Obama Gets One Right

Obama finally gets one right ! For me this isn't President Obama's first win, but to conservatives this is the first time the Obama administration has did something that has had overwhelming success in the marketplace. Cash for Clunkers may have saved the Democratic Congress from a midterm Rethuglican landslide.

With the success of the program -auto dealerships are moving 'new' cars at record rates. When the 'now' 3 billion program is finished, dealership will have few if any new cars in stock. This is good for the whole economy, it will mean that a chain reaction in hiring will have to happen. The large automakers will have to crank up production, to replace all of the new vehichles that have been sold through Cash for Clunkers. The parts makers will have to hire to keep up with the demand fron the automakers. The parts suppliers suppliers are going to need raw materials; as in steel, plastic and fiberglass to make the parts to send to the auto dealers, chain reaction. The Stock Market already knows this, prices of stocks are heading north fast.

As is usual the Rethuglicans are trying to put a damper on the program and it's economic benefits. This to me shows that the rethugs only want power, they tell the American people (indirectly) everyday that the don't care about their interest. It's all tax cuts, which help the wealthier in our society. Not that I have anything against wealthy people, They are the ones that employee people and drive our economy. I would just prefer for the Ruthuglicans to have more interest in the other 95% of the people who aren't in the top 5% of income earners.

From looking at what the Obama Administration has in the pipeline, with stimulus money and shovel ready projects things are going to be gangbusters the 4th qtr of this year, and all of next year. People need to understand that 20,000 projects are funded, going through final approvals and about to get started.

Like I've said before Rahm and the President are too smart not to flood the country with stimulus money and projects right before the 2010 congressional elections. If they play this right, (and I've heard conservative talk radio shows saying this could work) they could have the GDP Gross Domestic Product) moving at 5 to 6 % on the upside. Where right now it is 1% on the down side. Best estimates have the GDP at 2.5 to 3%. The Obama Administration predict 4%. I'll jump out the window at 5.5% to 6%.

Our economic system is healthy, Americans are saving money like not scene in 20 to 30 years. Because of the Madoff scandal and other Ponzi schemes, companies have been cleaning up their books and flying right. For banks and home buyers money is cheap. People don't understand that these guys are borrowing money from the treasury at like 1% or something crazy like that, and loaning it to the people basically at 6% or above unless you have excellent credit. You can't help but make money and if your doing volume your making a lot of money.

Garden Tip: If you would like to adjust the color of your roses to a deep intense red add about a half a cup of Epsom salt to the base of the rose bush, it should do the trick.

Henry Louis 'Skip' Gates Jr.- Wild Man !

I knew this was going to happen, as soon as words left his mouth. In these days of gotta journalism, a President has to be vague on controversial issues, to keep the wolves (press) at bay. The President let that one get away from him and now he has to pay. Things like these distract the American people from his real agenda; health care, energy and education.

I've always followed and admired Henry Louis Gates Jr. career. He's had an impressive run at Harvard, with his work on African American genealogy. But after listening to an radio announcer read the arrest report, the man was out of control . I'm sorry but, Mr Gates couldn't believe he was being treated like a common 'black dude', (welcome to the club, 'Skip'). With his celebrity at Harvard, I'm sure he's used to being recognized wherever he goes. But when this officer didn't immediately bow down to him- he lost it.

On top of that the President calls the cops stupid without having all the facts, something that would seem out of character with Mr Obama. He's a very careful person, he has to be, the wolves live for these moments. Today Mr. Obama held a surprise press conference, to discuss the matter. He mentioned he had spoken to the officer and he held no ill will, to Mr Gates or the President. One of the two suggest beers at the White House with Mr Gates,the officer and of course the President. The officer said sure, the President was game, Gates said he didn't drink beer.

Garden tip: When you have rusty equipment, don't throw your tools away. Soak the old shears, shovels and trowels in vinegar. Wipe away the residue after soaking overnight. Your tools should be good as new.

Hope

I'm sitting here listening to CNBC, this morning earnings are being reported for the second quarter of the year. Companies report their earnings to shareholders and the public, to give a barometer of how the stocks did that quarter and how they predict the future will look. What I like about the stock market is it is a crystal ball of what's going to be happening in the future. I wish the general public in America were forced to watch earnings reports, if they did the world would be so less stressed about Obama and his administration.

