We keep hearing over and over that the president has many vacancies in the Treasury Dept. under Tim Geitner. But according to this report, on a blog no less, Obama has appointed just 73 people to 1,200 jobs that require Senate confirmation. But the president seems to find the time to have parties several nights per week and pose for magazine covers.
Question -- Why is it that the mainstream press is not making the connection between the president's extracurricular activities and the empty job posts? Why does it take a blog of all things to make this connection?
And last -- would the mainstream media have failed to make this connection if the president were, oh, I don't know, a Republican Texan?
And people are surprised that major news outlets are going the way of the 8-track?
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Wow I sure feel better now.
It turns out that President Obama didn't have something up his sleeve when he was a bit rude to the British prime minister last week. No, he's just overwhelmed. Swell.
I guess the whiz kids from the Windy City don't have all the answers for the economy.
I think they have a big thing to learn yet -- the United States economy isn't run like a Chicago ward from the precinct HQ.
I guess the whiz kids from the Windy City don't have all the answers for the economy.
I think they have a big thing to learn yet -- the United States economy isn't run like a Chicago ward from the precinct HQ.
Obama's "Mission Accomplished" Moment?
Yesterday the president traveled to Columbus, OH to tout his stimulus package. Apparently some of the funds from the $800 billion were used to save the jobs of 25 Columbus policemen/women.
This event was heralded on a day when it was announced by the Commerce Dept. that the unemployment rate spiked to 8.1% and another 700,000 or so jobs were lost in Feb.
Towards the bottom of the story, one discovers that these 25 officers may end up losing their jobs next January. The stimulus money is going to run out by then.
So I ask two questions - are the creation of temporary government jobs -- even police officer jobs -- really what is going to get the economy rolling again? Is that result really worth the massive debt we are taking on?
This event was heralded on a day when it was announced by the Commerce Dept. that the unemployment rate spiked to 8.1% and another 700,000 or so jobs were lost in Feb.
Towards the bottom of the story, one discovers that these 25 officers may end up losing their jobs next January. The stimulus money is going to run out by then.
So I ask two questions - are the creation of temporary government jobs -- even police officer jobs -- really what is going to get the economy rolling again? Is that result really worth the massive debt we are taking on?
Friday, March 6, 2009
The beginning
It's starting - the beginning of the broad public perception that the president is not helping the economic situation. The polls are generally not showing this yet, which causes some consternation in conservative circles.
I think there is a rational explanation for it. People rally around the president in times of trouble. Many forget that President Bush's approval rating topped over 90% after 9/11. It continued over 60% through 2003.
It is going to take time for all of the terrible economic news, and Obama's often puzzling responses to it, to filter down to public opinion polls.
But there is no doubt that plunging economic numbers are beginning to raise doubts.
I think there is a rational explanation for it. People rally around the president in times of trouble. Many forget that President Bush's approval rating topped over 90% after 9/11. It continued over 60% through 2003.
It is going to take time for all of the terrible economic news, and Obama's often puzzling responses to it, to filter down to public opinion polls.
But there is no doubt that plunging economic numbers are beginning to raise doubts.
The first time I heard it
It was March 5, around 6:25 pm EST. That's when I finally heard a pundit from the media say she wondered if Obama is taking on too much too early.
Nah, you think?
Right now, my take on our national priorities are - reforming the entire health care system, reforming Social Security and Medicare, reforming/transforming our energy policy, fighting global warming.
And oh yeah - combating the worst economic crisis in most of our lifetimes. Did I miss something there?
The great conservative economist Thomas Sowell once said that there is a reason why radical socialists can so often be found on college campuses -- there their ideas can always stay theoretical and don't have to prove themselves in the marketplace.
Well, we now have a radical college professor without any real experience outside of "community organizing" rabble rousing who has the authority and power to enact radical ideas thought up at the coffee house on the college green in 1974.
Obama's style so far has the feel of an arrogant college kid with 'big ideas' who has never had to deal with the real world of markets and economic realities.
Nah, you think?
Right now, my take on our national priorities are - reforming the entire health care system, reforming Social Security and Medicare, reforming/transforming our energy policy, fighting global warming.
And oh yeah - combating the worst economic crisis in most of our lifetimes. Did I miss something there?
The great conservative economist Thomas Sowell once said that there is a reason why radical socialists can so often be found on college campuses -- there their ideas can always stay theoretical and don't have to prove themselves in the marketplace.
Well, we now have a radical college professor without any real experience outside of "community organizing" rabble rousing who has the authority and power to enact radical ideas thought up at the coffee house on the college green in 1974.
Obama's style so far has the feel of an arrogant college kid with 'big ideas' who has never had to deal with the real world of markets and economic realities.
Obama seeks economic advice from someone with no economic experience
Yet another summit has been convened at the WH today. This time it's one featuring young 'business leaders' to solicit their ideas for the economic crisis. One of them is CEO Ev Williams, the founder of Twitter.
Note that Twitter is handy and popular, with 6 million members.
One small problem.
It doesn't make any money.
So a 'community organizer' with no economic experience is asking a CEO with no economic experience how to save the economy in the worst recession in 70 years.
Note that Twitter is handy and popular, with 6 million members.
One small problem.
It doesn't make any money.
So a 'community organizer' with no economic experience is asking a CEO with no economic experience how to save the economy in the worst recession in 70 years.
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