I gotta hand it to this guy, He does explain things quite well. But the humor is unmistakable. 😀
Tag: Barack Obama
Red State Update: Obama’s Stimulus Package
Jackie and Dunlap on Obama’s trillion dollary stimulus package, pork projects, and art.
Well, He is new to the Job
I will give him that. Here’s some funny bits from a NYT piece about the New President. Seems he has changed things a bit, perhaps it is a good thing.
Quotes:
The capital flew into a bit of a tizzy when, on his first full day in the White House, President Obama was photographed in the Oval Office without his suit jacket. There was, however, a logical explanation: Mr. Obama, who hates the cold, had cranked up the thermostat.
“He’s from Hawaii, O.K.?” said Mr. Obama’s senior adviser, David Axelrod, who occupies the small but strategically located office next door to his boss. “He likes it warm. You could grow orchids in there.”
Not touching this, not with a ten foot pole. 
He reads several papers, eats breakfast with his family and helps pack his daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, off to school before making the 30-second commute downstairs — a definite perk for a man trying to balance work and family life. He eats dinner with his family, then often returns to work; aides have seen him in the Oval Office as late as 10 p.m., reading briefing papers for the next day.
“Even as he is sober about these challenges, I have never seen him happier,” Mr. Axelrod said. “The chance to be under the same roof with his kids, essentially to live over the store, to be able to see them whenever he wants, to wake up with them, have breakfast and dinner with them — that has made him a very happy man.”
Hey, at least he is engaged, which is a bit more than I can say about the previous President, who seemed to outsource everything that either he did not understand or care to understand. (Which is just an opinion of mine.) I also like to see the President happy, for all of my criticisms of this President regarding his politics; I will not criticize him for being a family man. That says much about him; yes, I know about the far-right crazies who say it is all a front and he is a terrorist and all. Those people are stupid and lame, and should be treated as such.
In the West Wing, Mr. Obama is a bit of a wanderer. When Mr. Bush wanted to see a member of his staff, the aide was summoned to the Oval Office. But Mr. Obama tends to roam the halls; one day last week, he turned up in the office of his press secretary, Robert Gibbs, who was in the unfortunate position of having his feet up on the desk when the boss walked in.
“Wow, Gibbs,” the press secretary recalls the president saying. “Just got here and you already have your feet up.” Mr. Gibbs scrambled to stand up, surprising Mr. Obama, who is not yet accustomed to having people rise when he enters a room.
This sort of stuff cracks me up. 
I feel sorry for poor Gibbs. I mean, President Obama goes from being a friend and a Senator to the President of the United States; it is a bit of a adjustment.
I know, some of you Conservatives will think that I am slobbering over the guy. 
Which is a bunch of crap, if you’ve cared to read this Blog at all. I criticize his politics, but I do know that Obama is normal human being, like the rest of us. For the record, I thought Bush was as well. I was not one of those Bush derangement types, I had zero against the man, I just did not agree with his polices.
Now, there are those who would criticize President Obama for his change in protocol for the White House, in regards to dress code. I am not one of those people. I think that formality amongst the Republicans and most Conservatives is overplayed a bit. The way I feel about it is this; I would much rather have a President that ditches the formality, and proceeds to lead the Country with a sobering intelligence and a calm guiding hand. Than for him to be hung up on formalities and be a total disconnected, out of touch, buffoon. You know, like the last couple Presidents?
Yeah, I know, there is some Conservatives lambasting him for having the thermostat cranked up. Well, when you have no life and live in your own little world, what exactly do you expect?
Others: JustOneMinute, Michelle Malkin, The Swamp, Hot Air, marbury, Wonkette, Argghhh!, The Huffington Post, TIME.com, Gawker, Mudville Gazette, Rising Hegemon, Green Inc., Lost in Transition, The BLT and Althouse
Zo breaks it down about “The Pledge”
For the record, he’s talking about this here.
He also makes some very valid point about the Libertarians. Although, there are some legit arguments to his comments. It is quite an awesome thing to watch.
Cartoon of the Day
Paving the Way?
(via)
I was afraid of this
Last night I blogged about this and warned the far right not to do it, but naturally, because I am such a small blog, no one listens.
Anyhow, Huffington Post has the complete transcript of President Obama’s interview with Al-Arabiya Arab TV Network. Head on over and read it, because it is a bit much to quote here. Of course, the reaction amongst the far-right blogs was quite predictable.
However, Michael Goldfarb over at the Neo-Conservative Weakly Standard (:P) makes a valid point:
Reacting to this quote here:
Q Will the United States ever live with a nuclear Iran? And if not, how far are you going in the direction of preventing it?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, I said during the campaign that it is very important for us to make sure that we are using all the tools of U.S. power, including diplomacy, in our relationship with Iran.