Over the last six months I've been paying attention to Wall Street and the Obama Administration, they have to be able to work together or this recession is not going to have a good outcome. A couple of times over these six months, I thought the Rethugs were going to 'Jimmy Carter', Obama. I always thought, how could this happen with someone like Rahm Emanuel as your right hand man, no offense but he is one of those 'super dynamic' Jews. The man can play hardball or softball, whatever way you want it and the Rethugs know it. Between Emanuel and Joe Biden- a man who's been in Washington since I was born. These two know how to unclog the machine and make things happen.

From what I've seen over the last week, companies on the Dow Jones (which covers about 12,000 securities in a number of markets) have been faring well, most companies have been reporting decent earnings. This is because most companies have been getting healthy 'fiscally' while laying off massive amounts of employees. When you do these things, they make a company lean and ready for the future, with future being the key word here. If any sort of strong to moderate recovery occurs, there is going to be a hiring bonanza. I would bet smart companies are already cherry picking through resumes trying to hire the best and brightest before other companies snap these people up.

All of this is percolating and just 20% of the stimulus has been allocated. The President and Mr Emanuel are timing the stimulus money allocation for the 2010 midterm elections-genius. If they are right, 70 to 80% of the stimulus will be allocated before the 2010 midterm congressional elections, if this happens the Democrats will be golden for re-election.

Already this morning Republican doom-sayers have been out trying to talk down the good news coming from Wall Street. The facts are the facts though. People need understand that Wall Street doesn't bet on 'now' they bet on what's going to happen in the 'future'. One example-Caterpillar the heavy machinery maker is up 10% this morning, on better than expected earnings, All of this and the stimulus hasn't really even took effect yet. It's not 'now' people, it's the 'future'.

Garden Tip: Slant cuts when pruning. Prune about a quarter inch above a bud on an angled. This lets water slide off the wound you've made pruning and makes it less likely that water with fungi will pool on the tip of the wound causing disease.

Fox New ism

Because conservatives/republicans read the newspaper, listen to talk radio, and watch news programs on tv more than democrats/liberals, our news providers have begun slanting the 'headlines' and leads of their stories to be more bias against democrats/liberals. This doesn't mean the bodies of these stories are right leaning though, what gives. News outlets like; The New York Times, CNN, Politico etc. have started headlining stories with negative leads about Democrats and the Obama Administration, red meat for the right.
You will see a headlines like: 'Obama's poll numbers sinking; America abandoning the President'. Obama fans and conservatives click on the link or tune in the radio and Obama's poll number's have dropped like 2 points. The writer of the story talks about how the President's numbers are still strong and 'really' most Americans are still behind him. But at the end of the piece they will quote one conservative who agrees with the headline premis and -there-they have their negative Obama headline story. No problem that 97% of the story is totally opposite of the headline.
Gloria Borger a CNN political analyst displays this type of reporting on the CNN website today. The headline reads: 'Republicans show signs of life', but when you click the link, she doesn't speak about Republican or 'signs of life' she's talking about Sotomayer and dodging questions during her hearings, what's that all about ? The press have found that they get more hits, sell more papers and attract more evening news viewers if they make the headline positive about conservatives or negative about Obama or Democrats, remember conservative read and follow the news more than liberals, it only makes sense.
I understand, everybody has to eat at these places, but what happened to the Walter Cronkite wing of the reporting business. When the NY Times starts playing these games, it seems that all is lost in the 'mainstream' reporting world. We are entering the era of Fox New ism. It's sad, the lengths these supposedly reputable news services will go to get a page view.

Garden Tip: Start seedlings indoors. Give your new plants a break in the battle against weeds. Raise seedlings in containers indoors. Once they are well-established transplant them to outdoor beds.

Let them eat Cake....

