Obama’s off and running (updated)

George Rebane

The President’s much trumpeted jobs plan speech came off tonight.  The man has found a new voice that I suspect we’ll be hearing a lot between now and November 2012 – it’s his Right Now! voice that has a new sense of urgency delivered in a brand new timbre.

He laid out a lot of points to get us working fixing infrastructure, giving small businesses payroll tax breaks, and presenting his plan for paying for it all.  For those who didn’t watch the speech, I advise clearing your throat and blowing all the loose boogers out of your nose, else you’ll get it all over your shirt. 

Without so much as a blink, Fearless said that the added $447B of this latest stimulus (not the word he used) will be paid for by adding it on to the current $1.2T of spending cuts that Congress doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of agreeing on.  You heard right, ‘Since they’re already working on a lot of spending cuts and new revenues, I’m just gonna add a bit to that pile.  And voila! it’s gonna be taken care of – what’s your next question?’

In Democratic circles that’s known as a plan, and, you know, they’re right that the Repubs haven’t been able to offer an equivalent plan like that since he’s been president.  (Now go clean up your shirt.)

President Obama also went down history lane and reminded us that the feds have always had a role in investing in and building critical national infrastructure, so this is nothing but just another march we should take right now! down that well-worn policy roadway.  Didn’t the federal government come up with and invest in the trans-national railroad and land-grant colleges?

Well no.  The college idea came from a college and businesses, and the railroad idea came from greedy investors.  As for funding the whole thing, it didn’t cost the federal government one red cent because it gave away something that in those days it had more of than it knew what to do with – land, lots of land.

So the colleges were built by funds obtained from the sale of government land grants, and the greedies started railroad companies that were granted lots of literally worthless land along their rights of way that subsequently became valuable when they finished putting in the tracks.  All both enterprises wanted, after the deals were struck, was for the feds to get out of the way.  But our Organizer in Chief spun it as if you didn’t know any history – you could just see ol’ Honest Abe shaking his worried head and writing those big stimulus checks out of the Treasury.

There was more to the kick-off speech for the Obama 2012 campaign, but you get the drift.  OK, I’ll just share one more little awkward piece.  Obama challenged that ‘Some may think that all government needs to do is just lower taxes and reduce regulations to get the economy going, but …’.  The remainder of that little piece of Keynesian wisdom was drowned out by loud applause and cheering from the Republican side of the packed House chamber.

[update]  Well, it turns out that bankrupt Solyndra will be creating some more green jobs after all (see picture).  Only these will be at the FBI, Dept of Justice, and diverse law firms in California.  But hey, it's solar energy and the $527M loaned them by the government was commonly known as 'the long green'.  And here I've been a Doubting Thomas about all this.  This is part and parcel of all the wonderful work that CARB implementing AB32 has done for California.

Actually Russ Steele broke this latest scandal locally here.  The WSJ just published 'FBI Raids Solar-Panel Maker' which added to the report that Solyndra executives have been in the West Wing over the last year or so almost as many times as AFL-CIO's Trumka.  And to add insult to injury, Solyndra's CEO Harrison just two months ago assured Rep Henry Waxman (D, CA) that all was going well and the company was financially secure.  He couldn't have BSed a nicer guy.

If it wasn't for our money going down the drain, it sure would be fun watching the socialists continue to circumvent the markets by stimulating this and stimulating that.  And as we'll no doubt find out when the investigation broadens, President Obama's prescient statement that Solyndra was a "testament to American ingenuity and dynamism." will turn out true beyond his wildest expectations.  At least for getting stuck with the bill, we are all going to have an entertaining election season.

Comments

[RL Crabb]

Would've been a good idea two years ago.

[Mikey McD]

Obama is drunk on Keynesian cool-aid... stimulus #1 and #2 did not work, #3 should do the trick. Worse yet, he is an angry drunk.

Obama is 100% bought and paid for by special interest labor unions (all it will take to get one of his infrastructure jobs or education jobs will be a union card!)!

Thanks for pointing out the fact that HE HAS NO IDEA HOW TO PAY FOR THIS ROUND OF BINGE SPENDING. He flat out LIED about it not adding to the deficit. He gets to buy $450billion worth of votes and stick us with the bill (again). Evil.