Now, the Iranian people are a great people, and Persian civilization is a great civilization. Iran has acted in ways that’s not conducive to peace and prosperity in the region: their threats against Israel; their pursuit of a nuclear weapon which could potentially set off an arms race in the region that would make everybody less safe; their support of terrorist organizations in the past — none of these things have been helpful.
But I do think that it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but where there are potential avenues for progress. And we will over the next several months be laying out our general framework and approach. And as I said during my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us.
Mr. Goldfarb comments:
Wouldn’t a simple ‘no, a nuclear Iran is unacceptable to the United States and our allies’ have sufficed? Instead Obama says that Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon is “unhelpful,” that it’s “not conducive to peace.” When Obama was in Israel, he said that “a nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat and the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” He added that he would “take no options off the table in dealing with this potential Iranian threat.” In the first debate of the general election, Obama reiterated that the United States “cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran.” But when Obama has the chance to speak directly to the Muslim world, he can only muster retread rhetoric from his inaugural address about clenched fists and open hands.
President Bush was incapable of engaging the Muslim world with his own words, but neither was it possible for the Muslim world to confuse his view of American interests in that region. President Obama has the potential to secure real progress through his skill as a communicator, but there’s always been a fear that some portion of his success in negotiating difficult issues was the result of a willingness, or perhaps a compulsion, to tell his audience whatever it is he thinks they want to hear.
I must say, he does have a valid point. One cannot use flowers and anvils at the same time. It tends to confuse people. Hats off to Goldfarb for bringing up this point.
Family Planning money…..under the bus!
Obama finally capitulates.
WASHINGTON – House Democrats are likely to jettison family planning funds for the low-income from an $825 billion economic stimulus bill, officials said late Monday, following a personal appeal from President Barack Obama at a time the administration is courting Republican critics of the legislation.
Several officials said a final decision was expected on Tuesday, coinciding with Obama’s scheduled visit to the Capitol for separate meetings with House and Senate Republicans.
The provision has emerged as a point of contention among Republicans, who criticize it as an example of wasteful spending that would neither create jobs nor otherwise improve the economy.
Under the provision, states no longer would be required to obtain federal permission to offer family planning services — including contraceptives — under Medicaid, the health program for the low-income.
via Officials: Family planning money may be dropped – Yahoo! News.
I must say, I cannot criticize Obama for this one. Because I feel abortion is murder, I am glad to see that Obama is telling Democrats in Congress to dump this. This is one that I will give him credit for. The Economy can be recovered without paying for abortions or handing out condoms. I find it quite shocking that the Democrats would use a economic situation like this, to further a murderous agenda.Which furthers my belief that the Democratic Party has become the communist party and an Anti-Christian, Anti-Life party.
(Via Memeorandum)
The G.O.P. grows a pair
It is about damned time.
President Barack Obama is coming to the Capitol this afternoon to curry favor with congressional Republicans. But it appears GOP leaders have already made up their minds to oppose his $825 billion stimulus plan.
House Republican Leader John A. Boehner and his No. 2, Whip Eric Cantor, told their rank-and-file members Tuesday morning during a closed-door meeting to oppose the bill when it comes to the floor Wednesday, according to an aide familiar with the discussion. Boehner told members that he’s voting against the stimulus, and Cantor told the assembled Republicans that there wasn’t any reason for them to support the measure, according to another person in the room. Cantor and his whip team are going to urge GOP members to oppose it.
via Boehner to GOP: Vote against stimulus – Patrick O’Connor and Jonathan Martin – Politico.com.
It is absolutely amazing that now, after the fact; that the G.O.P. bungled the most important election, that now the G.O.P. is going to grow a pair of stones. Gee, where was that bravery and fortitude during the election?
Of course, when you run a pseudo-Conservative and a self-proclaimed “War Hero”; What do you expect?
(via Memeorandum)
Is President Obama trying to play the far right?
It is to wonder….
As special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell heads off to the region to begin work on negotiating a cease fire between Israel and the Palestinians, President Obama has sat for his first formal TV interview with the Arabic cable TV network Al-Arabiya, ABC News has learned.
The interview was taped this evening and is set to air at 11 pm ET, as Mitchell is in the air and on his way to the region.
Based in Dubai, Al-Arabiya estimates that it has a potential audience exceeding 23 million in the Gulf region.
via Political Punch: President Obama Does First Formal TV Interview as President with Al-Arabiya.
I have a theory about this and looking around at the Blogosphere, I can see that my theory might be correct.
I will simply say this, I have a theory that President Obama might be just trying to play the far right and the main stream conservative media for a fiddle. Because if you click the links that I just pointed to, you will see where the far right is basically flipping their collective cork over Obama going to Al-Arabiya for his first interview.