A couple of days ago President Obama was in Michigan to launch a new initiative concerning Community College enrollment around the country. It struck me that that was wise move, by a wise man. . A lot of people that go to college out of high school have no business going to a four year school, it just isn't for everybody.
The President's initiative strikes at the root of the problem here in America. Blacks, Latinos and poor whites, that have high school diplomas or a GED but really, no marketable skills. This is a problem, it breeds people who are lost and become fatalistic. We see them everyday on the evening news.
Community Colleges offer people, (for a reasonable price) and in a relatively short period time, a life long skill to build on. I would hope getting these skills, and working in their industry for a few years would lead these people to start their own business'. In looking at the way America is moving, this will be the only way that people who don't at least invest in a graduate level education can keep pace with the haves of this world.
I hope the President Obama will use all the powers of his office to get the information to the people who most can use it. Right now with the recession raging and people with and without marketable skills being put out of work, this is needed. We don't want a 'Maria Antoinette' moment-hear in America.

Gardening Tip: Did you know, after you prune your plants, they get hungry, especially when you do a hard pruning. Feed a plant after pruning and then add mulch at the base. This two step process should add nutrients to the plant that should last you the summer.

Obama vs. Palin not...

Sometimes if your listening to Political Talk Radio, Democratic or Republican slanted, you'll hear a caller compare President Barack Obama and Alaska Govenor Sarah Palin. Almost always if the caller is Republican they will make the point that Palin has more executive experience than Obama. Their reasoning being: she was the mayor of Wasila, Alaska and is now Governor of Alaska. They say that Obama was a community organizer and state legislature and a one year junior Senator of Illinois. Usually the talking head radio guy agrees, and millions of their listeners take this as fact, never mentioning Obama's complete resume.

I believe once or twice I've heard a person slip by the radio host's phone screener and tell the whole truth. After doing his undergrad at Colombia University and being elected President of the Harvard Law Review, Obama graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School. Yes he did become a Community Organizer, doing good in the hood is a not bad thing. From there, Constitutional Law Professor at University of Chicago (one of the most conservative law schools in America), a State Senator, and finally, Senator for the State of Illinois. This while writing two bestselling books.
Now, in my opinion, that's an almost perfect resume. It takes so much character and discipline not to take the money coming out of Law School. Becoming a community organizer says the most about who Barack Obama is. Some people don't understand how much money he left on table. Barack and Michelle are wealthy now, due to book sales of his two bestsellers. But this is only recently- the last 3 or 4 years. If they had choose to, they probably could have been pretty wealthy two or three years out of school.

On the other side, we have Sarah Palin, who seems to have set a pattern, 'pattern' being the key word here. Sarah's pattern of short stints at schools and jobs should be troubling to voters. Palin went to six colleges before she got her Journalism Degree. She was a Beauty Pageant contestant, a sports reporter for the local news in Alaska, then I believe she ran for Mayor of Wasila and won-a Alaska city of 7000 people tops. She was bright enough though, to know that she could leverage her looks, (something that's done everyday). In doing so, we find her as the Governor of Alaska -you can't be mad at her, becoming Governor of a state isn't easy. Now though, I think she'll go into the world of professional republican celebrity, get rich making silly speeches, and writing red meat books for conservatives. She'll still say dumb things from time to time. But her holding office days -are over.

I don't think the Republicans would trot her out against President Obama in 2012 anyway, Barack wishes they would though. I predict right now in 2009 that Obama will unfortunately be going against Tim Pawlenty from Minnesota, or maybe Mitt Romney, or both. If they run a ticket of Pawlenty and Romney or Romney and Pawlenty, it's going to be tough, Pawlenty just seems so 'sane' to be Republican.



Gardening Tip: Pinch or 'deadhead' your plant to prompt growth. deadheading your plant is imperative for the most blooms and growth. If you leave dead blooms on your plants, they will put their energy into setting seed rather than growing. Instead, encourage them to bush out and flower again by pinching off faded blooms. Your plants grow and flower will grow much more vigorously in the future.

Try to get a Job from a Poor Person

It pains me to say, but President Obama needs for the Democrats to lose the midterm Congressional elections. My reasoning goes like this: At this point in the recession there should be a bit more job growth going on, there isn't. Some of this has to do with Companies just not being sure how this recession thing is going to work out. There's also a large group of Companies led by Conservative Republicans who could hire more, probably alot more, but they don't care for Obama and his policies. This is the 'lets cut taxes' crowd. They have a lot of power when it comes to making the American Economy move.

