Saturday, February 28, 2009

Dear President Obama: Are we supposed to be impressed? Obama Challenges lobbyists to a duel.

Mr. President, you have no credibility when it comes to lobbyists. You lied about earmarks; you lied about appointing lobbyists to positions in your Administration... in fact, you're lying like a rug on many things of importance to this country.

So spraying political testosterone all over the place over the issue of lobbyists is so much like so many of your moronic moves: a total joke.

It's not like you actually have kept your word on the lobbyist front... or the war... or taxes... or so many things that matter. And that's unfortunate, for had you actually kept your word, nonsense like the lies in this story could have actually made a difference.

Considering your butt-boy actions for the unions, you really have no right to speak about "special interests" with disdain, since every move you've made has been to pay off the special interests that own you and your presidency.

So, spare us your histrionics, Mr. President. You will do what the special interests controlling you tell you to do. You know it. I know it. And soon enough, most everyone alive will figure it out.

Washington, D.C.

Last updated February 28, 2009 12:39 p.m. PT

Obama challenges lobbyists to legislative duel

By CHARLES BABINGTON
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER


	President Barack Obama's friend, Martin Nesbitt, steps out of the President's SUV as they return to the White House, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009, in Washington. Obama played basketball with friends and staff members at the gym at the Dept. of Interior. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

View related video

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama challenged the nation's vested interests to a legislative duel Saturday, saying he will fight to change health care, energy and education in dramatic ways that will upset the status quo.

"The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long," Obama said in his weekly radio and video address. "But I don't. I work for the American people."

He said the ambitious budget plan he presented Thursday will help millions of people, but only if Congress overcomes resistance from deep-pocket lobbies.

"I know these steps won't sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they're gearing up for a fight," Obama said, using tough-guy language reminiscent of his predecessor, George W. Bush. "My message to them is this: So am I."

Dear President Obama: Here's 8 more of your lies, put to rest.

Mr. President, you know you're really put your foot in it when Associated Press loses it's worshipful gaze and begins to engage in critical thinking.

So, here's what amounts to the start of a hopeful resurrection of journalism the way it's supposed to be... the way it's meant to be.

Mr. President, many leaders throughout world history garnered names based on their respective tenures. Alexander the Great... Casimir II the Just... Frederick the Great... Philip the Good... Peter the Great... James the Just...

Unfortunately for your legacy, there are also other names out there available for people who have done to their countries what you're doing to yours... not nearly as flattering as all that.

So far, your cavalier attitude towards the truth is earning you a sobriquet that could not be anticipated this early in any president's administration: Barack the Liar.

FACT CHECK: Obama's words on home aid ring hollow

By CALVIN WOODWARD and JIM KUHNHENN – 3 days ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama knows Americans are unhappy that their taxes will be used to rescue people who bought mansions beyond their means.

But his assurance Tuesday night that only the deserving will get help rang hollow.

Even officials in his administration, many supporters of the plan in Congress and the Federal Reserve chairman expect some of that money will go to people who used lousy judgment.

The president skipped over several complex economic circumstances in his speech to Congress — and may have started an international debate among trivia lovers and auto buffs over what country invented the car.

A look at some of his assertions:

OBAMA: "We have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and refinance their mortgages. It's a plan that won't help speculators or that neighbor down the street who bought a house he could never hope to afford, but it will help millions of Americans who are struggling with declining home values."

THE FACTS: If the administration has come up with a way to ensure money only goes to those who got in honest trouble, it hasn't said so.

Defending the program Tuesday at a Senate hearing, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said it's important to save those who made bad calls, for the greater good. He likened it to calling the fire department to put out a blaze caused by someone smoking in bed.

More of President Obama's lies:

Friday, February 27, 2009

Dear President Obama: Could you please hold a press conference, and just tell us what the rest of your lies are?

Mr. President, I've got to tell you, your campaign seems to have been a campaign of lies. Our problem is that we don't really know where the lies stop, and the truth begins.

Seriously, Mr. President, all of the promises you made during your campaign seem to have been flat out lies. Should we not be concerned that we've elected a liar?

You've lied about everything from lobbyists getting appointments to you Administration, to ear marks and when you were going to pull our troops out of Iraq... which you're now not going to do.

Is this the "change" we were supposed to believe in?

Under your watch, we have just suffered through the worst month in our economic history since 1933. You have buried me, my family, my children, their children, their children's children on ad infinitum.

Thanks to you, we're looking at as much as 9 TRILLION dollars in deficits over the next decade. Your efforts to talk our economy down have been wildly successful, beyond even your dreams, as we march along the road to socialism.

To date, you've surrounded yourself with criminal tax cheats, partisan hacks and fringe leftists. You've lied and lied and lied. You're lying to us about the recovery, you've lied to us about so many things...

When do you stop?

When do you begin the process of leading by telling us the truth?

And when this economic disaster of a program fails abysmally... and it will... are you going to have the decency to resign? Or are you just going to lie some more?

Every time you get behind a microphone, you're lying. The markets know that, and they're voting with their checkbooks... which is why your inauguration has led to disastrous losses to this nation's economy.

Mr. President, you're going to have to do much, much better than this.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Dear President Obama: It's really a shame that you never mentioned how much you were gonna screw us during your campaign.

Mr. President, I must admit that I have developed a grudging respect for your abilities during your time as Leader of the Free World.

So far, you've only managed to mangle our economy and screw up our policy in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

I recognize that it's early in your tenure. I sincerely hope you're impeached as soon as possible, or this country will run the risk of going flat broke for the generations you've already managed to bury in debt.

Your budget and your porkulus package takes "care" of everyone that you'll need for your hopefully abortive re-election effort. And that "care" is provided in such a way that no one's held accountable... no one is responsible for whatever they do, and no one pays the price for the condition we're in.

I get why you failed t

o take me up on my offer to restore economic sanity to the United States. You know as well as I do that your horrific effort will not work. If you truly believed it would happen... if you truly and actually believed in your fantasy budget numbers, you fantasy deficit numbers and your fantasy growth numbers, you would have had no difficulty in putting your job on the line to prove it.

Courtesy of Drudge.

Your efforts have disheartened those paying close attention. You continue to live up to the soft racism of low expectations; not because you're half black but because your inability to grasp functional economic and foreign policy principles come blasting through every day you're in office.

Instead of allowing market principles that matter to drive us out of this horrific situation, you just write checks with money we do not have and perhaps, never will have. You use fake numbers, you cook the books, you allow a budget with 9000 ear marks, and this, somehow, represents "Change?"

