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Obama seen untouched by Illinois Governor Charges, says R euters

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Tuesday, December 09, 2008 6:37:36 PM
Obama untouched by Blagojevich scandal.   Do you think a Republican would get an article like this one from Reuters.   Not likely.  

I am not saying Obama is involved.   But if these politicians were Republicans,  do you think the media would be so easy on him.    They would dig and dig,  and even if they didn't find anything it would still be a big story. 

So even if Obama was involved,  the press sure wouldn't look.   And they aren't going to either.    The only thing that Obama did was to mostly stay away from Blagojevich.    Good for his career,  not so good for the residents and taxpayers of Illinois.    Not once did Obama take a stand against corruption in Illinois.  Never.    Even when he had the opportunity he didn't. 

That why I have never bought the idea that Obama is a reformer.   Because he isn't.   He may not be as corrupt like most Illinois Democrats,  but he never did anything to stop it either.  
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Blagojevich Busted!!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Tuesday, December 09, 2008 2:01:21 PM
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested this morning at his Chicago home.    He has been under a cloud of corruption for quite a while now.    So you think he would keep a low profile and dial it back a little.

In spite of that fact,  the feds contend that he was trying to sell Obama's now vacant (not that Obama actually sat in it much) Senate seat.     This in addition to all the other things that the feds had been looking at already.     Obama seems to have nothing to do with this new scandal.    But it shows wheres he is from.  

So was Blagojevich stupid or so arrogate he thought he could get away with it?   I sure don't know.   It would seem to lean to stupid with the other part of scandal involving trying to shake down the Chicago Tribune for state aid.   You wonder if yesterdays bankruptcy has something to do with it.    

More as this develops.  
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Tribune Companies to File for Bankruptcy, Why Does GM Refuse to Do So Too?

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Monday, December 08, 2008 2:35:39 PM
The Tribune company today declared it is bankrupt.    The publisher of the Chicago Tribune has $13 billion in debt.     It isn't going to end operations however.   There is no reason to do so.   That what Chapter 11 bankruptcy is for. 

Which begs the question.   Why can't GM file for chapter 11 bankruptcy?    It would actually solve many of its various problems.    The bailout only prolongs the misery.    It will go broke again in the future.   Remember we taxpayers bailed out Chrysler in the early 1980's and here we are again once again ready to do so again. 

Taxpayers should demand that we not give the automakers any money.   They need to declare bankruptcy and reorganize.    The bailout has already failed because it will not address fundamental problems with the American auto business. 

It will not address:   the dealers that they need to rid themselves of,  the brands they need to retire,  union contracts that don't make business sense,  the management that agreed to the bad contracts to begin with, the retirees that need to be funded somehow. 

Also bankruptcy would allow  a lot of bad debt to go away,   makes it easier to end unneeded dealer contracts,  opens old labor contracts to fix bad deals.     They want the bailout so they don't have to do the hard work that has to be done at some time.    This things MUST happen at some point.  

The bailout will only help bring an end to American automaking.    In thirty years or less,  there will be no GM, Chrysler or Ford to kick around anymore.   They will be history,  because we taxpayers can't bail them out every twenty or so years.    At some point the government will not be able to waste our money any more.

Can the American auto industry save itself.   Yes,  if it doesn't go to Washington for "help".     Will it,  at this point, thats a big fat NO!
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Eric Zorn, your hypocrisy is showing!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Sunday, December 07, 2008 5:35:26 PM
Eric Zorn,  your hypocrisy is showing!

Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn is complaining  today that the Obama haters aren't going away since the election is over.    Guess what Eric,  they ain't going anywhere.  

Since the Bush haters haven't let up a second since 2000,  why would Obama be free from those that oppose him?   I say bring it on!   No politician should be protected by the press like Obama is today.    

I know that the media doesn't think that criticizing Obama is something we should do.   Here in the real world,  it is something that we will have to do a lot of for the next four years.   We will have to,  because people like Eric Zorn will not.  Many have grave concerns for what Obama is going to do.   For very good reasons.  

