A picture says a thousand words

A graphic representation of the 2009 defecit

This is going to be a great 4 years. Change, indeed.

Maths, who needs them?

More jovial posts, because really, how can you not laugh.

Obama will touch on his efforts to restore fiscal discipline at a White House fiscal policy summit on Monday and in an address to Congress on Tuesday. On Thursday he plans to send at least a summary of his first budget request to Capitol Hill. The bottom line, said an administration official Saturday, is to halve the federal deficit to $533 billion by the time his first term ends in 2013. He inherited a deficit of about $1.3 trillion from former President George W. Bush.

The first step: Spend $800 Billion.

So this must mean raising taxes, which as we know always works so well to increase revenue (just ask the Teflon Leprechan).

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the president has not yet released his budget for the fiscal year 2010, which begins Oct. 1, said the deficit will be shrunk by scaling back Iraq war spending, ending the temporary tax breaks enacted by the Bush administration for those making $250,000 or more a year, and streamlining government.

Those mean old rich.

The best part, these two sentences are together. How can anyone think this is serious?

Obama has pledged to make deficit reduction a priority both as a candidate and a president. But he also has said economic recovery must come first.

Last week, he signed into law the $787 billion stimulus measure that is meant to create jobs but certainly will add to the nation's skyrocketing national debt. He also is implementing the $700 billion financial sector rescue passed on Bush's watch; about $75 billion of which is being used toward Obama's plan to help homeowners facing foreclosure.

Mandate

Wondering what universal health care will look like?

Click here.

Enjoy.

Wow... just... wow.

"Would you have done that if McCain were elected?"
"No."

The Solution

I've figured out the solution to the economic "crisis". I, alone, can save 500,000,000 jobs.

End Social Security. That's all. No stimulus package needed.

Think about it. You immediately give every working person 12% more money each year to spend. It's a "progressive" tax cut, as the rich don't pay as much as a percentage (the cutoff for wages taxed is about $100k). You also give people the option to take a lump sum of what they have paid in, or leave it for when they retire. Those who are already retired and drawing Social Security payments would not be affected, as they just draw down the Trust Fund (assuming it exists. If not, I'm pretty sure the total liability of retired people isn't the $1 Trillion the 'stimulus' package will cost).

Sure, you'd have to iron out some details for people nearing retirement, but all in all, I think it would work. I'd even be willing to forgo the lump sum - they can keep what they have, so maybe have a cutoff of age 40, where if you are under 40, the government keeps what they took, if you are over 50 you have the option to stay in the program.

Think of how well that would stimulate the Economy! And give us a little freedom back.

Real Change.

Simpletons

So much has been said about the insane spending bill about to be passed, I don't really have that much more to add, other than to remark we are governed by simpletons.

This kind of stuff amazes me. It amazes me it gets said, it amazes me people buy it.

President Barack Obama pounded Republicans Saturday for policies that fueled the economic crisis, while welcoming a Senate deal on his stimulus bill that ideologically split lawmakers hope to finish by mid-month.

Obama said quick action on the package was imperative to avoid catastrophe and praised the group of moderate senators from both political parties for coming up with a compromise.

Senate Democrats agreed late Friday to trim spending proposals and support tax cuts in a roughly $800 billion bill. They rolled back an earlier $937 billion proposal by culling what critics, mostly Republicans, called billions of dollars in unwarranted spending.

Doesn't anyone understand this bill is the policies of the last 8 years, just more? Anybody realise the actual 'stimulating' spending (without going into too much detail on why government spending isn't any more stimulating than non government spending) is on the back end of the bill, at the same time we'll be coming out of the recession if we do nothing?

Which is what Congress should be doing. Nothing, other than cutting taxes. That's the only thing they can do to help the economy. The rest of it has to play out, and it will.

(By the way, this isn't the 'worst economy since the depression'. It isn't even close. But the more our President says it is, the more people act like it is, as he is the Messiah.)