In getting elected, Mr. President, you've done a great deal for minorities in this country, helping them to leave their institutional victimhood behind, and teaching them that, yes, anyone might actually become anything.

But in screwing up so badly; in appointing criminals to cabinet positions, in lying about appointing lobbyists, in paying off your political supporters like your new middle name is Blagojavich, in burying us in an unclimbable mountain range of debt, you are personally responsible for hurting every American alive... and tens of millions not yet born.

Thank you so much for meeting each and every one of my expectations. Well done.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Dear President Obama: Ex-Gov. Locke is not Mr. Clean

Sir, I've got to tell you that you've made some frightening personnel calls since you were elected. Your most recent debacle: Of the 18 people YOU picked to ride herd on the auto manufacturers, only 2 actually own American cars. Suddenly, the beer commercial comes to mind:

"Brilliant!"

And now, you've picked former Washington Governor Gary Locke to come in and serve in large part to help clean up the ever-widening mess you're providing us.

As a Washingtonian, even I, initially, thought this was probably a good selection. Locke has an image of a squeaky-clean (vital in your efforts for now) policy wonk:

He's kept his private side so private that the Seattle Weekly once dubbed him, "The Man Who Mistook the Legislature for his Life." A few of the people Locke lists as his most influential advisers - the people he touches base with on big decisions - say they've never even had a social dinner with him.
And then there is that wooden, policy-wonk image. It still slips into play occasionally, like when he recently referred to the couple's first baby, due in March, as "the impending child."

and, I'm sure, that's how you'll sell this guy.

But there's trouble in River City. Will the press or the senators ask the questions?
Ex-Gov. Locke is not Mr. Clean
President Obama needs a Commerce Secretary nominee who is so clean that he will sail through the vetting process. So Gary Locke...
Gary Locke? I sometimes ride my bicycle past the Buddhist temple in Redmond where he raised illegal campaign contributions. Oh, is alleged to have. Michelle Malkin has a better memory than I because she was here on the Seattle Times' editorial board and dug in Locke's dirt and published columns on his shady practices.
Michelle Malkin :
Now, former Democrat Gov. Gary Locke -- a lawyer for international firm Davis, Wright, and Tremaine who specializes in China -- is rumored to be the next nominee for the post. The MSM is pulling for him. WaPo writes: "Locke is regarded as a safe choice by senior officials in the Obama administration given his long history in public life, his strait-laced reputation and his bipartisan governing credentials." Wishful thinking? Willful cluelessness? Probably a bit of both.
I covered Gary Locke when I worked at the Seattle Times. I dealt with his campaign and gubernatorial staffs. "Strait-laced" is not the adjective I'd use for my dealings with him and his people.
In response to my columns pressing Locke on his close ties to campaign finance crook John Huang, the governor's office first stonewalled. His standard Democrat smokescreen? Play the race card and play the victim.
She quotes her columns investigating his shady practices at length. For example in the Seattle Times in 1999:

When I asked what the governor had to say about Huang's guilty plea,Locke's spokesman, Keith Love, responded tersely: "He has no comment and nointerest."
This is a most peculiar stonewall of silence.
Though Huang and his wife gave token personal donations to Locke totaling a mere $1,000, Huang is no casual acquaintance of Locke or his out-of-state fund-raising staff. As reported here previously, Huang helped organize May 1996 galas involving Locke at the Mayflower Hotel and Sheraton Carlton in Washington, D.C.; three fund-raisers at restaurants in Los Angeles, and an extravaganza at the Universal City, Calif., Hilton in October 1996 that raised upwards of $30,000.
And the Seattle Times in 1998

Gov. Gary Locke's 1996 campaign treasure chest is like a box of
chocolates left out in the sun: You never know what kind of sticky mess you're gonna get.
News broke over the weekend that the Internal Revenue Service wants to examine Locke's donor list. That's in addition to a fresh congressional inquiry and three separate probes by the state Public Disclosure Commission (two prompted by this column).Locke's loyalists imply that scrutiny of his contributors is racist. The claim is as desperate as it is deceitful...
I sure wish she was still here. Her "replacement" never provided her
independent view and determination.
Cross-posted at Economic Freedom.
Is this the kind of thing you want to deal with? Is this the best you can do?

I get that you have started to lower the gigantic expectations you used to get elected. I know the fantasies you projected to talk the ignorant into voting for you have lost their sheen.

But Mr. President, you have got to get someone into your office to keep you from making these screw ups. Maybe David Gergan is still available?

Just a thought... but this is MY country you're screwing around with. And I'm hoping you won't forget it.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Dear President Obama: When it comes to foreign policy, do you have a brain in your head?

So.... let me get this straight. Israel is indiscriminately shelled or rocketed on a daily basis; they take steps to retaliate; steps I dare say that YOU might take if you had any testicles left and the situation was the same here; they inflict tremendous damage on a population that supports these terrorist scum, they withdraw from their attack in large part because of your ascension to the throne... and you come along behind them and write these terrorist scum a billion dollar check?

Look, I get that your politics were developed in the sewers of Chicago. I get that you're a fringe leftist. I get that the Kos Kids/moveon.org element that elected you are anti-Semitic scum.

But do YOU get that Israel is the ONLY functioning democracy in the entire region, and their mere presence helps to serve to keep the terrorist scum that want to destroy this country in check, much like Berlin served to keep the Communists in check.

Unless the people of Gaza are willing to step up and do what has to be done to stop the guerrilla attacks... then they should not get a dime from us. And as I understand it, the rocket attacks continue, even as I write this.

Man.... THAT'S gonna send a message.

For God's sake, Mr. President; you're selling out the only people that give a damn about us in the entire Middle East, because we have given a damn about them.

And for that, there can be no excuse.

U.S. plans "substantial" pledge at Gaza meeting

By Sue Pleming Sue Pleming – Mon Feb 23, 4:40 pm ET

Dear President Obama: Here's the executive summary of your screw ups you've been asking for.

Of late, racism as a subject has reared it's head for our discussion.

Most recently brought up by our cluelessly idiotic Attorney General (who also happens to be black), one Eric "you're all cowards" Holder; appointed by another clueless idiot (Who happens to be half black), it seems like many of those you've unfortunately put into positions of authority are incapable of engaging in your "Hope" scam.

Our Vice President, who uttered the increasingly obvious truism that you are not ready to be president, indicated that you would be challenged within six months. And, to a lessor extent, you have been.

And right now, all we have to show for it is a monumental string of failures.

