RIGHT NOW! - with Timothy Crawford

Obama Signs Stimulus

 

President Barack Obama signs the economic stimulus bill on February 17, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The $787 billion package will fund infrastructure projects, renewable energy projects, and health care, as well as increase unemployment benefits and provide for tax breaks.

The President doesn't expect the stimulus will fix all our problems, and boy, do we have alot of problems, but it is a step in the right direction.  It's obvious the market isn't going to rebound on its own.

So how will we know if it's working?

The president and economists say the biggest marker will be an improvement in the jobs picture.

"That's bottom-line number one, because if people are working, then they've got enough confidence to make purchases, to make investments," Obama said last week before the bill's passage. "Businesses start seeing that consumers are out there with a little more confidence, and they start making investments, which means they start hiring workers. So step number one, job creation."

The GOP Still Doesn't Get It

Can you believe the GOP sponsored a rally against the stimulus package this afternoon at the state Capitol building?  Yes they did.  The GOP claims the stimulus won't help. 

Question:  Just what does the GOP actually suggest the President do about the economy?

Bush doubled the deficit during his two-terms in office, leaving a hell-hole for the nation to climb out of it.  The stimulus is a step towards getting the bus out of the ditch.  This bill does create jobs, ask Michigan.  Michigan just saved/gained 190,000 jobs. Ask Tennessee.  Tennessee just saved/gained 70,000 jobs.

For a complete breakdown of where your moneys' going jump here:

http://www.recovery.gov/

The Swearing in of a New Type of President

When others said he couldn't win. 

I ignored them. 

When doubters warned me not to get too excited.

I smiled inside.  I just knew.

When the Clinton machine gave its best punch, and when he absorbed the impact and countered with a strong left....

...the writing was on the wall. 

 

...and when McCain frantically tossed the infamous Palin - Hail Mary...it was obvious,

the game was over. 

Load up the wagons baby, we're going to town!

It happened America.  G'head, pinch yourselves.  Yes, Barack Obama is President of the United States of America!  The fact Obama is a Blackman isn't what moves me most.  What's most promising is Obama himself.  President Obama, the man is inspiring.  He's also likable, sharp, witty, smart, charming, calm and collected, and that's why millions of people came out yesterday to celebrate his swearing in. 

America finally has a leader that speaks to the better parts of us and after the Bush years, that's just what the doctor ordered:

 A huge dose of sound leadership. 

Thank you Mr. President!

No More Bush

  

No more Bush

Last night, Bush gave his final speech as president.  No, I didn't watch it.  I just didn't have the energy to be bored, embarrassed and patronized all at once.  Keep it real. Bush is a non-issue. I'm not saying that to diss the man, but at this point, Bush is about as important as Damon Dash. It's not just me.  No one wants Bush out of office more than Bush. Look back at the painful 8 years, wouldn't you want to get away if you were him?  I'm just sorry he didn't beat feet 4 years ago. 

Hey Dick, Can I Stop Being President Now?

The moment Barack won I can only imagine how happy Bush was.  Not because he's an Obama supporter, not even because he can't stand McCain, but because it meant he was getting closer to his freedom.  I'm not one of those people that sympathizes with Bush because he's in over his head.  I can't stand incompetence and Bush was the most incompetent President in our nations history.  It kills me when people make excuses for the guy.  The way I see it, If you're wearing a McDonald's outfit, complete with visor and name-tag and your standing behind the cash register, well, you'd damn well better be able to ring up my order.  If you can't ring up orders why are you standing there?  Go work the fries or something.  I don't care if it hurts your feelings.  I want my order done right.  Hey, somebody get me a real cashier in here!  All I'm saying is the same hard truths that apply to fast food workers should apply to the President.  If you don't deal well with politics, why be a politician? People who don't like pots and pans tend not to be cooks. I just never understood Bush and I think I'm not the only person who feels that way.

Life After Bush

So where do we go from here?  All signs show we'd better brace ourselves.  Experts predict things can get worse and they will, at least for a little while.  Obama, now has the world's toughest job.  I don't know which is better, a guy who has no clue what he's getting himself into or the guy who knows and is just crazy, cocky, courageous enough to sign up for it anyway?  I, you, us, we ... America took the second guy ... this time.  Reality Check: Don't expect miracles from the President.  If a President Obama can give us logical reasoning and some competence that should be enough, at least for now, especially when you consider the last administration.  I can't imagine Barack and Biden making nearly as many bone-headed moves as Bush and Cheney. 

A Picture's worth a thousand words.  I know I speak for many people across the globe.  Bush and Cheney, the Dynamic Doofuses, we're full of themselves and full of bad policy.  Their mistakes, mis-steps and miscalculations were epic.  They will not be missed.  Good riddance bone-heads.

Hillary Gets Thumbs Up for Secretary of State Slot

 

Just in, Hillary is in!  The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Rodham Clinton to become the next secretary of state.

