Americans Are Just "Listening," Not "Hearing," Obama/Washington

Copyright, "The Thought Spigot"

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

President Barack Obama is one of the greatest orators of the last forty years, hands down. He has charisma and seems to be in control, in front of the camera, all of the time. Booming speeches, from the TelePrompTer, that inspire and make people feel comfortable. Even when President Obama spelled the doom and gloom over the last three weeks, to get his "stimulus package" thru the Congress and Senate, he has still showed a gravitais, worthy of a John F. Kennedy comparison. This is what got him elected, his natural and shining words of "hope and change."

However, almost four weeks into the Obama Presidency, he is not the man who ran for the highest office in the land and the majority of American people have no idea what is going on. It is like the American people can listen to Obama (being the opiate of the masses, almost like a cult leader), but many people do not "hear" what he is saying.

(Examples: 1. President Obama said (while on the campaign trail), "We will (in Washington) be the stewards of the earth, looking to contain as much green house gases and taking global warming, as serious as possible. Yet, he took Air Force I from D. C., to Chicago, to Colorado, to Arizona, back to Washington D. C.. Of course the President needs to be safe and should use Air Force I, whenever safety is an issue. However, the trip to Colorado and Arizona were not for safety, but was used as a back drop, for the President to sign (Colorado, at a solar panel company) and then push his "Stimulus Bill" (Colorado). The carbon footprint Obama splashed into the Ozone, just for this trip, was enough for a regular person's 30 year footprint.

2. This is what President Obama said to reporters, after meeting with the American Governors, "On the one hand, the majority has to be inclusive. On the other hand, the minority has to be constructive. So, to the extent of many of these issues, we are able to break out of the, sort of rigid, what are your ideas. The minority has to come up with ideas, and not just blow up the majority's ideas.") Yet, there were three other plans, for the "Stimulus Package," by Republicans, which never got a look. Also, when the bill was passed back to the Congress, for the bill's final details, the Democrats (literally) shut the door and locked all Republicans out.

3. President Obama said, "Before any laws and/or bills are passed, there will be full transparency, complete and thorough oversight, and the AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO VIEW THE BILL FOR 48 HOURS, before anything went forward. Yet, for the "Stimulus Bill" was finalized at 11 p.m., given to the other congressmen/women, around 7 a.m. and the 1100+ page bill was voted on around 6 p.m. (all EST). No oversight, no transparency, and most of all the congressmen did not have the chance to even read the "Stimulus Bill," before voting on it. It did not show up on the NET, "for Americans to read," until 2 days after Obama's signature. When you go to " http://recovery.gov/ " the bottom line reads $8 billion, on the bottom of the stimulus breakdown. Harry Reid (Democratic Senator from Nevada), behind closed doors, with a democrat only sign on the handle, put in a HAND WRITTEN amendment, for a "light rail, speed train, from Los Angeles to Las Vegas."

President Obama goes on television, for the first time, tonight. He is giving a speech on the economic breakdown and to address the American people. All Americans have an obligation to not just sit and "LISTEN" to what the President of the United States has to say, but to "HEAR" what is behind the words. In a time where partisanship is rampant, the majority on the hill just want to be re-elected (rather than represent the people, who put them in power), and the whole world is watching nothing is more important. People must take some time to research, read, and/or listen to constant points of view, what is actually going on in Washington (not just taking their word for it, or just taking care of yourself), and most of all hold all people, including President Obama, accountable. If Americans are not up to that simple task, then we will continue to spiral downward, Banks/Health Care/Energy and even the air waves/Net/television, will be regulated by the government. It is up to every person to learn, the truth on their own, because there are very few in Washington, who will give anyone a straight scoop.

"I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the adequate situation to learn." --Albert Einstein

CLINTON/OBAMA MAKE MISTAKE, WITH CHINA

Copyright From, "The Thought Spigot"

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

Hillary Clinton finished her "Asian Tour," in China today, speaking with President Ho. Supposedly, they discussed trade and China helping, with terrorism, of all things. The "People's Republic of Communist China," the country who own over $10 Trillion of U. S. debt, the country who makes it practice of hitting the F. B. I., the Pentagon, and countless other corporations, 200+ times a year.