BTW: "Senate Attempt To Block Debt Ceiling Increase Fails: Debt Target Is Now $15.2 Trillion, Or Over 100% Of GDP" www.zerohedge.com

[Barry Pruett]

Spend spend spend...blah blah blah. Pay the teachers union and the labor unions. Campaign rhetoric...not a real plan.

[Russ Steele]

I was watching Fox News/Hanity he had Frank Luntz and his panels on and it does not look good "For the One." The consensus was that it was just more of the same, "nothing to hang our hat on," said one of the panel members.

[Todd Juvinall]

I watched the Luntz group afterwards from Atlanta. Half Obama supporters half McCain. Obama is in deep doo doo.

Barry had it best, blah blah blah, spend, tax, blame Bush. Blah nlah blah.

[bill tozer]

The plan should get passed..er....as soon as it is on paper. Anyone read it yet? Or is this another swell idea that has to be passed NOW so we can find out what is in it.

[Douglas Keachie]

At the Republican Debate, by contrast, there was such a display of brilliance:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/provincialelitist/the-msnbc-republican-debate-in-45-seconds

[Douglas Keachie]

Hitler's little bug has evolved:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/nd5WGLWNllA?rel=0

[Todd Juvinall]

George, the update makes me wonder. Who OK'd the loan? I thought Congress had to authorize all spending? Perhaps these funds thought were leftover from the stimuli? Or was it done under Pelosi Reid? Culture of Corruption.

[Mike Thornton]

"ODS" at work
Let the "Hate Fest" Begin Again

[Todd Juvinall]

Another imbecilic statement of ignorance by a lefty. No wonder they are becoming an endangered species.

[Mike Thornton]

I was wondering who was hosting the RR "Two Minutes Hate" for today....
I should have known!
What's on the menu?
The same thing as always Pinky, Bile and Sour Grapes!

[George Rebane]

ToddJ, I fear that your celebration may be premature.

[Mike Thornton]

Once again, Dad, has to set Jr. straight!
I don't envy you George, he's a handful!

[D. King]

Well, the President mentioned the new patent law.
I was wondering if anyone can tell me why changing from: “First to invent” to “First to publish” is a good thing? Maybe one of the Progressive savants here can help me out with an explanation. Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

[Todd Juvinall]

George, you may be right. The looney left is like a cancer.

[George Rebane]

ToddJ - those who cannot compete have no choice but to either take by force from those who can, or become their wards. It was ever thus, and there is no hope for change.

[Douglas Keachie]

D King, it was all revealed in a song by then Harvard professor, now at UC Santa Cruz, Tom Lehrer:

"I am never forget the day I am given first original paper
to write. It was on analytic and algebraic topology of
locally Euclidean parameterization of infinitely differentiable
Riemannian manifold.
Bozhe moi!
This I know from nothing.
What-i'm going-to do.
But I think of great Lobachevsky and get idea - ahah!

I have a friend in Minsk,
Who has a friend in Pinsk,
Whose friend in Omsk
Has friend in Tomsk
With friend in Akmolinsk.
His friend in Alexandrovsk
Has friend in Petropavlovsk,
Whose friend somehow
Is solving now
The problem in Dnepropetrovsk.

And when his work is done -
Ha ha! - begins the fun.
From Dnepropetrovsk
To Petropavlovsk,
By way of Iliysk,
And Novorossiysk,
To Alexandrovsk to Akmolinsk
To Tomsk to Omsk
To Pinsk to Minsk
To me the news will run,
Yes, to me the news will run!

And then I write
By morning, night,
And afternoon,
And pretty soon
My name in Dnepropetrovsk is cursed,
When he finds out I publish first!

And who made me a big success
And brought me wealth and fame?
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name.
Hi!
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobach -

or the YouTube complete version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL4vWJbwmqM

The Prime Task of us Bay Area transplants is to bring advanced culture to Nevada County. heeheehee!

[George Rebane]

Ah yes, the songs of the self-celebrating culture bringers now echo in these foothills. We stand in silent awe.