Its because he has very little of a track record.   It doesn't help that what is known about him isn't very good.   A good sense of style and image matter very little to the job of president.  Thats about all he has. 

Yes, the people Zorn writes about are not going to prevail.   But HE is the one that are pointing these people out.   He  never bothered to point out the real wacko's that have even less to stand on when they complain about things about President Bush,  that aren't even true.    

I would point this out to Eric Zorn on his blog,  but he isn't taking comments on this post!  I wonder why?  Not really. 


On another note,  is it just me,  or is the quality (of the writing and editing) of  the Trib just not as good as it once was?


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Obamania Continues: Schools being named for the chosen one already!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Saturday, November 22, 2008 1:01:49 AM
Obamania continues unabated.   He not even president yet and a school is being renamed for him already.   Read about it here.  Sort of sucks for the person the school was named for.   Ludlum School in Long Island, New York, was named for a  Dr. Charles Ludlum who served on the school board for four decades.  I can be pretty sure there isn't another school named for him.    But he is ditched without any thought  for the craze for Obama that has entranced parts of this nation. 

In the bad old days,  a president had to be OUT of office (and deceased) before they named schools for you.     Not before you even take office.    They may feel a little silly when Obama becomes the next Jimmy Carter.   I don't think there are too many schools named for him. 

I think the service of a man for almost half a century to a school district trumps a unproven president-elect any day.   Unfortunately the school board in Long Island has a short memory. 
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Top GM suits fly private jet to Washington to beg for money!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Friday, November 21, 2008 3:55:53 PM
Yet another reason not to bail out the auto industry.   GM leases five jets for top executives (down from seven, what sports).    Why does any company need its own jets?   Especially a failing company.    They just don't get it. 

Keeping expensive perks that don't make the company any money (in fact costs the company big money)  while trying to make cuts to the workforce just cannot be.   The unions will never back down if you keep stuff like jets, luxury skyboxes, executive dining rooms and the like.   Because if you can afford that,  the reasoning will be that no cuts are necessary anywhere.    And they will not happen. 

Chapter 11 is the best option for the auto industry.    The auto industry needs to ditch alot of things starting with management.    There is no way you can convince a union worker,  a car dealer or the taxpayer to make sacrifices if you are flying to Washington at $20 grand a pop on a private jet to beg for money.  

A roundtrip ticket from Detroit to Washington on Greyhound is $162 per person.   Wouldn't it show you really mean business if you went to Washington the way most broke people would?

And do us a favor,  when you are profitable again,  don't be getting all that stuff back again.    What do you think you are,  government employees? 
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Should the Taxpayers Bailout GM?

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 2:06:43 AM
Now that bailing out every large corporation in trouble is in vogue with those "running"  the government.     General Motors and the other two remaining American car makers are stepping in line.  

The auto industry does has some major challenges.   It is stuck with some bad labor contracts, many retirees,   a lot of government regulations and a very bad current market.     Some of it is self inflicted  and plenty is the government fault.  

Having the government involved so much in business just isn't good.   It makes for the car companies to delay making the hard decisions that would save the companies.    GM really needs to stop thinking it will swallow Chrysler,  hopefully that deal will stay dead.    It only makes things worse.   But it something like that would never be considered without government interference.

Buick,  Pontiac, GMAC and Saturn's days are numbered,  their value isn't worth very much anymore.     Chevy and Cadillac  are the only two brands that have good sales anymore.  Something has to happen with the labor costs,  that can cannot continue to be kicked down the road.    But if the government offers money,  that problem will remain because it can be ignored again.   

Would GM be better off without it high cost labor contracts and retirees, most of its underperforming brands and a lot of government regulations?   Yes!   Will it happen?  Nope.   

Government doesn't believe in the free enterprise system.   Therefore it will not allow large company to evolve  or go out of business.    Instead of allowing the economy fix the auto industry on its own,   it will only help it decline further.  It will contiue to be the unwanted stepchild of the US economy that it has been for the last thirty years.  