I mention the issue of racism primarilly because there is nothing about your genetic make up that frightens me. It's your shallowness, your arrogance, your ignorance, and the fact that not only are you easily manipulated by people who actually do know what they're doing (Your moronic idea to bury us under an entire mountain range of debt as a start) but your lack of skils in portraying this country as anything but weak-willed and rudderless is going to come back and haunt us.

There are people out there who agree with my perspecdtive... people much smarter than I. And here's one of them:

Charles Krauthammer: It didn't take long for the world to test Obama

Charles Krauthammer writes: The Biden prophecy has come to pass. Our wacky veep, momentarily inspired, had predicted last October that "it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama." It actually came a lot sooner.

By Charles Krauthammer

Syndicated columnist

WASHINGTON — The Biden prophecy has come to pass. Our wacky veep, momentarily inspired, had predicted last October that "it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama."

Biden probably had in mind an eve-of-the-apocalypse drama like the Cuban Missile Crisis. Instead, Obama's challenges have come in smaller bites. Some are deliberate threats to U.S. interests, others mere probes to ascertain whether the new president has any spine.

Preliminary X-rays are not very encouraging.

Consider the long list of brazen Russian provocations:

• Pressuring Kyrgyzstan to shut down the U.S. air base in Manas, an absolutely crucial NATO conduit into Afghanistan.

• Announcing the formation of a "rapid-reaction force" with six former Soviet republics, a regional Russian-led strike force meant to reassert Russian hegemony in the Muslim belt north of Afghanistan.

• Planning to establish a Black Sea naval base in Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia, conquered by Moscow last summer.

• Declaring Russia's intention to deploy offensive Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad if Poland and the Czech Republic go ahead with plans to station an American (anti-Iranian) missile defense system.

President Bush's response to the Kaliningrad deployment — the threat was issued the day after Obama's election — was firm. He refused to back down because giving in to Russian threats would leave Poles and Czechs exposed and show the world that, contrary to post-Cold War assumptions, the U.S. could not be trusted to protect Eastern Europe from Russian bullying.

The Obama response? "Biden Signals U.S. Is Open to Russia Missile Deal," as The New York Times headlined Biden's Feb. 7 Munich speech to a major international gathering.

Again, Mr. President, thank you so much for screwing this entire country.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Dear President Obama: When are you going to stop destroying our economy?

Imagine my lack of surprise when I opened up the Seattle Times and saw this headline:

Worst week for Wall Street since October

All those snippets of campaign flashbacks came to mind. All that garbage you sniveled about concerning President Bush's "irresponsibility" with the economy and the deficit started to ping around my head.

Compared to Mr. Bush, your handling of the economy has been not that much different than a raving lunatic.

I recognize that you're in a tough spot. But you've come in here acting like you know what you're doing, when clearly you do not, and you're experimenting on us like we're concentration camp inmates and you're the doctor.

Mr. President, this is MY life you're screwing around with. MY life, and the lives of my wife and children. YOU sold yourself as the new messiah, and it's not working. YOU are the one inflicting permanent, life long pain on us. YOU.

As a former president, you do not risk losing YOUR house. You do not risk any inability to feed YOUR children; they're set for private schools and drivers and people who will live to serve them. I don't have that luxury. Hundreds of millions of us don't have that luxury.

I heard rumblings that you've expressed concern that if this doesn't work, you'll be a "one-term president."

Mr. President, if this "doesn't work," and right now, the early betting by people who know more about the economy than you EVER will is that it will not work; you should do the modern version of the honorable thing and resign, taking the entire lot of you that brought us to this with you.

Maybe you could find a job as a "community organizer."

Locally, we have politicians acting every day as if the will of the people is a meaningless, nebulous concept; and that political pay offs and pay backs are the order of the day. You're taking that concept to new heights, in ways undreamed of by the greatest economic criminals of our time.

Mr. President, you run the risk of turning your name into an adjective. Much like your sort turned Judge Robert Bork's name into "borking," it seems we'll find ourselves referring to your outcomes as "obama-ing."

Your leaders in the senate are showing LEGENDARY incompetence, not unlike your own. Just yesterday, the blithering idiot running the senate banking committee completely lost what's left of his mind by going off the reservation and talking about "nationalizing banks."

Did he do that on his own? Not likely. Dodd is a moron, and unlikely to act without your concurrence. He has yet to figure out what a political liability you're going to be. Did he shoot off his mouth with his nonsensical blather about "temporally nationalizing banks" as a trial balloon to give you political cover?

Call me a cynic, but your amateurish efforts at governance could easily lead to such a scenario.

Here's what I know: Since your election, the market has headed south, the price of gas is beginning to skyrocket, you've buried us in an unclimbable mountain of debt... all the while, YOU talk about our "crisis."

Somebody else has done that in our past. Somebody else found an "issue." Somebody else used a pretext to take over. And it wasn't that long ago, Mr. President. We haven't forgotten. I see the video frequently on the History Channel, and it's frightening how much you seem to be paralleling our past, that it seems we're doomed to repeat.

For God's sake, Mr. President, stop. Just.... stop.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Dear President Obama: When are you going to talk about Sen. Feinstein's irresponsible violation of security?

It wasn't that long ago that your party lost it's collective mind over the "outing" of Valerie Plame.

You remember, don't you? Man, the left was HOWLING for scalps over the release of her already released identity. Woo, doggies, but the left made enough hay out of that non-issue to feed the entirety of our dairy industry's cows for decades to come.

But NOW, the left is silent. Cavernously silent. They're making church mice look like headbangers in a mosh pit. Not a sound. Nothing... a "Black Hole" of silence, as it were.

So, we have the Plame Nonevent, and they lose their minds.

Then we have Senator Diane Feinstein, giving our classified, sensitive information that violated a boat load of laws and regulations concerning intelligence... and you've got nothing to say?

Where's your fellow leftists now, Mr. President? Why are they so quiet? More importantly, why are YOU so quiet?

Do you countenance this, yet another in the series of violations of our laws that you seem to have no trouble dealing with in your appointments?

Senator Feinstein broke our laws. Seriously. She's violated her trust as a United States Senator.

Why hasn't she been arrested? Why haven't you publicly admonished her?

Why hasn't your clueless Attorney General, Eric "You're All Cowards" Holder, acted in this matter?

What would happen to me if *I* released classified information like SHE did?

We all know the answer to that: but I bet it wouldn't be the same outcome experienced by Turbo Tax Timmy Geithner.

Thank you SO much for all you've done for us, Mr. President. We really, really, really appreciate it.