[D. King]

Douglas Keachie | 09 September 2011 at 10:04 AM

I forgot about Tom, that was apropos, Thanks.

[Mike Thornton]

As do those transplanted overlords, who believe that the great unwashed of the foothills must organize their lives to meet the needs and whims of their financial betters or face the consequences of being abandoned to their previously dead end lives.
Hmmmm, who was it who said this?

[D. King]

These aren’t the Droids we’re looking for…Ah, I mean, you should pass the bill!

http://bcove.me/8hlvri6g

[Paul Emery]

Before you start dancing on Obama's political grave you'd better focus on finding an electable candidate. The flavor of the week, processional politician Gov Perry pretty much finished himself off in last weeks debate with enough sound bites to scare the stink out of swing voters for the rest of his career. Back to the drawing board. Actually the Dems are keeping their fingers crossed that the Repubs will be as self destructive by nominating Perry as they were when the picked Palin the quitter last time around.

Don't fool yourself by thinking that Obama's low poll numbers automatically translate to blind support for any Repub offering. For example if I were polled about Obama's job rating I would give him a thumbs down but that doesn't mean I would support the offered Repub ilk except for possibly Huntsman who doesn't stand a chance or Ron Paul as a third party offering.

[George Rebane]

PaulE, you misunderstand. As I have advised other conservatives on these pages, there is very little that can happen to derail Obama for 2012. Being inexperienced and demonstrably wrong will not hurt him. Being a business-as-usual crony politician will not hurt him. Turning out to be a crook might, but only if Congress starts impeachment proceedings.

No, dumping money into predictably losing businesses will not be enough to dislodge the voter who only pays attention to the politician promising him the largest ice cream cone. Unfortunately, stupid is forever. We read Walter Williams for another perspective on this. http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2008/08/peter-and-paul.html And my own here http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2009/05/republicans-need-a-new-strategy.html

[Paul Emery]

So do you think the Repubs will throw in the towel early by going wow oh wow for Perry or do you think whey might nominate someone who's actually electable?

[George Rebane]

PaulE - that's a really tough question. The Repubs are in tension between the Tea Party and business as usual. Short answer: Perry has at least a 50-50 chance of being nominated, all others significantly less.

From what you see out there, who do you think has the highest chance of beating Obama?

[Mike Thornton]

They can nominate anyone they like, Paul.
The real question is do Congressional Republicans do something about creating jobs, now or not. Obama has them in a box and they need to be kept there.
It's time for the regressives to either do something or get out of the way.
People aren't going to wait 14 months.

[Barry Pruett]

You are right Thornton. The people will not wait 14 months. The House of Representatives has passed hundreds of bills to help the USA, but they are dead in the Democrat-held Senate.

http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/Bills_passed_by_the_House_but_not_by_the_Senate_--_111th_Congress

The Democrats need to do something of significance or get out of the way. I am all for getting out of the way.

[Barry Pruett]

Oops...that link was from the 111th...among the bills passed by the House in the 112th, but stuck in the Senate are The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, The Energy Tax Prevention Act, Disapproval of FCC’s Net Neutrality Act, The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act, The Consumer Financial Protection & Soundness Improvement Act and The Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act. That doesn’t even touch the various bills the House has passed to reenergize the Gulf. Oh yeah, plus the House passed a budget.

You know how Obama repeatedly says Congress could take steps “right now” to jumpstart the economy again? Let’s amend that statement for accuracy: The Senate and the president could take steps right now to jumpstart the economy again. That is, they actually have House bills in front of them. Yes, this is shameless GOP cheerleading — but it is so obvious in this case I cannot help it. I am not asking Democratic senators or the president to have no disagreements with the bills the House has passed. I am asking them to, as professors say, “engage the material.” Give it air time, amend it, offer an alternative, whatever...but don’t just sit passively or talk poetically.

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/09/08/a-quick-comparison-of-the-house-and-senate-on-jobs/

[Paul Emery]

Highest chance of beating Obama in the current crop?