A smaller leaner GM would do well with Chevy and Cadillac, but we may end up with none of the GM brands.      GM should be allowed to reorganize on its own.
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Voter Turnout No Higher Then 2004!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Saturday, November 08, 2008 6:56:52 PM
Another thing you won't hear much about from the mainstream media is the voter turnout.    Most if asked would say it was way higher then normal.

THEY WOULD BE WRONG!

After the endless stories about the high turnout for Obama.   

After all the stories of new voter registrations and huge calls for voting.  

The turnout was barely higher then 2004!

American Universities Center for the Study of the American Electorate concluded the turnout was the same in percentage as the last presidential election.  Not even a rise of  1%. Wow,  it wasn't huge at all,  just different voters? 


Was it that so many were not interested in voting for McCain that they stayed home counteracting the additional Obama voters?   It looks like it.  

It does show that trying to elect a center-moderate candidate was a mistake for the Republicans.   Even adding Palin was too late.   It could be argued that the media forced McCain on the Republicans as well.   It does show that if a more conservative candidate is put up by Republicans in 2012 it will be better for them.   Those voters could be back,  making for actual bigger turnout?   

Even though Obama won this time the reality is there are still more conservative voters out there.  The proof is the passing of the pop. 8 in California and two other states.  Some conservatives may have sat this one out,  but many Obama voters support conservative ideas.    So if there is a candidate that they are excited about,  reelection will be harder for Obama.   He really cannot make the sharp left turn that some of his hard left voters want.    He was elected more by the center left with some moderate right. 

McCain did pretty well for the cards he was dealt.    It still was close.   A Republican party headed by Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin  and other conservatives show much promise.     Obama will have the nearly impossible task of keeping his high popularity.    It will be interesting.  
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Election Aftermath part 3

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 9:06:29 PM
The biggest losers in this election aren't even Americans.    Although the media would make you believe that most foreigners would prefer Obama as our president, it really isn't in their best interest at times. 

The one that could suffer the most is Iraq.   Although the tide has turned,  if American troops leave too soon or fast,   could be disaster.    None of the other nations will stay,  not even Great Britain.    Iran and the terrorists could run free.  We will complain about a Obama presidency,  but at least here it won't be deadly.

The second is any country in the gun-sites of Islamic terror.    That is know just about everybody.    Europe will be more prone to terror attacks with a weak U.S. president.  Western Europeans still don't seem to understand the danger that they are in,  because living in our shadow has made them blind to it. 

The third is any country that trades with us.   Obama will most likely oppose more free trade and dial back on the free trade we have,  since most liberals don't understand how it works.    In the long run foreign products will be more expensive with additional taxes and regulation.    It will lead to more unemployment inside and outside the U.S. 

Government interference in the U.S. leading to a longer recovery in the economy will lead to recessions around the world.  When business is bad here,  it can be terrible in other places.   Not a great combo if you got homegrown terrorists and lots of unemployed.  

After all the hot air about America becoming more "popular" the rest of the world,   it  will actually make the world worse off.   We are better off being respected rather then being popular. 
 
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Election Aftermath Part 2

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 4:54:36 PM
Well my second scenario was pretty close wasn't it.!  It wasn't the one I was hoping for.   Its really funny (and a little scary) watching the "mainstream" media fall over each other with the positive Obama stories.  They really do love him.   Well enjoy it,  the honeymoon will be short.   That I can guarantee!   The media will continue to love him,  but that will not provide him with much relief since being president is nothing like a campaign.  

Some predictions. 

The far left will be very disappointed in short order.   When they find that Obama will not be as able to put forward (or even be very interested) in many of their pet causes.   They may end up attacking him  (and be very vicious about it), more then the Republicans will.  

Those not as far left will be disappointed as well.   The bar got set pretty high,  it will be hard for Obama to deliver.   Many of his promises are pie in the sky types of things that have no basis in reality.   Many were so dazzled by him, the setting in of real life will be very hard for some of the true believers. 

On the same vein,  Obama may find that his administration will probably suffer from the many little (and some big ones) scandals that plagued the Clinton administration.   The old saying is true,  the company you keep, can make or break you.    It will take up much of his time,  more then he would ever think.

