world’s economy.

While MSNBC’s First Read merely regurgitates a 60 Minutes summary the title of the report is interesting.

FIRST 100 DAYS: GONE IN ‘60 MINUTES’

Kroft, 60 Minutes go soft and safe in Obama interview

If anybody was wondering why Barack Obama chose 60 Minutes as the one news outlet for an interview on his buy-my-economic-proposals-please TV tour, they got their answer Sunday night: Beyond the 16 million viewers who tune in each week, correspondent Steve Kroft played it safe and soft with the President, much as he had done during the election last year.

The NYT fish wrap points out the 60 Minutes Obama interview drew 16 million viewers and Entertainment Weekly indicates that won the Sunday ratings. In this day of tivo’d or recorded or video on demand everything one could safely watch the NCAA basketball tournament confident anything newsworthy from the interview would be available later.

You can also find another lame sales pitch from Christina Romer on this topic at youtube, go figure. The conclusion to draw is the Obama crew has done nothing to make their agenda or plans more palatable. Take for instance the taxpayer partnership with private investors for ‘toxic asset’ purchases promoted by Obama.

At least one member of Congress was heard reacting to the same nonsense to be noted here. The taxpayer will invest about 93% while the private sector will invest 7% and the profit or loss will be shared equally? How is that a good deal for anyone but the 7% investor?

You and a friend or family member find a great investment. The friend or relative proposes you invest $9300 of the ten thousand venture while he invests $700 and you will share the profit. If the investment went up 20% and you sold it you would get $1000 return on your $9300 (a 10.75% ROI) while your friend or relative would get the same $1000 and experience a whopping 242%+ ROI. Are you dumb enough to take that lopsided risk?

Obviously if your investment is a total failure your loss is nearly ten grand while your partner loses less than a thousand.

This is probably the most telling example of how stupid things are in Washington. If this is the carrot you have to dangle for private investment in toxic assets then what is so bad about the common fix of Chapter 11?

So the special olympics gaffe or ‘punchdrunk’ gaffe of Mr Obama pale in comparison to the ridiculous game plan his brain trust floated for buying toxic assets of failed US ripoffs.

I urge the public to continue to reject proposals offered thus far to supposedly solve economic problems. If those who continue to participate in the irrational love fest for the new President with no evidence to support that position the only thing we can look forward to is not holding the rest of Washington accountable. Just the fact that few are aware or upset about the current 3.6 TRILLION dollar budget and numerous other TRILLION dollar proposals or current liabilities facing public funding for this great nation is enough to forecast a continued downturn. One thing that Kroft asked Obama that was presented on Blog @ MoreWhat.com long ago is this. Mr President, is there a limit to what we can spend? Obama’s answer was essentially we can spend until we can no longer find money to borrow. Isn’t that part of what got us in this mess to begin with?

And some may wonder why I have no confidence in the federal government including OMG, the leader of the free world, President Barack Obama. Ya, I again left out his middle name as it only seems to p–s people off even though PBHO chose to use it at his inauguration. Just one more little tidbit that makes little sense.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Trackposted to Rosemary’s Thoughts, Stageleft, The World According to Carl, and Highly Opinionated, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

In early March 2009 Iran’s Khamenei expressed several points that would suggest the US and Iran will not likely find agreement with any proposed dialogue that could occur. There seems to be much posturing by both Iran and the White House. Obama and other Democrats have pushed for talks with Iran for a long time claiming the two countries can work out problems. Those in the US opposing such talks argue concessions or appeasement would be the only items in which Iran would be interested. And Iran continues to maintain their opposition to Israel and deny involvement in terrorism or pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Iran Denounces US During Gaza Meeting
By Edward Yeranian
Cairo
04 March 2009

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in the opening speech at the conference that President Obama spoke of change during his campaign but supported Israel’s devastating three-week offensive against the Gaza Strip earlier this year.

He says that even the new American president, who came to office with the slogan of bringing change to the policies of the Bush administration, avows unconditional support for Israel’s security, which means defending state terrorism, injustice and oppression, as well as a 22-day long massacre of hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children. This, the Ayatollah said, is the same path of the Bush administration.

You may notice in the excerpt above that Khamenei conveniently omits attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah and others or describing them as terrorism. Yet clearly in the example he uses, the December 2009 retaliation by Israel from repeated rocket attacks by Hamas, was initiated by terrorists he refuses to acknowledge.

Khamenei called for a referendum of all those residents of historic Palestine, whom he termed “legitimate,” to determine the fate of the Holy Land.

He says that he is proposing a solution which is democratic in principle and which serves as a logical basis for everyone. All those who have a legitimate stake in the territory of Palestine, he says, including Muslims, Christians and Jews should choose the structure of their ruling system in a general referendum. He says that Palestinian exiles must also participate in the referendum.

Mr. Obama has said his administration is looking for opportunities to engage Iran to help reduce tensions between the two countries - particularly related to Iran’s nuclear program.

Khamenei’s comments Wednesday highlighted how difficult it will be for the Obama administration to improve relations given the deep disagreements on both sides on issues like Israel and Iran’s nuclear efforts.

And the Iranian leader insults the intelligence of anyone reading his words regarding a referendum. Even without doing a head count on those living in the areas mentioned, to add so-called Palestinian exiles would at the very least stack the deck with unverifiable votes reminiscent of ACORN and make this ‘referendum’ a self-fulfilling prophecy with a nearly unlimited quantity of phantom voters that are anti-Israel.

Syria Offers to Mediate With Iran
By Edward Yeranian
Cairo
18 March 2009

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is proposing to mediate between the West and Iran, telling an Italian newspaper that he’s prepared to act as a go-between to improve relations that have been further strained over Iran’s nuclear program.