The reason why I say this is because it seems like just about every other day, President Obama says or does something that causes the far “rabid” right, as they are so called by the Liberal left; to basically go totally insane. Which makes the far right do a collective group jump up and down session, while frothing at the mouth and screaming, “He’s a terrorist! He is an Al-Qaeda Plant! He is going to destroy us all!” For perfect examples of this, click here and here. (The second link being more rabid than the first, if I do say so myself.)
To be clear, I do believe that Conservatives should be the loyal opposition and likewise criticize him for anything he does that goes against what true Conservative principles. But have a collective conniption fit over something as benign as this does nothing to further the cause of Conservatism.
Others: The Moderate Voice, Eunomia, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, AmSpecBlog and Riehl World View
(via Memeorandum)
Liberal Democrat John Conyers starts Liberal Witch-Hunt against Bush Administration
This ought to be very interesting.
via Politico.com:
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) has subpoenaed Karl Rove, the former top political advisor to President George W. Bush, to question what Rove knows about “politicization” of the Justice Department.
The Senate Judiciary Committee had subpoenaed Rove during the last Congress, but relying on an executive privilege claim by Bush, Rove refused to appear.
Conyers had previously subpoenaed former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten, Bush former White House chief of staff, seeking any information they had. Conyers is also seeking White House documents related to the firing of nine U.S. attorneys.
After the White House refused to comply with the subpoenas, and Miers refused to even appear before the committee to answer the subpoena, the House Judiciary Committee sued. A federal judge backed the committee in a major win for Conyers and House Democrats, but resolution of the case has been delayed by the changeover in administrations. President Obama has vowed to comply with congressional subpoenas.
“I have said many times that I will carry this investigation forward to its conclusion, whether in Congress or in court, and today’s action is an important step along the way,” Conyers said.
Rove has until Feb. 2 to respond to the subpoena.
To me, this looks like a partisan witch-hunt. Because no proof that Karl Rove or anyone else at the White House knew about it. Just Liberal accusations.
Update: This is not to say there was no bad conduct at the Justice Department, Monica Goodling basically admitted that she made some very unethical decisions. But to attempt to tie it to Karl Rove and to George W. Bush by Proxy; is basically a stretch. I mean, because there is no proof of it, at all. All there is, are E-mails that have been parsed to extract Liberal talking points. I mean, do the Liberals really believe that Karl Rove, of all people, is going to sing like a bird? I mean, the man’s a Bush Loyalist. He is just not going to give the Democrats what they want.
The problem is, Obama is not going to enforce this at all:
Obama and Eric Holder, the administration’s nominee for attorney general, have both said they will not try to “criminalize policy differences” with the Bush administration, especially controversial policies like authorization by the Justice Department of waterboarding.
So, it looks like Mr. Conyers is going a have a bit of trouble of getting the support of the White House on this. However, there’s this:
But many prominent Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vt.), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, have said they want to pursue Bush administration officials whom they believe misled Congress.
There two ways one can look at this. It could be that Conyers will be on his own, because Pelosi won’t support it. However, on the other hand; Pelosi, Leahy and possibly other, like Wexler, might get behind this and pursue it and not have the support the White House; thereby creating a rift between Congress and the White House.
Either way, it will be an interesting story to follow, as you know, as well as I, that this will spark an outrage among the far right, especially amongst the Neo-Conservative media. Somehow, I just do not think that the Democrats in Congress want to risk a fierce blowback in the media from the Conservatives. Because any way you attempt to paint this, it will be viewed by some, as a partsian witch hunt. I just do not believe that the Democrats have the stomach for a backlash that would follow something of this nature.
RedState Update: Jackie and Dunlap on Obama Week One–Inauguration, Secret Oath
Jackie and Dunlap on the Inauguration, Obama’s Second Secret Oath of Office, closing Guantanamo, Cheney’s wheelchair, Rush Limbaugh, and the Oak Ridge Boys
Video:
Barack Obama’s pledge to disarm America hits some speed bumps.
Uh-oh…
via Challenges loom as Obama seeks space weapons ban | U.S. | Reuters:
President Barack Obama’s pledge to seek a worldwide ban on weapons in space marks a dramatic shift in U.S. policy while posing the tricky issue of defining whether a satellite can be a weapon.
Moments after Obama’s inauguration last week, the White House website was updated to include policy statements on a range of issues, including a pledge to restore U.S. leadership on space issues and seek a worldwide ban on weapons that interfere with military and commercial satellites.
It also promised to look at threats to U.S. satellites, contingency plans to keep information flowing from them, and what steps are needed to protect spacecraft against attack.
The issue is being closely watched by Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co, Northrop Grumman Corp, the biggest U.S. defense contractors, and other companies involved in military and civilian space contracts.