Predator drones flown from base in Pakistan, U.S. lawmaker says

Sen. Feinstein's surprise disclosure likely to complicate joint campaign against Taliban militants

Greg Miller | Washington Bureau

7:06 PM CST, February 12, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A senior U.S. lawmaker said Thursday that unmanned CIA Predator aircraft operating in Pakistan are flown from an airbase inside that country, a revelation likely to embarrass the Pakistani government and complicate its counterterrorism collaboration with the United States.

The disclosure by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, marked the first time a U.S. official had publicly commented on where the Predator aircraft patrolling Pakistan take off and land.

At a hearing, Feinstein expressed surprise at Pakistani opposition to the ongoing campaign of Predator-launched CIA missile strikes against Al Qaeda targets along Pakistan's northwest border.

"As I understand it, these are flown out of a Pakistani base," she said of the planes.

The basing of the pilotless aircraft in Pakistan suggests a much deeper relationship with the United States on counterterrorism matters than has been publicly acknowledged. Such an arrangement would be at odds with protests lodged by officials in Islamabad and could inflame anti-American sentiment in the country.

The CIA declined to comment, but former U.S. intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, confirmed that Feinstein's account was accurate.

Dear President Obama: Change? No one believes in your houses of cards.

.
Since your win in the last election, millions have been watching you, hoping against hope that we were wrong in our assessments of you; your lack of experience, your partisan leftist plans, your multiple campaign lies. So far, every day, in every imaginable way, you've proven us right. Far too right.

So, far, you've shown that utter incompetence and partisanship both guide your personnel selections as well as your policy choices. You've almost effortlessly managed to bury us in debt for future generations; and you've started your income redistribution program brilliantly, under the guise of bailing out millions who either were stiffed into irresponsible mortgages by others, or who lied about their ability to pay; and as a result, stiffed the banks that you've already pumped hundreds of billions of our dollars into as if those dollars just appeared out of thin air.... like magic.

Eighteen years ago this month, I became both homeless and without a job. No, it wasn't drugs or alcohol or jail. It was actually divorce wreckage that nearly destroyed me. I've lived in places no one should live in. I did things to survive that no one should have had to do. I understand poverty and being "poor" far better than you ever will.

But now, I own a home on acreage, and I have worked and sweated and bled to start my own consulting company. I pay more in taxes yearly than most make in wages here locally. And I see it all slipping away, Mr. President.

I see that you are bailing out everyone and everything in sight. I see you're bailing out your union allies, sparing no expense because, after all, they bought you fair and square. I see that you're taking our tax money to do that, for generations to come. I see that those of us who struggle to keep our word; who fight to live up to our agreements and contracts are the ones who are going to be forced at the point of government authority to support those who do not.

Mr. President, you are making me and millions of others pay for the actions of others. You're making me and millions of others pay for the poor judgment of others, and the poor governance provided by you and your colleagueson both sides of the aisle, that has led us to this.

You're all about "bailing" people out.

What about us, Mr. President? Who bails us out? Who is bailing out those of us you're forcing to pay the bills?

Without consulting me, without asking me in any way, you have laid a debt of tens of thousands of dollars on me, my wife, my children and my business. And their children. And their children's children.

Why are you doing this to us, Mr. President? Please, the next time you're in front of a camera oozing your transparent insincerity; please, please explain it to me... to us. Help us to avoid the specter of losing everything because of your fine efforts. Help us to believe that when you leave, we'll still have something left.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Dear President Obama: The Stock Market has spoken - "Thank you Sir, may I have another?"

Sir, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate how badly you're screwing this country with this unneeded and unwanted Porkulus Bill. Burying us in an entire mountain range of debt and your Administration isn't a month old, yet IS quite the accomplishment.

Very much reminiscent of the days of yore, when "Animal House" ruled the movie venues...

"Thank you sir, may I have another?"

The market has weighed in on your debacle by losing a cool 300 points after "feeling" the "benefits" of your economic abortion.

We're now at 7552. That's where the market was on November 20th..

And YOU represent "change?"

Hardly.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Dear President Obama: After your absurd Inaugural Speech, why have you become "President Fear?"

.
Actually, when you GAVE the speech, Mr. President, it wasn't all that bad. It was a little better than standard schlock. The problem I had with your speech was the exact same problem I've had with every speech you've ever uttered.

You were lying. And I have a problem with that.

Your leftist buddies, so rife with their faux outrage over President Bush (More of that "Bush Lied, people died" nonsense would make me want to barf.) seem strangely silent about YOUR lies, Mr. President.

Others... not so much.

Was it that long ago that you lied,

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

Yet, you come out and use fear for everything?

Why is that?

The only thing you left out of your reeking and wholly unnecessary efforts for the reeking and wholly unnecessary Generational Indebtedness Act, was this:

On this day, we gather because we have chosen fear over hope, partisanship and disunity of purpose over common sense and honesty.

THIS should be the FIRST line of your dog and pony show in Denver.

It won't be, of course. You'll grab the microphone and tell us how much we needed this garbage. You won't mention the crap about no one alive having the time they needed to read this crap before your fascist congressional leadership forced a vote... and rammed this mountain of debt down our throats.

Every word you utter as you heap what we know to be just the start of an entire mountain range of debt upon this country will be a lie.

Others share that view... much like they share my disappointment in you.

Your incompetence; your dishonesty; your lies... all easily predicted as a continuation of your campaign... all have become a source of agonizing disappointment among many who suspended their disbelief and voted for you... and others of us who had the wisdom to avoid supporting you like the plague... but who hoped that somehow, some way, the planets would somehow align and you could live up to, perhaps, a tenth of your promise.

Obviously, that was far too much to hope for.

FEBRUARY 13, 2009, 11:43 P.M. ET

Obama's Rhetoric Is the Real 'Catastrophe' In 1932, automobile production shriveled by 90%.

By BRADLEY R. SCHILLER

President Barack Obama has turned fearmongering into an art form. He has repeatedly raised the specter of another Great Depression. First, he did so to win votes in the November election. He has done so again recently to sway congressional votes for his stimulus package.

In his remarks, every gloomy statistic on the economy becomes a harbinger of doom. As he tells it, today's economy is the worst since the Great Depression. Without his Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he says, the economy will fall back into that abyss and may never recover.

This fearmongering may be good politics, but it is bad history and bad economics. It is bad history because our current economic woes don't come close to those of the 1930s. At worst, a comparison to the 1981-82 recession might be appropriate. Consider the job losses that Mr. Obama always cites. In the last year, the U.S. economy shed 3.4 million jobs. That's a grim statistic for sure, but represents just 2.2% of the labor force. From November 1981 to October 1982, 2.4 million jobs were lost -- fewer in number than today, but the labor force was smaller. So 1981-82 job losses totaled 2.2% of the labor force, the same as now.

