Intelligent Thoughts and Other Insightful Comments

With the current fight over what to include in the stimulus package, I decided to introduce my own spending package. I think the stimulus should not only fix our crumbling infrastructure, but maybe improve it. I also believe that helping the states from budgetary disaster is important. Obviously this proposal is not complete or all encompassing, but these are the things that I think should be include.

$440 billion- infrastructure projects (see American Society of Civil Engineer report)

$50 billion- state level budget stabilization

$30 billion- energy efficiency and renewable energy programs

$30 billion- renovate elementary and secondary schools, fund educational technology, and support homeless students

$25 billion- universal broadband internet (best estimate I could find)

$20 billion- Pell grants and other student financial assistance

$20 billion- tax incentives to encourage the home buyers

$5 billion- research and development related to carbon capture and sequestration

$3.5 billion- renovate facilities at post-secondary institutions.

Total Cost for 2009: $623.5 billion

Just thought I would inform the Republicans that they gotten their asses handed to them over the past two years culminating with the election of Barack Obama. Generally when a candidate opens a can of ass-whupp'n on the other candidate or party they have what is called a "mandate." President Obama has one of these "mandates," which means the Republicans should stop being obstructionists and get the fuck out of the way.

This doesn't mean that Obama gets a free ride for the next four years. Actually, this mandate lasts approximately three months or 100 days and then we go back to the usual political rancor.

The United States Senate could be likened to one big family with members that come together to bicker with one another and they have to parties that do all the fighting. (Remind you any family parties you might have had?) At any rate every family probably has its black sheep and the Senate is no exception.

Illinois governor Rod R. Blagojevich gave the US Senate its illegitimate, bastard child. After being charged with the following:
Ole' Blago decided that he better appoint a new senator. Now Illinois and the federal government are thrown into an even greater legal and constitutional debacle that will further detract from the historic election of Barack Obama and the economic apocalypse that we face. Frankly, I like Richard Nixon better because at least he was not a complete fuck-up, he was paranoid, but at least he was relatively competent. Blago can not even cover up his crime. He also looks like some sort of horse with its mane all stacked up in one spot. I dislike you more than Dick Cheney because he did not overshadow other peoples day of glory. Mr. Blagojevich you are a bitch, I hope you go to prison just like your predecessor.

I hate you more than any other politican. You have taken away from a great day in American history, this shall forever taint the history books, and ruin a perfect, cinderella story. More importantly this appointment did not belong to you, it belonged to the people of Illinois and that has been taken away from them now. You can go fuck yourself and you can take your illegimate appointment with you.

Congratulations America, you managed to elect a candidate who might be more likely to save you from the impending economic apocalypse. You gave power to the left so that they might implement their policies. So now we get the reverse of what we had six years ago when the Republicans controlled everything and a terrorist induced apocalypse was imminent. So now in another four or maybe eight years we will see the whole thing switch again.

Regardless of what happens none of the real problems will get addressed:

• the deficit- which will destroy us all
• uninformed voters- "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government."- Thomas Jefferson 1789
• the partisanship that makes polarizes American politics
• the fat, the sick, the poor
• Islamic radicalism- this will require continuous suppression
  
• the Chinese- God help us when they stop bailing us out
• reality tv- because I hate it
• general incompetence

That a way America. Nice work.

According to RealClearPolitics, John McCain has 2.1% lead in the polls over Barack Obama. While this is a statistical tie between the two candidates it still marks a significant change in the polls. Two weeks ago, Obama had a 4.5% lead in the poll, but more significantly is the decline of his image. Obama has lost his edge in favorable rating and at the same time McCain has seen his likeability increase.

What happened just a little over two weeks ago? -Sarah Palin appeared on the scene. Sarah Barracuda, as she is known up in Alaska, has torn up Obama and cause a backlash against liberals, which has sparked McCain's recent rise.

The Barracuda has had a few mistakes such as her gaffe on national television. Republicans should probably know what the Bush Doctrine is before going on TV. Regardless of this mistake, Palin has been an uncanny choice because she is doing an excellent job at the vice-President's most important role: getting the Presidential candidate elected.