Watchdog groups and even some defense officials welcomed the statement, which echoed Obama’s campaign promises, but said it would take time to hammer out a comprehensive new strategy.
Enacting a global ban on space weapons could prove even harder.
Of course, we all know that the Obamassiah will get his way, he will destroy those who stand in his way. Just ask Larry Sinclair.
In case you forgotten, here’s Obama making his promise to disarm America:
Others: Macsmind, Atlas Shrugs and Sweetness & Light
Democrats to forward a Communist & Black Liberation Agenda
When I saw this, I said, “you must be kidding me.” But, it is not joke. (H/T Pemela Geller)
Reparations for African-Americans (hat tip Green)
Bill # H.R.40
Original Sponsor:
John Conyers (D-MI 14th)
Cosponsor Total: 4
(last sponsor added 01/14/2009)
4 Democrats
About This Legislation:
1/6/2009–Introduced. Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act – Establishes the Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans to examine slavery and discrimination in the colonies and the United States from 1619 to the present and recommend appropriate remedies.MORE RADICAL LEGISLATION: Over at Ms. Understimated she has a jawdropping video here on Obama’s plans to adopt the far left agenda of the LGBT (LESBIAN, GAY, BI-SEXUAL, TRANSGENDER) lobby, and “hate crimes” against gender identity.
Tonight on Huckabee, Matthew Staver of the Liberty Council was on as a guest to discuss the changes made to the WhiteHouse.gov page since Obama’s team took it over. Huckabee thinks it’s important for all of us to know exactly what’s in the Obama agenda for Civil Rights, and Stover walks us all through the details of his plans.
Oh man, we are so screwed. 🙁
No only will it be illegal to speak out against Homosexuality, I and every other taxpayer, is going to have to pay for our forefathers mistakes.
I say again, we are so screwed.
Is Obama setting the United States of America up for a dictatorship?
Looks that way to me!
Via Politico.com:
West Wing on steroids in Obama W.H.
President Barack Obama is taking far-reaching steps to centralize decision-making inside the White House, surrounding himself with influential counselors, overseas envoys and policy “czars” that shift power from traditional Cabinet posts.
Not even a week has passed since he was sworn in, but already Obama is moving to create perhaps the most powerful staff in modern history – a sort of West Wing on steroids that places no less than a half-dozen of his top initiatives into the hands of advisers outside the Cabinet.
For all the talk of his “Team of Rivals” pick in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Obama last week handed the two hottest hotspots in American foreign policy to presidential envoys – one to former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, and the other to a man who knows his way around Foggy Bottom better than Clinton does, Richard Holbrooke.
“Czar” Carol Browner will head up Obama’s fight on global warming, where once his energy and environmental chiefs might have stepped in. Tom Daschle scored a ground floor office in the West Wing not by running Health and Human Services – but because of his role as Obama’s health-reform czar.
Pulling power close is something all recent presidents have done – and on the campaign trail, Obama spoke out against George W. Bush’s attempt to expand his executive authority.
But when it comes to building his own team, Obama is taking the notion of a powerful White House staff to new heights, leaving little doubt who will set policy and guide the politics of the his newborn administration.
….. Aides say he believes the Cabinet structure is outdated because it doesn’t recognize that problems like global warming sprawl across several agencies, often requiring a sort of uber-Cabinet member – a czar – to confront them.
That helps explain the selection of Browner as an “energy-environment” czar, said one Obama aide.
…..What’s notable about Obama’s approach – and expands on the approaches taken by Bush and Bill Clinton – is the number of different areas where Obama is seeking to tap a central figure, outside the Cabinet structure, who will carry out his wishes.
Doesn’t that name Czar sound a bit Communist to you?
Does any remember Obama telling the world on his campaign that a cabinet structure was outdated?
Further more, does anyone remember Obama excoriating the Bush Administration’s overreaching power, and how Obama’s White House was going to be different? So much for that little campaign promise.
Same beat, different drummer. Some Corruption, Different Party.
So Much for that “Hope and Change.” 🙄
Others: NewsBusters.org and Daled Amos
Teh most awesome crime story evah
This is just too damned sweet.
Go here to watch the video
Via KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas:
Little Rock – Two people are in custody following a west Little Rock home intrusion during which one suspect was shot.
The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. Thursday at 31 Marcella Drive.
Authorities say a resident inside the home exchanged gunfire with one of the intruders, shooting him in the hip before the trio fled. As police officers were en route to the scene, they noticed a suspicious vehicle, and a chase began.
The driver of the vehicle eventually stopped in the 18000-block of Denny Road, and fled into the woods. Officers soon arrested 18-year-old Ashten Keaton and 18-year-old Leshawn Davis, who were passengers in the car.
