Getting Nervous about Bonus Fall-out

The AIG bonuses total some tiny fraction of all the bailout billions that have gone to the huge insurance company. Yet, Washington D.C. politicians and 24-hour news cable show talkers seem to think that nothing is more important that hollering about the crime and inequity of those bonuses.

Never mind that the compensation structure of these employees is such that the "bonuses" often constitute the majority of their annual pay. Never mind that it isn't the business of Congress to set the pay levels in private sectors - even when "we" now "own" 80% of AIG. Never mind that the contracts were signed in the first part of 2008 - before the total crash of the financial world.

Never mind - oh, never mind. And leave Obama out of it - he took the blame as a strategy to try to cool things down and help out beleaguered Geithner. Maybe Geithner hasn't quite lived up to his financial superstar billing, but he's also been hit with a whole lot of disaster. So, I think the media should just lay off the both of them!

Getting Weary of Politics

I'm sure this won't happen to Fair, but I'm starting to feel burned out by politics. I still totally LOVE Barack Obama - don't get me wrong. But the expectations set for him were impossibly high and now I gather that his ratings are starting to drop and the criticism of this decision or policy or that is rising . . . I'm just weary of it all. I hope this condition doesn't last for long - I want to care about everything, I still keep up with national news online and on TV - but . . . I guess it is the post-campaign let-down, just a bit delayed . . .

Local news - of course the Economic Stimulus is story one. My involvement is tangential - but for various reasons, including the "federal-aid eligible" characteristic of the transportation component of the stimulus package, I did work with DIT to change "my" website at www.michigan.gov/mdot - look under maps & publications, maps, and then - no longer NFC and NHS - who knows what they stand for - now it's "Federal-Aid Highways." So maybe it will be easier for that small town mayor or whatever to look for the answer to the question - Is my road eligible for federal-aid? Could I get Stimulus money? (probably not if you have only now begun to look into it, but anyway . . . )

'Unpatriotic'

Today I am writing about Rush Limbaugh.

Rush Limbaugh is an IDIOT and self-serving pain in my side . This guy was on the radio saying how he hoped the Obama team's stimulus package would be a complete failure.

Then what, moron (Limbaugh), we all stumble into a deep Bush-era recession?

Back in 2001 and 2002, many in the country questioned then-President Bush's decision to go to war. Those withing the far reaches of the right wing were very happy to label those questioning our then-Commander In Chief as 'unpatriotic.' To me, wishing on live radio that a program, for the benefit of our nation, fails is unpatriotic and un-American.

Hey Limbaugh... I hear they don't like constructive stimulus packages in Nicaragua - how about you report live from Nicaragua. Rush Limbaugh is a self centered a$$ that cares only for himself.

The Long Game

Obama is so cool and strategic, and in that, so different from all predecessors, that reporters and political opponents just don't get it! Three weeks in - and his bipartisan efforts have failed! Idiots! It's the long game, stupid. You play out your invites here, your cocktail parties there, your phone calls and meetings on the hill - this looks good to the voters, idiots! So you don't move votes from the opposing side? That makes the opposition look bad, not Obama who is patiently making the overtures.

So weren't you in Austin today or yesterday or something? Bill Clinton was there with his Global Initiative stuff - did you see him? ;->

Go Green

Congratulations to Michigan State's basketball team on their raunching of UMich!

Transit made it through

Good news about the stimulus: the US House/Senate conference committee funded mass transit at $8.4 billion; national high-speed rail (according to who's definition?) will get $9.3 billion.

I read from the AP that President Obama and Sen. Harry Reid pushed for the high-speed rail funding 'behind the scenes.'

And the republicans... they rallied for more Dept. of Defense spending, did additional complaining, and then didn't bother to support the bill. We should include contributions from republican Sens. Collins, Snowe and Specter - screw the remainder of them. Really.

The tax cuts of the Bush year's did so well for our country...

Obama is Long-winded but Good . . .

at first presser (stupid slang, but it is more concise). You're right Fair, about the lack of CSPAN time from the Michigan Delegation re the Stimulus. Although, repub Rep. Steve Hoekstra is in the news for using Twitter to reveal the presence of a Congressional Delegation in Iraq. Not a good reference, of course. Do you tweet?

