It’s O-Bingo Night!

Yo dude, I am watching “housewives of Orange County” in lue of Obama, lots of clevage to watch, never liked bingo anyway.

Grandson-in-law came for dinner and to pick up our little tyrant. I told him to take his pick, we are up for anything he wanted to watch. Wound up being some kind of kick-boxing thing. Sheesh, hope Obama doesn’t make a habit of these “hey, if not me it’s kickboxing” moments.

What I did see of him, before the extreme channel change, reminded me of Nixon without the jowls. Anyone else notice the similar mannerisms?

@Aye Chihuahua: “Sorry, too young to remember Nixon.”

Go ahead… rub it in!

I met Nixon in 1972. First saw him in 1968.

You guys missed a great, inspiring, speech.

Aye, check out Frost/Nixon. Frank Langella actually made me feel for the man.

Well Sarge. you probably missed it, but he’s giving military personnel a pay raise, and more funding to honorable veterans like yourself. It’s not a campaign promise, he’s already got the job. Sounds like he’s learn a good lesson from Reagan to me. About time.

And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world.

What does this mean ?

Did anyone catch Jesse Jackson, Jr. kissing Obama on the cheek after the speech? What’s up with that?

What was notable is the very large number of times he had the Congressional Republicans out of their seats, applauding.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/02/24/president-draws-mostly-bipartisan-applause/

I loved the image of John McCain applauding the line which went: I want to make something absolutely clear — the United States of America does not torture.

Of course, the GOP stayed in their seats when he talked about the passage of the S-CHIP program and when he directly praised the “stimulus” package. But for his proposals going forward, including a fix for the nation’s broken health care system and a much greater commitment to education, there were standing ovations from the GOP.

The speech was much better than his Inauguration address, which, in retrospect, I’m sure was intended to simply be a short, concise overview of where we now are as a nation and the way forward. Even inspiring oratory can get stale, if used too often. It was vastly more important for him to save his “A” game for this particular moment in his Presidency, after the most messy and contentious of political sausage making had occurred.

I wrote two days ago about how we are all now witnessing the virtuoso performance of the most skilled politician out lifetimes — about how he has this all planned out 4 moves ahead.

The “stimulus” was important to him; he wanted to get it done immediately. Yes, he did violate his campaign pledge to put it up on the web site for discussion and debate. I’m not defending this, but all Presidents are guilty of violating individual campaign promises. The stimulus was going to be the most contentious of issues. It was rammed through; this cost him a little political capital at the edges, but he got it done and behind him. He did a great job in establishing credibility with regard to educating the country with regard to the magnitude of the problem. He was criticized for not being optimistic and sunny, but this would (1) not have been realistic and (2) not have been consistent with his 4 moves ahead political plan.

So he got the country understanding the gravity of the problem. He took his political lumps right away, in getting the stimulus behind him. He took a few more lumps in telegraphing plans regarding the upcoming housing bailout. Then he strode into the House chamber, with both branches of Congress, with the Supreme Court, with the military brass in the front row, and took a full 48 minutes to take his time to hit all the right notes in repairing his political capital, including getting the GOP side of the aisle to be jumping up and down, up and down, up and down. It was a wildly successful speech, and I’m sure his poll numbers will reflect this. The problematic details of the way the “stimulus” was passed are now behind him. True, he’s taken ownership of the economy, but that’s what he wants. He’s convinced that it’s going to get better, and he’ll get all the credit.

Jindal’s response fell flat, I thought. We’ll see what others thought. Most of the speech was Jindal bragging about himself and advancing his own Presidential ambitions. He made the mandatory effort to paint the Democrats as the party which believes that government is the solution, rather than the problem. This fell totally flat, and came off as same old/same old/same old. David Brooks called Jindal’s speech “a disaster.” Then Jindal threw the GOP under the bus, his message being, yes, the GOP really screwed up, but, with me in the lead, we’ll make it up to you, if you give us another chance. I have incredible respect for Jindal, but he’s not yet ready for national prime time. On the other hand, I just read an observation that, in the year 2040, Jindal will still be younger than what John McCain was when the later ran for President this time around.

Then I ran across this story:

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/02/24/bobby-jindal-catholic-draws-the-same-secret-muslim-allegations-that-haunted-obama.html

I’m surprised that a few comments on my post about Bobby Jindal as the new face of Christian conservatism allege that he’s got ancestral Muslim roots, in addition to the acknowledged Hinduism of his Indian born parents. Remind you of any other recent rumor campaigns against promising young minority politicians?

What’s surprising is that some of the comments appear to be from pro-Sarah Palin conservatives. They’re a likely preview of what a Jindal primary faceoff with Palin or another Christian conservative might look like, with both vying for conservative Christian support.

