Family Members of USS Cole Bombing not happy with Obama

President Obama is meeting Friday afternoon with the families of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and the bombing of the USS Cole -- but some invited guests say they worry that the gesture is window-dressing, since the administration has suspended trials of detainees at Guantanamo Bay and a military judge on Thursday dropped charges against a suspect in the 2000 Cole bombing.

The military charges against suspected Al Qaeda bomber Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri marked the last active war crimes case at Guantanamo Bay. New charges can still be brought against al-Nashiri, and he will remain in prison for the time being.

But at least two Cole families complained to FOX News that Obama should have met with them first, to hear them out, before a final decision was reached on the charges.

"We've already waited eight years for justice. Justice delayed is justice denied," said retired Navy Cmdr. Kirk S. Lippold, the commanding officer of the Cole when it was bombed in Yemen.

Lippold expressed disappointment that he learned from FOX News, not the administration, that the charges in the al-Nashiri case had been dropped. Lippold, who is a fellow with Military Families United, said he would be among family members of victims who are meeting with Obama at the White House on Friday afternoon. - FOX News Story

Judge Puts Hold on Sick Leave Policy

A Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge has granted an injunction to postpone Milwaukee's mandated sick leave ordinance from going into effect on Tuesday.The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce went to court on Friday to ask that the ordinance wouldn't go into effect until all the legal proceedings are resolved.Judge Thomas Cooper said he was satisfied that the MMAC had made its case.

The ordinance was approved by voters in November. It requires companies to give workers at least nine paid sick days a year.The MMAC called it invalid, un-enforceable and unconstitutional.The group Nine to Five supports the paid sick time. It said it's not fair for workers to choose between an illness or their paycheck.Cooper said no matter what the court rules in the future about the ordinance, he is certain the decision will be appealed."The most important thing is that we do it right from the start," Cooper said. - WISN

That is a good start, now lets see this thing all the way through.

Obama Looking for Cover of Upcoming Storm

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- This week, the Obama administration launched an angry campaign (and rightly so) targeting the greed of the financial services industry.

The big bank executives -- with their French private aircraft purchases, Las Vegas boondoggles and multibillion-dollar bonuses (despite having just received taxpayer bailout funding) -- appear politically tone deaf. Now the Treasury Department is proposing a $500,000 salary cap on senior executives of banks receiving taxpayer funding.

But here's how Washington really works. The reason for Obama's public campaign is that soon officials are likely to hand the banks a taxpayer-funded bailout potentially worth trillions of dollars. Therefore, what's happening here is the creation of old-fashioned political cover.

The administration needs this cover because it faces a horrible choice. At issue is how the Treasury arrives at a price for the banks' toxic assets in any bailout package that entails taxpayer funding.

Here's the catch: If officials value the toxic assets at too low a price, all bank stocks will collapse. The world then would declare the large U.S. banks insolvent. America would face financial Armageddon.

On the other hand, valuing the toxic assets at an artificially high price (at the taxpayers' expense) may save the banks but invites a political firestorm at a time when average folks are hurting. Thus the need for cover. - CNN Story

Obama has Broken Promise of Change

“They’re trying to fool you. They’re trying to scare you and they’re not telling the truth,” a fired-up Obama declared while campaigning in South Dakota. “But it’s not going to work.” “Both Bush and McCain represent the failed foreign policy and fear mongering of the past,” Obama said. “I believe the American people are ready to reject this approach and to choose the future.” NY Daily News

Those were the words from the Campaign Trail. Well I have to tell ya, for all the talk about CHANGE, I sure see the same.

"...if we drag our feet and fail to act, this crisis could turn into a catastrophe," - OBAMA

"If we don't do anything millions more jobs will be lost," - OBAMA

"These numbers demand action. It is inexcusable and irresponsible to get bogged down in distraction and delay while millions of Americans are being put out of work. It is time for Congress to act," - OBAMA

"They did not send us to Washington to get stuck in partisan posturing, or to turn back to the same tried and failed approaches that were rejected in the last election. They sent us here with a mandate for change, and the expectation that we would act." - OBAMA

"We are not going to get relief by turning back to the very same policies that for the last eight years doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin," - OBAMA

Sounds alot like President Obama is trying to scare everyone into believing this Stimulus Package is the cure all. The problem is he can't sell it. Since he can't sell it he has resorted back to Candidate Obama and the blame it on them approach. He can't sell that either.

Milwaukee's Paid Sick Leave goes before Judge

MILWAUKEE - Today, supporters and opponents of Milwaukee's new sick leave policy will enter a courtroom today.

They'll hear a judge ruling on whether to temporarily halt the measure.

It would require all employers who operate in the City of Milwaukee to give 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 72 paid sick leave hours every year.

Employers with less than 10 employees would have to give a maximum of 40 hours per year for each employee.

Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce President Tim Sheehy says that the side he's on, the side opposing the measure, probably has a good chance of getting the injunction put in place so that it doesn't start on the planned February 10th beginning.

"We think we have a good case this morning, but that's why you play the game. I don't know what the outcome is going to be, but we think we have a good case, and we'll be asking the judge for a temporary injunction while we sort out the legal issues," said Sheehy on Newsradio 620 WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Morning News.

