Chris Muir’s Day by Day Cartoon

Peggy Noonan, writing in the Wall Street Journal today, thinks that President Obama has made a colossal blunder even while getting a big “win” with the House Democrat’s passing of the Economic Stimulus Bill.

President Obama could have made big history here. Instead he just got a win. It’s a missed opportunity.

It’s a win because of the obvious headline: Nine days after inauguration, the new president achieves a major Congressional victory, House passage of an economic stimulus bill by a vote of 244-188. It wasn’t even close. This is major.

But do you know anyone, Democrat or Republican, dancing in the street over this? You don’t. Because most everyone knows it isn’t a good bill, and knows that its failure to receive a single Republican vote, not one, suggests the old battle lines are hardening. Back to the Crips versus the Bloods. Not very inspiring.

The president will enjoy short-term gain. In the great circle of power, to win you have to look like a winner, and to look like a winner you have to win. He did and does. But for the long term, the president made a mistake by not forcing the creation of a bill Republicans could or should have supported.

Consider the moment. House Republicans had conceded that dramatic action was needed and had grown utterly supportive of the idea of federal jobs creation on a large scale. All that was needed was a sober, seriously focused piece of legislation that honestly tried to meet the need, one that everyone could tinker with a little and claim as their own. Instead, as Rep. Mike Pence is reported to have said to the president, “Know that we’re praying for you. . . . But know that there has been no negotiation [with Republicans] on the bill—we had absolutely no say.” The final bill was privately agreed by most and publicly conceded by many to be a big, messy, largely off-point and philosophically chaotic piece of legislation. The Congressional Budget Office says only 25% of the money will even go out in the first year. This newspaper, in its analysis, argues that only 12 cents of every dollar is for something that could plausibly be called stimulus.

Obama should have been reminded of his “lipstick on a pig” line from the campaign as this bill is almost total pork, and tryin’ to hold the Dem Wit’s feet to the fire on this one is worse than tryin’ to catch a greased pig!

Noonan is correct in her analysis — Obama could have pulled off the coup of his political career if he had actually thrown the GOP congressmen a bone or two, let them get some real input into the House Stimulus Bill, made it impossible for them to not have some ownership, some skin in this game. If that had happened it would be game over — Dem control for probably as long as I’ll be around.

He didn’t — it didn’t — The Dems own this one lock, stock and barrel! Not sure what the Senate GOP members are made of — sure hope that they get some inspiration from their House brethren and get ready to rumble — make that filibuster. Yeah folks — filibuster like you mean it and like it might be the last time. If MN breaks for Franken, it just might be your last time.

Technorati Tags: Economic Stimulus Bill, President Obama

Well, 5 days into the Obama Presidency and gee, the fellow sure has been busy. Doing the business of the people, no doubt. No doubt if you don’t believe in the sanctity of nascent human life, no doubt if you aren’t a bit afraid of the terrorists being held in Guantanamo, no doubt if you cringe at the thought of our CIA operatives going full Jack Bauer on some vile American-hating combatant or terror planner to find out just how they are planning to kill all of us. No doubt, if you hate Rush Limbaugh. Say what?

Yep, Prez Barry-O took a swipe back at Rush yesterday, “warning” republicans on the hill not to listen to him anymore, not to consider the concerns of their conservative constituents back home ’cause WE ALL GOTS LOTS TO DO OR THE ECONOMY WILL BE TOILETIZED! And, better than that, “I WON!” Just STFU and deal with it was the unspoken sentiment, or with Rahm Emmanuel on board, maybe it was indeed spoken.

Of course when you take a look at the Democrat’s plan, a lot of the money won’t get into the economy for nearly two years! A big chunk is slated for tax rebates for those that don’t pay any Federal income taxes (welfare by any other name is still welfare, isn’t it?) And what’s up with hundreds of millions for condoms?