How convenient that after Congressional Dems sponsored an appeasement tour of the Middle East in August 2007 and Obama has been calling for appeasement worldwide Syria decides to offer to be a mediator on the Iran nukes issue as well as improving foreign relations with the United States.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy urged Mr. Assad, during a conference in France last July, to use his influence to help resolve Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West.

President Assad noted that dialogue was the best means to end long-standing disputes with Tehran, arguing that any attempt to contain a country ends by strengthening it.

And it seems French President Sarkozy is hedging his bets. It may be fair to say his rise to power not unlike Obama’s was premised on change. Now that the honeymoon is long over two things stand out. Mention of him in the previous reference as inviting Syria to get involved and lately warming up to re-entering NATO. What’s that about? Go for appeasement and if that puts you at risk fall back on newly formed ties with NATO to do your fighting for you?

Iran Warms to Obama Appeal for Better Relations
By Edward Yeranian
Cairo
20 March 2009

Iranian government TV carried a traditional New Year’s greeting from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad calling it the day of the “rebirth of love, friendship, and aspiration,” but it was President Obama’s message that captured many people’s attention.

First of all, ‘love, friendship and aspiration’ coming from Ahmedinejad is in direct opposition to his statements that Israel must be eliminated. And the Iranian President also had this to say.

“Mr. Obama has talked of change, but has taken no practical measures to redress America’s past mistakes in Iran,” he said. “If Mr. Obama takes a concrete action and makes fundamental changes to U.S. foreign policy towards other nations, including Iran, the Iranian government and people will not turn their back on him. Mr. Obama has referred to differences between Iran and the US. We believe that those differences stem from Washington’s hostile policy towards Iran. Minor changes will not end the differences.”

It is obvious anything short of appeasement and caving to Iranian intentions will not produce effective solutions or dissuade Iran from their current agenda. Where the author came up with the title suggesting Iran is ‘warming’ to the US is a puzzle.

US Looking for Reciprocal Iranian Gesture After Obama Message
By David Gollust
State Department
20 March 2009

The State Department said Friday U.S. officials are looking for a reciprocal gesture from Iran after President Barack Obama’s conciliatory holiday message to the Iranian people and government Thursday. Mr. Obama said in a broadcast for the Iranian new year holiday Nowruz that the United States wants “honest engagement” with Tehran based on mutual respect.

If the report above is true there is confirmation that Hillary Rodham Clinton does not have a clue or thinks you do not.

At a news briefing, State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood said that the crux of the President’s message was that despite the serious differences that have marred the relationship over time, the Obama administration is committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues with Tehran.

Senior Iranian leaders have not given any direct response but Wood signaled patience, saying the process is at an early stage.

“We’re at the beginning of this process,” he said. “The President has made it clear we’re going to engage diplomatically with Iran. We intend to do that. It will be up to the Iranians how they want to reciprocate.”

“But I also want to emphasize we still have some very difficult issues that divide us. And what the President has said is that we want to work with Iran on trying to deal with these differences. We’re willing to diplomatically engage. It’s really going to be up to Iran,” he added.

Wood said the problem issues in the relationship include Iranian threats toward Israel and other countries in the region and its nuclear program, which U.S. officials believe is weapons-related despite statements from Tehran that it is for peaceful purposes only.

If you cite all the problems with Iran and what they are trying to accomplish and yet claim to hold out hope for a few publicly expressed kind words to initiate some sort of reconciliation two things become apparent. Either you’re an idiot or much more is going on behind the scenes and as usual public rhetoric is for political purposes. Of course it is always possible both are right.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Dismisses Obama’s Appeal
By Edward Yeranian
Cairo
21 March 2009
Speaking in the holy city of Mashhad Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the United States is using “the slogan of change,” but that he sees no real change in U.S. policy toward Iran.

Change in rhetoric alone is not enough, he said, and even then we haven’t seen much change in vocabulary. Change, he insists, must be authentic.

This part could be called ‘ gimme something.’ Obviously Obama blinked and now the Iranians are feeling superior. Could it be that during the Bush Administration Iran only talked tough as they had no other options to save face? Now that an American President is ‘asking’ to talk they have the upper hand in a discussion. So now what? Does Obama expect them to roll over and play nice or is the opposition correct, Obama’a agenda is full of appeasement?

PRESS RELEASE - Washington, D.C., March 23, 2009 - President Obama’s message to the Iranian people on the Nowruz holiday drew millions of viewers and listeners to the Voice of America (www.VOANews.com ), the largest international Persian-language broadcaster.

By Monday, VOA sites had more than 134,000 views of the three-minute speech, which Obama delivered late last Thursday as Iranians prepared to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian new year. The video was posted on www.VOANews.com, www.VOANews.com/persian/, and VOA’s partner YouTube channels. VOA’s Persian News Network (PNN) also broadcast the message to Iran, a country with a restricted media, on satellite television and on shortwave radio.

Over the weekend, PNN received and broadcast e-mails from inside Iran, many of them praising Obama’s speech. In one, Arash said he was pleased with Obamas “message because he (Obama) actually recognizes the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The writer also said he hoped Iran’s leaders “will study Obama’s speech and make a good decision.”

In his remarks, Obama talked of a “new beginning,” saying he hoped Iran, the United States and other nations would form constructive ties. He also praised Iran’s “great and celebrated culture.”

VOA’s dissemination of the video was also cited by Fox News Network, the Times of London and the Guardian in the United Kingdom, among many other places.

Whatever happened to strength through power?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com