"I would say that the suit is against the city, but the city is not opposing the injunction. The 9 to 5 organization is the group that is in the case that is opposing the injunction." - WTMJ Story

Let's all hope that someone has some sanity in this matter. This was just another attempt by Milwaukee to drive businesses out of the City. The Mayor wants to get some of that Stimulus money to build a business center, Hello you have to have businesses wanting to be here first.

Obama Breaks Promise and Goes on Partisan Tyrade

"They didn't vote for the status quo; they sent us here to bring change. We owe it to them to deliver," the Democratic president said, eliciting cheers and applause from the Democratic rank and file gathered for a three-day retreat.

"This is not a game," he added. "This is not a contest for who's in power and who's up and who's down."

In a feisty speech before a fiercely partisan crowd, Obama took a sharper tone than he has in recent weeks and seemed to be sending a message to Republicans, who voted as a block against the plan in the House and who are demanding massive changes to the measure in the Senate. - ABC News

"We are not going to get relief by turning back to the very same policies that for the last eight years doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin," Obama said — an implicit criticism of the GOP that was in power during that period.

Since his inauguration two weeks ago, the president repeatedly has reached across the aisle to Republicans as his economic plan has wound its way through the Democratic-controlled Congress. Yet, even as he continues to make gestures of bipartisanship, the president has increasingly sought to rebut Republican criticism as he seeks to sell the pricey package to both to the public and the Congress.

In recent days, he's frequently reminded the GOP who is in charge now — and on whose watch the economy collapsed.

"I found this deficit when I showed up," Obama said, earning a standing ovation. "I found this national debt doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me when I stepped into the Oval Office."

One by one, he rejected arguments from GOP critics.

He said tax cuts alone as a way to stimulate the economy are "a losing formula." He defended how quickly the bill is moving through Congress and belittled those who call the measure simply a spending bill: "What do you think a stimulus is? That's the whole point!" - ABC News

Obama has settled into the Bubble that they call the Government. He has forgotten all about the Change and Hope that he promised. He blames the Republicans for the Debt and the economy? As he is quickly seeing, it is the Senate and Congress who ultimately make those decisions, and it is his party that was in charge when this happened. You can't put all that on Republicans. Even the public is showing its displeasure for what Obama and his party is trying to push on us! Look at the polls, your numbers are falling and will continue to do so. You and the Democrats now control it all, Presidency, House, and Senate. Everything happening now is on YOU! The huge deficit spending that you all have planned. In case you haven't been paying attention people, this Stimulus is only the begining, there is more than a TRILLION DOLLARS more in spending coming down the pipeline very quickly as well.

Watch the polls over the next several weeks as the numbers continue to drop. As they do you will see the Republicans become more and more empowered. Not a good thing for such an untested and inexperienced Obama.

Obama Not Selling his Plan to America

Obama has said that Closing the Gitmo Detention Facility was key to making America Safer. It was one of his first orders. However, he hasn't been able to sell that to the American Public.

Thirty-six percent say closing the detention facility will make the United States less safe from terrorism. About half think closing it will have no impact, while four percent think closing the prison will make the U.S. safer. - CBS News

Only 4% agree with his statement. 4%!!! That is pathetic.

Obama has said there is no wiggle room in the Stimulus for a change in the Taxes. He also said he doesn't have to compromise, remember "I Won" America doesn't agree with him on this either.

There are signs that Americans are receptive to Republicans' push to increase the proportion of tax cuts in the stimulus bill: Asked whether higher government spending or tax cuts for business would be more effective in ending the recession, 59 percent choose the tax cuts. Just 22 percent prefer more government spending. - CBS News

Obama has said that America needs this Stimulus Bill and We need it Now. America isn't sold on his bill. He hasn't been able to sell it to the Republicans and some Democrats, and he hasn't sold it to the American Public.

Slightly more than half the country approves of President Obama's $800 billion-plus stimulus package, a new CBS News poll finds. But support for the bill has fallen 12 points since January, and nearly half of those surveyed do not believe it will shorten the recession. - CBS News

Just to throw this in. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. She throws her little parties and tells us repeatedly that she is doing what Americans want. They spoke at the polls. Well Nancy they are speaking now as well. You are not well liked.

Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is unknown to most Americans, but she gets a 3-to-1 negative rating from those familiar with her. - CBS News

Obama Losing America's Backing Quickly

President Obama is going to get a stimulus package.

But there’s going to be a price -- a fiscal one (though what’s $1 trillion between friends these days?) and a political one.

As the package grinds its way through a messy legislative process, it’s not clear that progress is being made to minimize the cost on either of those ends.

Already, Obama has had to play two precious cards this week -- “I’m sorry” (to the American people -- who haven’t heard that from a president in a while), and “I won” (to the Congress -- the members of which, by the way, also won their elections).

Here’s guessing he didn’t want to have to go there now, just two weeks in.

By convention wisdom’s standards, the battle to define the stimulus bill is over, done; Obama lost. - ABC News Story

President Obama has been "AWOL" in negotiations over the economic stimulus package, Sen. Lindsey Graham said Thursday in a scathing rebuke of the new president.

The South Carolina Republican told FOX News that Obama has not been providing leadership, and he criticized the president for giving TV interviews and writing an editorial touting the package, rather than addressing the complaints of lawmakers.

