Burn OUT - David Axelrod

The New York Times: Reports on the strains that David Axelrod suffers due to being a close aide to President Obama. The article has an interesting take on the inner power relationships of the Obama White House, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is " the administration’s chief pragmatist, and Mr. Axelrod, by implication, as something of a swooning loyalist. ". All Presidents have an Axelrod, Bush 43 had Karl Rove, the question is do they have someone like Nancy Reagan, someone the President cant fire, someone he cant escape from, Mrs Reagan was a powerful player in the White House during Iran - Contra, she helped President Reagan get the ship back on course, does the President Obama have someone who can tell him the truth, the real truth and does not consider him the Second Coming. If not President Obama will be a one term President and he will be seen as a false prophet in the eyes of many Americans, that will hurt this arrogant President.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a British Soldier was killed on Saturday in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 3 RIFLES ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 270 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 237 in combat operations and 33 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. The level of attrition is more that 2009, we need a new plan for Afghanistan.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a British Soldier was killed on Friday in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 3 RIFLES ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 269 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 236 in combat operations and 33 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. This is the third death this month, in 2009 in March the UK lost three soldiers, lets hope there are no more deaths in March 2010.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the soldier killed on Tuesday in Afghanistan, the soldier was " Corporal Richard Green from 3rd Battalion The Rifles ". Our thoughts are with the family of Corporal Green.

Abortion

Fox News: Reports that the issue of abortion could destroy Obama's health care reform bill, Conservative Democrats are threatening to sink the Bill if the Government is allowed to pay for abortion. It is an irony that abortion is the one issue that this blog supports the policy of Government funding, but it would be ironic if it was Conservative Democrats that bring down the Obama Administration, lets be clear if Obama loses HCR he is finished on the Hill. The Mid Terms Elections are coming up, if Obama fails on HCR the Democrats on the Hill will block most of the Obama Agenda. Of course if Obama does pass HCR the Oval might find in early November that it has lost the House and the Obama Agenda is dead on the Hill. Either way HCR will make Obama a one term President. Got to love the symmetry.

18/3/2010 = HCR Vote

The White House Press Secretary has stated that Oval expects to get health care reform through the House of Representatives by the 18 March 2010. Lets see if the liberal leadership in the House has the votes and if Obama has the LBJ touch in Congress.

Close Call - Health Care Reform

Fox News: Reports how moderate and conservative Democrats are still worried about the political costs of Obama's health care reform. As stated in my posts this is the time for POTUS to show if he is another LBJ or Carter, so far in pure political terms one can argue that it is 60/40 that the Bill will passed. The Weekly Standard reports that Obama is giving out sweets to House members, a Judgeship for a vote, well that is the impression from news reports, lets see what other bribes the Oval gives out to House members. Those that are leaving and voted NO first time could find a nice cushy job in the Obama Administration if they change their votes. Or those that face defeat in the Mid Terms could also get cushy jobs in the Obama Administration if they change their vote from NO to Yes. I don't have a problem with these political bribes, that is politics 101, it is when it costs three hundred million or other bribes that this blog gets annoyed. Thus one has to say that in pure political terms Obama is more LBJ than Carter. Lets see how it plays out.