2009.01.31
Weekend open thread
Now what starts with the letter 'C'?
'Cookie' starts with 'C'!
Let's think of other things that starts with 'C'!
Uh. . .Uh. . . Who cares about da other things?!
'C' is for Cookie that's good enough for me.
What's good enough for you this weekend?
RSS feed 
Half a million people are freezing and without power in Kentucky and Obama has cranked up the thermostat in the White House to the point where one of his advisors says you could grow orchids. Instead of worrying about the folks freezing in Kentucky and Arkansas, Congress is worried about a radio journalist.
Where is the hope?
Comment by Henry — February 1, 2009 @ 8:13 am
"Where is the hope?" Well Henry, maybe your cheery outlook is rubbing off on us. You notice the people who take potshots at you don't you? Congress is after all also just Americans who love their country and hate unfair slams from sources who lack their courage.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — February 1, 2009 @ 8:49 am
"Congress is after all also just Americans who love their country "
???
Congress is actually a group of 535 people and of that 535, about 90% are more concerned with acquiring and maintaining political power than what is good for the US.
How much courage does it take to spend the country into oblivion with programs that do nothing more than make the citizens more dependent of government? Just look at this latest government growth package passed in the House. It's mostly entitlements and political paybacks left over from the election campaign.
Courage, indeed.
Business as usual...
Comment by Nick — February 1, 2009 @ 10:11 am
REgarding the stimulus bill...President Obama said his bill would create or save between 3 and 4 million jobs. We are told the pain of this deep recession will be shared.
Curiously, most of the spending is directed toward segmenTS of the economy where unemployment is low. ALan Reynolds in the WSJ states the unemplOyment rate was only 2.3% for government workers and 3.8% in education and healthcare. Contrast that with rates in manufacturing and construction which are 8.3% and 15.2% respectively. 39% of the actual government spending in the bill goes to government(state and local). Another 17% would go to health and education- sectors where relatively secure government jobs are prevalent.APPROXIMATELY 20% OF THE $550 BILLION IS DIRECTED TOWARD INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS such as building roads and electricity grids.
$142,000,000,000 education
87,000,000,000 medicaid
4,000,000,000 law enfocement
20,000,000,000 food stamps WIC
1,000,000,000 Amtrak
43,000,000,000 Unemployment
Still more is being set aside for weather proofing low income homes, coupons for the upcoming analog/digital TV conversion, National Endowments for the Arts, etc.
Locally, we read of Volvo cutting 650 jobs, Fred Whittaker closing -150 jobs lost- EVEN THE ROANOKE TIMES is seeing job loss/hours cut. But where is similar "suffering" on the government side of the ledger? Why is it the public servant continues to live well and grow in number? Why is it President Obama and the democrat led house and senate seek to "save" these jobs over others to this extent?
President Obama said things are going to get worse before they get better.
He obviously knows how well this "stimulus" package is likely to work. With interest, because the fed gov has to BORROW the money, the cost of this bill will exceed $1,000,000,000,000. If 3 million jobs are "saved or created" ( how do you score a saved job), that's about $333,000/job.
STIMULATING!!!
Comment by BUD — February 1, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
i just want to tell ben beagle how much i miss his column since the roanoke times stopped home delivery in our area..i hope ole #39 is still
writing those columns we enjoyed so much. we sure miss the paper.
Comment by genie — February 1, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
The Senate's leading Republican said he is taking a wait-and-see attitude toward the revelation that former Senator Tom Daschle - named to a cabinet post by President Obama - recently filed an amended tax return and paid $140,000 in back taxes and interest.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/01/ftn/main4767158.shtml
"This was clearly an oversight," Schumer told Schieffer.
$200 is an oversight. $140,000 is not an oversight. Off timing as well. Just before he gets appointed to a Cabinet position, he finds an oversight.
Comment by Henry — February 1, 2009 @ 7:06 pm
" from sources who lack their courage"
What is this supposed to mean?
Comment by Henry — February 1, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
Lauer: You got replaced by Jessica Simpson.
Obama: Yeah, who’s losing a weight battle apparently. (LAUGHTER)
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2009/02/02/nbc-obama-calls-singer-jessica-simpson-fat
I love it. Hey Jessica, the president of the United States says you are FAT! Maybe this will motivate her a little to do better.
Comment by Henry — February 2, 2009 @ 6:37 am
Henry, why is it that everyone is supposed to cut slack for people you admire (why are we talking about Rush?) and you constantly post instigating links for those you do not? Perhaps President Obama was commenting on the stupid vapid title for the article that was superimposed over his beautiful family and not making a personal slam. I suppose those so desperate for a bad move by Obama will grasp at straws. Do you REALLY want to reopen "stupid Presidential remarks" as a category?
Comment by Sandi Saunders — February 2, 2009 @ 8:53 am
Nah, I think he thought she really is fat. I mean, all he is doing is stating a fact. She really has packed on a few lbs.
Comment by Henry — February 2, 2009 @ 9:15 am
Maybe she ticked him off by getting offered but turning down the chance to grandstand in D.C. with the other 'celebs' and those 10 milli... 5 millio... um 2 mill... err 650,000 people that turned out or to attend those overcrowd... oops, i mean many different cancelled inaugural parties that was planned???
Comment by Marked Man — February 2, 2009 @ 9:37 am