"This process stinks," Graham told FOX News, before repeating a lot of his criticisms on the Senate floor. "We're making this up as we go and it is a waste of money. It is a broken process, and the president, as far as I'm concerned, has been AWOL on providing leadership on something as important as this."

Republican senators and congressmen have been reluctant to direct any criticism at the president since his inauguration. They mostly have fired shots at Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, saying they have obstructed the bipartisan process Obama sought.

But Graham broke that practice after Obama granted a round of interviews defending his plan Tuesday and wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post Thursday in which he warned of disastrous consequences if Congress does not pass the stimulus bill.

"Scaring people is not leadership. Writing an editorial that if you don't pass this bad bill we're going to have disaster -- we've had enough presidents trying to scare people to make bad decisions," Graham said.

"I like President Obama, but he is not leading. Having lunch is not leading ... and doing TV interviews is not leading." - FOX News

DTV Delayed

Congress is giving consumers four more months to prepare for the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting.

Insignia Digital TV converter boxes are displayed at a Best Buy store January 8, 2009 in Emeryville,...

Insignia Digital TV converter boxes are displayed at a Best Buy store January 8, 2009 in Emeryville, California. The House has defeated a bill to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12.

(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The House on Wednesday voted 264-158 to postpone the shutdown of analog TV signals to June 12, to address growing concerns that too many Americans won't be ready in time for the Feb. 17 deadline that Congress had set three years ago. The Senate passed the measure unanimously last week and the bill now heads to President Barack Obama for his signature.

The change is being required because digital signals are more efficient than analog, and ending analog will free up valuable space in the nation's airwaves.

The delay is a victory for the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress, who maintain that the previous administration mismanaged efforts to ensure that all consumers — particularly poor, rural and minority Americans — will be prepared for the switchover. - ABC News

Things that make you go hmmmmm. Lets see, people were given 3 years to be ready for this. Hell the Government spent $1.2 Billion to help people afford it. (Our Tax Dollars hard at work) Now Obama is ready to spend another $600 Million + to help people afford it. It is part of the Stimulus package. You know, it will put people to work. Since when did watching TV become a right in this country? This is so stupid. No wonder we are broke, this is the dumbest thing I have heard of.

The Truth about the Stimulus that you Don't hear

This is by far one of the best stories written explaining the Stimulus package in terms we can all understand.

Fox News Story

The most obvious explanation is the $36 billion in increased unemployment insurance benefits. Larger benefits at least for this year will encourage some people, who may be unhappy with their jobs, to be unemployed while they look for something better. Others will be a little more reluctant to take a new job when they are offered it. Unlike the rest of the “stimulus” package that is over two years, since the increased benefits are only planned for this year, the higher payments will increase unemployment this year and then start declining soon after the extension ends.

Yet, the “stimulus” package will do something else that will increase unemployment at least as much. Most of the new jobs will be for people who are currently employed. By moving money from places where it is currently being spent to places where the government wants it spent, you move the jobs also. But it takes time for people to move between jobs. That is called unemployment. - FOX News

The jobs that the government “creates” may be in different industries and they may be in different places. You increase subsidies even more for alternative energy, and of course those companies will expand, but the subsidies also mean that less will be spent on less politically correct energy sources.

You might create jobs in California, but you will reduce the number of jobs in coal mines in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, or oil fields in Oklahoma and Texas. Where will those people who lose their jobs go? They aren’t going to instantly pack up their cars and move to California. They may not even have the right sets of skills for the new government-created jobs. Wherever it is these displace workers end up, it will take some time, and during that time those workers will be unemployed. - FOX News

These changes are extremely reminiscent of what happened during the Great Depression. Not only do you have government-created jobs, you had the infamous Smoot-Hawley tariffs to protect American agriculture. We had strengthened unions that got some workers higher wages at the expense of other workers’ jobs. Many economists have argued that all these different changes created and prolonged the unemployment disaster we faced during the 1930s. - FOX News

Obama Continues Slide in Polls

President Obama is continuing to slide in the Polling numbers. The new Rasmussen Poll puts him at only 55%. That is down from as high as 79% in some polls just 2 weeks ago.

The poll also shows that 71% (up from 65% a month ago) of American now believe that he is Politcally Liberal.

More bad news for the President and the Democrats is, Republicans have cut the gap in half when it comes to Congress. The Democrats are only favored 4% better than Republicans. That number was 7% just last week.

You can look squarely at the Partisanship in Washington and the Stimulus package as these numbers continue to slide. This has been the best case scenario for the Republicans. The more details that get out about the Stimulus package the more you will see the numbers dip for the Democrats.

Is Obama Dividing instead of Uniting the Country?

The provision bans money designated for school renovation from being spent on facilities that allow "religious worship." It has ignited a fury among critics who say it violates the First Amendment and is an attempt to prevent religious practice in schools.

According to the bill, which the Democratic-controlled House passed despite unanimous Republican opposition, funds are prohibited from being used for the "modernization, renovation, or repair" of facilities that allow "sectarian instruction, religious worship or a school or department of divinity."

Critics say that could include public schools that permit religious groups to meet on campus. The House provided $20 billion for the infrastructure improvements, of which $6 billion would go to higher education facilities where the limitations would be applied.

