Stimulus, Illustrated

My inspiration (and, data) comes from Suitably Flip's post by the same name. I wasn't wild about the style of his graphic (spheres? word art?), so I gave it my own make over.

Anyway, here's a graphic I think helps bring some perspective to the Stimulus (it's alternative name — the "Generational Theft Act of 2009" — is appropriately gaining ground) heading to the Senate. I think it's worth sharing. Click for larger.



Referenced "more info" links:

• http://readthestimulus.org/


• http://www.cato.org/fiscalreality


• http://www.cafehayek.com/hayek/stimulus/

My Thoughts Exactly - Wishing President Obama Well

McQ at QandO:

Unlike the left, I’m not playing this "he's not my President" nonsense. I may not have voted for him, but he is my President. And I wish him well. That doesn't mean, however, that he has my blessing to do things to which I am philosophically opposed. I will vigorously oppose those things. What I don't plan on doing is descending into personal attacks and hate-filled rhetoric that so characterized much of the left's opposition this past 8 years. What I do plan on doing is reminding the left about how they acted in the same situation.

...

All of that said, I wish President Obama success on those things in which we find common ground. And I promise him dogged but respectful opposition to those on which we disagree. I understand, no matter how much we disagree, that in reality Barack Obama has the best interest of the country at heart. But the same stands true for me. However, as the left never seems to learn, opposition does not have to mean hate.

President Obama: You are my President and you have my best wishes. May God grant you the wisdom to sustain and improve the great country of ours over the next four years.

Thank You, President Bush

I disagreed with many things President Bush did while in office. This TARP nonsense, particularly.

However, I don't think anyone on September 12, 2001 would have predicted we would be 7 years down the road without a single follow up domestic attack. For that Bush deserves a great deal of credit.

And so, mission #1: accomplished.


Farewell and thank you for your service, President Bush.

Notes on the Inauguration

Racist prayer? Check.

Belittling a horrid caricature of your predecessor's policies (while your predecessor is there)? Check.

Classy supporters? Check.

New website that's basically a campaign site, but paid for by the taxpayer? Check. In fact, double check.


If this is the new status quo, I'm hoping for a change.

The Message of King Missed in the Present?

Wasn't Martin Luther King Jr.'s message precisely that we should look past skin color, to the content of an individual's character?

Why then are so many in such a frenzy over our first black president? I have no doubt that in the coverage of the inauguration tomorrow the media will focus squarely on Obama's skin color, rather than look past it.



Wouldn't King's dream be that we not care, at all, what color Obama is?

On the Tube, In the Tank

Tomorrow's inaugural coverage:



Fox, quite reasonably is devoting 2 1/2 hours. PBS seems somewhat even keeled with 3 hours.

It's hard to believe that "hard to stay objective" NBC doesn't have the longest coverage, starting only at 10:30 AM and cutting off at 3:30 PM for a mere 5 hours.

So just how cool is he?", "Does it get any better, or more beautiful, or more spectacular, than this?" CBS comes in next. They're kicking things off at 9:30 AM and running until 3:30 PM for a total of 6 hours.

Finally, ABC, will get to lay claim to it's initials standing for the "Always Barack Channel," with their 7 hour love fest from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. I suppose ABC taking the cake is fitting given how they dishonestly made Palin look like a fool to help seal the deal for Obama.



Oh, and it's worth mentioning tomorrow's Prime Time line up as well:

NBC has their 59 minute special, "NBC News Special: The Inauguration of Barack Obama".

PBS (on a sub-channel) will re-air their earlier coverage, and on their main channel present the 1 hour show "Frontline: Dreams of Obama."

CBS has their 61 minute special, "Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Barack Obama".

And ABC again makes sure to take the cake with a 2 hour "The Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration Celebration" featuring "an exclusive look inside the Presidential Inauguration Ball, from the President and First Lady's first dance of the night to President Obama's initial speech of the evening, along with appearances by celebrities and musicians." This to be followed by yet another hour of Obamarama in "ABC News Special: A Moment in History: The Inauguration of Barack Obama."

Refreshingly, Fox is leaving Prime Time alone.


Over the next four years, it certainly looks like we are going to need a larger tank.

Google thinks California's voters' votes shouldn't count

Google, not content that their campaign against Proposition 8 failed, is now joining the legal battle to overturn the vote of the people of California.

A company working to overturn the vote of the California voters. This is shameful and disturbing.

As I've mentioned previously, I'd prefer Google (and any other company) to just stay out of the whole thing. I'd be equally uneasy if they had been (and were now) advocating in favor of Proposition 8. Technology companies should simply not be trying to set social policy. And taking it to this point where they are trying to overthrow the will of the people ... ugh.


Ask.com, anyone?

Also, if you want to support the effort to defend the California voters' decision, head over to the Alliance Defense Fund.