Dear President Obama: If the Generational Indebtness Act is so fricking important, then why haven't you signed it?

So, the world was going to end; the Earth would tilt on its access and the Nation would dissolve if you didn't get this turd sandwich passed.

PRESIDENT'S DAY: President Obama and Michelle Obama exit Table Fifty-Two in Chicago last night after enjoying a Valentine's Day dinner at the eatery.

Tell me, Mr. President: why is it that this crap was SOOOO important that you wouldn't even allow your own Members to read it, let alone any Republicans, before they were forced to vote on it!

So, after lying to us about what was in the bill; or even the fact that we needed this bill at all, you take the damned weekend off to go party?

You REALLY think so little of us that this bill should have been passed without allowing the American people to figure out what the hell you were trying to do?

You continue to frighten me, Mr. President. You're doing a wide variety of underhanded, unethical things, a

nd you're doing them to us.

Stop it. Just stop it.

We do not need a version of Hugo Chavez running this country.

You cannot, on one hand, rail about the importance and urgency of this entirely unnecessary and unneeded mountain of indebtedness, and then blow it off so you can get in a Tuesday photo op in Denver.

WHAT'S THE RUSH?

'URGENT' $TIMULUS ON HOLD FOR BAM'S WEEKEND OFF

By BRENDAN SCOTT IN ALBANY and ANA MARIA ALAYA IN NY, AP

Last updated: 2:32 am
February 15, 2009
Posted: 2:17 am
February 15, 2009

After pushing Congress for weeks to hurry up and pass the massive $787 billion stimulus bill, President Obama promptly took off for a three-day holiday getaway.

Obama arrived at his home in Chicago on Friday, and treated wife Michelle to a Valentine's Day dinner downtown last night. The couple was spotted leaving upscale Table Fifty-Two, which specializes in Southern cuisine, with the first lady toting what appeared to be a doggie bag.

The president plans to spend the Presidents' Day weekend in the Windy City, and is not expected to sign the bill until Tuesday, when he travels to Denver to discuss his economic plan.

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If only Collins' parents had used one of these when it mattered: Doug Ross nails Susan Collins for her political treason.

Looks like Doug Ross @ Journal has modified the National Symbol of our moronic torpedoing (Bailout? Yeah.... right.) of our economy.

It sets the table for the justified savaging of one of the Three Treasoneers, Susan Collins (r-ME) who was one of only 3 republicans in all of congress to vote for this steaming pile that buries under mountains of debt.

Well done, Doug!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Dear President Obama: Ms. Underestimated has come up with THE Poster for your Generational Indebted Act (Porkulus)

Well done... and damned accurate.

Dear President Obama: Looks like the entire world is on to your fiscal scam.

So, you managed to corrupt The Three Treasoneers and get your horrific, nonsensical waste of massive amounts of money passed.

Those few benefiting from your massive paybacks are, no doubt, overjoyed at such a short-sighted and unneeded effort.

Not a single Republican voted for this unbelievable waste of money. Our stock market weighed in by diving into the tank, big time. The democrat-controlled Congressional Budget Office, that you ignored because your Chicago-style political payoffs were far more important than avoiding any effort to keep us out from under the most massive mountain of debt heaped onto this country since our inception, indicated that this entire ripoff was not needed... and that it's implementation will actually make our situation worse.

And now, it looks like the entire world has weighed in on your incompetence, and their vote is:

Thumbs down.

Stock markets all over the PLANET tanked in response to your idiocy yesterday. Turbo Tax Timmy's incompetence, when combined with your moronic vision, has just been far too much to overcome.

In a manner of speaking, I want to congratulate your efforts to date as president. You've managed to weaken us more then any other enemy we've ever had; you've managed to rip us off for trillions, and you've managed to turn our economy into a punchline for generations to come.

Thank you SOOOOO much for your efforts to destroy this great country. You've easily lived up to your advanced notice, and again, we're going to start to LONG for the days of George Bush... all thanks to you.

World stocks sag on concerns about Obama plans

World stock markets fell Thursday amid pessimism about the Obama administration's plans to fix the U.S. banking system and restore the overall health of the world's largest economy. European stocks were also undermined by a raft of disappointing earnings.

By PAN PYLAS

AP Business Writer

Layoff Ledger

A database of job losses, layoffs and plant closures in Washington state. Submit a tip.

LONDON —

The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares fell 58.82 points, or 1.4 percent, to 4,175.44, while Germany's DAX declined 96.81 points, or 2.1 percent, to 4,433.28. The CAC-40 in France was 45.08 points, or 1.5 percent, lower at 2,982.64.

Sentiment in Europe, already depressed by further losses in Asia earlier, was hit by the news that a number of companies across the continent reported worse than expected earnings and predicted further difficulties for the months ahead.

In Britain, drinks maker Diageo warned that its profits for the 2008-9 fiscal year would be lower than previously anticipated because of the global economic slowdown, while BT PLC, the telecommunications company, issued its fourth profit warning in the space of just six months as a result of further one-off charges.

Meanwhile in France, EDF, the world's biggest nuclear reactor operator, reported a 40 percent drop in net profit last year, due mainly to a provision related to changes in the regulation of power rates. And carmaker Renault SA swung into the red in the second half of the year and said it expected the outlook to darken further this year as the economic crisis continues to ravage car sales.

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Friday, February 13, 2009

Dear President Obama: Why did you lie to us about Caterpillar?

Mr. President, I think I can speak for at least a few million people when I tell you that I'm getting sick of your con jobs and sick of your lies.

It's one thing to be arrogant. It's one thing to be possessed of an ego the size of a battleship. It's another thing when you allow both to combine as a tool you'll use to hurt this country.

ABCNews, hardly a staunch enemy, is reporting that contrary to one of your last lies:

that Caterpillar CEO James Owens is going to do just the opposite of what you spewed:

But the head of the company said he will have to fire more workers before he can rehire anyone who has been let go.

It's not that you're a liar, per se'; after all, many of your political ilk engage in the practice as a matter of course.

But you are so unalterably bad at it. I have indicated since your candidacy that there is no lie you won't tell; no half-truth, no exaggeration. Because, that's who you are.

The MSM will give YOU a pass, of course. They have a vested interest in you, so their lack of any critical, questioning, probing coverage of your unethical exploits will be subdued and short-lived.

My God... if President Bush had ever lied like you did about Caterpillar, we literally would never have heard the end of it.