"What the government is doing is discriminating against religious viewpoints," said Matthew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, a Washington-based nonprofit organization that works to advance religious freedom.

"President Obama's version of faith-based initiatives is to remove the faith from initiative," said Staver, who believes Obama has "a completely different view on faith" from what he said during his presidential campaign.

"He is not the infallible messiah that some thought he would be," Straver said.

Civil liberty groups like the Americans United for Separation of Church and State vehemently defend the stimulus bill's provision, arguing that it in no way violates the Constitution.

"This provision upholds constitutional standards established by the U.S. Supreme Court and in no way affects student groups that meet on public school campuses," said the Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Not so, says the Traditional Values Coalition, which issued a statement Wednesday charging that Obama is using his stimulus plan to restrict the exercise of religion in public facilities -- a provision it says violates the right to free speech.

"The economic crisis is being used as a pretext to curb religious liberty at institutions of higher learning," said Executive Director Andrea Lafferty. - FOX News Story

Obama is finding it hard to push his agenda with so many eyes watching his every move. Welcome to the Big White House, Mr. President. Everyone likes to pick apart the leader and it is easy to do from the cheap seats, but when you are the leader, everyone is gunning for you. Welcome aboard.

Obama Secretly fighting Pork in Stimulus Bill

While the president is backing the provisions publicly, however, behind closed doors the White House may be working to fight some of the spending in the bill that might be considered pork.

In an interview with Liberadio that was picked up by the Nashville Post, Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee said he was encouraged by the Obama administration to fight against some of the bill's more controversial provisions when it was in the House.

"I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I actually got some quiet encouragement from the Obama folks for what I’m doing," said Cooper, a relatively conservative "Blue Dog" Democrat who opposed the stimulus bill. "They know it's a messy bill and they wanted a clean bill."

Cooper added that he "got in terrible trouble with our leadership because they don’t care what’s in the bill, they just want it pass and they want it to be unanimous."

"We’re just told how to vote," he continued. "We’re treated like mushrooms most of the time."

The White House "want[s] to keep the Speaker happy and the traditional Democratic leaders, but they've let them know privately they're not interested in all this pork," he said. - CBS Story

Now if this is true, then Obama has his priorities out of order. He doesn't work for Nancy Pelosi. He works for the American People. He would really see his approval ratings skyrocket if he would come out and say what in the bill he likes and doesn't like. If he were to show that he truly wants a stimulus bill and not a pork bill he would gain support across the board with the American People. When you have high approval numbers people jump on board. Nancy Pelosi and Congress do not have high numbers, so why is he publicly stepping in line with them? Be a leader, take charge and show us what you want to do. Don't have everyone else doing your work. You do it and show us leadership.

According to the Washington Post, Senate Democrats lack the 60 votes needed to both pass the plan and avoid a Republican filibuster.

In an interview on CNN, Mr. Obama signaled a willingness to drop items that "may not really stimulate the economy right now." He also signaled he'll try to remove "buy American" provisions in the legislation to avoid a possible trade war. - CBS News Story

"I'm sure that Democrats, or at least the president, is embarrassed by some of this," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.

In a series of skirmishes Tuesday, the Senate turned back a proposal to add $25 billion for public works projects and voted to remove a $246 million tax break for movie producers. Both moves were engineered by Republicans who are critical of the bill's size and voice skepticism of its ability to create jobs. - CBS News

"At no point did any member of President Obama's staff encourage me to vote against the House economic recovery bill. I told them I believed that the bill had too much long-term spending and didn't meet the president's goal of getting 75 percent of the money into the economy within 18 months. After the conversation, I felt encouraged that the administration understood those concerns and shared my longstanding commitment to fiscal responsibility," he said in a statement.

Cooper was one of about 55 House Democrats to sign a letter criticizing Pelosi for suspending debate and committee rules on the fiscal package.

"They don't mind the partisan fighting cause that's what they are used to. In fact, they're really good at it -- and they're a little bit worried about what a post-partisan future might look like," Cooper said during the radio interview. "If members actually had to read the bills and figure out whether they are any good or not. We're just told how to vote. We're treated like mushrooms most of the time." - FOX News

Nancy Pelosi's Congress hurting Obama Abroad?

When they campaigned in the primaries, Democrats were often skeptical about free trade, and apparently the House bill that passed on the stimulus plan includes provisions such as "buy American steel." How damaging is this?

We're going to have to see what emerges from the Senate. This is one of those times where I'm grateful that we have a bicameral legislature, because there has been a real public outcry over the protectionism of the House bill, and let's hope that there are enough senators who can deal with some of these things. Now, to some degree this will cause a big problem, because we've signed treaties like the WTO [World Trade Organization] agreement, which actually allows countries to retaliate against us. Provisions like "Buy American" in these infrastructure projects --we'd have to look at the technicalities--are likely to systematically violate agreements that the United States has signed. The consequences of giving other countries the right to discriminate against American goods, or charge higher tarrifs on American imports, would amount to shooting ourselves in the foot. - Newsweek (Bernard Gwertzman, Council on Foreign Relations)

This is the problem when you try to rush things through. Nancy Pelosi and the US Congress rushed this bill through and have not looked at all the consequences. Well the Buy American part of it is causing headaches for Obama. He is seeing his support around the world dwindling quickly.