China's corporate espionage and their treading into Pentagon files several times a year (last time, known, when they hit every email address, at the Pentagon, rendering it helpless for 10 minutes, in late 2008), is not only out of bounds, but it is criminal and a United States security threat. However, the Obama administration still insists on bringing in more "H1-B Visas" for Chinese, India and Pakistan (causing Americans to lose jobs outright in the U. S., or shipping the jobs overseas altogether). How can Secretary of State Clinton begin to trust a country who is in our business, using heavy espionage, and is one of the top five in civil/human rights violations?

Dealing and trusting President Ho and the other major players in China, behind the scenes, is a huge mistake for the Obama administration! Especially, with the American economy teetering on the brink of a possible "Great Depression," or best case scenario trying to build the economy back to a respectable level, for the American citizens. If the Chinese is brought straight into American business and talks, like North Korea, they will give us a little bit of a carrot (talk) and some small tidbits, and then when we look to get what was promised (I.E.- the North Korea proliferation papers, where they are at in creating fissile material, how their rocket technology looks, and also how much they have shared/SOLD to Iran, Syria, or other "enemies" of the U. S.).

Clinton is a major politician and she is more than capable to do the job, she has been assigned, but the real question is how much rope the Obama White House will give China, share with China and how much President Obama's "new hope and change attitude" (which he was elected with)? We need China more than they need the United States. With that on the fresh, what could happen if the U. S. does go this route, and China decides to "not hold their end of the bargain" and/or gets upset with the U. S.. The obvious answer is, the "BILL COMES DUE!" The Chinese have the technology and training to infiltrate the Net of our Government, have operatives embedded in the United States (i.e.--the three men on trial now, who have confessed, to being spies, and Chinese born Americans), and they could sink our economy if they want all of the cash they have lent the United States (if you think the economy is bad now, think about if that happened). The whole Obama administration needs to understand, if you lay down with dogs, expect to get flees nine times out of ten (i.e.--John Kerry and the Hamas letter/using him and Kerry in Syria now, on President Obama's order).

PRESIDENT OBAMA A TRANSPARENT CABINET/WHITE HOUSE?

Copyright. "The Thought Spigot"

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

President Barack Obama has only three weeks in office. Upon taking the "highest office in the land," Obama began building his cabinet, talking about bi-partisan support (in both the Congress and Senate), immediately signing a handful of bills into law and working on the home economy. President Obama has said, "Every decision you make, as President, is big." There is not one inkling of hype, or that statement being one bit false. Whether it be foreign policy, the economic stimulus package, or a litany of other details (both classified and non-classified), the decisions made are viewed by the world, not just the United States. Whether to talk directly to Iran, pulling out of Iraq, closing GITMO, retooling the financial institutions; all of these macro-items are bigger and more complex than a sweep of the pen, cordial and non-cordial negotiations, and/or ideological decisions on what would work, for the American people.



However, President Obama's first three weeks have been filled with horrible and mismanaged micro-decisions, filled with failure. He has appointed seven people to his cabinet, who have either a checkered past (to put it mildly) and/or have failed to pay major dollars in taxes, employed illegal immigrants to work in homes/properties, are under grand jury investigation, or have just flat done things (broken the law), which would have landed regular Americans in trouble, huge financial debt, or jail. Of course, President Obama cannot know every skeleton in his appointments closets. However, a president should adequately vet and know his cabinet choices will have a lawful background and people who have not cheated the government, and/or are not making up for past mistakes to acquire a job.

Former President Bush was pulled thru a key hole, in the latter part of his Presidency, for saying he "could see the soul of Russia's Putin, and he was a good man." The same standards and overall outcries are not the same for President Obama, and he is not talking about a foreign leader, but he is choosing people to fix the American health care system, the economy, commerce secretary, chief performance officer, and Secretary of the State. Bill Richardson, Hillary Clinton, Tom Daschle, Nancy Killerfer, and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. This list does not count the two lobbyists, Mr. Obama said he would not have, in his cabinet. There is no media outcry, except for the Rush Limbaughs and Sean Hannitys (etc...etc...) of the world, leaving people to do one of three things: (1) write their senators/congressmen (2) be disgruntled and do nothing (3) bury their heads in the sand and just assume President Obama and other politicians have it all under control.