Palin is certainly not the first vice-Presidential candidate to fill this role. Dan Quayle went after Bill Clinton in 1992 by asking voters, "Do you really believe Bill Clinton will tell the truth?" and "Do you trust Bill Clinton to be your president?"While this was part of a losing effort to get George H.W. Bush re-elected, these questions certainly did nothing to enhance Clinton's character.

Spiro Agnew was Richard Nixon's henchman and attacked Nixon's critics with many colorful phrases. Agnew claimed to speak for the "silent majority" and attacked the media as "nattering nabobs of negativism." Agnew energized the conservative base and helped get Nixon elected and re-elected.

Vice-Presidential candidates make great weapons because then the Presidential candidate can distance himself from the attacks, but still reap their benefits. And as long as Sarah Barracuda continues to feast on the Democratic chum, John McCain will continue enjoy leads in the polls.

This article originally appeared on the Looking Glass, a blog published by a class at Hamline University.

In a shocking maverick decision John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate. In her Republican National Convention speech she explains that she brings small town values to the table. Maybe we should take a little closer look at these values:

Maybe political attacks is a small town value because in her RNC speech there were some real doozies. Some of the rhetoric Palin used was pretty nasty. Palin recites a quote from Harry Reid who has apparently stated, "that he can't stand John McCain." Palin continues by explaining that in actuality Reid cannot stand up to McCain and thus McCain is just the man to make the president. Frankly what does Reid have to do with the presidency? Reid isn't running for president, but lets take a pot shot at his character anyways.

A better question might be why can't Gov. Palin's, pregnant 17-year-old, daughter Bristol stand-up? The answer might be that she was too busy bending over for her boyfriend. Although Gov. Palin doesn't bring any foreign policy experience at least she brings Alaskan family values: knocked up daughters and inability to use a condom to Washington.

A lack of foreign policy experience, an excellent ability to take pot shots, and based on her family life problems with domestic policy as well. I hope Sarah Palin has some other great traits that we don't know about if she is going to be "heart beat away" from the presidency.

While watching Women's Olympic Gymnastics I saw the Chinese women's team. The interesting thing about this team is they sure don't look like women. Whether or not these "women" have hit puberty is rather questionable. To participate in the Olympics you must be atleast 16 years old. The Chinese team looks like they are about 12 years of age. The most senior member of the team is listed at age 20 and she is the only one who even looks remotely old enough to qualify.


If they are not old enough what does it say abou China? Well first of all, China needs stricter child labor laws. Secondly, China needs to embrace the Olympic spirit and cheat correctly. Under-aged athletes isn't really fair. What China needs to know is that real Olympic powerhouses use steriods and blood dope.

For example: the seven Russian athletes who were suspended for drug violations. Or even better would be the 11 out 14 member Greek weightlifting team that were suspended for steroid use. The entire Romanian weightlifting was suspended. Even a race walker was suspended! Personally I am not very sure how doping would help a race walker, but that doesn't really matter.

At least these athletes have embraced the Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius" or “Faster, Higher, Stronger” not "Use, Younger, Athletes." But then again the Chinese are communists, so what can we really except from them?

Today in the Washington Post ran an editorial that asked,

"WHY NOT have a vote on offshore drilling? ... Instead of dealing with the issue on the merits, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), a staunch opponent of offshore drilling, has simply decreed that she will not allow a drilling vote to take place on the House floor."

The obvious answer is Congress should not respond to the rabble raising bull-shit that is designed to relive political pressure that doesn't actually address the core problem. Congress should busy itself with how to address the long-term energy crisis that faces the United States rather than placating populist demands that we destroy our environment to create a few extra barrels of locally produced oil.

Even if this was just about Nancy Pelosi's hatred for offshore drilling would it really matter? Consider where her district is located. Pelosi represents San Francisco, a coastal city with a beautiful shoreline. If the Washington Post would have bothered to do a little more research they would have discovered that some of the proposed drilling would occur around Santa Barbara, California, which is a mere 350 miles or so from San Francisco.

