THE REAL OBAMA DRAMA

I have said from the beginning that Barack Obama, while nice guy, is totally unprepared to be president and does not have enough experience either in politics or business as a leader. I believe his administration will be measured this way when it is all said and done.

Once the personality politics of the Obama administration is totally worn off we’ll be down to leadership and that means he leads and he executes and others follow. That’s not happening because he doesn’t think that way. He talks a big game but in the end he’s a “work behind the scenes” guy that doesn’t want to anger anyone and he’s a “we verse them” guy when the pressure is on.

My evidence? No where in his background has he ever run a company. Also, no where in his background has he led in politics until the campaign – and despite what the press indicated (Obama making all the calls), history will prove that he was the “China doll” and the strings were being pulled by the likes of Axelrod, Emanuel and others – who only know how to rabbit punch in the Chicago style.

He was an untouchable in Illinois and he did very little as a legislator no matter what is drummed up on his resume. He never stayed in one place long enough to develop position or lead a cause even. The health care thing is being attributed to HIS cause etc. He’s never had that cause till now. It’s a democratic cause but it’s not his. He’s at the point now. As I have indicated in previous notes, we NEVER bothered to visit Obama on our lobbying trips because OBAMA NEVER DID ANYTHING.

Today, the head of the Afghanistan military theater - his top general - called for 30 to 40 thousand surge troops for Afghanistan. Leftist Democrats in congress are already screaming. Obama totally hedged with reporters today when asked if he would fulfill the request of his generals. "No position Obama" said – 1) he wants to get it right (i.e. “gee we have to use the right process) and 2) we don’t want to do anything that puts our young people in harms way (wow that’s innovative). Point is on #1 - THAT’S A GIVEN. Point #2 – THAT IS ALSO A GIVEN.

Obama has no strategy. He’ll have a meeting. I just hope that our troops can wait. Obama’s political advisors are pressuring him HEAVILY to avoid becoming LBJ of Afghanistan. The way for Obama to save a second term? Stand up to the antiwar Democratic liberal crowd and act like a commander and chief. Obama RAN on this war – “George Bush took his eye off Afghanistan” Now he’s stuck. He needs to ignore the political advisers and TAKE ACTION to do the right thing in Afghanistan and he will become a leader worthier of ANY historical analysis.

In the mean time, the FBI found 12 back packs in Aurora, Colorado today - tied to the ones in New York. If you don't recall the terror network that blew up the Spanish train did so with back pack bombs. The network thrives - and were actually trying to close the Cuban jail - duh!

In another mean time, Obama’s doing David Letterman and a bunch of other shows about the “non-crisis” of health care (he called it that in his speech to congress.) Max Backas gave up trying to get Reps to vote for the health bill today. Brought it out of committee - dead on arrival.

The real crisis is Afghanistan – not health care. Obama is a rookie regarding war. He has no choice. He will HAVE to support his generals. If he doesn’t then there’s no hope. If Eisenhower was in office – he could argue the points with his General. Obama must go with their suggestions. He knows nothing about it.

Not everyone can be Eisenhower but Obama went way out on a limb in his anti-Iraq, anti-Bush chatter during the campaign because he knew that he would get the liberal democratic vote if he did. Hillary is stronger here. (Oh, and bye the way, look for Hillary to quit mid term and gear up for her 1012 run against Obama and whomever the Republicans put up – if they can FIND someone).

Americans EXPECT the process to be sound. Americans EXPECT their president to consider the troops. THAT’S NOT THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED over the weekend, Mr. President. Ok, you don’t have to take a stand at a press conference. I'll give you that.

But he is learning on the job. He knows that if he goes to congress (and of course he’ll HAVE to do so since the Democrats bitched the whole time because Bush didn't come to them), the congressional, war baby, anti war crowd in congress that has NEVER left the 60’s behind (as has been stated here before) will have to fight with him. I can tell you that 60’s children will not be for war EVER. Even Obama acknowledged in the campaign that there are "good" wars. He did so in his victory speech in Chicago on election night. So here’s Obama facing another dilemma and split in his own party.

As government always does, Obama messed with free trade by imposing a trade tax on tires imported from China. Politicians do this all the time to get votes (both Dems and Republicans). There’s an old saying, “don’t get in a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel” (the press). Similarly, don’t get in a fight with the people who are financing your debt. China has retaliated and our economy will, at best, draw even on this one. BUT – the unions are happy since union shops make tires. Look at all the stuff that Obama and Dem congress do. It’s all about Unions who give them a lot of money and votes.

Health Care - will fail

Afghanistan - will rip the Democrats apart

Environmental cap and trade – It’s already dead

2010 – Major gains for the Republicans will weaken Obama within his own party

Stimulus? – Nothing’s hit yet except government union work.