Getting what you asked for

To quote a quite popular radio host (with whom I disagree quite often): Elections have consequences.

Republicans can complain all they want - this is their doing. This starts with the election of G. W. Bush in 2000, his reelection in 2004, and the nomination of McCain in 2008. Now, we have a President and a Congress who (rightfully) claim 'they won', and now will do what they want to do.

You want to make a statement? You want to get things under control? First, stop them. Stop helping load pork into these bills, and fillibuster them in the Senate. Second, recognize the big government Republicans in your midst, and get them out of office in the primary elections in 2010.

Of course, the treatment of Ron Paul shows us where the Republicans really stand, so I'm not holding my breath; I'm working on finding ways to ensure I can maintain my standard of living regardless of how much money the government takes from me.

By the way, on the "how much of an idiot do you really think I am" front:

Reid said a Congressional Budget Office report that says the stimulus funds won’t be pumped into the economy until 2010 doesn’t provide an accurate picture.

Republicans have used the report to back up their argument against a near $1 trillion package. But Reid said Obama Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag told them CBO only analyzed 40 percent of the bill.

He also said Orszag guaranteed “that at least 75 percent of the bill would go directly into the economy within the first 18 months.”

18 months is 2010, you moron.

Also, best combination of sentences I've seen today:

“How can you spend hundreds of millions of dollars on contraceptives?” Boehner asked. “How does that stimulate the economy?”

Boehner said congressional Republicans are also concerned about the size of the package.

*Chuckle* He said "package".

This stimulus bill is a bad thing. Plain and simple. It's loaded with pork (seriously, how does funding for contraceptives stimulate the economy?) and pet projects, and doesn't include the single most important stimulus: letting people keep more of their money. Taking my money and sending it to people who don't pay taxes doesn't stimulate the economy.

So far, so good

Two days in, and I'm pretty happy with President Obama's actions.

Yesterday, he made it clear he was reversing the course of government in keeping everything a secret by instructing his staff to find ways to better comply with FOA requests (a 180 of the Bush Administration's policy).

Today, he issued orders to close Gitmo and secret CIA prisons and to stop using torture. The new top intelligence dude said no more warrantless wiretapping. Seems the Obamanator read him some Constitutions.

Yeah, I know he's still working on the 'stimulus' package that's a pork laiden travesty, but were we going to do any better on that front with anyone else?

Ending the failed Economic policies of the last 8 years

By pretty much continuing them?

Interesting. The Busch tax cuts were horrible! But these, these tax cuts will work, because we're doing it!

It's pretty clear our new President didn't get an MBA.

Tax cuts stimulate the economy. Whoever does it. Redistribution of wealth doesn't.

Donation Suggested

You can win tickets to the inauguration, plus plane tickets and free hotel by writing an essay on what the inauguration means to you!

Conveniently, you may also submit a donation at the same time.

There's no connection. We promise.

When the Messiah comes to town, traffic's gonna be a bitch

Baltimore Sun story on the expected travel nightmare on Jan 20 for the swearing in of The One.

The expectation is traffic will be screwed up all the way to Baltimore.

Why can't all these people stay home and watch it on TV? Why do you have to be there?

What a coincidence!

According to the USA Today (known for it's extreme Right Wing bias), President Elect and Messiah Barack Obama's transition team is loaded with big fundraisers.

I'm shocked at the coincidence. He's promised change, though, so I'm sure it's not intentional.

Campaign watchdog experts, such as Craig Holman of Public Citizen, say the close involvement of these big fundraisers — known as bundlers because they collect money from friends, family and business associates — could give them undue sway in the new administration. "The whole point of these bundlers bringing in so much money is that they get to exercise influence in the next administration," Holman said. Obama's pledge to clean up Washington "is encouraging," Holman said. "But this is a warning sign."

LOL @ "warning sign".

Change you can believe in.