On the Democrats controlling Congress and the White House,  if Illinois is any indication, they will not be able to do much.   They will be going in so many different directions,  the infighting and lack of Democratic leadership in Congress may make thing go slow for them.  Far more then anything the Republicans dish out on them, although their media pals will blame them anyway.

It remains to be seen, if Obama will back down, like Clinton, when things they are trying to do are unpopular.     You could count on Clinton second guessing himself when poll numbers looked bad.     Obama hasn't really introduced anything,  so even that is also unknown.  

I think I will have plenty of things to  write about for the next four years,  its going to be a bumpy ride.


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Election Aftermath

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 2:58:59 AM
Well, we all knew it was a long-shot.    Its over and Obama is going to be the president.     All the hard work of the "mainstream " media has finally worked for the Democrats.    The deck was stacked against McCain and the Republicans from the beginning.    Eight years of the continuous rhetoric brought to your living room by the media  was bound to wear thin.     If you hear it enough, it must be true.   

It could be worse,  the Democrats didn't get the 60 seats in the Senate.   Hopefully the Republicans can slow the worst the Democrats have to offer.    They will try hard at "change" because they will think they have a mandate.    We no longer have a veto to stop the nonsense.   

Here in Indiana a bright spot.   Mitch Daniels was reelected.   Indiana will continue to be a oasis in the midwest.   So thats good news. 

Two years in exile will hopefully bring some changes to the Republican Party.   As a party it has been off base for a while.   This loss was a long time coming.   In a lot of ways Republicans have been Democrat-lite,  so in the mind of many voters,  why bother when you can have the real thing.   There will be talk of the end of conservatism but we all know that isn't true. 

Conservatives must take control of the Republican Party and clean house.   It was the most successful when conservatives principles were in charge.  We must be united as a party,  the Democrats are,  we aren't.  If that doesn't happen,  it will be a long time until Republicans will be in the White House or control Congress again.  We cannot count on complete Democrat   failure and scandals,  they will manage good spin on anything.     

They fooled America today.  Too many drank the kool-aid.  We have to make the best of it.   If we worked at it,  Congress could return to the Republican Party in two years.    Hopefully Obama will be more Jimmy Carter then Bill Clinton.   That will make it easier but it will not easy no matter what.   Obama will lose a lot of support when people discover he cannot change the world the way they think he will. 

More on this all soon.  It not the end of the world!  Peace!!

  
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My Prediction Scenarios for Today!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:01:57 AM
My predictions  scenarios for today!  

One scenario  is  good,  one not.

First scenario:   A  tight McCain win.  He wins all the states won by Bush in 2004.  He has to win most or all those states to win.  This scenario works only if enough Republicans get out and vote to counteract all the new Obama voters. Possible in the red states of 2004.  There are more new or returning Republican voters out there then the media would ever allow you to think.  Tough but possible, many people are quite scared of an Obama presidency, including this blogger,  and will get out to vote even if they aren't big McCain fans.   This scenario keeps things the same electoral vote wise.  Large turnouts  but same ratio of electoral votes.  Not the best win in the world but  it will do.  McCain 286 Obama 252.

Sort of a side scenario, if Pennsylvania goes McCain's  way it is a big plus,  giving him a better and bigger win.    He cannot lose two of the following: Virginia, Ohio, and Florida.  If one of those is lost, Pennsylvania has to be won (same thing if Colorado and another western state like New Mexico or Nevada is lost).    The polls in places like Indiana, Colorado and VIrginia  are likely bogus.     McCain is leading there.    This scenario counts on that Obama is more hype then actual  Democratic voters.    Possible due to the media love fest with Obama.   McCain 307 Obama 231.

Second scenario:  The not good one.  Obama wins two or three states Bush won in 2004. Obama brings out Democrats in bigger numbers,  or at least enough to win.   The media lovefest with the Democrat candidate has finally worked after trying in 2000 and 2004.   Obama wins Virginia and New Mexico for a very tight win.   McCain loses even though he won Ohio and  Florida.   McCain 268 Obama 270.

