Our Stimulus...

My Article from our school newspaper, The Shorthorn:  http://tinyurl.com/awng9z

$735,014,005 per page, all 1071 pages of it totaling $787.2 billion. That is how much each page of this will cost the tax payers over the next 50 years. With the unemployment rate at 7.6% and President Obama warning that to not pass the Stimulus Package would be a catastrophe, the politics of fear succeeded. Where was the hope? Economists have spoken out saying that the projected 3.5 million jobs to be created or saved is an inflation of the facts. Even the Congressional Budget Office, after further analysis of the proposed stimulus, said that it would do worse damage to the economy and end up reducing GDP within 10 years and an unemployment rate hovering at 10%. Leaving the economy alone would have a more positive effect…

With only three Republicans voting for the measure in the whole Legislative branch, before the election, President Obama campaigned as the candidate that would not let divisiveness stand and would “ring in a new era of bipartisanship, accountability, and responsibility”, seems so distant now. He was seen mocking the Republican’s during a speech at a Democratic Congressional retreat a week ago and with the Republicans ideas being shot down during negotiations, this new era of bipartisanship is already crumbling after less than a month.

We have few instances to compare the current meltdown to, the Depression in the 1930’s-1940’s and the deep recession that accrued in the 1970’s that was inherited by President Reagan when he assumed the office of President in 1981. With the focus on infrastructure spending to get out of the Depression, President Roosevelt's own Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morganthau, was quoted at the time saying, “We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work… I say after eight years of this administration we have just as much unemployment as when we started … And an enormous debt to boot.” With interest rates over 17%, high inflation, and tax rates so high that people were not paying their tax liability, Reagan had a problem. Being an advocate for tax cuts, he was able to lower the highest tax bracket from 70%, to 28%, doubling government revenues. Reagan got us out of the recession and created over 20 million jobs. Now it is too late to ask what the answer to the current recession is, when you look at history, the answer is clear. Sometimes we should look beyond ideology for the right answers.

On a side note: Michelle Obama was asked about the stimulus measure that was taken by President Bush in the Spring of 2008 ($600 per individual, $1200 per couple), she mocked the measure and dismissed it by saying she could buy a pair of earrings with it. Part of this new Obama stimulus package includes $400 for individuals and $800 for couples, wonder what she thinks about that. The new era of “hope” and “change” has come, I just “hope” that we can afford this “change”.

$789,500,000,000.00

Here it is guys, a brief summary over this great stimulus package that will rescue our economy...

http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2009press/prb021209.pdf

Brief Tribute to Ronald Reagan

Today is the day that many conservatives are celebrating what would be the 98^th birthday of our 40^th President, Ronald Reagan. Most of us know the history of the man, his accomplishments, and what he meant to us. A man who was talking straight-talk long before it became a brand for a presidential campaign. A man who went from being a Democrat to a Republican, when asked why he left the democrat party, he responded “I did not leave the Democratic party. The party left me.”

A man who became the face of conservatism who many say Barry Goldwater’s failed Presidential Bid in 1964 was fulfilled in 1980. Many were around to remember the presidency of his predecessor, Jimmy Carter. Inflation was sky-rocketing, interest rates were over 17% and the economy was beginning to spiral downward. “Are you better off now than you were four years ago…” was the question that Ronald Reagan asked that helped him to seal the deal with the American people. He is attributed with getting the top tax bracket lowered to 28% which more than doubled the revenues of the United States. The economy was on the rise.

With the aid of Prime Minister Thatcher and a change in foreign policy, President Reagan also helped to bring down the Soviet Empire. “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” and not long after, the iron curtain was pulled away. There were also rough times with the Iran-Contra affair and the escalation of the national debt which many like to point out, but some forget that it was a Democratic Congress which allowed the spending to get out of hand.

Today, we are in similar turbulent times and I just wish that our new President will remember what history has taught us, what has worked in the past, and especially, remember the man whom helped to deliver the United States from a deep recession to a time of economic growth.

God Bless you Ronald Reagan.

Speechless.

Friday afternoon, President Obama met with the families of some of the 9/11 victims and also families from the terrorist attack on the USS Cole in 2000. I am glad that he met with them, and I am glad that he let it be leaked to the press (sarcasm). Do you know how many different families of soldiers who had been killed in the line of duty that President Bush met with over the past 7 years? Always closed from the press and very seldom even mentioned. Love him or hate him, President Bush did not let his Presidency become just a massive PR stunt like the Obama campaign was for almost two years and out of the starting gate, seems like it will continue to be.