The market is fixing itself and it’s not done yet. Business is cutting costs – including staff – which is why jobs are still shedding. What the heck happened with the plan to buy bad debts (under Bush) and put the bad debts under government to protect the good? Instead they just gave money to the banks and the banks still didn’t make loans AND they still have those bad debts on their books. The fed actions have yet to fully impact but the net effect of the trillions spent will be debt. The tea parties and a lot of other Americans have started to figure that out.

It’s not going well and I believe the 53% hated Bush so much that they voted against Bush (even though he was not running). Nobody did their homework on Obama because the wanted to believe he was a savior – they bought the hype and the hype was drummed up by the major media – many were duped.

I don’t hear the liberals pounding their chest anymore. The too know that it’s not working. They don’t know why because they never studied the issues when they voted. They hoped for Change. Obama was never pressed for facts and the public DID NOT ask "where's the beef." They voted on hope instead of solid analysis. They also voted as if America is the only factor in the card game. It’s not. Even the Obama and company thought they’d lead the world. We don't make all the calls anymore.

Germany’s speech had no effect. His trip to Egypt had no effect on Iranians and he’s managed to totally anger the Jewish state at a level not seen ever before (and Jews at home by the way – a group of people that have been supportive of #1 Democrats and #2 Civil rights since the 60’s) .

Bush was the one everyone in the world hated – remember? It was all trumped up and it was untrue. Bush laid a huge democracy gauntlet down in the Middle East and now we have a democratic state right in the middle of it all. The Iraq today is what the Philippines and Hawaii was in 1939. Whether they or the political left likes it or not – we’re there and it’s a good thing we are or there would be chaos.

I pray Obama gets the sense and history of his office and becomes commander and chief and leads in Afghanistan. The war, he stated on the campaign trail, was the war that was IMPORTANT against terrorism. I think America would believe that. So Obama will have to back those word against his party.

On a final note – the White House announced another two months delay in close Guantanamo Bay today.

One more thing. Don't yell at my President when he's giving a speech in Congress - no matter what he says.

One more thing. Mr. Carter – shut up! (A Georgian attributing everything to race - ok our roots are not that far way.)

With that said. I like Obama as a person. Smart, gentle and considerate. He’s just not ready for the seriousness of the job – let’s pray to God that he learns on the job. America needs a strong President.

They certainly aren’t getting leadership out of Congress.

Pray for Barack Obama and our country. I still have faith that he will turn against his party on this. I base this on the presence of history in his oval office. All men are changed by that position.

WHY TEDDY IS IMPORTANT TO ME

It would surely surprise my conservative and liberal friends to know the genuine sadness with which I mark the death of Edward “Teddy” Kennedy. As anyone that knows my politics, Teddy Kennedy would be far to the left on any given issue that might float across the notions of the United States Senate or any other less dominant political landscape in this country.

But Teddy marks another conclusion to the youth of many of us from the 60’s. Most of us in the early 60’s were wrapped up in the excitement of John F. Kennedy as an image of our time.

For an Irish Catholic kid, the election of JFK was as equally significant to us as was the election of Barack Obama was to all African-Americans in this country. Teddy was a replacement for Jack. Bobby was a replacement for Jack so for many years, many of us saw Teddy as a convenient Boston-sounding Kennedy figure that placed us back in time when Jack was alive and reminded us of our very early youth and the excitement of those times, prior to Viet Nam, prior to the Beatles and prior to the psychedelic time that ushered us out of optimistic innocent youth and into the details and calamities of our time as the 60’s ended.

I think Teddy was probably a better man as he grew older and the mantel he was given as a young man was well beyond what any of us could appreciate. My admiration for him is because of the burden he bore following Jack’s death, Bobby’s death, his son’s health issues and all the other tragedies that have always followed the Kennedy family since the war when brother Joe was shot from the sky.

What’s most dramatic about the passing of Ted though is the total end of the Kennedy experience. We’ve certainly lived beyond the adoration of the Kennedy’s and nearly all – but not all – of the pain and loss of the assassinations of John and Robert is a distant memory. But Ted’s death makes it all return once again if not for just a short week. At least Ted was able to plan his end. Jack and Bobby were not.

Remove all the politics and Ted would be all fun as is evidence of his friendship with Orin Hatch, John McCain and others. I will always hold the Kennedy family in a special place in my life time memory. It’s part of my personal American experience and my Catholic and Irish heritage. Even the most adamant, conservative advocate should be - if they are not – sad this week for the death of Teddy Kennedy and the death of another part of our rich, rich American and Irish-American heritage.

WHY I DON'T SUPPORT DEMOCRATS

Sometimes my week gets busy and I don't have time to read my daily Wall Street. I keep them stacked up for review and always read the editorial page. This was one of those weeks. What occurred yesterday was I got the chance to read the July 22 Editorial Page - back-to-back - with the Weekend Journal of July 25.

The two stories placed next to each other tell a lot about the priorities of Mr. Obama and the Democrats compared to what I believe our national government should be doing.

