12/14: Government Salaries Soar in Bad Times
Something President Obama said during his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in Oslo about making foreign policy is equally applicable at home, namely, that the world must be dealt with as it is, not as we might wish it to be. This was highlighted by a USA Today investigative report published last week that found “federal workers are enjoying an extraordinary boom time — in pay and hiring — during a recession that has cost 7.3 million jobs in the private sector.” In other words, bad times for the rest of us are good times for the federal establishment.
12/10: Dems to Lift Debt Ceiling by $1.8 Trillion, Fear 2010 Backlash
In a bold but risky year-end strategy, Democrats are preparing to raise the federal debt ceiling by as much as $1.8 trillion before New Year’s rather than have to face the issue again prior to the 2010 elections.
12/9: Is Barney Too Frank?
Barney Frank blows up at people. It’s what he does.
During the summer, he suggested a town hall attendee who compared President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler was as dense as a dinner table. He walked off the set of CNBC in June after the host interrupted his answer. And just recently, he cut off an interview with Newsweek, asking the reporter, “Are you trying to catch me in some lie?”
12/9: Honesty and Ethics Poll Finds Congress’ Image Tarnished
For the first time in Gallup’s annual Honesty and Ethics of Professions poll, a majority of Americans — 55% — rate the integrity of members of Congress as low or very low. By contrast, 83% of Americans say nurses, the top-ranking profession, have high or very high honesty and ethical standards.
12/8: President Obama Told Me to Stop ‘Demeaning’ Him, Says Rep. Conyers
President Barack Obama recently called Rep. John Conyers Jr. to express his frustrations with the Judiciary Committee chairman’s criticism.
In an interview with The Hill, Conyers said his opinions of Obama’s policies on healthcare reform and the war in Afghanistan have not sat well with the president.
12/4: Obama’s Fog of War
Tina Brown: As Hillary and Gates fan out to explain what Obama really meant the other night, it’s becoming clear that the “Great Communicator’s” skills are breaking down.
It’s a strange paradox for a great wordsmith, but whenever Obama makes an important policy speech these days he leaves everyone totally confused.
12/2: Critics Not Invited to White House’s ‘Jobs Summit’
Facing rising unemployment rates and having seen uncertain results from the stimulus bill, President Obama is hosting a “jobs summit” at the White House Thursday that will be packed with business leaders and economists supportive of White House policies but lacks a diversity of opinion, several analysts say.
11/30: Call for Cameras in Congressional Committee Rooms
It’s not happening anytime soon… but Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.) is calling for cameras to be installed in Congressional committee rooms. The call is certain to fall on deaf ears, but like Sen. Jim DeMint’s renewed (but probably futile) push for term limits, it should be applauded anyway.
11/27: Obamazilla Is America’s True Nemesis, Not Fellow Patriots
Lloyd Marcus: Eleven months ago, he landed on the shores of the presidency, destroying everything in his path. A gigantic, fire-breathing monster wreaking havoc, consuming private sector industries, crushing institutions which have made America great, and destroying lives. With fear and trembling we dare to utter his name…Obamazilla! Though appearing indestructible and unstoppable, millions of brave patriots arose to challenge the beast, vowing not to sit idly by as America as we know it is terminated.
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11/25: The White House’s Unprecedented Use of ‘Unprecedented’
The Obama White House is addicted to the “unprecedented.”
Perhaps it was a sign when President Barack Obama sat down in January to record his first weekly address and announced: “We begin this year and this administration in the midst of an unprecedented crisis that calls for unprecedented action.”