Obama tells Democrats to give in

President Obama worked to win Republican support of his economic stimulus bill by calling in Democratic congressional leaders and telling them to make concessions to their GOP colleagues

A group of centrist Democrats is emerging as a potential force to reshape the bailout package by teaming up with moderate Republicans to reduce the overall cost of the bill and funnel more money to rebuilding the nation's infrastructure.

Pressure also mounted on Republican leaders as four GOP governors, including Florida's Charlie Crist and California's Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed a letter Monday urging passage of the stimulus bill. They were joined by Vermont's Jim Douglas and Connecticut's Jodie Rell, both Republicans, along with 15 Democratic governors.

The governors have become powerful allies for Obama in the stimulus debate as states are facing huge budget shortfalls along with increased demand for services by the growing number of unemployed. - ABC News

Is this story for real? "Pressure also mounted on Republican leaders as four GOP Governors..." You are kidding me right? The pressure is mounting on the GOP, the pressure is mounting on Obama and the Democrats. A new Gallup poll shows that only 38% agree with the stimulus plan, and a whopping 62% don't want it or want it drastically changed. This is the good old media trying to work some magic. HELLO!!!! This is a bad deal, it stinks of pointless spending in a time when we need fiscal thoughfulness put into every bill.

Arrests in Walmart Incident

Germantown police say they have arrested two 17-year-old boys in connection with an incident at the Walmart on Appleton Avenue last month that sent 47 people to the hospital.

Police say the teenagers released a chemical that is consistent with pepper spray in the Walmart on January 15th. Police are recommending a felony charge of recklessly endangering safety and misdemeanor disorderly conduct against the boys.

Both teenagers are from Menomonee Falls. - WTMJ

Well I'll bet these two boys have some proud parents at home. What are you thinking?

Obama not Winning PR War Overseas

The clause seeks to ensure that only US iron, steel and manufactured goods are used in projects funded by the bill.

A European Commission spokesman said it was the "worst possible signal".

However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said President Obama had assured her the US would not follow protectionist policies.

"He stressed that," she said.

The rescue plan has already been approved by the US House of Representatives and is under discussion in the Senate this week, who could sign it off before the weekend - BBC

Obama has not only been asked by Several Allies overseas to remove this clause, but many businesses here in the US want the clause removed. Conventional wisdom says that we don't want to get into a trade war with the economy the way it is now. Regardless of what the big Unions may want you to think, there is very little that is made here with all American parts. We start a trade war and you could see the American Economy come to a complete stand still.

How to solve the Economy

I have argued for weeks that one of the biggest problem with the economy is the credit card debt. People have run up the debt so high that they are now struggling to pay the bills. The Companies have raised the interest rates till you are not paying anything off just struggling to make the minimum payments.

My argument is, that if the Government passed quick massive reform on the Credit Cards, not allowing the Revolving Credit except to businesses, then use some of the Trillion Plus dollars and pay off this debt, you would immediately open up the credit lines and put tons of money back into the pockets of consumers to spend.

Americans hold just shy of $1 trillion in revolving debt on their credit cards now - MSNBC

We are talking about spending well more that with all of these stimulus packages that they keep coming up with. We spent $700 Billion + last time to bail out the banks. What if we spent that $700 Billion against this credit card debt? The banks would have gotten the same amount of money, and it would have immediately opened up credit at the consumer level. Also, at the same time, people would not have this massive debt on their shoulders with 20% interest rates and putting more money into their pockets. This money would have undoubtedly been infused into the economy in one way or the other. In essence, instead of spending $700 Billion on the economy, this money would have been much much much higher over the following months as the money being spent on these bills flowed into the economy at the mainstreet level instead of the top level. (That is what the Democrats said was the problem with Bush. He was trying to trickle money down. Now they are using the same philosophy.) Take the credit burden away from the consumer and you will see instant success.

Obama & Democrats now on Defense for Stimulus

Most Americans are now looking for major revisions in the way the government is approaching the recession.

A Gallup poll out Tuesday showed that a majority of Americans want Congress to either reject or make "major changes" to the economic stimulus package on Capitol Hill.

The poll, conducted from Friday through Sunday, found that 75 percent of Americans want Congress to pass some version of the plan. But the survey reflected deepening doubts about the effectiveness of the programs and spending items currently being considered by federal lawmakers. Only 38 percent of those polled favored the existing stimulus proposal, down from a slight majority holding that view in the Jan. 28 Gallup survey.

Thirty-seven percent want major changes and 17 percent reject the plan outright. - FOX News

President Obama's "I Won" strategy just got squashed. Nancy Pelosi's comments about the Republicans losing at everything so they have to go after process, just got thrown back in her face. It looks more like the public is telling Obama, "You Won but we ARE GOING TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE!" When you have 62% of the public telling you that they doubt your plan will work must give you pause. The arrogance of Obama and the Democrats in Congress has put them in a position that they didn't think that they would find themselves in, on Defense. When you start believing your own BS then you are in trouble. That is what has happened here. They kept saying that the Public has spoken and this is what they want, get on board or we will do it without you. Now the Public is speaking out and saying this is not what we want, jump off the train or we will throw you out. This had to be Obama's worst nightmare, that is why he wanted the Republicans on board to take some of the heat. Now they have enboldened the Republican stance.

