Obama’s Trojan Horse

By MJK | February 27, 2009

“Not because I believe in bigger government — I don’t,” so Obama declared to Congress. Alas, can any reasonable person believe this?

Obama is using our economic crisis as an excuse to alter the American capitalist paradigm, setting Government up to spend everything and take care of everybody when we cannot afford to do so. He is reallocating wealth by taxing those “rich” people who make over $250,000 a year, in order to pay for all this waste. This is not merely trying to fix the economy, and otherwise making the adjustments we need to prevent a future financial meltdown.

The details of this potential fiasco abound, so I won’t repeat them here. In summary, Obama risks bankrupting the U.S. by all this out of control Government spending, money which we don’t have and instead must borrow, tied together with tax hikes against many of the people and businesses we will depend on to lift our economy one day. Obama’s U.S. will be like the purchaser of overpriced subprime property — throwing money one doesn’t have into the wind.

Technorati Tags: borrow, budget, deficit, government, obama, spending, trojan horse

Topics: Economy, U.S. Politics | 5 Comments »

Is Obama Winging It?

By MJK | February 25, 2009

Obama’s first days as President are a dichotomy. His overall ratings remain high, while agreement with his specifics since he became President are not. Many in America have put their faith and hopes in him, and will continue to do so for as long as they believe that the economy was inherited by Obama, not created (or worsened) by him.

Still, this split in Obama’s popularity, versus the approval rating for his specific acts as President, does provide credence to the view that Obama is “winging it.” That’s at least what conservative Karl Rove thinks. See Is the Administration Winging It? (Wall Street Journal 2/18/09).

Technorati Tags: obama, ratings, rove, winging

Topics: U.S. Politics | No Comments »

Obama’s Governing Style (and Comparisons to George W.)

By MJK | February 18, 2009

In certain respects, this well written article summarizes my complaints about Obama so far and is a worthy read. See Obama’s Governing Styleby Tony Blankley. I think his governing style so far is not what we need, and its danger can be demonstrated so far with the flawed and risky Stimulus.

Worse, Obama’s style so far even actually reminds me of George W. Bush’s (c.f. my Post Barack Bill Clinton Obama, (1/6/09)). People may react: “How can you compare Obama and George W., especially this early!” Yet I can because Bush had a hands off policy, where his trusted confidants and others ran the show often to his detriment. Obama has already started down the same path. Bush entered the Presidency as Governor of Texas, where the governor has little actual power. Obama came in with four average years as a State Senator, with only another four years of experience as a U.S. Senator, the first two with no notable distinction and the second two mostly spent campaigning. So yes, I can and do make this comparison.

Technorati Tags: blankley, Bush, experience, governing style, obama

Topics: U.S. Politics | No Comments »

Hugo Chavez El Presidente for Life?

By MJK | February 16, 2009

Unfortunately, Venezuela’s President and Pseudo-Dictator Hugo Chavez won his referendum to remove term limitations in his quest to stay in power forever. This man is the bane of U.S. foreign policy, by rallying anti-American forces in Latin America and the Third World. His oil reserves so far has afforded him the ability to finance these policies, as well as create a socialist economic system and bloated bureaucracy. The question now is whether he will succeed at becoming Latin America’s next President for Life. Despite his win today, the signs don’t look so good for him. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: chavez, crude, Economy, oil, pdvsa, socialism, venezuela

Topics: International Politics | No Comments »

Obama Gambles the Presidency with Stimulus

By MJK | February 15, 2009

I believe that Obama has unnecessarily gambled his Presidency over the pork-filled Stimulus Bill. If this package fails and is exposed for wasting tons of money and causing inflation, this could be Obama’s last term. It did not have to be this way; he could have structured and driven home his own bill, one without pork solely focused on economic stimulation and growth. Instead, he dumped it off to Congress which seriously damaged it.

Now Obama is already trying to hedge himself. In his recent speech campaigning for the Bill, Obama said “I’m not gonna tell you this [stimulus] bill is perfect. It’s coming out of Washington. It’s going through Congress.” No President Obama — this Bill came from you (and yes you are now part of “Washington”), and instead of doing what was right, you punted it to Congress with expected results. So don’t be surprised if you get the blame if Stimulus doesn’t work out the way you told us it would.

