Obama on Al Jaziera

Some of my conservative friends are pissed off that Obama decided to hold his first televised interview on Al Jaziera Network being buddy-buddy with the Muslims. Personally, I think that this was a bold, yet smart, move by our new President. His decision to speak with the Islamic world in a manner that hasn't been done before may end up being effective in opening up new lines of communications and easing tensions between us and the Middle East. Rather than mentioning the key phrase "spreading democracy" his messaage was much more on the lines of "let's try something new: learn to understand and respect us; we'll learn to understand and respect you." He sent the message that his administration does not want to perceive itself as tyrranical in the eyes of those living in the Middle East, but rather one that would try to establish some kind of diplomatic bond. I wonder if his olive branch waving will work. don't get me wrong - it's not going to stop radical Islamists from blowing up our buildings and killing our people, but it may help quash the spreading of Anti-American sentiment and propoganda in the Middle East.

Obama's Economic Plan

After hearing both sides of the fence on Obama's plan to rescue the country, I am finding myself to have even less faith in our government. While I don't know every detail of the plan, I can honestly say that the proposals within the plan do very little for the private sector (unless, of course you're a government contractor). I fail to see how the following will have a significant long-term impact on the economy as a whole (All I see is a bunch of projects that provide a pinhole sized ding in the short-run):

$44 million for repairs at the Agriculture Department headquarters in Washington.

$200 million to rehabilitate the National Mall.

$360 million for new child care centers at military bases.

$1.8 billion to repair National Park Service facilities.

$276 million to update technology at the State Department.

$500 million for the Transportation Security Administration to install bomb detectors at airports.

$600 million for General Services Administration to replace older vehicles with alternative fuel vehicles.

$2.5 billion to upgrade low-income housing.

$400 million for NASA scientists to conduct climate change research.

$426 million to construct facilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

$800 million to clean up Superfund sites.

$150 million for the Coast Guard to repair or remove bridges deemed a hazard to navigation.

$6.7 billion to renovate and improve energy efficiency at federal buildings.

$400 million to replace the Social Security Administration's 30-year-old National Computer Center.

Once these projects are wrapped up, Congress is going to have to say "now what"?

Strike 2 for Obama

Abortion is a very touchy subject and, while I am personally against abortion, except in the cases of rape/incest, potential health problems to the mother, or after watching Idiocracy preventing stupid people from breeding, I recognize and respect the woman's right to do whatever she wants to with her body - besides, the making abortion illegal in the US realistically is a mute point.

Before I get off track, I read that Obama signed an executive order to provide funding for abortions in foreign countries. Good Job, Barack! Just keep wasting our tax dollars on bullshit like that!!! In these economic times, I am sooooo fucking happy that our new President is wasting our tax dollars meddling in other countries' affairs rather than focusing on reinvesting our tax dollars wisely on regenerating job growth, small business development, and protecting American jobs.

Strike 1 for Obama

According to the Associated Press:

"Hours after taking office on Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama ordered military prosecutors in the Guantanamo war crimes tribunals to ask for a 120-day halt in all pending cases. Military judges were expected to rule on the request on Wednesday at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, an official involved in the trials said. The request would halt proceedings in 21 pending cases, including the death penalty case against five Guantanamo prisoners accused of plotting the September 11 hijacked plane attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people."

It looks like Obama is using his Commander in Chief authority to play humanitarian for terrorists. These 21 people who are currently on trial have a vendetta against the USA and want us DEAD!!! ...and Obama wants to give these assholes amnesty?

A new President is sworn in

Thankfully, the bumbling idiot we had in office the last 8 years (yes, I'm a republican, but an anti-Bush republican) is finally out of office, and a new administration steps in today. I'm not buying into the "hope" and "change" speak that got Obama elected, but can honsetly say that I am not afraid of an Obama Presidency. His cabinet picks were well thought out and appears as though his policies will not be as far liberal as I originally anticipated while he was running for office. We have many problems facing this country, and this guy definitely has his work cut out for him. Will he deliver? Who knows... but I'll be watching his first 100 days closely.