Tom Daschle Withdraws from Nomination

Tom Daschle has withdrawn his nomination for health and human services secretary, after fielding mounting criticism over his failure to pay more than $130,000 in taxes.

President Obama stood by Daschle Monday, telling reporters that he "absolutely" supports the former South Dakota senator. But the president accepted Daschle's withdrawal Tuesday morning.

It was unclear whether Daschle, with his deep network of ties in the Senate stemming in part from his time as majority leader, would have been able to weather the criticism in confirmation.

Senators were reluctant to state publicly any opposition to Daschle's nomination in recent days. But that started to crack Tuesday morning, as Republican Sen. Jim DeMint called for Obama to withdraw the nomination -- becoming the first senator to say that the former majority leader's tax problems are disqualifying. - FOX News

Obama preached change during his Campaign and Transition, but has shown that he will do business as usual in many instances. Lobbyist in the White House, Ethics questions around Nominee's, and the bipartisanship in the Congress. However, it looks like Daschle is not prepared for the firestorm that was about to rain down.

FEMA still not seen in parts of Kentucky

EDDYVILLE, Ky. - In the first real test of the Obama administration's ability to respond to a disaster, Kentucky officials are giving the federal government good marks for its response to a deadly ice storm.

Yet more than 300,000 residents remained without power Monday and some areas had yet to see aid workers nearly a week after the storm, a fact not lost on some local authorities.

"We haven't seen FEMA. They haven't been here," said Jaime Green, a spokeswoman for the emergency operations center in Lyon County, about 95 miles northwest of Nashville, Tenn.

Federal authorities insisted they responded as soon as the state asked for help and promised to keep providing whatever aid was necessary. - NBC

WOW, It isn't as easy as it looks is it President Obama? Disasters are imperfect and getting aid to people is a monumental task. I don't blame FEMA or the Obama Administration, it is the nature of the beast. It will never be perfect, and anyone who thinks it can be is living in OZ. It is just amazing that the media isn't blasting Obama for letting these poor people freeze and starve. If it was Bush you know they would be on it like white on rice.

Yet Another Broken Promise?

Obama Supporters upset about Simpson Talk

Apparently a mistake by someone stating that Obama said Jessica Simpson was losing a battle over weight, when he said she was in a battle over weight.

OH PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! Is everything he says going to be reported. The media hangs on to every word because they are trying to catch him make a mistake. They have him under a microscope. But he is the first to say he is human and will make mistakes. So relax people. - CNN Post to Story

Ok, in case you haven't noticed over the last 50 some years, yes everything the President says is reported. Even when they make mistakes or if someone else makes mistakes. What short memories you have, you remember the Bushisms? Hello.

No apology necessary Mr. President. I'm sure she voted for someone who "looks" like her anyway. Loser. - CNN Post to Story

OK this lady is what we should all aspire to be. Calling someone she doesn't even know a loser. Oh and by the way, what she meant was, the person who reported what the President said wrong, "No apology necessary!"

I cannot believe CNN is trying to make this into a story. I watched the interview, the President was joking around. No way was he taking a shot at Jessica. This President does not do that. - CNN Post to Story

It is amazing out how quickly everyone supporting Obama is turning on the Media. They buried pretty much every story about Obama during the election and bashed on Palin. Then all of those Obama supporters were laughing that Palin was upset. Now the shoe is on the other foot, and all you hear is whine whine whine.

Some Democrats Want to Gut Stimulus Bill

A key Democratic senator told FOX News on Monday that he wants to strip "tens of billions" of dollars from the economic stimulus proposal, rejecting the White House claim that senators are complaining about just a tiny fraction of the package.

Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Republicans and Democrats alike want to gut the nearly $900 billion program of items that he says will not stimulate job growth.

President Obama and his aides have downplayed disagreements over the package as it comes before the Senate for debate. Obama said Monday that "modest differences" should not stall the package, and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said GOP objections center on about $700 million worth of items -- or "seven one-hundredths of one percent" of the total package.

Not so, said Nelson.

"It's more money than that," he said. "We're talking in the billions, and tens of billions, that we're looking to exclude from this particular program." - FOX News Story

Who is..Mother of Octuplets

Nadya Suleman, 33, now has 14, all seven years old and under.

She lives with her parents in a modest home in Whittier, Calif., outside Los Angeles.

There've been no pictures yet of the infants or Suleman. She remains hospitalized, too.

Reporters continue to pepper her parents with questions at the family home.

"Everybody's doing good," Suleman's father said.

How are the kids doing? "Fantastic," he replied.

Suleman's mother told CBS News Nadya paid for in vitro fertilization with money from a legal settlement after a work accident.

The octuplets' grandmother adds that all 14 kids were conceived through in vitro, using the same sperm donor.

It's unclear how Suleman plans to support her huge family. Her parents have had financial problems. The octuplets are all preemies and will likely require extra care.

Suleman once had a license as a psychiatric technician but that expired. In recent years, she's been an unemployed student.

Suleman, though, has hired an agent, Kauffman says, and there are reports she hopes to make money through TV interviews and even by working as an on-camera childcare expert. - CBS News

I have to admit, the more I here about this the more I think of Nancy Pelosi and her Contraceptive comment. Not that it would have worked here, but this lady is just plain and simple an idiot or maybe a genius, depending on how the media plays this out. She has no job, lives with her parents who are in financial pain, and now has 14 kids. She is out to get the media to pay her $2 Million for her story. How about the Media give the state $2 Million and she has to tell the story. That is who is going to wind up supporting all these kids. This woman is plain and simply lost her marbles.