Keaton suffered a gunshot wound to his left hip, and was transported to a local hospital. Davis was taken into custody and charged with attempted capital murder, obstruction of justice, and numerous robbery charges. Charges are still pending against Keaton.
A third suspect remains on the loose.
No one in the home was injured.
Nothing like persuasive power of a firearm to convince someone idiot that he is in the wrong house.
Exit Question and Comment: did you happen to notice what color the one suspect was? Hmmm? Of course, if someone like me says something like “that coon got what was coming to him”, we end up having to go to therapy. So, I won’t. 😛 😀
Of course, if “The One” has his way, that guy will lose his guns. Because we can’t have them bitter and clingy people having guns, can we? 🙄
(Via National Review)
Uh-Oh! – Two ex-Guantanamo inmates appear in Al-Qaeda video
This cannot be good, at all.
via AFP: Two ex-Guantanamo inmates appear in Al-Qaeda video
Two men released from the US “war on terror” prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba have appeared in a video posted on a jihadist website, the SITE monitoring service reported.
One of the two former inmates, a Saudi man identified as Abu Sufyan al-Azdi al-Shahri, or prisoner number 372, has been elevated to the senior ranks of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, a US counter-terrorism official told AFP.
Three other men appear in the video, including Abu al-Hareth Muhammad al-Oufi, identified as an Al-Qaeda field commander. SITE later said he was prisoner No. 333.
A Pentagon spokesman, Commander Jeffrey Gordon, on Saturday declined to confirm the SITE information.
“We remain concerned about ex-Guantanamo detainees who have re-affiliated with terrorist organizations after their departure,” said Gordon.
“We will continue to work with the international community to mitigate the threat they pose,” he said.
…and these guys aren’t exactly tickled pink about being imprisoned at Guantanamo either.
On the video, al-Shihri is seen sitting with three other men before a flag of the Islamic State of Iraq, the front for Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
“By Allah, imprisonment only increased our persistence in our principles for which we went out, did jihad for, and were imprisoned for,” al-Shihri was quoted as saying.
Something tells me that this is bring the releasing of these prisons to a screeching halt, or at least intensify the effort to screen them much better; before releasing them.
Al-Qaeda 1 – Obama 0
Of course my fellow Conservatives are all over it. The silence from the left is quite deafening.
Others: ParaPundit, Flopping Aces, Atlas Shrugs, Weekly Standard, MsUnderestimated, Gateway Pundit, RedState and Sweetness & Light
First Lady Michelle Obama, “Don’t be using my kids as a marketing tool!”
Oh brother!
They’ve been in the White House less than a week, but the first daughters have already been co-opted by marketers — and Michelle Obama isn’t happy about it.
Ty, the toy company responsible for the popular Beanie Babies dolls, is now marketing “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia” dolls.
The first lady’s office said Friday Ty was out of line. “We feel it is inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing purposes,” said a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama in a statement.
A Ty representative told CNN the company generally avoids naming dolls for “any particular living individual,” because doing so might interfere with how kids use their imaginations to play with them. But they wouldn’t reveal the source of their inspiration for the new figures, telling CNN that information relating to the development of the company’s merchandise — including how it comes up with products, product names, and trademarks – is proprietary
via CNN Political Ticker: Michelle Obama: ‘Inappropriate’ to use daughters to sell dolls
But yet the first bitch will put her daughters on Access Hollywood, magazine photo shoots, and parade her girls front and center wherever she goes. But she bitches about this?
As they say in the ghetto here in Detroit….. NIGGA PLEASE! 🙄
If the first harpy does not want her “Babies” out in the public, keep them out the public eye. Otherwise, shut the hell up, and be glad your stupid idiot husband got elected, despite that 45 percent; or more if the truth me known, considering the election was rigged as hell, and he basically bought the damned election from all those off-shore donations from terrorists. 😡
….and for it’s worth, Bambi is NOT my President. He’s just stupid uppity idiot that won, because he was black; and that’s ALL that Magic Negro will be to me!
Others: The Impolitic, JammieWearingFool, Joanne Jacobs, Macsmind,
The President’s Weekly Video Address
Related: Download the Recovery Plan Metrics Report
Transcript: (Source: The White House)
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, January 24th, 2009
We begin this year and this Administration in the midst of an unprecedented crisis that calls for unprecedented action. Just this week, we saw more people file for unemployment than at any time in the last twenty-six years, and experts agree that if nothing is done, the unemployment rate could reach double digits. Our economy could fall $1 trillion short of its full capacity, which translates into more than $12,000 in lost income for a family of four. And we could lose a generation of potential, as more young Americans are forced to forgo college dreams or the chance to train for the jobs of the future.
In short, if we do not act boldly and swiftly, a bad situation could become dramatically worse.