Three of these people failed to pay their taxes, for years, and totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars (Daschle, Geithner, and Killerfer). Two of these people have resigned, Tom Daschle (Health Czar Designate) and Nancy Killerfer. Geithner was confirmed, as Treasury Secretary, though he just paid back the amount of taxes he cheated the American people out of, without any penalty, or interest. Bill Richardson is getting ready, sometime this year, for a grand jury testimony. The details are sketchy, but it was enough for Richardson to resign his post. Finally, Hillary Clinton is still in (Secretary of State), despite the "Clinton Library" donors (which are shady at best, some still are not public) and countless other "back issues" from her days at Wal-Mart, her becoming a New York Senator (though she was from Arkansas), all of the things she accused Obama of ("This is a man that has no experience, to become President."), and things yet to come to the fold.

Coming into his presidency, Barack Obama was to be the "non-partisan, squeaky clean, no lobbyists in his cabinet, and a man of complete transparency," but in the three weeks he has seven individuals who are criminals (by law, or are up for indictments). There is a HUGE double standard, in the Obama camp and in President Obama's cabinet, compared to "regular American people." Example: A regular person does not pay taxes, in the amount of $10,000, over three years, and the I. R. S. finds out, the principal goes from $10,000 to $21,000. The I. R. S. then begins to systematically dismantle that person's life (leans on homes, repossessing cars, boats and all "non-essentials" they deem "non-essential" and they are privileged to all bank accounts, so when any money is deposited, they come in and take that, too. Men and women become destitute, or worse during these times, causing divorce, homelessness, government dependent, or the kill theselves (sometimes). Tom Daschle owed over $100,000, over four years, which he did not claim. Yet, he paid the $100,000, no interest, no penalties and was offered a cabinet job in Washington? (He has since resigned, with Killerfer)

Where is the "change?" To date, President Obama has not filled major positions in his cabinet, because the people he wants for the job, to REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, have a lack of ethics and/or use loopholes, at the American people's expense. Transparency and complete vetting of all people, coming into the Obama Government has to start now. President Obama's selections may not be his fault, exclusively. However, when he let Timothy Geithner keep his nomination and become confirmed (by the Democratic controlled House and Senate), he showed a problem with his ethics and for the American people. Remember, Barack Obama (on the campaign trail) said we are all equal, whether on Main Street, or on Wall Street, there is only "One America."

President Obama is failing to show any difference, from the "old guard," with the exception he said, "I am embarrassed and it is partially my fault" (by the Daschle situation). Yet, it is not a problem to have lobbyists, Tim Geithner, Hillary Clinton, and it is hard to say who else (the way people keep coming out of the wood work, with unethical and illegal problems). Obama has stated he is losing sleep over the economy, but he should be losing sleep over the people around him, as perception will become he has no judgement, when it comes to the people he wishes to appoint and represent the American people.

Super Bowl Entertainment Sinks, Thanks To "The Boss"

From DMAN, At The Thought Spigot

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

Bruce Springsteen has never been silent on his views, politics, and mostly he has lived on the American's view of him, as a working man's friend and one of the "Blue Collar" guys. However, nothing was more important, to "The Boss," than the "Born In The U.S.A." album. It made him a pop culture icon, but more importantly, it showed a "blue collar icon," for Americans and America, as a whole.

Of the album, Springsteen broke out, worldwide, with "Dancing in the Dark" (with a little help from a young Courtney Cox, in the video), which won him a Grammy and reached #2 on the Billboard Top 100. Yet, "Cover Me," "No Surrender," "My Hometown," and "I'm On Fire" were all released and on the charts, but "Born In The U. S. A." became a mantra for America. Presidents, politicians (John Kerry in his campaign), sports teams, radio stations and countless other people use "Born in the U. S. A." for a variety of situations, still today. "The Boss" was made into a huge mainstream star, becoming the "working class singer" (a modern day Bob Dylan, if you will).

Fast forward to Super Bowl Sunday, at halftime. An older Springsteen, with the whole E Street Band, was in front of millions. Opening with "Born to Run" (a 70's staple and one single putting him on the map), "Working on a Dream," and finishing with an extended of "Glory Days." No "Born In The U. S. A." on the agenda at all. The "Blue Collar," for the people, and working class hero decided on a stage where millions and millions of people are watching (looking forward, and expecting with two wars going on in Iraq/Afghanistan, plus countless Americans abroad) not to play a song for all Americans (not to mention, his "signature song"). Maybe, Bruce decided, or the NFL decided, the American people's voice wasn't that important, or it would offend someone?

