He goes on to claim that a second economic stimulus package in the range of $600-700 billion would be needed in the short run to keep the economy from “absolutely tanking”. Others believe this stimulus package will near $1 trillion.

Some feel a Government spending approach to the problem will only make things worse or prolong the recovery. Maybe that is what Joe Biden was referring to when he made his “absolutely tanking” comment.

I don’t understand why many in the Republican party (led by President Bush) have moved away from the traditional views of the party that made it once great. Bigger, more powerful government has not been the recipe for success in our nation’s history.

The nationalization of banks and most recent bailout of the Auto industry by the Republican party have laid the stepping stones for making Obama’s path toward bigger government a reality.

With these first stepping stones in place, the Democrats have momentum to push through a trillion dollar economic stimulus package. This proposed “stimulus package” includes funds for roads, bridges, energy efficient government buildings, broadband internet expansion, renewable energy, school repair, among others.

Since the government doesn’t make any money (other than physically making the money), the only source of income for the government is through taxes. These “stimulus” projects will then be paid by the citizens through our taxes.

I don’t think anyone can disagree with the importance of improving roads, bridges, schools, etc. Where I have concern is doing this now with a record debt and deficit. There is debate on how effective these programs will be at providing the planned stimulus and how quickly we could see any results. Let’s worry about spending more money when we have our debt and deficit under control.

I know when I am low on funds and high on debt, I cut my spending to only necessities. When my debt is under control and I make more money than I have going out, that is the time to make improvements on the house. Not when I can’t afford them. As a nation, we can’t afford another home equity loan from China to paint the house and fix the cracks in the walls.

The Obama/Biden plan to throw more money at the problem during a time of crisis will only make it easier for projects full of pork to get thrown in and our tax dollars spent wastefully. If history is any indicator of the future, Democrats have been responsible for the most wasteful spending. With a Democrat majority Senate, House and President we better be ready to hold our government responsible for these earmarks and pork-barrel spending.

Let’s look back at what works.

Photo Credit: blunck2 on Flickr

Reducing taxes has been proven to increase, not lower the government’s revenue. As taxes are reduced, people are encouraged to take risks by creating solutions to the problems we face. This innovation and entrepreneurship by the people and companies, not the government, resulted in the creation of the best companies in the world.

Innovation by the people is key to creating the next Google, Microsoft, and Ford. These new companies will be what leads us out of this time of crisis as long as Government doesn’t get in the way.

When I look at how President-Elect Obama won the 2008 election I am amazed. I don’t agree with most of his political positions, but I can appreciate the way he ran his campaign. According to this report, Obama raised 89% of his money from individual contributors.

Mr. President-Elect, let the people bring us up out of this crisis by reducing the barriers to American ingenuity to create solutions to the problems we face. Companies (people) provide the jobs and resources that drive America, not the Government.

These same individual contributors who put Obama in office are the answer to our problems. American’s, when faced with challenges, always rise up and make America better. I hope the policies put in place now and in the near future don’t impede the true solution to the problem. The more we rely on Government for solutions the more we will rely on Government for solutions.

I’d hate for us to loose the American self-reliance, independent spirit that makes us the best nation on earth and why 73 million people have immigrated to the U.S. since 1820.

Lindsay Lohan decided to throw her had into the Celebolitics world by posting her views on Sarah Palin on her MySpace Blog.

She writes about Palin’s views on gay’s, “birth control” (a.k.a. abortion in Lohan’s world), sex before marriage, and children out of wedlock.

Lohan writes:

“I feel it’s necessary for me to clarify that I am not against Sarah Palin as a mother or woman.”

I’m glad Lindsay clarified that she is not against mother’s and women. I know there is a big movement out there that is against mother’s and women. We can officially put Lindsay in the camp that is pro-mother’s and pro-women.

Lohan continues to provide advise to Gov. Palin:

“Don’t pose for anymore tabloid covers, you’re not a celebrity, you’re running for office to represent our, your, my COUNTRY!”

Now, I’ve never been on the cover of a tabloid magazine, but I would guess many of the photos included in these magazines are not at the request of the person photographed (unless you are a “celebrity”). I doubt Gov. Sarah Palin called up the people at US Weekly to schedule a photo shoot. Gov. Palin doesn’t need the trash magazines to keep her in the spotlight like many of Lohan’s Hollywood neighbors.

“Women have come a long way in the fight to have the choice over what we do with our bodies… And its frightening to see that a woman in 2008 would negate all of that.”

Is Lindsay making a comment about a woman’s ability to choose to kill an unborn baby? If that is the case, then I agree that Women have come a long way. A long, twisted and sick way to make it legal for Women to make the choice over the fate of an unborn baby. Hopefully, people like Gov. Palin will help turn us around on this twisted path we have taken.

The second part of this comment is another glimpse into why liberals are so afraid of a Pro-Life, Conservative Woman. The traditional feminist movement that Lohan clearly subscribes to is seriously threatened with Gov. Palins rapid rise and huge popularity with both conservatives and independents.

I find it ironic that Lohan is afraid of what Gov. Palin might do for the Women’s movement in this country. This coming from someone who has had multiple visits to rehab, arrested for possession of cocaine, and is quoted to have said, “It is clear to me that my life has become completely unmanageable because I am addicted to alcohol and drugs”.

I wish Ms. Lohan the best and hope she is able to get her life back on track. Maybe she should look at some of her views and see if they are to blame for her situation.

Lindsay Lohan Photo Credit: The Curse Of Brian on Flickr

In a August 22, 2008, Kidd Rock told CMT, “I think celebrity endorsements hurt politicians.”