I was pulling for Hillary to get a cabinet gig.  You gotta admit Mrs. Clinton gave Barack all he could handle in the primaries, proving she is a tough politician who's not afraid to throw a few elbows in the washington political mosh pit.  I'm anxious to see how Hillary handles her role.  Will she side with Obama on policy or will she become a liability sabotaging his agenda?  If her focus is right, Hillary can do just as good, if not a better job than Condi Rice.  Rice automatically, almost robotic-like, sided with every failed Bush strategy under the sun.  Hillary has already stated any moves she makes will be towards diplomacy and away from war. 

I like her already!

No Mas: Richardson Quits Obama Job Before Being Given Obama Job

Long time no blog.  I'm back and I bring gifts.  Surprise gifts even. 

A couple days ago, our fluffy friend Mexico Governor Bill Richardson withdrew his name from the Obama cabinet as the next secretary of Commerce.  I didn't see this one coming folks.  I needed to get the scoop on Richardson for two reasons:

1. I liked Richardson's public persona.  The man comes across as a down to earth and lovable person who deserves a fair-shake

2. These ethics/conduct issues are getting downright ridiculous.  Stevens, Blagojevich, Edwards, Palin, Spitzer and now Richardson. What's the deal?

Richardson, Not You Too? 

Enough already!  It's almost enough to make you vote independent. 

Of course, as in any of these situations, it's the loyal supporters who hurt most.  The people who actually believe in the big dummies who grease their palms with money or lubricating oils betraying their offices and their oaths for personal gains and fun times.  The Richardson situation is particularly sad. I don't want to suggest all Hispanics supported Richardson, but it's likely the guy has given a good portion of the Hispanic community a real sense of pride over the years.  Think not?  Okay, name another Latino American with as much political notoriety as Richardson?

Take your time.  I'll wait. 

It's okay.  I was shocked that I couldn't name anyone close either. 

Until now folks were used to Richardson yucking it up, enjoying his shine on the national stage.  Richardson was/is a powerhouse and he was all set to continue his powerful cutting and scratching on the political wheels of steal all the way up until last Sunday when his turntable needle snapped in half and flew across the room. 

I know what you're thinking.  So why the drama?

 

Richardson Plays Footsie with Donors

The FEDS say Richardson was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.  The Mexico Governor is accused of playing politics as usual, doing the hokie-pokie, passing around government contract awards in exchange for $100K in donations to "Si, Se Puede", an organization Richardson formed to cover his expenses at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.  That's right folks.  These allegations/charges are not new charges.  Bill Richardson has been under investigation for this ethics crap since way back in 2004.  We're talking 4 or 5 long ass years.

 

Crooked Is As Crooked Does

Answer me this America, what's the deal with all of these politicians?  How can you know you're under investigation and still be bold enough to run for President, Congress, Senate seats or Cabinet positions? I don't get it. Do you actually think your legal troubles will magically melt away and no one will ever find out? 

 

Maybe these egomaniac pols believe if they win their elections they'll then have the power to disappear any and all of their legal issues?  There's gotta be a reasonable explanation because if I was under investigation I wouldn't run for a seat on a bus, let alone a Senate seat. 

 

In All fairness to Governor Richardson....

Richardson denies any wrong-doing, but if he did nothing wrong why couldn't he be upfront and honest with the Obama Team back when they tapped him for the cabinet slot?  BR, if you did nothing wrong why not get out in-front of this thing during the nomination run?  Maybe it's just me, but when people say they have nothing to hide, I tend to think they have a lot of stuff to hide especially when they hide it.

Can America watch yet another popular political powerhouse perform a highly public, extremely embarrassing face-plant? 

Si, Se Puede America.  Si, Se Puede!

 

Obama Calm and Firm on 60 Minutes

Last night, Obama gave his first tv interview on 60 Minutes since becoming the President elect. It is just me, or do the rest of you feel good finally having a President who can speak calmly and intelligently about what's going on in the US and globally?

President Bush never made me feel reassured about anything. To this day I don't think Bush understands how the world works. Bush's philosophy's and interpertations such as; "They hate us for freedom", "The Axis of Evil", the loopy idea that we could actually "Bomb our adversaries back to the stone-age" and the wacky rationale of the "Bush Doctrine" seem like the strange rantings of some scary crazy fanatic off his meds, not the leader of the world's last Super-Power.

Last night Obama didn't sound pissed off or crazy, neither did he sound soft or weak; the President Elect came across as serious, calm, focused and ready.

Thank you!

There weren't any flippant one liners in the Obama interview. That's a big sea change from George W. Bush, who constantly used fear lines to distract us from the truth, that truth being Bush didn't have a freaking clue and Cheney was the man behind the curtain.

So, there you have it, no zinger lines, which is fine by me.   America doesn't need sound clips, we need solutions to tough problems and based on what I've seen, read and heard so far, Obama is serious about finding them.

As we go down this path, one thing to me is obvious, unlike Bush, Obama will be making the big calls not the Vice President.  Not that Biden's incapable, but we elected a President .  Obama seems ready for the job of President which puts him light-years ahead of where Bush was 8 years ago, 4 years ago and even where he is today.  Obama is competent.  Terrific.  1 down.  Now all Obama has to do is live up to the other 639,792 unrealistic expectations set by a country who not long ago, elected the most ill-prepared President in its history - twice, and now not only expects miracles, but really needs them.