On a different note, this past week it became known that the Obama campaign has been talking with Syria and Iran since November, after the election. Does that send the wrong signal to you about President Obama insisting that there is only one President at a time? Hypocrisy… not surprised by it though.

Back to the meeting with the victim’s families. I would like to think that it was meant to be a very sentimental moment to let the families know that the deaths of their loved ones would not be in vain. That they will not be forgotten as they ever should be. I still remember that whole day, watching the TV replay what would be come known as the worst attack on American soil. Who did this? That was the reaction after the shock of the event. We went to war in Afghanistan to fight the enemy that planned this horrible act, and then we took on terrorism when we went into Iraq. Guantanamo Bay became a bad word because that is where many of those who were suspected of terrorist acts were shipped to, to be interrogated to find out what they knew so they could possibly aid us with information to keep another attack from happening.

I do not know what happened in “Gitmo” nor do I care because the very men who helped to plot the attacks against America were not in a position to cause anymore harm to us. That is justice. Not anymore though. Guantanamo will be closed within a year, per an Executive Order signed by President Obama, military tribunals have been ceased to give the Obama administration time to review these cases to figure out what to do with these men. Let them face trial in U.S. courts or send them back home. One of the men suspected of plotting the bombing on the USS Cole was Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, it was announced today that his case would be closed. Since President Obama decided to suspend Military Tribunals and one of the Tribunal judges had went ahead, against Obama’s orders, to try this man who had admitted through aggressive interrogation that he had in fact been involved in the plot that killed 17 sailors, another judge overruled the Tribunal judge.

For Obama to face those families, to look them in the eye and not be able to tell them that these guys may go free or better than that, come to a U.S. prison, I feel the slap in the face that these families must be feeling. Complete and utter disregard for their feelings that there is a chance that someone who is possibly responsible for the death of a member of their family may get to go back to their country and not face anything, that’s heartbreak. About 10% of the men released from Guantanamo have gone back to their home country to join in the fight against America. But, better than that, to think that if any of these guys come back here for their day in court, where they receive the same rights as you and I, someone not a citizen who harbors ill-feelings towards America and Americans, that makes it even worse. These men could go free anyways.

Thank you Mr. President, your show of patriotism reveals much about your character. 

What is going on?

Two weeks into the Presidency of repeating his campaign rhetoric and many Democrats are already in retreat and looking to attach themselves, possibly, to the GOP plan. Interesting right? Check out the article in today's Wall Street Journal http://tinyurl.com/aw96l6 . 

Last night they held the annual Washington Press Club Foundation dinner, or what it is often known as, a roast. Nancy Pelosi pointed out that President Obama's e-mail address is "IAMALLEARS@WHITEHOUSE.GOV," she  got a few laughs. Then Senator Klobuchar from Minnesota took the stage poking fun at Joe Biden, and made a punch at the GOP House member who was there also to speak, Rep. McCarthy. She said she was surprised he accepted the invitation because nowadays the GOP is saying "No" to everything, a stab at the GOP vote against the stimulus package last week. And then Rep. McCarthy made it up to the podium and I think stole the night with his "I am starting to believe that Obama may be the Messiah when he picked Joe Biden to be his running mate. The Bible does say that he will ride into town on an ass." If that isn't great then I do not know what is. He also poked fun at Rep. Cantor who was originally supposed to give a speech,  who he said was the only jew in the GOP caucus and was on his way to Gaza strip where he would feel more welcome. It was really a good speech, Nancy Pelosi did not get as many laughs and neither did the Minnesota Senator.

Other than that, Daschle resigned because this "limousine liberal" who didn't pay taxes on the gift of a car and driver for the past few years, over $140,000, decided he didn't want to bring anymore negative attention to the Obama administration. Also another nominee rescinded her nomination because of back taxes. With as much as Democrats talk about raising taxes, we now know why, because no matter how high they are, they don't pay them!

The stimulus package is still being debated, the Senate bill is even more inflated than the original House bill. Obama was out today letting people know that with his election, the old ways were rejected, basically taking a shot at Republicans who say that Tax cuts would spur the economy. For more info, read the Rove Article that was mentioned before.

NEWS LINKS OF THE DAY:

Self-Imposed Deadline for Stimulus: http://tinyurl.com/cbd7ho

Holder to Mete Out Racial Justice: http://snipurl.com/bcuhw

Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast: http://snipurl.com/bcwaa...

The Audacity of Panic: http://snipurl.com/bcqmp

Kristol "Post Partisan" http://snipurl.com/bcoo7

Graham Says Obama Is 'AWOL' on Stimulus Debate: http://tinyurl.com/dyresy