Thats the scary thing,  if McCain loses a big eastern state (Virginia, Ohio and Florida)  that Bush won in 2004 he loses if if a small state in addition like New Mexico, Iowa or Nevada is lost too!   He could win even if he lost one of the big three as long as no small states is lost.   If he loses two of the following big eastern states he loses even if he wins all the rest of Bush's states.   Another loss could happen if the three western states (Iowa, New Mexico and Nevada) are lost, even if the big three are won in the east.
So even if those three big eastern states are in the bag, its still could be bad for McCain.


Funky weird scenario:   McCain wins all the states won by Bush in 2004 but loses Nevada, Iowa and New Mexico to Obama giving each candidate 269 electoral votes each.   270 is needed to win.    The circus would move to Congress,  not a pretty picture if that happens.   McCain 269 Obama 269,  Obama wins, Democratic Congress will throw it to him.   


Final thoughts.

Neither candidate is going to win big.   That media bit is pure crap.   Forget about "landslides" for either side.  I really don't see Obama running away with this election even if he wins.    It going to be a nail biter.   Plan on staying up late.    An early indicator could be my home state of Indiana (polls close early here).   It will show if the media's polls are true nonsense or not.     If Obama is getting good numbers in Indiana its probably over. 

However its not as bad as it could be for McCain.   He could still win and by a larger amount of electoral votes then a tight Obama win.   Hopefully voter fraud will not effect the way a states electoral vote goes.   Thats a big if,  ACORN hasn't been stopped everywhere.

One good thing that will come out of this election.  Higher voter turnout.   If may be the only good thing about it.   If we could get better information and coverage of the election by the media it would be more fair for the majority of voters.   Many Obama voters truly don't know who they are voting for.   People need to learn to vote on the issues not on the emotions and rhetoric of the candidates.

So get out there and Vote For McCain-Palin!!!!!
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After Opposing Photo ID for Voting, Obama Requiring Photo ID to Go to Election Night Rally!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Monday, November 03, 2008 10:44:05 PM
The Obama campaign and some of its allies like ACORN has for the most part opposed photo id laws for voting.    A few states like Indiana have laws that you need a photo id to vote (if you don't have it,  you can still vote provisionally but you have to provide proof of id later).    It designed to prevent voter fraud,  like double voting or voting for a someone else like a dead person. 

But these groups still bellyache about how these laws prevent voters from voting.   Never mind that nobody ends up being turned away.     They sue the state hoping a judge will throw it out.   Indiana's law was upheld by the supreme court. 

As you maybe already know,  Obama is holding a election night party at Chicago's Grant Park.   Grant Park is the large downtown park made famous by the rioting at the Democratic Convention in 1968.     However there are many more people that would like to go then there is space.    So it was by lottery to get tickets to the area close to the stage.   The tickets have your name printed on them and are not transferable. 

And guess what!   To prevent trading and selling of tickets, A PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED to enter the park!

The  50 states are evil monsters to want to prevent voter fraud with photo id,  but to make things more convenient for the Obama campaign it OK.    You have got to love the logic.  

Shows what is important to Obama and his supporters.

Typical Democrat,   Do as I say,  not as I do!
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Prove the "Mainstream" Media wrong , Vote McCain-Palin Tomorrow!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Monday, November 03, 2008 12:55:39 PM
Prove the "Mainstream" Media wrong (again),  Vote McCain-Palin Tomorrow!

(Yeah, its a dumb reason to vote for McCain, but no more dumb then many of the reasons people are voting for Obama!)

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Good Article on Public Employees Voting Blue

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Sunday, November 02, 2008 10:22:59 PM
Good read on the "New Left".   The Real Engine of Blue America by Steven Malanga.   How unionized public employees hold cities hostage with their "social justice".      It was written in 2005 but since nothing has really changed,  it still current. 

Good tidbits include:

More people are employed by public and private (although most are paid with public money) social services in New York City then work on Wall Street. 

There really isn't a truly blue state,  but are really blue cities surrounded by red suburbs and countryside. 

Employment in healthcare exploded with the creation of medicare and medicaid when government money arrived. 
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