But this "lying" thing you've been engaging in has a very bad pathology to it. You see, Mr. President, your lying to us will ultimately hurt us far more than anything else you can do. As our leader, your credibility is on the line every waking moment... with the people of this country... and the people of this world. When you draw some sort of line in the sand, those viewing the event must BELIEVE you... or people will die.

After all, you've been much more concerned about what the world thinks of us then you are about what we think about you... otherwise, you wouldn't lie to us so much.

So please, Mr. President. Grab a mike, and tell us: why has the basis for your Administration segued so effortlessly from "Hope!" and "Change!" to "fear" and "lies" and incompetence?

Do let us know, won't you? There's a good chap.

Talk to you soon, Mr. President.

Home > Politics

CEO Contradicts Obama on Rehiring Employees

Caterpillar Head Says More Layoffs Likely, Even With Stimulus Funding

BY KAREN TRAVERS AND JAKE TAPPER
Feb. 12, 2009

At a Caterpillar Inc. plant in Peoria, Ill., today, President Obama said that his proposed economic stimulus would allow the company's CEO to rehire recently laid-off employees. But the head of the company said he will have to fire more workers before he can rehire anyone who has been let go.

Obama has said twice in the past two days that Caterpillar CEO James Owens indicated his company would be able to rehire some of the 20,000 recently laid-off employees.

"Yesterday, Jim, the head of Caterpillar, said that if Congress passes our plan, this company will be able to rehire some of the folks who were just laid off," Obama said today in Peoria.

Dear President Obama: Are you REALLY going to force Congress to vote for a bill they haven't had a chance to read?

Try to remember those few days when you actually served as a United State Senator. I recognize that the time period was so short that it actually flew by in a blur, but TRY. I KNOW you can do it.

Do you remember what it was like to vote on a bill that you couldn't have time to read, analyze, digest?

So now, this Nation is looking at your arrogance requiring that just such a vote take place.

A vote where literally NO ONE has any idea exactly what's IN the bill, arguably only the largest spending bill in the history of the United States of America.

And you and the rest of the democrat leadership (using the term "leadership" advisedly) will force everyone to vote on a bill they've had no serious chance to review is yet another symptom of your colossal, out of control ego.

As a former Senator, even if it was, relatively speaking, for 60 seconds or so; few SHOULD have a better idea of how important it is that the highest legislative body in the country get adequate time to understand what they're voting for. Oddly, however, you seem to have forgotten all about that in the rush to get this scam passed.

It's been reported that, like a mouse designed by a committee, the actual language of this horrific waste of our money has turned into an elephant of 1071 pages; and it's also being reported that our Esteemed Speaker of the lowest-rated-in-American-history House is in a big hurry... because she's got an 8-day taxpayer paid-for boondoggle trip to Europe she's leaving for, and that is by ALL means SO much more important than this $800 billion sex act with the public you would govern.

Whatever happened to the promised 48 hour public review of this criminal enterprise? And how do you respond when Sen. Lautenberg (D-NJ) indicates that "none of his colleagues would 'have the chance' to read the entire final version before a final vote?

Yesterday, I discussed with you the concept of "competency." Mr. President, a COMPETENT leader would keep his ego and arrogance out of this. A COMPETENT leader would actually require a reasonable time for reviewing such a humongous waste of our money, so when we get screwed by this completely unnecessary waste of OUR money (It IS "our money," Mr. President, and NOT yours.) we will know the exact methods of rape that you will employ FIRST.

A COMPETENT leader would do something about all of this.

But then, a COMPETENT leader would believe the Congressional Budget Office report that this entire thing is an unnecessary debacle. A COMPETENT leader would focus on policy and oversight reform, instead of shoveling so much debt on us that our children for generations will be paying for this.

You don't seem to BE "competent." And I fear your INcompetence is going to cost us much more than money.

As always, I appreciate your time for this little chat, and we'll talk again soon, I'm sure.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Dear President Obama: Yet another Cabinet choice blows up in your face. Is competence anywhere in your world?

Man, you've just done an amazing job as President.

You violated your pledge to keep lobbyists out of your Administration; appointed a criminal tax cheat as your Treasury Secretary; tried to hire two other tax cheats for Health and Human Services and "Chief Performance Officer" (whatever that is) and then, proceeded to bury us in debt for generations to come.

You've screwed us more in 3 weeks then all other presidents combined (Well, excluding the total disaster known as "Jimmy Carter.") and in ways that will hurt for decades, no matter the outcome of your $200,000 per job income-redistribution, union and buddy payoff scheme.
And now, Drudge was kind enough to greet us all with this:

OBAMA BURNED: GREGG WITHDRAWS AFTER POLICIES TOO MUCH TO STOMACH

Senator Judd Gregg (R - New Hampshire) has shown the kind of guts and integrity lacking in the Three Treasoners (Collins, Snowe and Spector) who sold out to you for whatever the reason.

Your horrifically insulting decision to put Rah

m Emanuel in charge of the census and your bizarre, inexplicable insistence on this utterly nonsensical and moronic trillion dollar bailout/buddy payoff deal was enough to cause Gregg to tell you to take a hike.

Now, if I'm not mistaken, this is the second nominee for Commerce who has vaporized. The first was Governor Bill Richardson (D-New Mexico) who is resembling a more subtle version of this Blagojavich guy... and you have yet to get someone willing to put up with your nonsensical policies to want the job.

Competence, Mr. President. Do you speak it?

OBAMA BURNED: GREGG WITHDRAWS AFTER POLICIES TOO MUCH TO STOMACH Thu Feb 12 2009 16:18:14 ET For Immediate Release: Thursday, February 12, 2009 Senator Gregg Statement on His Withdrawal for Consideration of U.S. Commerce Secretary Sen. Gregg stated, "I want to thank the President for nominating me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. This was a great honor, and I had felt that I could bring some views and ideas that would assist him in governing during this difficult time. I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle. "However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy. "Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives. "I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership, but at this time I must withdraw my name from consideration for this position. "As we move forward, I expect there will be many issues and initiatives where I can and will work to assure the success of the President's proposals. This will certainly be a goal of mine. "Kathy and I also want to specifically thank Governor Lynch and Bonnie Newman for their friendship and assistance during this period. In addition we wish to thank all the people, especially in New Hampshire, who have been so kind and generous in their supportive comments. "As a further matter of clarification, nothing about the vetting process played any role in this decision. I will continue to represent the people of New Hampshire in the United States Senate." ___________________________________________________________________ Thank you your decision to continue on with your principles intact.