One bill grounded the most significant fighter aircraft in the history of military weaponry that keeps our country safe. The Democrats were bragging how this would reduce our deficit (good play on TV). It saved $1.72 billion dollars. To the one minute sound bite crowd that seems like a lot. No one that reported the story also indicated that is only 1/3 of 1% of the multi-trillion dollar deficit.

On Saturday, the WSJ reported on a second amount of money. This is our tax money – and part of the General Motors package which is in its 4^th or 5^th edition.

A total of $6.2 billion of you money has been given to the United Auto Workers Pension Plan to back-up loses. Last time I checked it was NOT the job of the U.S. government to fund the United Auto Workers. This is all payback for the unions giving millions of dollars to the Obama campaign and voting for him as a block. And to think that Obama used that money to fly around the U.S. during the campaign basting “special interests groups.” Pay to play is alive and well in Washington and Obama’s as dirty as any of them. NO CHANGE has occurred here.

If Americans had been informed or bothered to get informed about this news – I think they’d feel different about the TV spin promises that Obama voters bought into during the last election.

I also took note that our Illinois State Treasurer (an Obama buddy) who road Obama’s coat tails to office in the last election is bored already and will run for Obama’s seat in 2012. Oh Boy! The State Treasurer of the state with the 2^nd worse fiscal problems in the country now wants to run for Senate.

I believe the federal government is there to protect our country – not to protect the unions. That’s private sector business. But since GM kissed the unions behind for the last 30 years and refused to tell them “no” our U.S. owned auto industry is down to a handful now. By not acting like a competitive private industry (cut costs – stay competitive – innovate), GM looked as bureaucratic as the government that just bailed them out.

The next pro-American president will have to rebuild our strength again just as Reagan had to do after Jimmy Carter.

IDIOLOGY IS DEAD

Philosophy, idiology and partisanship is dead. The passion of the Obama campaign around "Change" and the classic social conservative free market McCain-Palen will be the last of it's kind. There will be no more passionate "Yes We Can" or "John McCain" chants coming from "followers" of the two ideological camps. Americans will listen to politicians in the coming elections with the arms crossed - asking only one question "Will you stop the spending or not?"

The basis for voting will now coalesce around one issue - too much spending by government costing us too much of our incomes. Very soon the political elections will turn on an entirely different axis - one of "tax payers verses the political class." Americans will fix it. The media will still chase after the professional politicians until voting day when they will stare at you through the TV and gasp "What happened!"

As California has done for 1/2 a century, it will start a new trend that will sweep the country and sweep incumbents (professional politicians) out of office. California - mind you! 65% of the voters in California - the ultimate "Nanny State" told their politicians (in the words of Shoeless Joe Jackson in the fill "Field of Dreams") to STICK IT! Here's commentary from a blogger who lives in California.

My kids (the 20-40 age group) will fix it. They are not victims of the 60's war-baby fix it with government money crowd. The "causes" will dry up. It's all about the money now. Americans will fix it - the new younger ones must lead. Through the bums out!

The election was yesterday. There were two results, one very bad and rather stupid, the other rather bad and very stupid.

The first is that California voters rejected all the propositions, in every case by a “No” vote of 63-66%. (The only exception was a final proposition which bars legislative pay raises during budget-deficit years. California legislators are actually reasonably well-paid, and it’s one of the few states that keeps pace with inflation, but even so, annual increases add up to well under $2 million total; the proposed 2009-2010 budget is over $111 billion. Yes, the entire state went to the polls to vote on a cost-savings measure that comes to less than two thousandths of a percent of the budget, or, if you like, less than one-one hundredth of a percent of the projected budget deficit, while refusing measures totaling about a quarter of the projected deficit.) Every major elected official, from both parties, had campaigned heavily to pass the budget-gap referendums, but they were polling strongly negative before the election; the defeat was not unexpected, but it’s a huge problem. It’s just not conceivable what the state is supposed to do now. The voters won’t raise taxes, they won’t even raise lottery revenue (after first voting in the lottery as a - stupid, fraudulent, and regressive - way to avoid taxes to begin with). They won’t cut programs. They won’t shift money between programs. They won’t borrow money. They won’t save money. What the fuck do they expect their state government to do?

We might pause for a moment, here, to recall that these are the same voters who signed petitions requiring a $70 million special election to recall the previous governor, only three months after they voted him into office, and elect Schwartzenegger, because that governor also couldn’t balance the budget. (Turns out it’s not so easy, is it, Arnie?) These, again, are the same voters who - at Schwartzenegger’s insistence - also approved a recent referendum requiring balanced budgets. (Turns out just saying so doesn’t make it so, does it, Arnie?) The problem won’t go away just because stupid people voted to blame someone for it. Now the same stupid people have voted to refuse to do anything about it, while simultaneously voting to actively make it worse. It’s just unimaginable - there’s talk that the state could default on its bonds, which would put it in banana-republic financial territory. Schwartzenegger says he might cut the school year, fire tens of thousands of schoolteachers, and sell San Quentin prison in order to raise money!