Barack Obama: A Little Help Over There...

John Podesta (Center for American Progress), Barack Obama's advisor has been showing up on various television shows recently. He was on Larry King Live the other night with T. Boone Pickens (80's corporate takeover baron).

Picken's gave a spiel worthy of his old stockholder speech days. He spoke on the utter necessity of kicking our national addiction to oil (which he pumped into our veins for decades) and switch to natural gas (an energy source he WANTS to pump into our veins). Pickens was also one of Bush's (43) most ardent supporters.

Podesta, the former pit bull-in-chief for Bill Clinton, agreed with everything Pickens pitched. The whole thing smacks of another odd couple bi-partisan effort to bamboozle the American public in some undetermined manner (so far). Why so cynical you ask? OK, when a left-leaning Washington power monger and a staunch Republican oil monger start dating on national television, somebody should be concerned. The only exception I'm prepared to make are the cute seniors James Carvel and Mary Matalin.

I am surprised that then President-elect Obama signed off on Podesta coordinating the transition. I applaud his cherry picking of Clinton's old team. They accomplished much given the circumstances. But in this case, it was a mistake. When several of his cabinet picks were tanked for various reasons (mainly tax evasion), I wonder if Podesta's vetting team were introduced to his well documented alter ego - Skippy.

While appearing on Charlie Rose yesterday, Skippy seemed to trivialize the tax evasion debacle, bemoaning the loss of Tom Daschle and all he would have meant to health care reform. Rose, as usual, backed away from a valid point and capitulated to his guest. It was one of those exchanges that appeared to lobby on behalf of elected officials receiving immunity for the sake of the nation. It was also a great way to limbo under the fact that Podesta was not functioning at the high level he demands of others *.

Whatever happened to BioWillie? Now that's one act I'd like to see on the road (again).

* Washington Post - Tuesday, November 25, 2008; Page C01

Barack Obama: Wall Street Grades The President?

Breaking News - Sources have confirmed and it can now be revealed:

Wall Street has given the Obama Administration's stimulus plan an 'F'

This news is excellent. I mean it. I live in Los Angeles and all too often "breaking news' means it has started raining or the Beckham's have arrived at LAX. But I'm going to take it easy on the networks. After all, I think the KCAL 9 weather girl is my second cousin...now if I can just find Jackie's phone number...

Oh, yes, the issue at hand, that report card. For awhile I had been concerned that 'The Street' might have something good to say about the President's stimulus plan. Consider these grades issued by Wall Street in recent years:

Bernard Madoff AAA+
Countrywide Home Loans AAA-
Enron A+

As you can see, adding Barack Obama's name to this list just wouldn't have made any sense. But I defer to Groucho: "I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member." All I have to say is - You bet your life...

It's The End Of The World As We Know It...

There seems to be something strange going on. It's not everyday life with it's eyebrow raising observations. It's beyond the senses. * It's late night with Peter Falk and a cup of coffee "I can't see you, but I know you're there".

It's not just the street preachers, or the Mormons busy stacking away boxes of mason jars. It's everyone else. They're running around exclaiming "2012, that's it, it's all over". I've overheard at least ten conversations in the past month extolling the virtues of the Mayan calendar. A dozen more involving Nostradamus.

And while I know that there have been some 'changes' as of late, I don't believe the end is near. At least where the world is concerned. I think the rational explanation for the hysteria is based in denial. The United States is shifting from it's role as world's pacesetter. It's headed into the garage for a major overhaul.

When it rolls out it will indeed be a more perfect union. Wiser for it's age. Tempered by the fact it was made tougher by that which would not be allowed to kill it: greed, dishonesty and inequality. A country that is sustained by it's only true heritage of strength: it's immigrants.

I see a bright future ahead, forged by humbled leaders. Representatives of countries that will refocus attention on a cause overridden by egos and fear...working together for a better world. Would that be strange?





* From the film "Wings of Desire".

Better Living Through Chemistry?

It came to me tonight, as I was watching the evening news. The pharmaceutical companies and their commercials are in pursuit of world domination.

They have taken over the television networks. I mention the news, because they have bought out nearly all the ad slots. 

I wouldn't have noticed this because of the way the commercials are constructed. They lull you into a hypnotstate with filtered lenses and movie-like production. Happy families skipping through fields, and basking in sun drenched beaches as those pesky side-effects float in one ear and out the other. Subliminal seduction.

The news is the perfect place for a pharmaceutical company to adverise. It is dominated by negative and disgusting events. What better place to insert dream inducing reminders to consult your physician?

 

The Economy: Capitalism Tanks, Wall Street & Pigeon Shit...

The banking CEO/CFO cartel that created this financial mayhem should be dragged into Central Park and be pilloried. 

Let snow, rain and pigeon-shit replace the piles of money they have been bathing in throughout the derivative debacle. This is how healing needs to begin in America. 

That Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner needs to explain his plan to the very cartel that pulled off the crime is preposterous. He should have held the press conference the night before, instead of the President. 

Bring the recovery plan to the American people. Not the creeps who receive massive bonuses as they stand amidst the financial ruins they engineered.

Instead, make the American people the focus of Mr. Geithner's attention. These are the people who, in the end, had better be impressed.

Everyone was waiting for Mr. Geithner to come down off the mountain, toss the tablets at Bernard Madoff as he rode the golden calf, and restore prosperity. It didn't happen. Speeches work miracles, but mainly in movies.

The financial industry is not alone in this. Those without the means to buy a home suddenly qualified. We were taught that absolute power corrupts. And then witnessed it occur.

A generation sacrificed to make a better life for their children. Hard work, long hours and saving. It was their last gasp before being trampled by their offspring in a bull-rush shortcut to the American dream.