Outside the Arena

"Centrist" Obama addresses Congressional Republicans

http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/01/angry-obama-lashes-out-at-house-republicans-tells-them-i-am-not-an-idealogue-video/

Look at the video.

I would say that like the terms, middle class, tax cut, spending cut and stimulus - centrist is one where there MUST be alternate meanings. Obama might be many things, "centrist" is not one of them.

I give him credit for coming there and actually facing his bogeyman. Next he'll be interviewed on Rush Limbaugh...

He doesn't get that conservatives don't want him "to get things done." Getting things done to him means enlarging the government. He just doesn't get it - and these remarks prove the disconnect.

Brian

MA "interim" Senator Paul Kirk is still voting

I thought we lived in the age of the internet, where things happened instantaneously.

http://biggovernment.com/2010/01/28/why-is-senator-kirk-still-voting-on-legislation/

Then, why is interim - and non-elected - Senator Paul Kirk STILL voting on Senate matters? The election, as widely reported, was more than 10 days ago. I doubt elected Senator Scott Brown is coming to DC on horseback... So why is someone who wasn't elected still voting while the voters choice (and very recent choice at that) is not?

I have no idea. Perhaps they should change the law (again)...

Brian

The terroism trial in... White Plains???

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/us/29terror.html

Quick - what do President Obama and the Fonz (Happy Days) have in common?

Well, the Fonz does not play golf - at least that we know, is not a law professor - oh wait... he can never say, "I was wro......"

Trying these war criminals in a civilian court in New York City is and was such an insane idea - why the heck are we still even considering it?

Now Mayor Bloomberg says that the costs of security, etc. would be way too high... Yes. That is what we want to do, borrow and spend a billion dollars to protect Kalid Shiek Mohammed and his lawyers. Yeah. That's the ticket.

You know things are bad when Senator Schumer essentially punts - and says he defers to Bloomberg and other elected officials in NY...

But then, in a discussion of alternate sites - they come up with White Plains, NY??? The same media. The same insane circus. The same rants. How about we just try the guy in a military court where he belongs?

After all, if it wasn't apparent that these folks declared war on the US in 1993 with the first WTC bombing, in 1997 with the USS Cole - then I think 9-11-01 made it pretty clear, no?

Gee. If we try this guy and he's found guilty, I hope the Europeans don't think we're barbaric... Maybe we can give them all a few hundred billion more to improve our self-image - and, of course, apologize.

Brian

bin Laden on "Climate Change" - you can't make this stuff up

Yup. The man who brought us the 9-11 attacks speaks out on Al Gore's favorite (fake) issue...

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1957621,00.html

Now, we're talking credibility here... I mean, who but a guy freezing in a cave for a decade is a better authority on global warming?

And, no surprise here, the budding al Jazerra weatherguy blames... the United States! In fact, he calls for a boycott of all US products and currency.

No mention exactly of who sells half of the carbon (that's oil, folks, black gold, Texas Tea) to the US... uh, no.

I mean, when Gore, bin Laden, Obama, Pelosi and a bunch of fake emailers (er scientists) team up on the same side of such an important issue... I mean, who are we going to believe? Them or Sarah Palin? Now - THAT's SCIENCE!

Help! And the best part - I have to believe that Time Magazine publishes this with a straight face. Interestingly the media can always find this guy when he wants to tell the world what he thinks...

Brian

Obama - 'I want the Republicans off the sidelines' Huh???

Well, it isn't April Fools Day, so I guess there is absolutely no one in the mainstream press who will call this guy out.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-obama-republicans,0,1366366.story

Unbelievable. I am as critical of the GOP as anyone, but they have submitted at least 5 health care proposals that I remember - not to mention job growth programs and stimulus alternatives.

It wasn't the Republicans that had to stage House and Senate votes on Saturday night or Christmas morning.
The Republicans, until last week, also had an airtight minority position... which Obama, Pelosi and Reid never hesitated to point out that "elections have consequences..."

After blaming Bush for all his own problems - and presumably his lack of ability to solve them - during his State of the Union address last night - NOW - he wants the Republicans off the sidelines???

To do what? Bring Pelosi a water bucket?

I cannot believe what this President is allowed to get away with by big media.