That is why I have proposed an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan to immediately jumpstart job creation as well as long-term economic growth. I am pleased to say that both parties in Congress are already hard at work on this plan, and I hope to sign it into law in less than a month.
It’s a plan that will save or create three to four million jobs over the next few years, and one that recognizes both the paradox and the promise of this moment – the fact that there are millions of Americans trying to find work even as, all around the country, there’s so much work to be done. That’s why this is not just a short-term program to boost employment. It’s one that will invest in our most important priorities like energy and education; health care and a new infrastructure that are necessary to keep us strong and competitive in the 21st century.
Today I’d like to talk specifically about the progress we expect to make in each of these areas.
To accelerate the creation of a clean energy economy, we will double our capacity to generate alternative sources of energy like wind, solar, and biofuels over the next three years. We’ll begin to build a new electricity grid that lay down more than 3,000 miles of transmission lines to convey this new energy from coast to coast. We’ll save taxpayers $2 billion a year by making 75% of federal buildings more energy efficient, and save the average working family $350 on their energy bills by weatherizing 2.5 million homes.
To lower health care cost, cut medical errors, and improve care, we’ll computerize the nation’s health record in five years, saving billions of dollars in health care costs and countless lives. And we’ll protect health insurance for more than 8 million Americans who are in danger of losing their coverage during this economic downturn.
To ensure our children can compete and succeed in this new economy, we’ll renovate and modernize 10,000 schools, building state-of-the-art classrooms, libraries, and labs to improve learning for over five million students. We’ll invest more in Pell Grants to make college affordable for seven million more students, provide a $2,500 college tax credit to four million students, and triple the number of fellowships in science to help spur the next generation of innovation.
Finally, we will rebuild and retrofit America to meet the demands of the 21st century. That means repairing and modernizing thousands of miles of America’s roadways and providing new mass transit options for millions of Americans. It means protecting America by securing 90 major ports and creating a better communications network for local law enforcement and public safety officials in the event of an emergency. And it means expanding broadband access to millions of Americans, so business can compete on a level-playing field, wherever they’re located.
I know that some are skeptical about the size and scale of this recovery plan. I understand that skepticism, which is why this recovery plan must and will include unprecedented measures that will allow the American people to hold my Administration accountable for these results. We won’t just throw money at our problems – we’ll invest in what works. Instead of politicians doling out money behind a veil of secrecy, decisions about where we invest will be made public, and informed by independent experts whenever possible. We’ll launch an unprecedented effort to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending in our government, and every American will be able to see how and where we spend taxpayer dollars by going to a new website called recovery.gov.
No one policy or program will solve the challenges we face right now, nor will this crisis recede in a short period of time. But if we act now and act boldly; if we start rewarding hard work and responsibility once more; if we act as citizens and not partisans and begin again the work of remaking America, then I have faith that we will emerge from this trying time even stronger and more prosperous than we were before. Thanks for listening.
(H/T HotAir)
Others: New York Times, AmSpecBlog, Political Machine, AMERICAblog News, Political Punch, Gothamist and ONTD: Politics
More on the Spying on Journalists by the Bush Administration
Following up my posting from Last Night, More on the Spying of Journalists by the Bush Administration:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
and….
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
….and now to answer a question that some of you are possibly asking. Why I posting this here?
Ladies and Gents, I have one simple, but very direct answer. I am, and always will be for accountability in Government. If this is even remotely true. It would mean that the Bush Administration is even more corrupt that one though. I am sorry, but that transcends political parties, political ideology or affiliation. The President of the United States; is, in fact, the President of Everyone, he is elected by the people and he is the President of the people and not the Republican or Democratic Parties.
I make no apologies whatsoever, to any Conservatives or Republicans that read this Blog for posting these videos. It is my hope and prayer, that our newly elected Congress takes up this cause and leans on the justice department to do a full investigation into the possible crimes committed by the former administration.
Corruption cannot exist in Government, if it does, it begats more corruption. Somewhere the line must be drawn in the sand, somewhere someone within the halls of Congress someone must stand up and say this cannot be allowed to continue and go unpunished.
I hope the Congress, The President and the Justice Dept. does the right thing. It must investigate.
President Obama tells G.O.P “I Won”
Seems our new President is a bit cocky….
President Obama listened to Republican gripes about his stimulus package during a meeting with congressional leaders Friday morning – but he also left no doubt about whos in charge of these negotiations. “I won,” Obama noted matter-of-factly, according to sources familiar with the conversation.
The exchange arose as top House and Senate Republicans expressed concern to the president about the amount of spending in the package. They also raised red flags about a refundable tax credit that returns money to those who don’t pay income taxes, the sources said.
The Republicans stressed that they want to include more middle class tax cuts in the package, citing their proposal to cut the two lowest tax rates — 15 percent and 10 percent — to ten percent and five percent, rather than issue the refundable credit Obama wants.