Let’s shine some light on a couple of those. First, Obama‘s executive order that affects abortion, which he signed one day after the 36th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade SCOTUS ruling. With this order, Obama once again stuck down the rule that disallowed International funding for groups that promoted and or performed abortions. This ruling was first established by Ronald Reagan and then rescinded by ol’ Slick Willy. “W” reinstated it, and now Barry-O has decided that killing the unborn abroad needs to be cool again, supported by our taxpayer dollars, natch. Gerald Warner writes at the Telegraph.co.UK: Barack Obama inauguration: this Emperor has no clothes, it will all end in tears. [h/t: Michelle Malkin]

To anyone who kept his head, the string of Christmas cracker mottoes booming through the public address system on Washington’s National Mall can only excite scepticism. It is crucial to recall the reality that lies behind the rhetoric. Denouncing “those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents” comes ill from a man whose flagship legislation, the Freedom of Choice Act, will impose abortion, including partial-birth abortion, on every state in the Union. It seems the era of Hope is to be inaugurated with a slaughter of the innocents.

{…}

It is frightening to think there is a real possibility that the entire world economy could go into complete meltdown and famine kill millions. Yet Western – and British – commentators are cocooned in a warm comfort zone of infatuation with America’s answer to Neil Kinnock. We should be long past applauding politicians of any hue: they got us into this mess. The best deserve a probationary opportunity to prove themselves, the worst should be in jail.

It is questionable whether the present political system can survive the coming crisis. Whatever the solution, teenage swooning sentimentality over a celebrity cult has no part in it. The most powerful nation on earth is confronting its worst economic crisis under the leadership of its most extremely liberal politician, who has virtually no experience of federal politics. That is not an opportunity but a catastrophe.

The Vatican is not amused:

Archbishop Rino Fisichella warned against what he called the ‘arrogance’ of those in power who think they can decide between life and death.

I warned you all about Obama’s aggressive pro-abortion attitude last Aug.: Obama On Abortion — He’s For It . . . Then Again, He’s For It! Remember, the concept of where life begins is “above our new President’s pay grade”!

And then there’s the continuing war on terror, or war on terrorists if you prefer. With released former Guantanamo prisoners showing up in al Qeada videos one might have second thoughts about releasing those last 200 plus detainees. But nope, one of the new Pres’ first orders of business was to declare that this facility would close within a year. He did give himself some wiggle room, “just in case” I guess, sanity makes a comeback. He also ordered the CIA to close all of its overseas prisons and banned any “US personnel including the CIA from using threats, coercion, physical abuse and waterboarding.” I guess that now all our guys can do is ask, “Is that music a bit too loud? Would you like some coffee with your baklava and a reading light with your Koran?” That’ll really make ‘em talk. Let’s see, what else? Oh yeah, using tactics from his buddy Bill Ayers mentor, Saul Alinsky, Pres Barry-O picks a fight with Rush Limbaugh.

President Obama warned Republicans on Capitol Hill today that they need to quit listening to radio king Rush Limbaugh if they want to get along with Democrats and the new administration.

“You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done,” he told top GOP leaders, whom he had invited to the White House to discuss his nearly $1 trillion stimulus package.

One White House official confirmed the comment but said he was simply trying to make a larger point about bipartisan efforts.

“There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats,” the official said. “We shouldn’t let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done.”

Not being one to take a hit and not hit back, Rush responded:

There are two things going on here. One prong of the Great Unifier’s plan is to isolate elected Republicans from their voters and supporters by making the argument about me and not about his plan. He is hoping that these Republicans will also publicly denounce me and thus marginalize me. And who knows? Are ideological and philosophical ties enough to keep the GOP loyal to their voters? Meanwhile, the effort to foist all blame for this mess on the private sector continues unabated when most of the blame for this current debacle can be laid at the feet of the Congress and a couple of former presidents. And there is a strategic reason for this.

{…}

To make the argument about me instead of his plan makes sense from his perspective. Obama’s plan would buy votes for the Democrat Party, in the same way FDR’s New Deal established majority power for 50 years of Democrat rule, and it would also simultaneously seriously damage any hope of future tax cuts. It would allow a majority of American voters to guarantee no taxes for themselves going forward. It would burden the private sector and put the public sector in permanent and firm control of the economy. Put simply, I believe his stimulus is aimed at re-establishing “eternal” power for the Democrat Party rather than stimulating the economy because anyone with a brain knows this is NOT how you stimulate the economy.

{…}

If I can be made to serve as a distraction, then there is that much less time debating the merits of the trillion dollar debacle.

