The Obama Plan ?

CNN Politics/Money: Reports on the possible ideas that could be in President Obama’s speech for Thursday, 1, Government spending, 2 , tax breaks for business if they hire those out of work, 3, Extension of Welfare, unemployment benefits, 4, tax holiday to allow US business to bring profits home. If you’re the Republican Majority in the House you will say No to 1, Obama’s spending is the reason for the present mess, 3, At what point do you say NO to welfare spending, its time, the US is not a European Country. Also the for political reasons the Republicans will say no, 4, to a tax holiday, the more business is angry with Obama, the more money they will give to Republicans in 2012. In other words folks watch the build up to the start of American football, you will learn more and its more fun.

The Republican Debate = Reagan Presidential Library

The New York Times: Reports on the first Presidential debate for the leading Republican Candidate for 2012, Governor Rick Perry of Texas, as the article notes there is expected to be a fight between Governors Perry and Romney. Lets get real folks, the Republican race is between Perry and Romney, since entering the race Perry has displaced Romney as the front runner for 2012. It can be argued that Perry should not be critical of Romney, he should invoke Reagan’s 11th Commandment, never attack a fellow Republican, Perry should just attack President Obama on jobs, jobs and jobs. The Perry Campaign should stress that Obama is Carter Mark 2 and that Perry is the heir to Reagan, smaller government, lower taxes, and higher defence spending. On social issues Perry should just leave those issues to his staff, don’t say anything, you cant lose votes by impression, Perry is a Conservative just leave it at that, the sole campaign topic should be jobs, jobs and jobs, that is the way to win the White House.

The Thoughts of a Chancellor - Alistair Darling

Guardian: Has an excellent book review of the memoirs of the last Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling, the article has the great following line, “ …Darling sticks the stiletto into his victims with great deftness. … ”. Lets be honest folks the main target in the parts that have been released is the former PM Gordon Brown, the former PM looks foolish in believing that the banking crisis would only last six months, and would not take on board the need for cuts over four years. The former Chancellor has stated Labour would have better off in the 2010 election if the Party had been truthful with the voters for the need for cuts, not the argument that Labour was for government spending while the Conservatives wanted cuts.

Libyan Front - Latest

Telegraph Live: Reports on a Libyan rebel claim that they have Colonel Gaddafi surrounded. Lets see if this is true folks, after the fiasco of the non arrests of the Gaddafi sons lets have some proof out of the new Libyan Government, this blog is about the truth at the end of the day, not a PR machine for the Libyan rebels.

50p Tax Rate - UK

BBC News: Reports that 20 leading economists have argued that the Labour introduced 50p tax rate should be axed. It can be argued that the Conservatives in the Coalition Government would love to ditch the 50p tax rate but the Liberal Democrats love high taxes. Thus the Lib Dems will have to be bought off, the price should not be to high, the axing of the rate should boost business and hopefully, lead to economic growth and higher tax returns. This is a good fight for the Conservatives to have, place pressure on Labour to defend tax hikes in a recession and make the Lib Dems seem out of touch with political reality.

Italian Austerity Package = Default ?

Telegraph Live: Reports that the Italian Government is thinking of linking its austerity package to a vote of confidence in the Governments. In other words folks the Berlusconi's Government is in trouble, it must be worried that its own Italian MP’s will not vote for the austerity package, as in Greece there have been heavy protests against the plan, as PM Berlusconi is in political trouble with personal scandals, he can not afford to lose this vote. In fact if Italy goes down then the Euro and the EU are dodos.

US and European Markets DOWN

BBC News: Reports on the massive falls in the US and European Stock Markets, the US Down Jones at 3.52pm is down 280.86 points, or 2.50% of its value, rest of Europe with the exception of the UK is down between 1% and 2%. It is the old issue of European debt and the worry that the PIIGS will take down the Euro and a European Country, the main worry being Italy but close by is Spain. The austerity packages will of course cut growth, but if no cut backs then the debts of the PIIGS will just grow out of control. Its is a vicious cycle folks, and it will not end in a hurry, how out of touch was Gordon Brown, to think that the banking crisis would only last six months, its typical of the Labour miss-management of the economy, as with all Labour Governments they miss up the economy and it takes the Conservatives to fix the problem.