At another point in the meeting, sources said Obama told the group: “This is a grave situation facing the country.” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama would hold another economic meeting in the White House Saturday for a “broader group.”
via Obama to GOP: I won – Jonathan Martin and Carol E. Lee – Politico.com.
Enjoy it while you can there, Barry, because in six months, you’ll be the next Asshole in the White House. Especially if the Economy does not recover. Which it will not. So, Enjoy it while you can.
For the record. Obama did not “Win”, the economy collapsed, and basically, Barry bought his Presidency, especially from all those off-shore donations.
Others: ,Hot Air, New York Times, Jules Crittenden, Associated Press, The Swamp, , Washington Monthly, The Caucus, The Moderate Voice, Political Machine and (via Memeornadum)
Freed from Gitmo, Saudi Becomes a Al-Qaeda Chief
This is not good at all, and timing could not be worse.
The emergence of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee as the deputy leader of Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch has underscored the potential complications in carrying out the executive order President Obama signed Thursday that the detention center be shut down within a year.
The militant, Said Ali al-Shihri, is suspected of involvement in a deadly bombing of the United States Embassy in Yemen’s capital, Sana, in September. He was released to Saudi Arabia in 2007 and passed through a Saudi rehabilitation program for former jihadists before resurfacing with Al Qaeda in Yemen.
His status was announced in an Internet statement by the militant group and was confirmed by an American counterterrorism official.
“They’re one and the same guy,” said the official, who insisted on anonymity because he was discussing an intelligence analysis. “He returned to Saudi Arabia in 2007, but his movements to Yemen remain unclear.”
The development came as Republican legislators criticized the plan to close the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, detention camp in the absence of any measures for dealing with current detainees. But it also helps explain why the new administration wants to move cautiously, taking time to work out a plan to cope with the complications.
Almost half the camp’s remaining detainees are Yemenis, and efforts to repatriate them depend in part on the creation of a Yemeni rehabilitation program — partly financed by the United States — similar to the Saudi one. Saudi Arabia has claimed that no graduate of its program has returned to terrorism.
“The lesson here is, whoever receives former Guantánamo detainees needs to keep a close eye on them,” the American official said.
via Freed by the U.S., Saudi Becomes a Qaeda Chief – NYTimes.com.
I suppose you all think that I am going to point blame on Obama or Bush. Well, Surprise. I am not going to do either. Because, quite frankly, it is stupid to point fingers. The sobering truth is, that you take a horse to the water, but you cannot make them drink.
Put another way, you can send someone who’s convicted as a terrorist, to rehab and try to deprogram them, you can beat them over the head and tell them to stop; but they have to want to stop. Truth is, you cannot control people. If they’re going to be a terrorist, they’re going to do it, irregardless of what we or any other country does.
We troubles me is the fact that the far left is blaming Bush, and the far right is screaming that Obama is selling out America, or something like that. I think that want needs to happen is that there needs to be a independent review of each and every case, and the right thing done about it. This should not be a Political situation, but rather something that is right for the country.
I don’t claim to be an expert. So, take my opinion for what it is worth. There are a good number of opinions on this, and I encourage you to read them all.
Others: Washington Monthly, Room for Debate, Weekly Standard, Firedoglake, Balloon Juice, The Strata-Sphere, The Washington Independent, Hot Air, Newshoggers.com, FinkelBlog, Political Machine, A Blog For All, Gateway Pundit , The Huffington Post, Boston Globe, The Corner, Washington Times, The Plum Line, Little Green Footballs, Atlas Shrugs, Flopping Aces, Wizbang
The Media Honeymoon is just about over for President Obama
Uh-oh…. It’s already Starting:
The Video:
President Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press corps Thursday night, but got agitated when he was faced with a substantive question.
Asked how he could reconcile a strict ban on lobbyists in his administration with a Deputy Defense Secretary nominee who lobbied for Raytheon, Obama interrupted with a knowing smile on his face.
“Ahh, see,” he said, “I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can’t end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I’m going to get grilled every time I come down here.”
Pressed further by the Politico reporter about his Pentagon nominee, William J. Lynn III, Obama turned more serious, putting his hand on the reporter’s shoulder and staring him in the eye.
“Alright, come on” he said, with obvious irritation in his voice. “We will be having a press conference at which time you can feel free to [ask] questions. Right now, I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself to you guys – that’s all I was trying to do.”
The president was quickly saved by a cameraman in the room who called out: “I’d like to say it one more time: ‘Mr. President.’ ”
via Obama flashes irritation in press room – Jonathan Martin and Carrie Budoff Brown – Politico.com.