Rock went on to say, “Because as soon as somebody comes out for a politician, especially in Hollywood, when they all go, ‘I’m voting for this guy!’ — I go, ‘That’s not who I’m voting for!’”.

What do you think? Should Celebrities voice their political views publicly and use their celebrity to influence public policy? If a celebrity speaks out, does that influence your opinion?

Kidd Rock Photo Credit: jvh33 on Flickr

Technorati Tags: Kidd Rock, Celebrities

George Clooney on Liberalism vs. Conservatism.

“It’s quite amazing that ‘liberal’ nowadays has become a swear word as in the history of our country it always meant to be on the side of justice. It started with the witchhunt in Salem, the conservatives’ point of view was: ‘Burn them at the stake’, and the liberals’ point of view was: ‘There are no witches.’

And that’s how it continued with the civil rights movement and womens suffrage. The liberals were always right in the end.”

George Clooney Photo Credit: jillaryrose

Technorati Tags: George Clooney

“I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that’s how I operate my life.” – BrainyQuotes.com

“I don’t think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good.” | “I’m black, I don’t feel burdened by it and I don’t think it’s a huge responsibility. It’s part of who I am. It does not define me.” – about.com

On Sep 21st, 2006, when asked by a reporter what did he think about Hugo Chavez’s, President of Venezuela, remarks about President Bush being the “devil”, Glover replied: “Chavez is my brother and I support him”.

“Bush promoted a conservative program, designed to eliminate everything Americans had accomplished so far in matters of race and equality.” – BrainyQuote.com

“One of the main purveyors of violence in this world has been this country.” – BrainyQuote.com

“The death penalty is inhumane… whether that person is in a jail or it’s bin Laden. ” – BrainyQuote.com

“Yes, Bush is racist. We all knew that, but the world is only finding it out now. ” – BrainyQuote.com

“We all know Reagan’s legacy, from the Iran-Contra affair to the funding of the Nicaraguan military in which over 200,000 people died. The groundwork for the move steadily to the right happened with the Reagan administration. People want to elevate him to some mythic level; they have their own reason for doing that.” – FoxNews.com

In January 2005 at National Board of Review awards dinner in New York City, Eastwood stated that “he would kill” the liberal filmmaker Michael Moore if ever Moore showed up at his home with a camera.

“At Waco, was there really an urgency to get those people out of the compound at that particular time? Was the press going to make it look heroic for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms? At Ruby Ridge, there was one guy in a cabin at the top of the mountain. Was it necessary for federal agents to go up there and shoot a 14-year-old in the back and shoot a woman with a child in her arms? What kind of mentality does that?”

When he was asked: “How would you characterize yourself politically?” Eastwood answered, “Libertarian – Everyone leaves everyone else alone.” – LibertarianRock.com

“As NRA president he is perhaps best known, while raising an antique Sharps Rifle over his head at the 2000 NRA convention, for saying that presidential candidate Al Gore would take away his Second Amendment rights “from my cold, dead hands”.

“… Mr. Clinton, sir, America didn’t trust you with our health-care system. America didn’t trust you with gays in the military. America doesn’t trust you with our 21-year-old daughters, and we sure, Lord, don’t trust you with our guns.”

“… Now his positions track the N.R.A.’s. Trigger locks? “A ludicrous invention. If you can’t put it on a weapon without taking the bullets out, why put it on?” A five-day waiting period? “It’s hard for me to accept that a guy says, ‘I’m going to kill that s.o.b., but, darn, I have this five-day waiting period.’ He probably still wants to kill him after five days.” Ban Saturday-night specials? “The black and Hispanic women who clean office buildings until 3 a.m. and then walk home ﾖ of course, they want a handgun in their purse.” Limit purchases to one gun a month? “It’s the camel’s nose in the tent. Look at Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Idi Amin ﾖ every one of these monsters, on seizing power, their first act was to confiscate all firearms in private hands. …”

“… The Founders’ intent in framing the Second Amendment is perfectly clear and undeniable. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “No man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” Some anti-gun elitists declare this notion outdated. However, many constitutional scholars from this country’s most prestigious universities agree that the Founders’ intent is clear and irreversible: To “keep and bear arms” is a right for all law-abiding citizens. …” – NY Times

“… There’s no such thing as a good gun. There’s no such thing as a bad gun. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guys. …” – Meet the Press 1997

Political Quotes

“Bush wasn’t elected, he was selected – selected by five judges up in Washington who voted along party lines.”

“Cheney is a terrorist. He terrorizes our enemies abroad and innocent citizens here at home indiscriminately.”

“Everything that Bush touches turns to manure in public policy.”

“I wanted to be president of the United States. I really did. The older I get, the less preposterous the idea seems.”

“Sometimes, you know, the president is a father-like figure in American society, to most Americans, even today, no matter how cynical we’ve become. And people don’t want to think that daddy’s a bum all the time. They don’t want to think that Daddy’s a liar, a cheat and a fraud.”

Source

“…(following the impeachment of Clinton) all of us together would go down to Washington and we would stone Henry Hyde to death! We would stone him to death! Wait! Shut up! Shut up! No shut up! I’m not finished. We would stone Henry Hyde to death and we would go to their homes and we’d kill their wives and their children. We would kill their families.”

Source

“I never made that statement [about leaving the country if Pres. Bush was elected], but you can tell Gov. Bush to rest assured that I’m not going to leave the country because we have to get him out of office and we have to get his brother out of office in 2004. We’re not resting until we get that done. Bush wasn’t elected, he was selected ; selected by five judges up in Washington who voted along party lines.”

Source

Technorati Tags: Alec Baldwin