Dems Wrestle with Ethics Questions

Even as President Obama has instituted tough new ethics guidelines for administration officials, House Democrats continue to wrestle with the ethics problems of two of their most senior members—Reps. John Murtha (Pa.) and Charles B. Rangel (N.Y.).

While neither case directly involves the Obama team, the allegations leveled against Murtha and Rangel open Democrats up to charges that even as their president preaches change, his party remains mired in traditional transactional politics. - Yahoo/Politico

The New York Times recently reported that Rangel helped preserve a lucrative tax break for an oil-drilling company whose CEO pledged $1 million for the Rangel Center. The veteran Democrat — who’s also been the subject of recent stories on his failure to pay taxes on a Caribbean vacation home and his holding of four rent-controlled apartments in Harlem — has denied any wrongdoing, but the ethics panel decided to review the allegation. - Yahoo/Politico

Murtha, for his part, may be part of a new federal corruption investigation. Investigators from the FBI, IRS and DCIS on Thursday raided the offices of two Pennsylvania firms, Kuchera Defense Systems and Kuchera Industries, closely linked to Murtha, as well as the homes of the brothers who run them. Bill and Ron Kuchera and their employees have donated more than $65,000 to Murtha’s reelection campaign and PACs during the last six years.

The Kucheras’ companies have been awarded more than $100 million in federal earmarks, including more than $8 million in 2008. Murtha chairs the powerful Defense subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, giving him say over tens of billions of dollars in defense spending. - Yahoo/Politico

See Complete Story

This is what happens when you hold the Majority. The guns come a blazing from all angles. You see it with every Congress. When you act Holier than though, people dig to find the dirt, and there is always dirt.

Porn During the Super Bowl

(CNN) -- Super Bowl fans in Tucson, Arizona, caught a different kind of show during Sunday's big game.

Just as Cardinals' superstar Larry Fitzgerald watched himself sprint into the end zone on the stadium's Jumbotron during Sunday's Super Bowl, 10 seconds of eye-popping pornographic imagery "flashed" across the screens of those watching at home.

"We are mortified by last evening's Super Bowl interruption, and deeply apologize to our customers for the inappropriate programming," Comcast Cable said in a written statement.

"Our initial investigation suggests this was an isolated malicious act," the statement added.

Comcast, and several local television stations that carried the signal, say they are currently investigating what caused the interruption.

"It appears this material was only viewed by some Comcast customers," local Tucson television station KVOA-TV said in a written statement.

Television station KVOA added "when the NBC feed of the Super Bowl was transmitted from KVOA to local cable providers and through over-the-air antennas, there was no pornographic material," KVOA President and General Manager Gary Nielsen said in a separate statement. - CNN

That can't be good. However, the way that game was going at most points with all the flags, a little porn sure would have spiced things up a little bit. Heck, even NBC was trying to show Warner's Wife as much as possible to add some excitement.

Obama's Broken Promise

Obama - ""There's no disagreement that we need action by our government"

The libertarians at the Cato Institute got weary of this line of argument and took out a newspaper ad in The New York Times on Jan. 28, 2009.

"With all due respect Mr. President, that is not true," the ad said.

"More government spending by Hoover and Roosevelt did not pull the United States economy out of the Great Depression in the 1930s. More government spending did not solve Japan's 'lost decade' in the 1990s. As such, it is a triumph of hope over experience to believe that more government spending will help the U.S. today," the ad says. "Lower tax rates and a reduction in the burden of government are the best ways of using fiscal policy to boost growth."

The Cato ad has 203 signatories, including three recent Nobel Prize winners.

We talked to one of the Nobel winners, Edward Prescott of Arizona State University, who won in 2004, about Obama's plan.

"I agree with his wants, but just because you want something, that doesn't make it happen," Prescott said. "I guess he thinks that everything can be solved by people's goodwill and good actions coming from Washington D.C."

Prescott advocates for a permanent reductions of the income tax, or, failing that, nothing.

"I hope Obama succeeds, but benign neglect is a good policy," he said. - Politifact.com

There in lies the biggest problem with Government. When you are handing out large sums of money it is very easy to find "Yes Men". Everybody gets in line, well what everybody wants isn't necessarily the best thing for them. We should remember that.

Obama Confident Stimulus will Pass

(CBS/AP) President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will meet with congressional leaders at the White House on Monday afternoon in an effort to press Congress to move swiftly on the $800 billion-plus economic stimulus package.

"Very modest differences" should not get in the way of swift congressional passage of a massive economic stimulus package, Mr. Obama said Monday.

The president spoke to reporters as he and Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, the Republican vice chairman of the National Governors Association, were about to meet in the Oval Office about the plan.

Douglas agreed with Mr. Obama, saying that a stimulus package is essential to getting the country moving again. Douglas is among the several Republican governors who are breaking with their GOP colleagues in Congress to ask for approval of the plan.