If you get time- watch CNBC- check out it for a day. Most of the commentators and their guests (Captains of Industry literally), CEO's, Hedge Fund Managers etc., watch these guys and it will tell you why the economy is not doing well. These people want-what-they-want and if they don't get it, there not gonna play ball ,(do any hiring).
A lot of people these days are convinced that rich people are evil, I would say to that: "try to get a job from a poor person". If the Democrats lose the midterms, it will give Obama cover to ignore much of the liberal agenda, that he has in the pipelines right now. Obama needs (just like Clinton did) to move a bit more to the right. It's a damn shame but he needs to throw the 'lets cut taxes' crowd a bone, or they are not going to play ball. If they don't play ball, Obama has no chance, none.

In watching the conservative stock market commentator Larry Kudlow on the Kudlow Report/ CNBC you get the distinct felling this guys are sitting on their hands, very negative about the future, always talking about tax cuts. These people need to be pacified. If Obama/Democrats lose the midterm elections the Republicans will feel like they've knock Obama off his perch, sadly that's all they want. Obama can then- work with the Republican Congress and really do some negotiating and get healthcare, energy and education reformed and not just try to figure out how to tax achievers to pass on to the -less fortunate.

Gardening Tip: Bigger Plants and trees are not better. When choosing a tree to plant in your yard buy a small, sturdy sapling rather than a larger already-trained tree. A young sapling may need a little more training, but it's more likely to survive the transplant and grow into a strong healthy tree.

The Truth

I think it all went wrong in the mid to late 80's, sometime after Walter Cronkite retired. He was probably the last real journalist we've had in America. These days America is led by the nose by our 24 hr news cycle. The people who work for CNN, Fox ABC, NBC and CBS are under pressure to make news every single hour of the day, even if there isn't news.
Being under such pressure, they have learned that outright lies generate viewers just as well as the truth. It makes no difference, as long as people tune in. There in-lies our problem- we have accepted outright lies as news, to be debated back and forth, even thought the person reporting these lies knows for certain that some of the statements they are reporting are not truthful.
Right now with the stimulus plan the media are reporting that the stimulus isn't working and we may need a second round of stimulus. What went wrong and where's the money, they ask-knowing full well that only 11% of the 787 bn. dollars has been spent. I listened to Rep. Eric Cantor on PBS talk about how the stimulus is a failure and he knew it all along. No one through the whole interview mentions that only a 10th of the money allocated has been spent.
This seems to happen overwhelmingly with Rethugligans telling the media almost any lie they want and the media reporting it as truth. Vincent Bugliosi the man who wrote the book "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder" said in that book, "the media is scared of Republicans, this is why they (the media) let them get away with outright lies". This is also why the Clinton Impeachment went as far as it did. The media were just as complicit as Rethugs in that travesty.
It's the reason that President Obama is basically being rushed concerning the economy right now. Rethugs are pounding the drums (media) complaining the economy should have turned around by now. I don't buy it at all. It was bad in October, November and December. America was on the brink of a full scale run on the banks, something that hasn't happened since the Great Depression. Now five months into Obama's Administration all is suppose to be turned around and everybody suppose to be back to work. It doesn't work like that, and the media knows this, but remember these people have to come up with a 'story' by 6pm- if it's true or not is beyond the point.
Garden Tip: Need to pep up a stunted plant, Add a tablespoon of ammonia to a gallon of water. Ammonia is an instant source of nitrogen that can jump-start a plant without sticking around to harm the plant.

Slow it Down

I finally see President Obama's problem, he needs to slow down peoples expectations. That doesn't mean he needs to change his agenda or dumb it down or anything like that. What I'm talking about is telling the American people as much and as often as you can-that this is going to take a while. The American people are being led (with the media's help) to believe that the stimulus isn't working and that we've just wasted 787 billion dollars.
What the not-too-bright American people have to understand is that we've spent about 50 or 60 billion tops of the 787 bn. stimulus money. There is a awful lot of money left. Lots of magic can be made with that amount of money. Our problem is that we have a 24hr news cycle that just keeps asking is the recession over, is the recession over, is the recession over. Just like children.
The people have to some how, block that nonsense out. Also we need to remember the people who got us into this situation and not forget. Those same people are going to try to sell us Sarah Palin as a serious Presidential candidate. Palin just like our last President doesn't look at the details very closely, you see where that got us.