ESPN had a game, where a certain amount of questions were asked (in a fantasy game format). Example, "Will there be a run for more than 40+ yards?" Another question was, "Will Bruce Springsteen open his set with "Born in the U. S. A.?" I suppose people do not know about "The Boss'" far liberal stance and on American policies, in his older age? Either way, on a night as great as Super Bowl Sunday, to be asked to play the whole half time festivities, one would think Mr. Springsteen would take some responsibility, using his clout and platform for America. It is just a song, but America needs all the help it can get now. Obviously, "The Boss" is more interested in "The Wrestler" (the movie coming out this weekend) and his Golden Globe award, then the American people's overall views and emotions, or maybe he is not the "working class icon" people have given him credit for (and his politics now play top fiddle, in his life, over Americans).

Stealing American's Money, Thru The Stimulus Package

From DMAN, AT The Thought Spigot

http://www.thethoughtspigot.com/

President Obama may have more of an uphill climb, than he may have thought. The $900 billion "Stimulus Package" (passed in a mere eight days), which is over 650 pages long, is not much of a "Stimulus" at all. Crafted mainly, by Nancy Pelosi and Charlie Rangel, the package passed the House. Yet, all republicans and some of the "Blue Bloods" voted against the deal. In just day 10 of the Obama Presidency, there is a reckoning to the "old way" of politics and partisanship, under Mr. Obama.

In her interview, just after the package passed the House, Nancy Pelosi said, "I take credit for the action taken by the congress." Although, Democratic Congressman Jim Cooper said, "Here we are in the first week of the most exciting Presidency, in half a century, and the old bulls are back, trying to conduct business as usual." When reporters questioned Pelosi, on the comments of those who chose "Nay" on the bill, asked about individual issues of the bill, and the enormous amount of money to be spent (not going for economic stimulus, but for pet projects), she said, "I didn't come here to be partisan, bi-partisan, I came here with my colleagues to be non-partisan." However, her stay as a California Congresswoman (California), she has voted Democratic/down party lines almost 95% of the time?

What is the big deal, all about? Most economists evaluate the actual price tag of the "Stimulus Package" to be around $1.4 trillion, before it is all said and done. Other problems, on the republican side of the aisle, not enough tax breaks, or cuts. (Ex. Some Republicans want a holiday on FICA and/or S. S. taxes for working Americans. This would give people an immediate influx of extra money to spend into the economy and it would also save businesses money, to reinvest, grow, and in some cases look to upgrade) Then there is the problem of a bill over 650 pages long, which congress has not had the chance to read, massage, and make any changes to. One of the first rules in business and life, "never sign, or endorse on paper, anything you have not read entirely."

Remember, the package is to "stimulate the economy," not to fix schools, teach sex education, re-sod things, or to do anything other than getting the American and world economy (hopefully) back to "pre-Wall Street, Credit, and Housing failings." Having the government spend more tax payer/the people's money than "Desert Storm", the current Iraq war, and the war in Afghanistan combined, few congressman/senators have read, and with things still in the bill like: $75 million for stopping smoking, $6 billion to weatherize "modest-income" housing, $6 billion on making high speed Internet access for rural areas, $43 billion for increased unemployment benefits, and there is more and more examples (link at the end of the article will spell most of it out). In a time when Americans are not able to buy food, health insurance, pay mortgages, and are living pay check to pay check, there is not going to be a lot of interest in "weatherized modest income housing."

At least there is something you can do. Some of these things can be taken out of the package, and most certainly some things will be. However, the only way to get the word out and make a difference is emailing, writing and calling local, state, and federal representatives. The Stimulus Package in itself, may be a horrible idea. The banking, car, stock market, health, and education systems could all become ruled over by our government (congress, senate, and President). America is heading toward a Western Europe, quasi-socialist form, right now. Is this what America is all about, has come to, and will Americans stand up and voice opinion? Next step is the Senate, for them to trim a little bit and add a little bit of tax cuts, appease the republicans (in the House), but it is still the American people's future and money being spent, by Congress (who crafted the bill). A Congress that has a 18-20% approval rating, with the American people. This does not sound like a winning formula and Barack Obama wants to sign this into law/pass the package, by President's Day. There is not much time left, what will you do?

Here is a site which breaks down the "Stimulus Package" and all the pork and bull, our money is going to buy: (http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/20639/)