Obama's Economic Plan

The Times: Reports on the Obama Plan to prevent another second Great Depression in the United States, majority spending on public areas and tax cuts.. The problem with the plan is two fold, it wont work fast enough, all the spending on the roads and schools and new Energy Technology etc will take time, while that is going on the recession could become a Depression. Also it it needs stating that it was not Roosevelt's New Deal that bought the USA out of the Great Depression it was World War Two, in fact it was the spending of the UK that bankrupted the Empire but allowed the USA to become our successor on the World Stage. Also the idea that tax cuts will be spent by the poor is missing the point, spending will occur on house hold items, food, medical items but what about non important items, the service industry survives on those extra dollars being spent, if the poor don't spend and the rich don't get any tax cuts who is going to buy that new Car or that faster broadband. Obama just might be a one term President.

Also the President shows some naivety if he thinks the Congress wont place its own interests when it comes to spending money, Obama stated the following today in a speech, " That also means an economic recovery plan that is free from earmarks and pet projects. " What ever Obama wants to spend you have to add a few billions from the House and Senate, that it how the systems works, the Democrats will support Obama but they have run for re-election in two and six years time, thus they have to bring back dollars to their home turf. Obama might find his best friend in the US Senate is John McCain, McCain has opposed the idea for years that the Congress should add their own projects to government spending. Lets hope Obama has the right team in the White House, in 1981 Reagan had the best team since LBJ, he got his tax cuts and defence spending through a Democrats Congress also deep cuts in non Defence projects. Obama has to use the phone and go up to the Congress and twist some arms, but he should recall he has eight years to solve this problem, FDR had four terms. After two years if Obama's polls are low the Congress will run against him if they have to get re-elected. Lets hope Obama when it comes to dealing with Congress is another LBJ and Ronald Reagan.

David Tennant - Hamlet

Telegraph: Great review of David Tennant in Hamlet, the paper writes the following, " one of the finest productions of Hamlet I have ever seen, led by an actor of extraordinary courage and charisma who has made a persuasive claim to true greatness." This is why Mr Tennant is considered a great Doctor Who, a great charismatic actor, you don't get that normally, charisma and great acting ability, Mr Tennant has shown that in Casanova and Dr Who, we shall miss him as the Time Lord but we of the Dr Who fan base know one day he will get an Oscar, Hollywood will sure call for our Doctor.

Gaza Today

The Times: Reports on the temporary ceasefire in Gaza Today and the on going mission by Israeli Armed Forces to prevent rocket attacks on Israel. Israel should not allowed itself to be bullied by the outside world, this is their time to destroy Hamas. If the government of Israel waits it will face an Obama Administration that will be pushed by its left wing to veto further military action by Israel. It is better to be harsh now and win, than appease the World and face rocket attacks from the Gaza that is supported by Iran. The government of Israel has to ask, what if Iran gives Hamas nuclear material to throw at Israel. The government of Israel has a duty to protects its citizens. Thus Destroy Hamas and then have a two state solution in the Middle East.

POTUS - Rear View Mirror

Courtesy of the White House: Left to Right: President George H.W. Bush, President - Elect Obama, President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, President Jimmy Carter.

7/1/09

CNN: Reports how the passage of History has been kind to the former Presidents. How in some cases the public have a better view of their Administrations than at the time. How Jimmy Carter's record can look less than a disaster is beyond this commentator. Lets see what the Obama ratings are after four years, he has a lot of Domestic and Foreign Policy problems that will become his problems on 20th January 2009 at 12pm.

Congressional Black Caucus and President Obama

The New York Times: Reports on the future relationship between the House of Represetatives Black Caucus and the first African - American President. This will be interesting test for President Obama, he didn't run on race and thus he wants to get re- elected in 2012, the House is always running, Obama has to be the President of the United States not the President of the Black Caucus, it can be argued in pure political terms that it would be good if Obama got in to dust up with the House Black Caucus, it would show that his interests are beyond just the matter of race. The President - Elect has many Domestic and Foreign Policy problems, it can be argued that the Congressional Black Democrats often run of white guilt over civil rights, it was correct argument to run in the past, not now, its a new day folks, so some advice to the Caucus, extend your interests, the poor are not just black they are all colour, when your at the bottom of the ladder its not about colour is about getting to the of the week and putting food on the table. The Caucus cant use guilt on Obama to get there agenda, thus if they are to be relevant today not ten years ago or forty years ago, change should be their mantra, help all people and don't expect any favours from Obama. Obama is a canny politician, he will run against Congress if he needs to, thus new day and new politics. Read of the Day.

Exclusive Club - Oval Office and POTUS

Telegraph: Has an article on Bill Clinton getting the last word in public before the former Presidents had private talks. This should be a warning to Obama, what is Bill Clinton going to be like with Hillary Clinton at the State Department, how many rock stars can there be in any Administration, there could be two Elvis's in the building. It must have felt ironic for Bill Clinton this meeting, it was not meant to be this way, it was suppose to follow a different script, it was meant to be Hillary Clinton the first woman President of the United States not the first African - American President. Have to admit Ronald Reagan was still the best POTUS.

All POTUS

BBC News: Reports on the meeting between President George W. Bush and President - Elect Obama and other former Presidents of the United States. Lets hope President - Elect Obama does not follow the disastrous example of President Jimmy Carter in Foreign Policy and the domestic failure of Bush 41, thus his defeat by President Clinton in 1992. Thus it can be postulated that Obama needs the deftness of touch of Bush 41 when it comes to Foreign Policy and the domestic skills of Bill Clinton when dealing with the Congress. The last big meet of all the former Presidents was in 1981 when President Ronald Reagan sent them on a Diplomatic Mission to Egypt, in 1981 the line up was Nixon, Ford, Carter and President Reagan.