Read My Lips.....No Lobbyists!!!

So another “lobbyist” creeps into the Obama administration - doesn't anyone recall “No lobbyist will be allowed in my administration.” Is this just another case of "tell the people what they want to hear..." Don't you just love politicians

And it gets worse. This is actually the third lobbyist to be appointed to the Administration, but this one is a little different. Despite an impressive resume, Mr Neal Wolin, who is now the Prez's new top legal-eagle on economic issues has just left his post of President of the Hartford Financial Services Group Inc where he was so successful he has apparently been seeking to secure several billion dollars in bail-out money from the taxpayers of America.

If pulling in a failed financier to be the top advisor on economic issues doesn't tarnish the O-shine among the Hopier-and-Changier crowd, I think it should.

Would you like chocolate sprinkles with that abortion??...

Krispy Kreme doughnuts are being taken on by the feminist catholic pro-life, anti-abortion, American Life League for having offered doughnut consumers a "freedom of choice". These idiots at American Life League have claimed ownership of the word "choice" and insist that it is synonymous with abortion access and therefore anything or anyone that supports 'freedom of choice' is a tacitly endorsing abortion rights on demand.

You tell me what comes to mind when you read the following statement...chocolate sprinkles or aborted fetus'?????.....

"Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. is honoring American's sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, Jan. 20".

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Its a ridiculous state of affairs, but at the same time so tragic because it is true. Where will it end?.....

Why 56th Inauguration

To us non-Americans, a reasonable question to ask is "why is this the 56th U.S. Presidential inauguration. While Barack Obama will be the 44th president, his inauguration will in fact be the 56th such event. Presidents who are re-elected are inaugurated for a second time (although Franklin D. Roosevelt was actually inaugurated four times). The number 56 does not include those vice-presidents who suddenly succeeded a president who died or resigned - and there are nine such instances in United States history, although several of those nine went on to be elected to their own terms, and, therefore, have their own inauguration. Never let it be said this blog site wasn't educational :)

An Aussie's Tribute to the Character of America

What an amazing time to be in Washington DC. As I write this, down at the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial in the nation’s capital, just 3 blocks from where I work, on Sunday 18th January 2009, a most amazing spectacle is unfolding – the celebration of the inauguration of President-elect Barak Obama featuring some of the world’s most famous artists. Over the past two weeks I have walked down to the Lincoln Memorial almost every day to watch it grow from simple impressive monument, to the extraordinary stage that is today the venue for an incredible concert for the entire world to see.

I would defy anybody who watches this magnificent ceremony, whether live as I am (abeit on television), or at some later time, not to be overwhelmed with the extraordinary sense of “nation” present in this great country at the moment. I actually found myself cheering and applauding at times during the concert – simply absorbed by the ceremony and the weight of the occasion – I have always said that Americans "do patriotism” bigger and better than most – and this is Americans, and America, at its very best.

But let no cynic condemn this spectacle to mere politics. This is truly a historic day. It is a day of common hope and it is a day that truly reflects the ideals of the American character. May it win through - and long may it prevail…across these United States…across the world.

The National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial will forever mean something just a little more to me now - no longer just a simple impressive monument.

Free Enterprise vs Socialism?? Give Me a Break....

Its somewhat of a local US issue I know - albeit with the potential to impact the global economy, but if you have been following the discussions surrounding the release of the next $350 billion dollars of financial rescue funds to the banks, you may (or may not) be amazed to know that nobody in Congress yet has any idea what the banks did with the first $350 billion. In fact all the evidence appears to support accusations that that banks are just hoarding the funds rather than using them for the purpose the taxpayers intended, that is lending to businesses and consumers.

Perhaps more amazing is that some financial analysts (yes, no prizes for guessing what sector these guys come from) actually argue that demanding to know what happened to the first $350 billion represents "micromanagement" by Government - and must be avoided. Dick Morris, from Realclearpolitics.com argues that Congress needs to quickly approve the remaindr of the bail out funds but limit its "muscle-flexing" in terms of oversight. In fact he implies that such muscle flexing would represent a move towards socialism and away from the free enterprise system. Excuse me???? If the free enterprise system were allowed to run its course, there wouldn't be any any bail out on offer....give me a break!!

Take time to smell the roses....

This story was passed on to me by my good friend Charlie Cole. Its called "A Violinist in the Metro" (Metro is what they call a train station in Washington DC). You will get the point.....

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked a t his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context? One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

See video at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html