Anyway, keep a close eye on Obama’s moves to come, then, a year from now, you’ll be shaking out your dazed cobwebs, as you find yourself perversely wishing for some sort of national disaster to derail this juggernaut. I’ve been consistent on the point since the election returns became final, and I’m more certain of this than ever.

P.S. This poll just in (added at 4:47 AM, Pacific Time)

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/02/poll_obama_addr.html

– Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach, CA

@openid.aol.com/runnswim:

It was rammed through; this cost him a little political capital at the edges, but he got it done and behind him. He did a great job in establishing credibility with regard to educating the country with regard to the magnitude of the problem. He was criticized for not being optimistic and sunny, but this would (1) not have been realistic and (2) not have been consistent with his 4 moves ahead political plan.

Larry – I don’t know how anyone beyond his supporters feel that he “did a great job in establishing credibility” with regards to this $1+ Trillion bill. All he has done since taking office is tell us all that we are doomed unless we spend, spend, spend to save ourselves… and then he allows the Leftists in Congress draft a bill filled with pork projects and payoffs to Leftist groups that support Democrats and very, very little which is actually any “stimulus” whatsoever. $13/week (actually $8/week after taxes) is not going to “stimulate” anything. And most of the money does not even kick in for spending until 2010 or 2011. The so-called “tax cuts” in the bill aren’t even tax cuts, there is stealth nationalized healthcare in the bill and then there are huge donations to ACORN, which is committing thuggery all across the nation.

B.O. was critcized for a lot more than just “not being optimistic and sunny”. In fact, I don’t recall that criticism as all. I recall him being criticized for fearmongering and completely doing a 180 from his message of “hope” and “change” to now telling us everything is hopeLESS unless we shove through this pork-filled non-stimulus. The most criticism has been for (1) all the utter crap/pork that is in this bill that won’t stimulate anything except Leftist causes (2) not allowing Republicans to work together with Democrats on this bill to make it a true stimulus (broken campaign promise of being post-partisan) and (3) agreeing with the Democrat Congress’ thug tactics to shove this through without debate and without Republican input and without allowing the American people to look at it… and then jetting off to Chicago for the weekend, wasting taxpayer dollars, putting unnecessary CO2 emissions into the air along the way, and not bothering the sign this *EMERGENCY EMERGENCY WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE WITHOUT THIS BILL!!!* legislation until 4 days later… which he had to travel half way across the country to do, once again wasting taxpayer dollars and emitting more unnecessary CO2 into the air.

Explain to me how he earned any credibility from anyone who is not drinking the cult worship Kool-Aid???

B.O. is not some brilliant politician. He is a complete and utter disaster and survives only because he has a cult worship mass media doing all his propaganda for him and more than half the country which is made up of willingly ignorant sheep, agreeing with everything he does for whatever illogical reason that they do.

Established credibility? Hardly. Not with those of us who have not completely lost our minds.

@openid.aol.com/runnswim:

There is also this:

9,000 Earmarks In Democrat’s Latest Spending Bill … Update: Dems Include Cash to Fund Forced Abortions

UPDATE: This bill also includes funding for UNFPA, a group that has been involved in China’s population control program. UNFPA works hand-in-hand with the family planning officials in China who enforce its coercive one-child policy with forced abortions and sterilizations.

UPDATE 2: Here’s a shocker… Republican leaders were not consulted on how this current bill was constructed nor had they seen it until yesterday afternoon.

And this:

“But in many cases, a household won’t see some of their stimulus savings until they file their 2009 returns, which they can’t do until 2010.

Of course what filers’ save on their federal taxes under stimulus may be muted by the fact that their cities and states — facing steep budget shortfalls that will be lessened but not eliminated by stimulus funding — may end up raising taxes and fees.”

In other words, not only will these “tax savings” come too late to stimulate the economy out of its current recession — but they will probably not offset the near certain rise in state and local taxes.

In other words, this “stimulus” does not help anyone except all the Democrats’ Leftist groups and causes.

That’s why people need to stop listening to Obama and his empty rhetoric and grandstanding speeches and start reading the details of the crappy legislation he is trying to push through. Turn off the TV, stop watching his propaganda mass media, stop listening to his scaremongering, fearmongering, BS speeches and read the details. “The devil is in the details” as they say, and that is most especially true in this case of this $1 Trillion pork monstrosity.

as you find yourself perversely wishing for some sort of national disaster to derail this juggernaut.

I won’t need to wish, as the disaster will already be here. Hell, it’s here now; the house is on fire, does it have to burn all the way to the ground before I can announce a disaster? And the public is fickle enough that one year’s juggernaut is the next year’s also-ran; remember when Bush the Elder had 90% approval ratings? But in the unlikely event that I’m wrong, and the economy turns around (or at least stops looking like a collapsing star), I think it’s true that Obama will have spectacular and largely well-deserved popularity.