One more thing, Byron. Your publication and website have documented Obama’s ties to the teachings of Saul Alinksy while he was community organizing in Chicago. Here is Rule 13 of Alinksy’s Rules for Radicals:

“Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”

Back to the Obama bailout plan. And, what a plan it is folks. 825 Billion and counting — expected to top a Trillion before the Dems are through porking it up to make all good little Dems happy. They’ve got the keys to the car, the credit card for the gas, and a heavy right foot for the go, Go GO — they just don’t have any brakes on this jalopy! “Boldly and swiftly” they plan to lay zillions of miles of new electric grid, to bring online the power of wind mills and other renewable energy outlets — and do it all in the next three years. Yeah, right. They won’t even get through the environmental vetting process in three years, let alone lay a single mile of power line. His radical appointment to head the EPA will ensure that. Also, what I would like to know is how he plans to “cut electric” bills while at the same time impose draconian anti-CO2 measures on energy producers?

The Obama administration is pushing forward with plans to aggressively limit greenhouse gas emissions and fight global warming despite fears that the move could further slow the recessionary economy.

The administration plans to portray the limits as a boost for America’s “clean energy economy,” according to congressional leaders and energy experts who have talked with top Obama advisors. The move would spur competition and promote investment in renewable alternatives to imported oil, the government will argue.

At issue is the so-called cap-and-trade initiative, under which the government would set limits on carbon emissions by power plants, factories and other installations, but allow those who emit more to buy or trade permits with companies and facilities that emitted less than the prescribed limit.

The idea is that raising the cost of pumping more carbon into the atmosphere would encourage companies and other emitters to cut back, thus reducing a principal cause of global warming.

But cap-and-trade would amount to a tax, raising energy costs. And several independent studies have suggested that emissions limits could be a drag on economic growth, a concern raised frequently by opponents of climate change legislation.

Not that the wealthy elite that just had to be at the Inauguration were in the least concerned about their “carbon footprint”, as 600 of their private jets were flown into DC for the occasion. Twice the number as for the “War-for-Oil” Bush event. Irony? Or just in-your-face narcissism?

We’ve got at least four years of this comin’ at us. This is the result of days 1-5. Better hope that the 41 Republicans in the Senate, 42 if Coleman ever gets a decent recount in MN, can stick together and filibuster well — otherwise it’s gonna be a painful 48 months!

Technorati Tags: Rush Limbaugh, millions for condoms, Obama, Guantanamo

Victor Davis Hanson delivers wise introspection on this week’s inauguration and on those that have now come to “love” and be “proud” of America once again.

So I am surprised that suddenly the election of a single individual means that we are united, patriotic, proud of America? Suddenly Okinawa or Antietam, or all those who died at the Argonne, are ours to claim again? {…}

But America was always ours, the public, and the nation transcends the proposition of whether Obama gets elected or not—given that the United States, in its worst hour, was better than the alternatives at their best. So I think it would be wise to cool it on the “I am now proud of America” rhetoric. If getting your way means suddenly the dead at Iwo or those who were blown up in B-17s over Germany are at last your own and matter, then we are in deep trouble.

{…}

Excuse me, but as a cynic I confess the politics of the left are now about power, ego, status, and the notion of control, rather than genuine concern for the planet, or the creed of egalitarianism or for freedoms of the people. The conservative grandee at least lives by his unapologetic creed, one that we sometimes abhor, but accept is consistent with the natural law of the jungle in that the stronger and more capable claim that that they deserve a greater material reward for their greater accomplishments or, barring that, even unabashedly for their greater luck in being born lucky.

Out here on the west side of LA the feelings of euphoria over President Obama are everywhere on display. “I’m so hopeful now . . . all will be OK.” “Times are tough but now there’s someone who will fix it.” “I’m just, just so — happy now!”

It’s enough to make this ol’ cynic dig out a barf bag and hurl. Microsoft is laying off 5,000 — the Obama folks have rethought offshore drilling and find it may not be necessary, (hey, they like super-high fuel prices, remember?) — Obama will be closing Gitmo in a year, (like where will all the terrorists go, Cleveland?) — and last, but not at all least, good ol’ Harry Reid and the Dem wits in the Senate will do their dead level best to seat Al Franken.

Gee, I can’t think of any reason for being cynical, can you?