On Sunday, Mr. Obama said he was confident congressional Republicans will come around to support the final version of the legislation, repeating what his top aides and officials have been telling reporters in recent days, that the final package would be close to its objectives - to save or create 3 to 4 million jobs - and Republicans would be able to back it.

"I am confident that by the time we have the final package on the floor that we are going to see substantial support, and people are going to see this is a serious effort. It has no earmarks. We are going to be trimming out things that are not relevant to putting people back to work right now," Mr. Obama said. - CBS News Story

Obama's Confidence hopefully is a sign of what is to come. The packages as they currently stand are small part stimulus and large part big Government Spending. Republicans are gaining support from many Democrats who see this as a spending package and not much of a stimulus package. More and more Democrats are joining the ranks with the Republicans to pull out the unnecessary spending to put together a true package for the economy. It isn't brain surgery. Most lawmakers know that if this bill passes as is, the people that vote for it will be held accountable come the next election cycle. They know that as it sits, this will be deficit spending that will do little to help the economy, thus delivering crushing blows to those who voted in favor of it. Obama doesn't want a bill to pass that pits his party against the Repubs next election cycle, especially if it fails. That is the reason for the big push on bipartisanship. To not give the Repubs any ammunition during the elections, Obama doesn't want to spend the last two years of his term in a lame duck status like Bush did. He needs to keep his support in the Congress.

Obama Compromise on Tougher Lobbyist Rules

Tougher rules against revolving door for lobbyists and former officials

"No political appointees in an Obama-Biden administration will be permitted to work on regulations or contracts directly and substantially related to their prior employer for two years. And no political appointee will be able to lobby the executive branch after leaving government service during the remainder of the administration." - Politifact

Politifact first reported this as a Promise Kept. Then they changed it to Compromise after it was uncovered that there is a waiver clause. I have asked Politifact to explain the Compromise tag more clearly. Obama's statement was pretty clear. Yet he has offered Waivers to allow Lobbyists into key positions. This should be listed as a Promise Broken.

Steeler Win Record 6th Super Bowl

The Pittsburgh Steelers won their record setting 6th Super Bowl Title beating the Arizona Cardinals 27-23. The game was that exciting except for the 99 yd Interception return for most of the game. The Refs were about the only action on the field calling penalties on about every play it seemed. The last 3+ minutes were some of the most exciting football I have seen.

OK, I also take my lumps. I picked Arizona to win, and take my hat off to the Steelers for proving me wrong.

Congrats Steel Town.

Americans Saving instead of Spending

WASHINGTON - Americans are hunkering down and saving more. For a recession-battered economy, it couldn't be happening at a worse time.

Economists call it the "paradox of thrift." What's good for individuals — spending less, saving more — is bad for the economy when everyone does it.

On Friday, the government reported Americans' savings rate, rose to 2.9 percent in the last three months of 2008. That's up sharply from 1.2 percent in the third quarter and less than 1 percent a year ago.

Like a teeter-totter, when the savings rate rises, spending falls. The latter accounts for about 70 percent of economic activity. When consumers refuse to spend, companies cut back, layoffs rise, people pinch pennies even more and the recession deepens.

The downward spiral has hammered the retail and manufacturing industries. For years, stores enjoyed boom times as shoppers splurged on TVs, fancy kitchen decor and clothes. Suddenly, frugality is in style. - NBC

OK, here is an Economic lesson for all of you people who think that Washington can spend it's way out of it. People are saving more money right now when we need them to spend it. Why do you suppose that is? People are more frugal with what they buy, why? Well, there are several reasons. One of those being, the more the Government Spends, the more in debt we go. The more in debt we go, the more likely we are to be hit with higher taxes. Higher taxes means we will have less money in the long run and won't be able to save. That is why during economic crisis smart money rides on cutting taxes and giving people more money to spend to help end the crisis. The Government picking and choosing where to spend their Trillions of dollars only helps a small percentage of the Country. Everyone in the Country spending the same Trillions, spreads the money throughout the entire Country and drives growth. We will see this in action as the current stimulus going through the Government will prove this fact.

Stimulus Bill heads to Senate

As the stimulus debate heads to the Senate, some lawmakers say the proposed economic rescue plan doesn't represent the bipartisan spirit that President Obama hoped would be behind it.

The House passed its version of the bill Wednesday, without a single Republican vote. Democrats admit it's going to be a tough fight to get Obama's economic stimulus plan passed with bipartisan support, but they are optimistic it can be done.

In the Senate, Republicans will have more of an opportunity for compromise, by offering amendments to the Democrats' bill. But it's not just Republicans who are unhappy. Some Democrats said the bill includes too many proposals that do not relate to stimulating the economy.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, oppose the proposal in its current form and want to slash what they call wasteful spending from the bill, so moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats will be more likely to vote for it.

The two senators, known as consensus builders, have spent the weekend scrubbing the bill of spending that does not narrowly target job and economic growth.

"Our goal is to have a bill that is both bipartisan and effective. That's what we want. There's no doubt that the American people don't want to see partisan politics in this debate," Collins said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

Nelson told CNN on Sunday that several of the programs in the stimulus bill are unnecessary and won't create jobs. - CNN

I don't know whether spending more money will fix the economy or not. I have my doubts that bailing out Companies and States will help. Bail out Individuals, maybe. But a plan that just pours money into programs like this bill is just plain and simply a waste of money.