Brian

Hillary 2012

I wonder if US News read this here last week... http://www.outsidethearena.com/2010/01/another-prediction.html

Because today, they published, http://www.usnews.com/blogs/peter-roff/2010/01/27/a-hillary-clinton-primary-challenge-to-obama-in-2012.html

Just kidding - it just makes sense.

I never thought I'd say it - but we'd have been better off with Hillary in 2008 than either Obama or McCain...

I do not believe for a minute that she'd run against an incumbent President as things are today. However, I do see her resigning Secretary of State "for personal reasons." This, as the Obama perception of competency sinks into the sunset.

In November 2008, I posted here that Obama was most like Jimmah Carter. It was 1977 all over again. Well, now it is 1978... Some may recall that in 1979, we had some "middle east" problems - and that an old name from inside the Democrats came to challenge the incumbent for his party's nomination in 1980. That was Ted Kennedy, roughly 12 years after his second brother was killed while campaigning to also unseat a sitting Democrat... In 2012, it will have been 12 years since hubby bubba was in the White House. Unlike Kennedy against Carter though, Hillary would need to challenge Obama from the right.

I hope she runs. I don't like her politics, but I don't doubt her intellect, her desire to see America prosper or her tenacity for a second. I don't recall her age, but I would think she would be almost 70 by 2016 - and after (possibly) 8 years of a Democrat, would not be in a good tactical position then. She would be a heckuva lot better than the crew who is there now.

Brian

More "stimuli" for Florida!

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1450689.html

Oh yes. More jobs, jobs, jobs... A couple more billion borrowed. Yes. Those great government jobs...

Of course, we really all know why he's headed to Tampa... He's going to check up on how that great new washer/dryer/car and new kitchen are doing for that lady he promised them to last year - back when he was the "one" - also to check up and make sure that kid had better benefits at McDonalds... Before doing that, better check the papers and see if that McDonalds is still in business.

Yes. Finger on the pulse. Can we please elect someone with some background and competence next time? And GOP - that would indicate that you'd actually have to nominate someone next time that would actually have some ideas and leadership skills. No small task, since it has been a great while since you've done that.

Kind of ironic that Charlie Crist is ditching Obama after meeting Air Force One on the tarmac... After all, he is the one who handed the GOP nomination to McCain last year with his endorsement...

Brian

Tuning it out - and NOT having the courage to change

Last night, around 9PM, I sat down in front of my television. Lo and behold, my FIOS program guide showed there was "The State of the Union" speech on at least eight different channels... I remember when the prior administration used to request TV time and would be telecast on one channel. I guess it all is a matter of priorities, after all, this pivotal speech was "critical to recasting Obama's presidency..." At least that is what the media said most of the day.

I don't know about you, but I am tired of hearing about "courage to change." What courage? This isn't about courage at all - he actually had the nerve to relate a political / economic discussion to combat troops fighting at D-Day. Even if his health plan goes into the trash, I believe that he'll still be having breakfast the next day served by the White House staff...

MSNBC sounded relieved this morning about no GOP "moments" - like the Joe Wilson - "you lied" thing of a few months ago. That, after all, was disrespectful - booing Bush, however was just free speech.

I had to turn this off quickly. The President is not only clueless about the American economy, he is also tone deaf. Isn't it apparent to him that the majority of Americans do not like his direction, his strategy and his ideas? Doesn't he realize that more of his "investments" in capital projects will not cause hiring in the private sector? Does he care about that at all? He talks about the travails of regular people who "send out resumes each week..." Doesn't he know that his policies are preventing companies from expansion and hiring? Just yesterday, news reports here in NJ were that the unemployment benefits fund is $1.5B in debt (for NJ alone, by the way) and that there would be an extra $1,000 per year tax on employers for EACH employee. Does this sound like alot of hiring will take place?

Stay the course... To what? 20% unemployment? More of the same bad ideas - only bigger this time? Huge government spending, more businesses going out of business, more and higher unemployment - but at least we'll feel good about things - after all, "the rest of the world" will like and respect us... Ugh.

As I say, I had to turn it off. This president can read a teleprompter, but what was loud and clear last night was that while signaling a "new era of politics" in America - and working together - his actions could not be further from those words. And further, his actions have been disastrous. I keep coming back to this - he fired the former CEO of GM last year because of bad performance. I doubt that guy spent TRILLIONS - with absolutely no effect...