Hat tip: The Agitator

Change

Naturally, the guy who won the White House by telling you how he would change things, has picked a true outsider to be his chief of staff. These are the people who will fix the failed policies of the Bush administration. The fact that they were actually responsible, well, that doesn't matter one bit.

And y'all fell for it. It didn't occur to you that he was spending more than any other candidate, ever, and more than 5 times what his opponent spent, to win the election... no... this is CHANGE, this isn't politics as usual.

Anyone else notice the largest 2 day drop in 20 years for the DJIA the two days after the election?

The first (of many) unintended consequences

High Black voter turnout hurt gay marriage.

Go figure.

(As an aside, my stance on gay marriage can be quickly summed up by "who cares?". I don't think the state should have any standing in any contract between two people other than to deal with violations of that contract. My marriage is between my wife and me, I don't see why I need permission from the goverment to enter into that contract. If my neighbors Jim and Mark want to get married, I certainly don't care one way or the other. Of course, this issue is exacerbated due to government welfare programs, primarily Social Security, where marriage has a benefit.)

Election hangover

Well, I'm glad that's over.

I was thinking yesterday while driving that I guess it could be worse, but I'm really not sure that's the case. As a Libertarian, this Presidential race came down to an expansion of the welfare state vs an expansion of the warfare state. Welfare won. Great.

For the country, I honestly don't know if Obama's better, but he might be. Personally, there's no doubt I'm a big loser. My tax rates will go up, probably significantly, in 2010. Thing is, if you pay taxes, yours will, too, The One just didn't tell you that. Expansion and creation of social programs is always a net loss for me, because I am unfairly wealthy (after I unfairly went to grad school at night and unfairly worked my ass off).

Although he's so enlightened and powerful and good, maybe he'll cure cancer. He pretty much promised everything but.

One thing I did notice, with all the talk about 'Change' (there's another post about how Obama isn't anything close to 'change' sometime); Congress has an 18% approval rating, yet we reelected most of them.

Good job, America!

Wow, this is gonna be great!

The list of promises from just one Obama speech.

"give a tax break to 95 percent of Americans who work every day and get taxes taken out of their paycheck every week";
"eliminate income taxes on Social Security for seniors making under $50,000";
"give homeowners and working parents additional tax breaks";
not increase taxes on anyone if they "make under $250,000; you will not see your taxes increase by a single dime –- not your income taxes, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains tax";
"end those breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas";
"give tax breaks to companies that invest right here in the United States";
"eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-up companies that are the engine of job creation in this country";
"create two million new jobs by rebuilding our crumbling roads, and bridges, and schools -- by laying broadband lines to reach every corner of the country";
"invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy to create five million new energy jobs over the next decade";
"reopen old factories, old plants, to build solar panels, and wind turbines";
build "a new electricity grid";
"build the fuel efficient cars of tomorrow";
"eliminate the oil we import from the Middle East in 10 years";
"lower premiums" for those who already have health insurance;
"if you don't have health insurance, you'll be able to get the same kind of health insurance that members of Congress give themselves";
"end discrimination by insurance companies to the sick and those who need care the most";
"invest in early childhood education";
"recruit an army of new teachers";
"pay our teachers higher salaries, give them more support. But ... also demand higher standards and more accountability";
"make a deal with every young person who's here and every young person in America: If you are willing to commit yourself to national service, whether it's serving in our military or in the Peace Corps, working in a veterans home or a homeless shelter, then we will guarantee that you can afford to go to college no ifs ands or buts";
"stop spending $10 billion a month in Iraq whole the Iraqis have a huge surplus";
"end this war in Iraq";
"finish the fight and snuff out al Qaeda and bin Laden";
"increase our ground troops and our investments in the finest fighting force in the world";
"invest in 21st century technologies so that our men and women have the best training and equipment when they deploy into combat and the care and benefits they have earned when they come home";
"No more homeless veterans"; and
"no more fighting for disability payments."

Now, McCain isn't any better, but I think this might be a little over the top. Some of them are absolutley laughable.

Via Coyote Blog