Saturday, November 8, 2008

Hope and Change

I might as well join the parade of pundits (whatever that is) and bloggers and toss in my own opinions of the recent election. From previous posts many of you will realize that I stayed on the sidelines except for my anti Barney Frank vote and the ballot questions. I will now place elections in my personal category to avoid - like Town Meetings. I will probably go to the polls and simply submit a blank ballot. Town elections will be a different story - the old Tip O’Neil line. The bailout bill was the final realization that everything appears to be “in the bag.” Color me CYNIC!

Hope and change I classify as BS and more BS. I have seen too much failure such as Jimmy Carter - deserted by his own party and Bush I who managed to go from the highest approval rating to virtually the lowest in a span of six months. I do not spend my emotional resources on vague terminology wrapped within “hope” and “change.” As the old commercial stated “show me the beef.” Some may compare the Obama coronation to that of JFK. Good luck with that. JFK was wrapped up in mythology brought about by tragic death. In reality it was a rather mundane administration. The recent win by Obama can be traced primarily to economic issues and they tied McCain to Bush on that issue. Excellent political strategy. With the “job” Bush had done the poll numbers in August should have been Obama 10+ and not virtually even.

The Congress is obviously where the problem is and will continue to be. Congress place settings is determined by about 60 seats in the House and another 10 in the Senate. These are the ones that are “vulnerable” either via retirement or indictment. They have a tendency to shift back and forth in large numbers such as the last election or smaller numbers as in the previous few elections. Congress will “read” the new President and determine just how far they can go. Think of the President as the adult and Congress as petulant teenagers. In some families they run the show. If things appear a bit sour after a year or two you will see about one third of the Democrats willing to bolt party lines on certain issues. This is quite similar to what the Republicans recently did with Bush. A clue is this has nothing to do with political integrity and party loyalty but everything to do with political survival. Last thing you want to be is one of those 60.

The new administration will attempt to deal with a mounting debt, a war that appears endless, health care issues, real unemployment of close to 10% (forget that 6.5 figure), an economy that has stalled, a punitive tax code and on and on. Maybe the hope and change crowd has illusions of success and I hope they are right, but history shows they will be bitterly disappointed. But Obama does have an out and that is Bush. That’ll give him a year or two. After that if things continue to go south you can always play the race card. If it comes to that the writing will be clearly on the wall and some new candidate will enter in the political turmoil on a platform of “hope” and “change.”

As a side note I will start a new open thread on Sunady and it will be labeled Open Post #1. Man...I am just soooo clever.

37 comments:

LMAO said...

Bogo what do you mean by close to 10%

Where is the governement cut backs? Their debt continues to go up to pay for failures and we all eventually pay for it. If you borrow money you have to eventually pay it back.

I wonder how many Fed jobs have been cut? I suspect zero.

drive-by said...

Bogo....too heavy to think about before my first cup of coffee. Will have to get back to you later, much later, in the day when the fog in my head clears. You're a morning person, right?

anonymous said...

Bogo, I voted for Obama and am not at your level of cynicism yet. But Barney Frank? The republicans lost a guy in the house for fooling around. Oh, that was a woman! LOL! Moonbats are allowed a free ride.

bogofree said...

The person you speak of was Mark Foley a Republican from Florida's famed 16th District. Foley was a perp who sent suggestive emails to young boys. He resigned. Tim Mahoney is now in that district. Now does that name ring a bell? Timmy boy was having an affair on the side and has been accused of paying hush money to a mistress from campaign funds. Like any good Democrat he'll have to be dragged out as he'd never resign.

Expulsion is the worse thing that can happen and two come to mind - both Democrats - sorry to the moonbat bloggers but you have a lot of dirty guys. I remember Mike "The Wizard of Oz" Myers from 1980. This sleaze ball was the one in the fold of Arabs. Taking a pile of bribe money. With hostages being held in Iran he was not in a good place for that. The other Jimmy Trificant from Ohio. I did not look up the particulars on either but I was politically active at the time and Jimmy seemed perfect for Massachusetts. Real low end punk in the Wilkerson mold. Bribes and scams.

Then there is censure and that brings us to Studds (D-child rape). That is where the Massachusetts Democratic Party lost me. This guy should have been long gone. In the same fold was a guy named Crane from Ohio who was doing the female pages. Difference is he got bounced by his constituents.

The money being tossed around by various gov’t programs to attempt to plug up the economy is going to be in the trillions. That will have to be paid back. Borrow from the future to shore up the present. Obama has put the next stim package on his personal fast track - 100 Billion. It will do as well as that rebate a few months back.

The unemployment figure is very misleading since it is based on claims and does not represent those whose claims have run out or who never filed. There is a significant transitional employment base in this country. Some are the under the table workers, the undocumented and those who are self employed but not working. I have heard figures of between 2-4% and some have stated it to be considerably higher. No one really knows.

drive-by said...