Garden Tip: Something a little cheesy but fun to do. if you have a pair of old working outside boots. Make them into planters. Just add gravel in the bottom of the boots, some soil and your favorite plant or flower, something easy like a petunia or pansies. Be sure to drill some drainage holes and you'll have yourself a cool little planter. Presto !

THe 4th huh....

It's a day after the 4th of July I'm thinking about America, and our new President. The country has its hands full. Were at war on two fronts. The economy isn't bouncing back like it usually has during recessive times and Michael Jackson is still dead.

Concerning the war, America is in a precarious position, we have a lot of miltary men tied up between leaving Iraq and ramping up in Afghanistan. North Korea knows this, also Iran knows this. If you look at the saber rattling North Korea has been doing, they would really like to 'try us'. They have a million man army and quite a few scud and long range missiles that they would like to launch into Hawaii or California just to see how we would react. Iran likewise has a million man army and with us potentially at war on (3) fronts, they could decide to "pile on" and see if they could finally bring down the 'evil' empire.

If a scenario like this were to ever materialize we would have only one option- nukes. We don't have the man power to fight all of these wars. We could probably count on Israel, Great Britain and Canada to help out, but otherwise it would definitely be a nuclear war.

The drum beat is getting louder concerning the economy. We have the stimulus being rolled out slowly but surely, but not much has happened, people are still losing their jobs and the opposition (Rethugs) are gaining the upper hand concerning the bully pulpit. Everyday you're hearing more and more pundits on the cable news shows grilling Obama Administration talking heads about "where's the beef?" President Obama is out on the road again, holding town hall meetings. He usually only does this when the Indians (media) are circling. Something needs to break soon when it comes to jobs. If not, all bets are off for the 2010 Congressional elections, Democrats could take a bath.

The Michael Jackson circus is still in full throttle. The longer it goes on the more I have reservations concerning Mr. Michael Joeseph Jackson. The man was a straight up junkie, who if you do a little research on the net and look at the lawsuits and court filings from children in his entourage was likely also a pedophile, who had a enough money to beat the case. I tell my wife all the time, you can definitely buy yourself some justice in America if you can afford the price. Michael paid and was released of his burdens. What's going on now with the revisionist history of his latter life is something else. If it was Joe Blow who had the latter life of Michael Jackson it wouldn't be pretty, we'll leave it like like that.

Garden Tip: Tobacco and Coffee kill pests. Drop some chewing tobacco or coffee grinds into your watering can to get natural pest protection. But don't use too much, Nicotine and caffeine can also kill your plants if you use too much. A little dab will do you.

Obama Problems

It's been a slow news week. The Republicans have been beating up on President Obama concerning Honduras as I predicted, health care is out there some where and America has officially withdrawn troop from Iraq's major cities. Things are fluid.
Governor Sanford from South Carolina keeps digging, when he should just be quiet. That would be too much like right. I'm getting a feel for Obama's politics at this point in his tenure and I sort of like them but I don't know how they are going to hold up in the elections, coming up next year.

The President is coming off as a tax and spend liberal, when really he's not. In America this isn't something that our country particularly likes. Even though it helps a large portion of the population, I know -it's crazy. I'm interested in seeing if the American people stay on the President's side when the employment rate goes over 10%, this will be the deciding factor on a lot of the President agenda going forward.
Believe me, the Republicans are ready to pounce and make their case for fiscal responsibility(even though they spent like drunken sailors when they were in power). The problem is that the American people have memories like elephants, we forget so so soon. One good thing that has happen since Bill Maher called out Obama concerning the President loving to be on TV. You haven't seen much of the President on TV. This is good to me. This keeps the people from personalized the issues to Obama. These are American problems, not just Obama problems.

Gardening tip: Entice Roses to bloom. For the most buds on your rose you're gonna need to dead head the rose. This means cutting off the old flowers to create new ones. You should also spray your roses, two products I recommend are Bayer and Savin disease control. Spraying roses keeps diseases and bugs from eating and destroying your plants.