And one more thing. Obama - in this new era of civility - actually called out the Supreme Court during his speech on their recent decision (posted on this blog). He maintained that their decision opens the door for "foreign corporations" to influence US Elections... You'd think such a distinguished and learned Ivy-grad and U of Chicago "law professor" would know that the law cited in that decision - EXPLICITLY prohibited foreign-owned corporations. If you're going to engage in politicizing court decisions - how about actually getting it right? Calling out the Supreme Court that way - why, it's almost like yelling, "You lied" in the middle of the chamber...

Foreign-owned corporations... So under this administration - which is selling our country to anyone who'll loan us cash - what's the difference between them and a foreign-owned corporation?

Brian

Tax Revenue drops - and the consequences

Deficits. Well, to listen to the President, the leaders in Congress and the very compliant media, all we need to do is increase tax rates - then collect the money and bring down the deficit.

Look at the charts here - http://libertyworks.com/obamanomics-an-endless-downward-spiral/

On a simple level, taxes incurred equals taxable income multiplied by tax rates. This is true for individuals and companies.

The charts here from "Libertyworks.com" are very telling in that government "revenues" - i.e., actual dollars collected is way, way down. Did I miss a tax rate reduction??? No - it is because there is less economic activity... Therefore when that lessened activity is multiplied by the same tax rates - the product is lower...

I know the geniuses in the media discount the Laffer Curve and all the other supplysiders, but guess what - supplyside works. If you stimulate the economy by allowing more dollars to stay inside the system, taxable events (sales, profits, income) increase - meaning the government collects more without changing rates. This was proven in the 1980's - with 1987 breaking the record for taxes collected.

For all of you unfamiliar with "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand - please read it. It is fiction, but the logic demonstrated by an out-of-control government closely follows the Reid - Pelosi - Obama strategies of today.

If they are really interested in creating private sector jobs - and collecting more taxes, the path is pretty clear - it has been proved over time again and again... But when what you really want is to create government jobs, well, then their current strategy makes sense...

Are we all playing for the same team? I am not sure anymore. We do not have a revenue problem - we have a government spending problem.

Brian

Companies and Jobs

Sign of the times in NJ - and all over the north.

http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/01/golden_boy_moved_to_texas.html

So AT&T is moving their corporate symbol from NJ to Texas... Hmmm. Let's see... Texas - ah, ha. No state income tax. Smaller compliance fees. Right.

There was a time where the world headquarters of AT&T - the largest telecom company and one of the largest companies in any industry - was on the historic Morristown Green.

The world operations center was about 10 miles down Rt 287 in Bedminster.  There were all kinds of nice restaurants and bistros on the green - the local economy boomed - housing in the surrounding areas escalated. Why? Because of jobs. Private sector jobs. Jobs that paid well and were secure and allowed people to feel comfortable enough to buy that large home in Mendham or Basking Ridge or Harding. And that inflow of people and money drove NJ through the Kean years.

AT&T had troubles later, eventually merged with SBC and the companies HQ moved to Texas. And now - Headquarters Plaza in Morristown sits there today. The two towers are mostly occupied with law firms and a tech staffing company. Law firms are big in Morris County and the County Court is a few blocks away... The shopping mall that used to extend through both buildings on the ground floor - mostly to serve the employees and vendors of AT&T is empty now - save for a fitness center, a move theater and the local arm of the county college - absolutely deserted at night. No stores - no reason - no employees.

Luckily for the county - when AT&T left, pharma came in - and some Wall Street back offices came out. And while no one went to HQ Plaza, they did employ lots of people in the County. But now, with pending health care legislation and other reasons, pharma companies continue to consolidate - and some move out - like Roche leaving Nutley after many, many years.

So now, this symbol of a Fortune 10 company that used to be the employer of thousands locally, moves to Texas. And it is all about taxes, government spending and yes - employment. Evidently the move made sense despite NJ's proximity to NY and Philadelphia, its' schools and history and all the rest.

Lesson learned?  Nah. The Democrats, led by Dick Codey are fighting the new governor on spending cuts...

Brian