"Wealth of Nations" was probably the only book relating to economics I remember being forced to read. So I really have a very poor understanding of the current global economic crisis...

I voted for McCain out of protest (would have been more willing if Lieberman were his running mate). Just don't believe Obama is the wunderkind fortuitously sent from above to restore the mythical Camelot. I've watched all the clips of people weeping in the streets upon hearing that our new Messiah was elected. Americans are so hung up on heroes and miracle workers. Unfortunately, the expectations of him are impossible for any man to meet. And when things don't turn around quickly, his supporters will turn on him. Watch his favorability ratings in two years. Look at how JFK's ratings went from 80% to 56% in his 1000 days of 'glory'. Of course history has redeemed Kennedy somewhat because death seems to elevate men to an historical greatness they never knew in life.

I expect a reactionary swing just to the right of middle in 4 years unless Obama pulls a golden bunny out of his hat. Not likely. Most frigthening to me is if the US goes the way of Massachusetts and becomes a one party nation.

As for war in the ME: Bush stupidly walked through a time portal back to the time of the crusades. These people have been slaughtering each other in tribal skirmishes for centuries all on their own. Our entrance into their past has only further complicated matters. And the time portal has closed again hindering our ability to escape and return to pre 9/11.

Wish I had a crystal ball.

anonymous said...

Adam Smith a very nice write up and I have to agree. I know Bogo speaks of his short little attention span and I suspect it is a national disorder. Bogo appears on the same page as you or you are on his page and I am somewhere in the same book. I will ignore any crude jokes about Studds and Paiges. What I do read is that once the shine is off watch out. I fear the lack of substance and it was difficult to finally go Obama.

I voted for change and hope without expecting either. I am a Reagan Democrat who is shifting more and more center but feel in reality the party is shifting more and more left. I refuse to vote for Barney Frank anymore nor John Kerry. I leave that blank. My vote was one based on failure by the man at the top as I have no great hope for Congress based on what I have seen the last few years and expect a pushing and shoving match with Obama.

Nice subject being delt with in an objective manner. I may have to get another account that has a more specific name. LOL!

bogofree said...

I am waiting for my wife to censure or expell me.

drive-by said...

Your wife is unlikely to throw you to the wolves. Long, extensive torment is much too much fun. Watching a man grovel is even better. LOL

drive-by said...

I've been hoping for years and nothing ever changes....Do you think they'll serve minestrone and bolle bread in the soup lines? Finally a way to force me to take off those unwanted pounds. :)

bogofree said...

We have several cats, two dogs and a parrot. We will eat well.

drive-by said...

Hope? LMAO! Change? LMAO!

Oh yeah, all my hope is to gather up my gallon jar of silver change, cash it in at the bank, and spend, spend, spend....something fun to do every weekend from now til New Years. First snowflake here and I'm headed to the Kangamangas with friends to snowmobile, sip on something that warms right down my throat to the bottom of my belly, and eat at that pig roast place near N. Conway. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. ROFLMAO. And from now on I'll vote against any and all incumbents. They're all crooks! Don't have a lot, but I intend to spend my hidden stash before some pol finds it and taxes it. Xmas starts today. Merry! Merry!

Bought a bottle of Navonne (cognac with vanilla)at Mucke's on 44 tonight, can you tell? LOL! Cheers to all! DBM

drive-by said...

God rest ye Mary, Kim, and Carl
Let nothing you despair
Someday JP will learn to laugh and play
Though life's not friggin' fair.

For now keep clunking on the keys
Of your computers as you blog.
And think of those of us
Who'd rather glug the grog.

Ohhhh Tidings of Southern Comfort and Joy, Southern Comfort and Joy,
Ohhhh, and leave all the revelry to US!

Busy busy little bees....

better quit while I'm still ahead.

bogofree said...

Drive-by ...I am one that rarely drinks but recent economic and political pratfalls can always leave that option open.

In today's Enterprise (worthless at any price) is a announcement by Shaw's that they are outsourcing 50 jobs to India. Nice song & dance by the corporate flack on why. I always considered the place vastly overpriced and now have a firm reason never to bounce through their doors.

We have planned a mini vacation to NYC just before Xmas. Have a hotel booked at a steep discount and have two shows to see with further steep discounts. NYC has many bargains the last two weeks of December and first two weeks of January.

Went to the Girl Scout House fundraiser last night and it was, as always, an enjoyable evening.

drive-by said...

So between you and MB, which one of you is Alan Shore and which one Denny Crane? How so?

bogofree said...

Alan is an intellectual with a sharp wit and clever mind who has a subtle nack with the ladies. Denny is a fat and frustrated has been whose mind is fast turning to mush. Gee...I'll let you guess! LOL!

Rocky said...

Good bye Studs Turkel.

Hard Times are here again.

bogofree said...

Studs.

Mike Royko

Jimmy Cannon.

Great stuff.

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