Dear President Obama: So much for "press conferences," eh?

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I was stunned to read (not) that your dog and pony show, euphemistically referred to as a "press conference," was more of the type of con job for which you've become famous.

It's bad enough that a leftwing blog like the Huffington Post was given any kind of credentials. But you loaded up the room with reporters KNOWING that you would only call on a few of them and knowing in advance which of those few had made the cut.

That means that dozens of people directly and tens of millions watching this debacle, expecting to see you handling a wide-range of questions from anyone there, instead of limiting access to pet reporters and excluding the rest; completely waste their time.

This goes to your "Empty Suit" image of hollowness, Mr. President. Since you lack the guts to get out front and take on all comers, this again gives me pause to wonder: If you can't take on a reporter or several reporters without your handlers making sure they're the "right kind" of reporters...

...Then how the hell do you expect to handle, say, Russia?

Given the debacle that has been your Generational Indebtedness Program, your miserable idea to cut the defense budget $55 billion in the middle of a war; your situational ethics in appointing everything from lying tax cheats to, God forbid, those anti-Christ lobbyists you kept babbling about during your campaign, to high-powered positions within your Administration... and now, confirmation by the Wall Street Journal, that you made an effort to stack the deck at what was really no more a press conference then, say, your porkulus package is actually needed... well, that's not doing much to build confidence in your ability to lead.

But then, Mr. President, your desire to come across like a casket salesman making you think you NEED the bronze instead of as the leader of the free world, only serves to embolden our enemies... a fact I live in fear that we'll be finding out soon enough.

Obama's Press List Membership shall have its privileges.

About half-way through President Obama's press conference Monday night, he had an unscripted question of his own. "All, Chuck Todd," the President said, referring to NBC's White House correspondent. "Where's Chuck?" He had the same strange question about Fox News's Major Garrett: "Where's Major?"

The problem wasn't the lighting in the East Room. The President was running down a list of reporters preselected to ask questions. The White House had decided in advance who would be allowed to question the President and who was left out.

Download Opinion Journal's widget and link to the most important editorials and op-eds of the day from your blog or Web page.

Presidents are free to conduct press conferences however they like, but the decision to preselect questioners is an odd one, especially for a White House famously pledged to openness. We doubt that President Bush, who was notorious for being parsimonious with follow-ups, would have gotten away with prescreening his interlocutors. Mr. Obama can more than handle his own, so our guess is that this is an attempt to discipline reporters who aren't White House favorites.

Few accounts of Monday night's event even mentioned the curious fact that the White House had picked its speakers in advance. We hope that omission wasn't out of fear of being left off the list the next time.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Dear President Obama: The Financial Times of London asks the critical question - Has your presidency already failed?

You've moved to the top of my "People I'm Glad I Ain't" list with a rocket.

In Texas Hold 'Em, so far you've drawn a 7-3 off suit, and you've gone all in.

The only problem with your complete lack of strategic or fiscal vision is that the pot you're playing with ISN'T YOUR MONEY, IT'S OURS.

So, the Financial Times of London wonders aloud: in addition to all of the other firsts you're responsible for (least experienced president; least visionary, least ready to lead, least Caucasian) will you have the shortest-lived tenure as President of the United States? Will you actually wind up as a first term, 3.5 year lame duck?

So far, I'd say that outcome is becoming increasingly likely.

You have and are continuing to appoint either criminal or fringe-left whack jobs or friends of porn to positions of high responsibility while you continue to use the politics of fear (Remember "America has been at its worst when we've been afraid?" what happened to that... and how did we get from there to where we are now?) to unnecessarily bury this country in a mountain of debt so you can pay off your political buds and union supporters, making this usually bizarre question in the first month of a president's term increasingly relevant.

Today, the new US administration can disown responsibility for its inheritance; tomorrow, it will own it. Today, it can offer solutions; tomorrow it will have become the problem. Today, it is in control of events; tomorrow, events will take control of it. Doing too little is now far riskier than doing too much. If he fails to act decisively, the president risks being overwhelmed, like his predecessor. The costs to the US and the world of another failed presidency do not bear contemplating.

These may be among the truest words written to date about what seems to be the increasingly obvious train wreck that is the Obama Administration. And your reaction so far, Mr. President, has not just been disappointing to your humble correspondent, but it also seems to have permeated the more intelligent people occupying the planet in other locales.

The banking programme seems to be yet another child of the failed interventions of the past one and a half years: optimistic and indecisive. If this “progeny of the troubled asset relief programme” fails, Mr Obama’s credibility will be ruined. Now is the time for action that seems close to certain to resolve the problem; this, however, does not seem to be it.

No, it certainly does not.

Your arrogance and confirmation that all your fine words about "Hope!" and "Change!" are but a symptom of the weakness that infests you. Unfortunately for this country, they elected a human version of the Platte River: a mile wide... but an inch deep. And no matter how else this turns out, you will have buried us in a mountain of debt that makes all past presidents combined look like rank amateurs.

Here's a clue. Mr. President: As you continue to bungle your presidency, the whole world is watching. And since many around the world do not wish us well, they're beginning to make the calculations that will, ultimately, lead to the deaths of Americans.

The more you mishandle our financial situation and engage in rank hypocrisy regarding your appointments, the more likely it is that we will be attacked.

Here. Let me simplify for you to the point where even you can understand it, Mr. President.

In the rest of the world, competency counts. In the rest of the world, there have usually been certain things the world has been able to count on.

Certain attitudes have won out through history. One of the fundamental political laws of this planet boils down to this: The United States of America must be right EVERY time. Anyone anywhere else only has to be right once.

Let us suppose that instead of just 2 planes flying into buildings, the next attack on New York might be a "suitcase nuke."

Then what?

My fear, Mr. President, and I'm sure an increasingly larger part of the calculations, is that you'll want to start an investigation. And then, we'll have commissions. Naturally, you'll blame anything bad that happens on the Bush Administration, because you're incapable of taking responsibility for anything.

Meanwhile. New York would continue to be a glowing pile, and you will want to "talk." You'll throw up your hands and exclaim that you just "don't understand" why the rest of the world hates us.

The American left will blame us for the destruction and slaughter of tens of thousands, if not millions, and you'll want to hold discussions with a reconstituted United Nations, hopefully located somewhere outside the US... like, say, Geneva.

You and the rest of the left will want to hunt down the perpetrators, try them, and, if convicted, lock them up for a life sentence, no doubt with a parole possibility in say, 12 years or so.

Meanwhile, nothing else will happen.