@IndieDogg:
[Was there tongue and is there video? That’s all I want to know.]

Well, no tongue, and yes, there’s video…;)

By the way, I’m not implying something sexual here…if it’s common for male politicians to kiss each other on the cheek, I guess I didn’t get the memo…it surprised me (obviously) and seemed a bit odd, but maybe I’m too out of the loop of Congress to know what’s a common display of affection between the men there? Kind of like chest bumps in football. Or, Obama could have wanted to say, “et tu, Brute?” in a figurative sense, of course. Who knows?

Now, back to your regular programming…

Aye, the color and texture of my soul may one day be judged, but it will not be judged by the likes of you.

– Larry

@Cary:

His speech is posted all over the net, Cary. I chose not to watch knowing it wouldn’t be a problem finding the speech “to read” today. I suspect I’m not the only one who chose to do it that way.

A note to Missy and others who are wont to draw conclusions from assumptions:

He who draws conclusions from assumptions is practicing logic in a vacuum, and nothing lives in a vacuum.

PDill. S-CHIP is no con game/back door to socialized medicine. People on this blog trivialize the word “socialism” beyond all meaning. Medicare patients are more satisfied with the quality of their medical care than are people with private insurance. Medicare is not “socialized” medicine. As a physician with above-average familiarity with the workings of the health care system, I can hardly wait (aging issues aside) to qualify for Medicare. I’ll have more freedom of choice in physicians than under virtually all other health care plans; I’ll have less pre-authorization hassles; I’ll have much less of a worry about going bankrupt because of a catastrophic illness. If I want to go beyond what Medicare will cover, I’m perfectly able to just pay myself for what it is that I think I need, and that is pure capitalistic medicine. Medicare delivers a superior product, at a lesser cost.

S-CHIP was needed to protect actual children, who’s irresponsible parents do not provide health insurance for them.

As for abortion, we just discussed this two or three days ago. I stand by what I wrote and have nothing further to add. We also discussed the tobacco tax, which is the greatest tax in the history of the world, as it substantially reduces the number of children who take up smoking and become lifetime addicts and then die from tobacco-related illness, while raising revenues which, at least in the case of California, go for terrific anti-smoking advertising/marketing and for health care.

There is a huge disconnect between the way Obama’s Presidency is being perceived on this blog and the way it is being perceived by the large majority of the electorate. I voted for Obama for two reasons: First, he’ll lessen the probability of a nuclear bomb going off in Long Beach Harbor, relative to George W Bush and John McCain. Second, he’ll pass along vastly less debt to my children, relative to Ronald Reagan and George W Bush. Everyone has his/her most important issues. These are mine.

– Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach, CA

From Aye, continuing to judge my soul:

“By their fruits shall ye know them.”
Larry, when it comes to you the task is really easy.

From your lips to God’s ears.

– Larry

(Larry)

I voted for Obama for two reasons: First, he’ll lessen the probability of a nuclear bomb going off in Long Beach Harbor, relative to George W Bush and John McCain. Second, he’ll pass along vastly less debt to my children, relative to Ronald Reagan and George W Bush. Everyone has his/her most important issues. These are mine

.

We will just have to agree to “seriously disagree” on the above, certainly hoping you are right and I’m wrong. I fail to comprehend how you cannot connect the desensitization of human life to a LIKELY probability of a nuclear bomb going off somewhere in the world. It won’t much matter where to place the blame after the fact, but do know that every person who stays silent on life issues will have made a contribution.

As for Silent Scream, I don’t want to debate it either. I also agree that it’s unlikely that a fetus can feel pain before 18 weeks, however a NEJM study a while back did demonstrate fetal stress from pain as early as 7 weeks. The bigger point I was trying to make is that Obama and party appear to have no problem ripping off limps and heads of the unborn.

Even at 4 weeks, no one will ever convince me that it’s a more ‘acceptable form’ of violence than how we treat the TERRORISTS PRISONERS at Gitmo. If we held them for 100 years, it couldn’t even compare to one day of abortions in America, from fetal to partial birth.

We can’t “pick and chose” who’s worth saving based on our own agendas. When the Dems try to sell “ANYTHING” based on the “children”, I get out the barf bag. There’s no merit in “selective” compassion, in fact, it’s evil.

You and many are being duped Larry. I hate to be the one to tell you, that your sailboat is not floating through the Seychelles with a gently flowing breeze like you appear to believe; all is NOT well. In reality, it’s on its way over the Niagara Falls in a perfect storm! But hey, I don’t expect to convince you. Just know that the greatest evils are almost always nicely wrapped and packaged, that’s why they succeed! It’s all about taking the bait.

On another note, I DO finally concede, after my own study, that Reagan’s economics were indeed VODOO. Fortunately, at least in my eyes, he is redeemed by his other contributions; still the right president at the right time in America.