Technorati Tags: congress, election, hedge, obama, pork, stimulus, washington

Topics: U.S. Politics | 5 Comments »

Middle East Peace – No Chance Until Gaza is Fixed

By MJK | February 15, 2009

In Israel’s latest election, the consensus is that the idea of Land for Peace is not dead, but it’s in a coma until Gaza is fixed. U.S. policymakers should take note of this. When Obama was elected, the usual analysis came out wondering whether Obama can deliver a peace deal, who the Middle East Envoy would be (this time Former Sen. George Mitchell), and so on and so forth (for a terrific summary of this usual cycle, see Victor Davis Hanson’s Been There, Done That).

Considering the Gaza War in Israel was popular, and was supported by all major parties, the road to peace (if there is one) runs through Gaza first. Because until that happens, if ever, the Land for Peace paradigm is a proven failure.

Technorati Tags: election, gaza, hamas, hanson, israel, kadima, labor, land for peace, likud, mitchell, obama, peace, plo, yisrael beitenu

Topics: Arab-Israeli Conflict, International Politics, Middle East | No Comments »

More Cartoon Stimulus Fun!

By MJK | February 9, 2009

Technorati Tags: allie, beeler, bok, cole, congress, fitzsimmons, keefe, margulies, obama, pelosi, political cartoon, stimulus

Topics: Economy, U.S. Politics | 3 Comments »

The U.N. Hates Israel

By MJK | February 6, 2009

Succumbing to pressure, the U.N. has reversed its claim that Israel targeted U.N. protected schools in the recent Gaza conflict. See UN backtracks on claim that deadly IDF strike hit Gaza school (Haaretz, 2/3/09). I am surprised that the U.N. even bothered issuing any retraction at all. Regardless, considering the fact that the U.N. drummed up all the fanfare of Israeli “war crimes” with its so-called intentional assault on civilians, the U.N. retraction was not only quietly issued, it was barely covered in the world media. Simply shameful!

All this of course is just consistent with overall U.N. policies regarding Israel and the Middle East. See, e.g., my Post U.N. Aids and Abets Palestinian and Hezbollah Terrorists (1/7/09).

Technorati Tags: gaza, haaretz, hamas, hezbollah, israel, palestine, retraction, School, terrorism, u.n., united nations, west bank

Topics: Arab-Israeli Conflict, International Politics, Middle East | No Comments »

Is Obama’s “Magical Mystery Tour” Over?

By MJK | February 6, 2009

Well conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer thinks so, and makes a good case that it is. You can judge for yourself: The Fierce Energy of Pork (Washington Post, 2/6/09). Whether you agree or disagree (I agree), it’s a worthy read.

Technorati Tags: change, fear, krauthammer, lobbyist, obama, pelosi, pork, stimulus

Topics: Economy, U.S. Politics | No Comments »

Obscene Government Waste ($78 Billion!) with the TARP Bailout, and Stimulus is Now On Deck

By MJK | February 5, 2009

Elizabeth Warren, head of the Congressional Oversight Panel for TARP, testified today that the Treasury overpaid for toxic assets by as much as $78 Billion (see Bailout watchdog: Treasury paid too much). Her full report will be out tomorrow.

Well, no in depth commentary is necessary for this. Instead we have a staggering and inexcusable waste of money already! And now Congress is about to approve $900 Billion more in spending. Let’s do the math: 78 [the waste] /350 [the distributed TARP funds] = 22% of distributed TARP wasted. If we have the same Stimulus waste ratio, that will be: 22% * 900 Billion = $200 Billion (approximately) to be wasted there. Something is serious wrong if the Government in a matter of a couple of months already wasted 22% of a Program, especially when we are talking about Billions and Billions. President Obama and Congress should be on notice: if your Stimulus turns out include a huge waste of money and time, the voters will toss all of you out as you will deserve.

Technorati Tags: bailout, congress, obama, senate banking oversight, stimulus, tarp, warren, waste

Topics: Economy, U.S. Politics | 2 Comments »

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About MJK

I was born and raised in Washington DC, the capital of politics. I have a background in law and finance, and have funded and consulted for various technology-related small businesses. I currently reside in New York city. I truly enjoy discussing, debating, and thinking about global political and social issues. After many years, I was encouraged to start my own blog so that I could share my ideas at large, and learn from the comments and interactions with the general public. From an ideological perspective, I would consider myself a moderate-conservative, but often take centrist positions on certain issues.