Now for a little history quiz how far did the Exxon Mobil oil spill spread? The answer is 1200 miles. Maybe, just maybe Pelosi is using her power as Speaker of the House to look out for the interests of her district. Isn't that what all congressmen and women are supposed to do? Represent the interests of their constituents. Shocking concept.

I don't mind picking on Congress, actually I love it. For example: if con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress? In this case the might be because they have still failed to address the energy crisis that faces our country in a meaningful way.

As the American economy continues to tank, we the American public have heard the dreaded R word thrown around a little and the even worse D word (though that's mainly people like Abram). Politicians can't decide what the necessary course of action to fix the economy. The Republicans would like to give businesses and rich people more money to play with in hopes that will fix our economic woes. The Democrats would like to give the poor more money so that they can continue being parasites on the American economy even in tougher economic times.

Unfortunately neither solution will fix the real problem (which is not the federal reserve) it is actually the competitiveness of American business. Right now American businesses have too many overhead costs they pay higher salaries, they pay more due to government regulation, and higher energy costs. Frankly this can't continue for American business to remain competitive and allow America to reduce its dependence on the service industry.

First we need to get rid of minimum wage this way workers are only paid what the market will bear. (We would probably have to finish off unions as well.) This would reduce labor costs and make business more competitive. Next we need to deregulate everything so that businesses can operate uninhibited by government, which would allow them to run more efficiently. Who needs environmental, safety, or quality standards? Let the consumer decide the standards by enforcing them with their wallets.

The last thing to do would eliminate all corporate taxes because in the end those are really just passed on to the consumer, which makes it more like a tax on everyone regardless of income. (we want a progressive tax system in Rick's economic proposal) This will further reduce business overhead allowing for a cheaper, more competitive system that allows the consumer to set standards instead of stifling government regulation.

Can't you just see it? After a couple of years (it would take a little of adjusting) America would be happy, economically sound, and competitive with the third world again! Genius, unlike the current proposals for economic stimulus.

One of the burdens that comes with the profile of a major presidential candidate is that everyone over analyzes everything you do; the media, the other candidates, losers with too much time on their hands. One such example comes from on of my favorite topics as of recent: (not janitors) Barack Obama who will head to Europe soon.

For one of his speeches Obama wanted to speak in front of the Brandenburg Gate. I was recently in Germany and I saw the gate, it was neat, but not amazing and I read the informational placards that explained that it the gate had served as a testament to Prussian and later German military prowess. What a perfect backdrop for an American Presidential Candidate: German military might. And while realize that the gate has also served as a symbol of freedom (which I think is ironic since it was located in the eastern half of Berlin).

Last night I read an article that basically said that Barack had not earned the right to speak at the gate. Kennedy earned the right because he was willing to use nuclear weapons to protect the West, Reagan earned it because of his "relentless attack on communism." What has Barack done for you lately?

The trip abroad will also include a visit to Iraq (not my first choice of destinations). I have read multiple articles that describe the various political dangers of this trip. Obama has stated he will not change his position on troop withdrawals, which makes a fact finding trip kind of pointless and if he gets caught wearing military gear he could be turned into Michael Dukasis.

Other articles explain John McCain's frustration with not being able to attack Obama while he is abroad without seeming "prissy." While others still write that the trip could make Obama look like more of an elitist.

The endless media chatter over analyzes everything because they have this need to fill out 1000 word articles on a regular basis. What they forget is that Obama will begin reducing troops from Iraq and McCain will try and keep them there. What they further forget is that like any election during a recession is that it's "the economy stupid."

Even during good economic times Americans will vote based on their wallets. The Democrats used to represent union, the poor and the middle class. The Republicans used to represent business and the wealthy. The two parties engaged in an epic class war (okay maybe it wasn't epic) based around who deserves more money. It is still there, but abortion, gay rights, and gun contro have surfaced as the decisive issues that draw rabid supporters to candidates.

This incohesive piece of writing is another example of over analyzing politics instead of just telling you simple that foreign policy doesn't matter and Obama should stay home and ask voters in Ronald Reagan fashion "are you better off now than you were 8 years ago?" Because John McCain represents...