The climate in the Republican party prevents someone like Huntsman being considered. Right now a moderate Republican could win against Obama but they would never have TP support so forget that. The "middle " is wide open like a fumbled football but none of the Perry's or Bachmans dare jump on it. Romney, if the TP's let him develop his own platform, could win. Guliani would be a good match up but he'll never run because of the climate. Rubio in 16 or as VP would be a challenge. Ron Paul needs to run as a Libertarian. That would make a mess of things for the Repubs so they better be nice to him.

Forget Bachman. To her credit she's worked very hard to get where she is but Perry sat back and let her exhaust herself before jumping in. She needs a new hair and makeup person. He's a guy with the same message and more qualifications. She doesn't look too healthy nowdays and her message promising $2.00 gas gets smirks and giggles from most who knows you cannot promise those things.

That leave the Newt. If he was left on his own he could be a challenge because he is the smartest of them all. But he has personal credibility problems that are off the charts and he looks like a cable TV info-barker.

Cain has set himself up well as a future media celebrity so mission accomplished.

Answer

Romney

[Douglas Keachie]

Dking,

Great Obama condensation. I noticed it as he was giving the speech, annoying but I guess necessary in today's political world. It's just like the taxes and Reagan condensation in the video I posted.

Sad commentary on the education of today's citizen roster.

[Russ Steele]

The Polipundit has some thoughts on the why Obama rushed through his 47 minute speech in just 32 long minutes. While this was an impassioned speech, he was losing his audience as the speech progressed. Many in the House thought it was a big joke. Perhaps a parody by a shrinking President.

He must have known what a fool he was making of himself, which is why he rushed through a 47-minute speech in 32 minutes:

President Obama gave one of the most impassioned speeches of his presidency when he addressed a joint session of Congress on Thursday night. Too bad so many in the audience thought it was a big, fat joke.

“You should pass this jobs plan right away!” Obama exhorted. Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) chuckled.

“Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his secretary — an outrage he has asked us to fix,” Obama went on. Widespread laughter broke out on the GOP side of the aisle.

“This isn’t political grandstanding,” Obama said. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) guffawed.

“This isn’t class warfare,” Obama said. More hysterics on the right.

“We’ve identified over 500 [regulatory] reforms, which will save billions of dollars,” the president claimed. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) giggled.

It was, in a way, more insulting than Joe Wilson’s “you lie” eruption during a previous presidential address to Congress. The lawmakers weren’t particularly hostile toward the president — they just regarded the increasingly unpopular Obama as irrelevant. And the inclination not to take the 43-percent president seriously . . .

If you want to know why House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Whip Kevin McCarthy were giggled, read Barry's post above. The House has taken action and the Senate is sitting on their hands, maybe searching for there butts. Obama should have been saying "Senate pass this right now!"

[D. King]

It's just like the taxes and Reagan condensation in the video I posted.

Sad commentary on the education of today's citizen roster.

Posted by: Douglas Keachie

Yes, if they repeat it enough, even they begin to believe what they're saying. A sad commentary!

[Mike Thornton]

And he also knew the first NFL game of the season was about to start.
And it was a hell of a game!

[Kathy Jones]

Obama made a major faux pas in his speech to congress this week, and the media covered it up (again!)

Actual Obama words:
"We all remember Abraham Lincoln as the leader who saved our Union. Founder of the Republican Party. But in the middle of a civil war, he was also a leader who looked to the future -- a Republican President who mobilized government to build the Transcontinental Railroad -- -- launch the National Academy of Sciences, set up the first land grant colleges.nd leaders of both parties have followed the example he set."

Now note the bold part above, missing below!

How the media reported it via transcript:
"We all remember Abraham Lincoln as the leader who saved our Union. But in the middle of a Civil War, he was also a leader who looked to the future - a Republican president who mobilized government to build the transcontinental railroad; launch the National Academy of Sciences; and set up the first land grant colleges. And leaders of both parties have followed the example he set."

Why was this done for this president?

[Kathy Jones]

Democrats Fret Aloud Over Obama’s Re-election

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/us/politics/11obama.html?_r=1

Now what?

[George Rebane]

Excellent report KathyJ. The national Democrats should talk to their Nevada County colleagues who have never lost faith in President Obama's chances to prevail.