OK, here's the deal

"Leading economists indicate that an economic investment bill would create more economic growth than the bill itself costs. For every $1 billion invested in transportation infrastructure, the U.S. creates 35,000 jobs and up to $6 billion in gross domestic product. Every $1 spent on food stamp benefits generates $1.73 in economic activity. Every $1 spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.64 in new economic demand. Every $1 in general aid to state government generates $1.36 in economic activity."

That's according to: Dr. J. Steven Landefeld, Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the U. S. Department of Commerce; Dr. Nouriel Roubini, Professor of Economics and International Business at New York University; Dr. Simon Johnson, Professor of Entrepreneurship at MIT; and Dr. Richard Vedder, Distinguished Professor of Economics at Ohio University and Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny22_hinchey/morenews/102908HincheyJECHearing.html

Obama is trying to get an economic stimulus package passed, and all the Republicans are running around saying the same thing they have been saying for eight years: tax cuts tax cuts tax cuts! Ummmm, I think we tried that and it DIDN'T WORK!

You have to spend money to make money. Obama won the election, in a crystal clear referendum on Republican economic policies. Give him a chance to do what we elected him to do.

Oh, the Joy

He's closing Guantanamo, rejecting torture and restricting lobbying, making his administration transparent, and limiting his staff's salaries. And that's just the first two days! What's not to like? I am really having trouble expressing the joy I am feeling that things are turning around. Finally the rule of law will be restored. Finally I can feel pride instead of embarrassment when the President speaks. It feels like a tall cool drink after eight years wandering in the wilderness.

Please share your thoughts! And here's to looking forward to the future of our beloved country once again!

My Letter to Bush

Karl Rove went on Twitter last week and asked for farewell letters to Bush. I could not resist. I decided to make it short.

"Dear Mr. Bush,

When you were "elected" eight years ago, I wept. But over the next few weeks I hoped and prayed that you would surround yourself with wise advisers who would guide you away from the far-right agenda that I was so fearful of. Unfortunately, your actions revealed that you value loyalty over competence, partisanship over wisdom, and ideology over intellect. The consequences were far more tragic than even my greatest fears. You have decimated this great nation that I love. I hope that God will forgive you. I am not sure that I can.

The only silver lining is that your ruinous policies have directly resulted in the election of Barack Obama. I am not at all certain that he will be able to clean up even a small portion of the enormous mess you have left behind. But I will hope, and pray."

The deadline is 6 pm (ET) today if you would like to contribute your two cents: gwbfarewell@gmail.com

UPDATE: I just got a confirmation email from good old Karl, saying he will deliver my letter to W. I wonder if that will actually happen?

Just a Quickie

I just have to say it.

That "farewell speech" by W was the biggest load of hooey I have ever heard. (Trying to keep it clean for the kids.) Not that I was at all surprised. But really, how is holding human beings without charges for years and torturing them "leading the cause of human rights and freedom"? How, exactly, does completely ignoring multiple warnings and allowing the most horrific terrorist attack ever on US soil mean you have "kept us safe"?

Of course, that is only scratching the surface. I'm not going to devote any more of my precious time to detailing the many other hypocrisies and lies that came out of George's mouth last night. I am just thanking God that none of us will have to listen to him any more.

Now This is a Step in the Right Direction

Today the House Committee on the Judiciary Majority issued a staff report entitled "REINING IN THE IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush". I know there are those who feel we should be looking forward and not back, but doing nothing all but ensures that the excesses and the incompetence of the Bush administration will be repeated. And that is unacceptable.

This report is 486 pages long and contains 1,689 footnotes! No, I am not going to read the whole thing, but in just a quick glance I spotted this:

The Bush Administration’s approach to power is, at its core, little more than a restatement of Mr. Nixon’s famous rationalization of presidential misdeeds: “When the president does it, that means it’s not illegal.” Under this view, laws that forbid torturing or degrading prisoners cannot constrain the president because, if the president ordered such acts as Commander in Chief, “that means it’s not illegal.” Under this view, it is not the courts that decide the reach of the law – it is the president – and neither the judiciary nor Congress can constrain him. And where statutory law or the Constitution itself appear to impose obstacles to presidential whim, creative counselors can be relied upon to reach whatever result the president desires.

That pretty much sums it up, don't you think?

Onward to January 20th!

(Link to the report: http://www.scribd.com/doc/10323716/Reining-in-the-Imperial-Presidency)