Look for that Politico reporter to turn up in Gitmo; as a suspected terrorist, For daring to ask “The One” a question. What I just do not get, why can’t the President just answer a damn question??!?! Is he that much of a empty suit, that he cannot answer a straight question?
To be fair, Bush did so the same things when he was office, and yes, I did criticize him for it.
This whole thing of shooting down questions from the media; by the President, totally pisses me off. That’s the media’s job. Try doing yours, “Mr. President”, and answer their questions.
Others: The Moderate Voice, Outside The Beltway, CBS News, Pirate’s Cove, theheretik.us, Time, USA Today, Swampland, Gawker, Don Surber, Vox Popoli, Hot Air, FishBowlDC, Sister Toldjah, Betsy’s Page, RedState, Pajamas Media
(Via Memeorandum)
See, The problem is this
It seems that the Far left Liberal Blog Huffington Post, which is owned by a marble-mouthed Greek twit; is giving Michelle Malkin a hard time:
Michelle Malkin Doesn’t Care About Black People
To mark the day, Michelle Malkin kept a whimsical inauguration cliché count, supposedly monitoring utterances of the “First black president in American history” and “We are witnessing history.”
Michelle didn’t hide her contempt for all this attention being paid to Obama or for the credit he’s getting for being our first black president. She also made space on her blog to point out that no one in the media was covering how Obama inauguration celebrant Jay-Z often uses the word “nigga.” Then she uploaded a video on her site to prove it and sniffed, “And you wonder why some of us don’t believe MLK’s dream has been completely fulfilled …”
Now, many of you may be wondering why someone who is of Asian decent would be so antagonistic toward Obama and his background. And while Michelle may be a whore for the far-right — and she is certainly being a good one by discounting this momentous event — it still gives us pause. While most whores love to bring joy to people, it seems this one only seeks to spread hate.
Yeah, that’s me. “Whore for the far-right.” All because I refuse to genuflect at the altar of the far-left’s selective, skin-deep diversity and slaver at the feet of Barack Obama. All because I pointed out the hypocrisy of the post-racialists’ obnoxious racialism.
Perhaps if I instead drooled all over Barack Obama’s presidential blanket like giddy Donna Brazile did in this embarrassing Good Morning America video, they’d pat me on my head and consider me a properly-behaved member of my ethnic group, too.
Let me add something to the Conversation here. Here’s the real deal on the Far Left’s idea of “Diversity”. “Diversity” goes one way and one way only, to the minorities. If you are a white man, like me; you’re just out of luck! Want proof?
Check out this video here, this is Robert Reich, who served in the Clinton Administration: (H/T HotAir)
Money Quote:
I am concerned, as I’m sure many of you are, that these jobs not simply go to high-skilled people who are already professionals or to white male construction workers. … I have nothing against white male construction workers. I’m just saying that there are a lot of other people who have needs as well. … Criteria can be set so that the money does go to others, the long term unemployed minorities, women, people who are not necessarily construction workers or high-skilled professionals.
So, you see, Diversity within the Democratic Party means, if you’re black or a minority; you are covered. If your a White Man, like me, You are totally screwed.
As for what is being said about Michelle is simply this. Race Baiting. Anyone that does not dance to the tune of Hope and Change; and does not bow to the alter of B. Hussein Obama, is unfairly smeared as a racist. It has been that way since the passage of the unconstitutional civil rights act of 1964, and has only gotten worse ever since. Thanks to LBJ for selling the White man and true ethnic diversity up the river.
While I might have some issues with Michelle’s Neo-Conservatism and her support of the Iraq War. I am in total agreement with Michelle on this issue here.
President Obama to order gitmo closed in 12 months
This is a big change from Bush’s policies.
President Barack Obama will begin overhauling U.S. national security policy Thursday with orders to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center, review military trials of terror suspects and end harsh interrogations, two government officials said.
Together, the three executive orders and a presidential directive will reshape how the United States prosecutes and questions al-Qaida, Taliban or other foreign fighters who pose a threat to Americans.
A senior Obama administration official said the president would sign an order Thursday to shutter the Guantanamo prison within one year, fulfilling his campaign promise to close a facility that critics around the world say violates domestic and international detainee rights. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the order has not yet been issued.
A draft copy of the order, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, notes that “in view of significant concerns raised by these detentions, both within the United States and internationally, prompt and appropriate disposition of the individuals currently detained at Guantanamo and closure of the facility would further the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and the interests of justice.
via Sources: Obama to order Guantanamo closed – Yahoo! News.
I have mixed feelings about this. I think it is good that this nightmare for the United States is basically going to be going away. But on the other hand, I do not like the idea of releasing possibly terrorists, who might want to harm us again.
Either way, it is quite the mixed bag. I just hope this new Presidential Administration makes the right call.
(via Memeorandum)