[H/t: The Anchoress]

Technorati Tags: Victor Davis Hanson

What can one say about the big five oh? Half way to the century mark? Ten years older than “older than dirt”? Just getting started?

Yeah, I like that last one Sis. Congratulations on finally getting to the jumping off point of life. All you gotta do is get the ol’ knees and hips to do their part.

Fifty years ago my baby sister was born. Our mom hadn’t gone into labor or anything like that as we are both adopted. I actually remember the excitement level as the expected time grew closer. Our folks had taken in three girls from a family who’s mother was placed in a TB sanitarium. Their father couldn’t take care of them for some reason that I never knew or can’t remember. They ranged from my age at the time, 7, to 5 and then I think 3. It was gonna get real crowded, quick!

Not to worry. Three days after she was born Sis came home. Having the other three foster sisters around for over a year had already given me an attitude adjustment so I don’t remember going through the usual conniptions that an only child will have when faced with a new sibling. She was a cute little thing.

Over the years we developed our relationship I think about as good as kids seven years apart can. When I graduated from high school and left to live in Tulsa she was only 11. Looking back, that must have been rough. I was always a bit, make that a lot, too self-focused back then and once out of there I didn’t look back all that much.

Over the years we occasionally got closer, then drifted apart. One special period of closeness was when my son was born. She came over quite a bit and helped out with the baby. Not all that long after that I moved out west, became an Okie on the lam in Southern California. She and her husband moved to Atlanta, becoming Okies on the lam themselves.

Five years ago last Nov. and Dec., we both made the quest, twice, to be with our mom as she suffered her last few weeks on this side of the great divide. We probably became closer during those few weeks that we had been since childhood.

I messed up and forgot that Mon. was a post office holiday, so her card is going to be late. Guess ol’ dogs really don’t learn new tricks all that well, huh? I’ll call her and tell her to read this post, if she hasn’t already.

Happy birthday, Sis! I love you! Lots!

I’m sitting here watching the talking heads pontificate about tomorrow, when this great country will have the first African-American inaugurated as President of the United States. As I remarked to my son-in-law the other night, “I never actually thought that this would happen in my lifetime.” President-elect Barack Obama certainly was not my candidate of choice, but he did win, and win decisively, so I can’t see any good from doing anything but wishing him well as he takes the helm of this massive ship of state.

As we were driving home tonight I said to the wife, “It’s a bit past W’s bedtime, wonder if he’s staying up late, it’s his last night in the White House? I wonder if he’s worried?” She said that he’s probably relieved — maybe so. From his statements over the last few weeks we know that he’s proud of what he’s accomplished. I am too. If nothing else, he we haven’t been attacked on our own soil since 9/11. That fact has come with a heavy price in blood and treasure. A price that our men and women of the military have been willing and proud to pay. If there’s a major flaw as far as I’m concerned, it’s that he protected all the rest of us too much from our having to “pay” our fair share directly so that we would have some skin in the game. As President Obama takes responsibility for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I can only hope that he rectifies that one.

That was last night, this is today. We now have a new President. For a poignant goodbye to President Bush see this Anchoress post, Farewell, President Bush.

Goodbye, and Godspeed George W. Bush.

Good luck, President Barack Obama — somethin’ tells me, you’re gonna need it!

Technorati Tags: President Barack Obama

See full-size image at LGFIf you are as curious as I am about how that US Airways‘ Flight 1549 pilot, Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III, was able to make a turn and glide to a splashdown landing in the Hudson River, check out this airliners.net discussion: How Long Does A Jet Glide With No Power?

Who knew? I always thought that jet airliners would drop like a stone without motive power. The caveat is that to maintain the airspeed required for maintaining lift, thereby allowing the bird to continue flying, requires that you exchange altitude for continuing that airspeed. Courtesy of today’s LA Times comes this map/chart of the fated flight. Note, the pilot only had 3,200 ft. of altitude to work with, and lots of skyscraper-dense Manhattan to miss.

• No buildings hit: check!
• No bridges hit: check!
• Perfect water crash landing: check!
• No one killed: check!

Not impossible, obviously. Highly improbable, definitely.

The only word that comes readily to mind is:

Miracle.

Technorati Tags: US Airways, Flight 1549, Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III