Now, this scenario constitutes a series of calculations. And based on what I've seen of your sorry efforts so far, each and every one of them are possible.

My problem is this: if anyone out there with a nuke is engaging in the same calculations... what do you think that outcome might be? And with your decided lack of illustrated competence so far, how much MORE likely have you made that scenario... that series of calculations... then you have reduced that likelihood?

Being "right" is a fundamental tenet of competence. To a greater or lesser degree, competence has saved this country time and again.

Yes, I will admit that up until now, luck has played a part. Other countries and entities make their calculations, and sometimes, they calculate wrong. We have been favored by geography and political miscalculations on the part of aggressors who have attacked us.

But in the modern era, the opportunity for "do-overs" like our recovery from the incompetence of Pearl Harbor, becomes less and less. Advancing technology shrinks the window of recovery geometrically every day. Our ability to come back from disaster is reduced in direct proportion to the technical abilities to inflict damage on us.

But those calculations are typically based on the addition and subtraction of small facts that build up to a much larger result.

The Iranians who took over our embassy in Tehran for example, calculated quite correctly that the United States was weakened by a leadership so possessed of inner rot that they could, actually, commit a blatant act of war, hold American citizens as hostages for 444 days, and that they could do so with impunity because we were being lead by a weak incompetent.

There is a reason the Iranians released the hostages within minutes of Ronald Reagan's Inauguration.

Doing a brief flashback, one might ask at this point: if it were you, Mr. President, being Inaugurated that fateful day... would our hostages have been released?

Why is it that I think not?

For a brief time, this Nation made it's position clear, and other countries around the world KNEW. They KNEW. But then, the left sold us out. And now the rest of the world "knows" something entirely different.

In that regard, what's been one of your first edicts?

Although we're in the midst of a war, you toss a sop to your fringe-left buddies and order a 10% cut to the military budget.

In the middle of a war.

Mr. President, what do you think that has done for the world's calculus?

Unfortunately, I believe I know. And as a result of all of this, I find the Financial Times' question both timely and pertinent.

Dear President Obama: If Geithner was so important, then why is he such a dolt?

Mr. President, you implemented the double-standard of the Geithner Paradigm in part by conning us into believing that you simply couldn't do without him.

Here's the anchor that you've firmly tied around your neck, Mr. President.

Well, the early vote from the Stock Market seems to be one of disagreement.

I get that Schumer's blitheringly idiotic statement that the American people really don't care about pork should have, MUST have made you almost vaporlock that such a complete, low-functioning moron like him could be a member of your party. I truly do understand that.

But that having been said, the assinine idea that you couldn't have pciked someone else... someone without a criminal background... someone with a clue... someone who could string a coherent thought together is, much like any reasonable analysis of your despicable Generational Indebtedness Act, beyond belief.

This guy got up there today, and put the entire financial planet to sleep; verbiage that caused the market to react by losing something on the order of 5% of its value... a paltry 381.99 points.

He's aiding and abetting in your criminal act, Mr. President. In fact, both of these slimeballs are destroying your credibility as fast as humanly possible, not that you need any help.

"Change! we can believe in?" Starting when? Michelle Malkin has once again captured the details of yet another one of the uimpacts of your more cretinous personel choices. Enjoy, Mr. President.

Tax cheat wonder boy Geithner is a laughingstock

By Michelle Malkin • February 10, 2009 05:08 PM

What a joke.

Administration officials were greeted with sarcasm and laughter Monday night when they briefed lawmakers and congressional staff on Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner’s new financial-sector bailout project, according to people who were in the room.
The laughter was at its height when Obama officials explained that the White House planned to guarantee a wide swath of toxic assets — which they referred to as “legacy assets” — but wouldn’t be asking Congress for money. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), a bailout opponent in the fall, asked the officials to give Congress the total dollar figure for which they were on the hook. The officials said that they couldn’t provide a number, a response met by chuckling that was bipartisan, but tilted toward the GOP side.

Snort.

Oh, and just a reminder about the 10 Republicans who voted for the tax cheat/wonder boy because he was so uniquely qualified — with iron-clad credibility — to do the job:

Dear President Obama: Are you the one responsible for this obvious violation of Army Regulations?

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I get that you've never served or sacrificed for your country. But you ARE Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, so I apologize in advance (not) for taking you to task for using Servicemembers of the United States Army as illegal stage props for your "I lied to you before and it worked, so I'm gonna lie to you again," tour.

Please note the picture, Mr. President:

It appears there are at least three soldiers sitting directly behind you in an abortive effort to... what? Gain support from the military that loathes you? Make a fake effort to actually try to get us to believe that the MILITARY supports your idea of porkulus, which includes a 10% cut to the military's budget in the middle of a war?

Regardless, Mr. President, the presence of soldiers in uniform at a political rally is a black-letter violation of Army Regulations.

to wit:

From AR 600–20 (18 March 2008), Para. 5-3:

a. Obligations as a citizen. Soldiers are expected to carry out their obligations as citizens.

However, while on active duty, Soldiers (including full-time National Guard) are prohibited in certain cases from engaging in certain political activities. The following principles apply:

(1) A Soldier on active duty may—

(a) Register, vote, and express his or her personal opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Army.

(b) Make monetary contributions to a political organization.

This picture shows clear violations of that regulation.

The reasons for such a regulation are clear: It is to keep people like you and other groups and organizations from using servicemembers like you did, as what amounts to stage props misrepresenting Army support.

Now, I also get that your actions to date have shown a decided lack of concern for the troops. One need go no farther back than to the days of yore, when you blew off the wounded in Landshtul so you could go shot some hoops while they lay bleeding... and in some cases, dying.

But this is a major violation of both common sense and military protocol. While not impossible, I find it hard to believe that no one on your staff was aware of these prohibitions against this type of activity.

So, I'm left with one of two alternatives:

You knew, but didn't give a damn, or that you or your people did NOT know, and you were too incompetent to find out.

The troops in question should have known to ask the question: why are we here? Based on my service, it's fairly clear that they go to great lengths to explain the rules to you when you enlist. So, at the end of the day, what we have here is yet another screw up by you, this time compounded by the scam you're pulling on the American people as you foist this unconscionable waste of trillions of dollars in pay offs and pay backs onto our backs and the backs of generations to come, thus my renaming of this porkulus program to the Generational Indebtedness Act.

That said, someone is responsible for this blatant violation of Army Regulations. The questions are these: Who, and what are you going to do about it? I'm sure that, given your concern over any double standard, you won't merely ignore my letter and let it all go, right?

Riiiiiight.

We'll chat again, real soon.