Economy Team: Deal or Dud

This last week, president-elect Barak Obama threw his hat into the ring by giving his first speech as president-elect on the economy. He announced who his economic team was going to be, and announced his economic plan. With the picks of former Treasury Secretary, Larry Summers as Obama's in-White House economic advisor, and NY Fed Chair, Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary, president-elect Obama should have the economic team he desires.

Both men served very Liberal administrations and governments, and know how to govern an economy from the left. It will be very interesting to see just how these individuals will be able to pull us out of this economic crisis. However, these new picks may not have much say, because president-elect Obama has already announced what he wishes to do over the next two years.

Mr. Obama has declared that he will oversee the largest stimulus package in the history of America. Where he and the Congress will get the money to pay for this is still a mistery to me. He also said that he will use this time to oversee radical changes in healthcare, energy and education policy. If you know the Obama's plans in any of three, you will know this will mean less choice and more bureaucracy all in the name of "fairness". Mr. Obama seeks a, "long term retooling of the American economy."This is scarey language if you like free market capitalism. Mr Obama, also declares that he will save the American tax payer $700 Billion, by using the line-item veto to cut specific spending items from the budget. Unfortunately for Mr. Obama, "Constitutional Scholar" that he is, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the line-item veto unconstitutional for the executive branch back in the 1990s. Unless he plans on superseding their authority, the line-item veto is not an option. But then again he also promises not to raise taxes, but how is he going to pay for his new social programs with out doing that?

I know that in my earlier blog I spoke about praying for our president, that he will make wise decisions that are good for this country. I also now it is a little bit premature to be speculating on what Obama's policies will exactly be, but if you base your opinions on what Barak Obama has said in the past about what he desires for this country, then its hard to beleive he will not try to implement those desires. President-Obama has stated in his books and stump speeches that he is for radical changes in our policies as a country (this includes radically changing the Constitution). Many of these policy changes are extremely unpopular with the American people when presented to them honestly(i.e. socialized healthcare, 65% against-40% for (AmericanSolutions.com)). Here is where you might say, "wait a minute he got elected on those policies!" No, he got elected on a vague promise of change, where everyone projected what change they wanted on to him. If you read his books, listen to his speeches and "private" conversations you will see a dyed-in-the-wool socialist, and socailist policy is unpopular with the American people. This is why I am already calling into question his policy decisions.

President-elect Obama is doing his best to do the right thing. The only problem is that it is his opinion of what the right thing is. For generations this country has operated under the free market system. We were not afraid to allow companies to fail, because we kknew the market would recover and those companies would be bought by the highest bidder and salvaged. Yet, today we are so afraid of failure and hard times, that we will allow our simplest freedom, the freedom of choice, to be taken from us in the name of "financial security". I understand that if companies like AIG or GM fail it could mean the collapse of large portion of our economy and millions would lose their jobs. However, these effects would be hard, but they would be short lived and individual Americans, who normally would not have a chance at owning a piece of America, would be able to buy up these failed business and make them trhive again through ingenuity and drive both of which is what this country was founded on.

Hard times are not called hard because they are attractive, but they are necessary from time to time to make us appreciate what we have. This country has survived worse, and we can survive this, but it is going to take the resolve of our leaders, and the courage of the American people to do the things that are necessary to save our country's economy and preserve the freedoms we so enjoy.

Mr. Obama, Our President

The people have spoken, and have chosen as their 44th president, the first African-American president, Barak Hussein Obama. This is a great day for our county's racial relations, and with much prayer could be a great day for our country as a whole. Eventhough I vigorously campaigned against president-elect Obama and do not agree with a single policy he campaigned on, he is my President and I wish him well.

In the Bible, Second Timothy, chapter 2 starts out exclaiming Christians to pray for all their leaders, that they will govern justly and there will be peace. This is my prayer for the leaders of our country, and for President-elect Obama. My prayer is that he governs so well, that as Dennis Miller said, "I want to run out and vote for his second term." Unfortunately, as I said during the campaign, I do not believe this will be so.

As a candidate of Change, Barak Obama promised us that he would reform Washington, and yet his choice for a running mate, and now his choices for a cabinet show either a veiled niavete, or deliberate dishonesty in that promise. By choosing former Clinton Administration advisors and Cabinet members, it is hard to determine if President-elect Obama is really serious about change. Or was change simply a by-word for anti-Bushism? It will be interesting to see if the Obama Administration will be something new and inspiring, or if it will be business as usual. I hope for the former.

Many conservative activists and media personalities have already shown what makes being conservative great. Everyone is wishing this soon-to-be president well, and showing what it means to be real patriots by supporting the office and not the man. All true patriots want the best for their country, and want their president to govern well, because when the government governs well, the people flurish.

A Prayer:

May God continue to shine his face on the United States of America, and may his eternal blessings rain done upon us forever. May our Heavenly Father give President Obama the wisdom and courage needed in the tough times, and the integrity and intelligence needed in the easy times.
In Jesus' precious name , Amen!

Newt and Burgess - Future of the GOP

Two days ago, I read on the Drudge Report that Newt Gingrich is rumored to be seeking the RNC chairmanship. This excited me to no end, then today I discovered that Congressman Michael C. Burgess, MD (TX-26) is seeking the House Republican Policy Committee Chairmanship, and now my joy runneth over! Should Newt and Burgess receive these posts we can be sure the GOP will be heading in the right direction.
Newt will serve the Party and the country best as the chairman of the RNC. His books Winning the Future and Real Change put forth a plan for this country that will rebuild America. They are solidly conservative, and place government squarely in the place that it belongs. The policies Newt focuses on in these books are overwhelmingly popular with the American people, and if pursued with the help of a Burgess Policy chairmanship could propell the GOP back into the Majority.
I know Congressman Burgess both personally and professionally. I am proud that I spent 2006 -2007 helping Burgess represent the people of the 26th District, and I know that if given the chance, Dr. Burgess can heal the Republican Party. His courage underfire (which I have seen first hand) and leadership is the exact prescription the GOP needs. Dr. Burgess is a conservative's conservative, and knows exactly how to fix America's healthcare woes, energy crisis, and has the moral fortitude to stand up to the special interest, and give the American people the medicine they need for recovery.
With Burgess and Gingrich at the helm, the future of the Republican Party looks strong, however, this future can dim should the moderate and liberal Republicans dominate the GOP. That is why we need to inform our representation that we want the real leadership of Burgess and Gingrich.