I'll sure be glad when the Stimulus is enacted and we can move on to other things. "They" say that Obama has had an opportunity to learn good lessons from this process - when to take control of a congressional debate, when to use the bully pulpit, etc. Maybe . . . .

Guess what - I have a business meeting on MSU campus tomorrow. They want in on the stimulus projects and of course have few federal-aid eligible roads. I gather they want to build something new and/or realign Wilson on the east side, to serve the new Facility for Rare Isotope something or other. I'm supportive and will explain the technicalities but management here is not necessarily on board . . . How's San Antonio?

Missing mitten

During the negotiation chatter in the media, I haven't heard much commentary on what Michigan's Senators and Congressmen(women) are doing to aid the state in crafting the stimulus. I know my former Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich (Harrison Twp.), will probably be busy blocking passage.

Hopefully her blocking will lead to another block - her upcoming re-election!

Any word, Ing, on the Michigan representation?

Come to think of it, the Virginia folks have been quiet too. The closest I can think of is Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski's auto purchase tax credit proposal. Hmmm.

Oh thank heaven

Oh thank heaven for, well, of course 7/11, but also for Maine Sen. Susan Collins.

Yes, Ing, you have it right. The stimulus bill negotiations have shown which of the, gulp, republicans are worth listening to... Ohio's Voinovich, the Maine delegation, Specter and even in this case Sen. Huchison from the great country of Texas.

Newsflash - there are costs associated with our country. Roads and transit lines do not appear out of thin air. To many in the suburbs, driving is considered a right, and they don't wish to pay for it thank you very much. The stimulus package(s) is a chance to make critical investments in our infrastructure, most long overdue.

I'm having a Fair time so far in Texas, although I still am tired from the last few weeks. Central time is an easy adjustment, much more so than when I was in California a few months ago.

Racist Republicans Critique Obama

Okay - let me get this straight:

• Obama has been in office less than three weeks and right-wing blogger Malkin declares his presidency a disaster; Newt Gingrinch pronounces him Jimmy Carter the second
• Ex-Vice President Cheney implies that Obama is deliberately and ignorantly discarding Bush Administration measures and policies, which will result in increased danger to the U.S.
• Former Bush Chief of Staff Andrew Card declares that Obama's changed dress code for the Oval Office (shirtsleeves okay) shows a lack of respect for the dignity of the office

All of these criticisms are completely unprecedented in their scope, source and tone from any previously lodged against brand new Presidents in the past. All past Presidents have been white - Obama is black. Therefore, such criticisms must originate in the racism of the critics, i.e., these Republicans.

Okay - this may be a stretch. But think about it - Malkin is understandable because she is always filled with vitriol against Democrats of any hue. But Gingrinch and Card are mainstream - what is it about Obama that gives them license to spout off as they have? I wonder . . .

Very Sorry that Obama has lost Daschle

Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle has withdrawn his name from consideration for the post of Secretary of Health and Human Services. The New York Times editorial this morning, calling for him to do so, influenced his decision, he said in an "emotional" interview with Andrea Mitchell (NBC).

This is very sad for numerous reasons. First, I believe that Daschle has been a very effective and supportive advisor to Obama for a number of years - I'm sad for Obama losing him in such a role. Second, I have always liked Tom Daschle - he seems to be very smart and to have a wry sense of humor, which is quite attractive. Third - I just don't think these income tax lapses are all that significant. Certainly the income and corresponding tax situations of Geithner, Daschle, and the other woman who withdrew today (from a made-up sounding post having to do with Performance Evaluation) are not anything I can relate to personally. But that doesn't matter to me - basically, Obama should be able to get who he wants unless it turns out the person is a total criminal (in which case, he would not have selected them).

House Repubs - Only a Pyrrhic Victory

So Boehner kept 100% of his caucus from voting for the House version of the Stimulus Package - zero repubs voted for it, despite the nice things some of them had to say about Obama's outreach across the aisle. Victory for repubs, loss to Dems? If so, it is only a Pyrrhic victory.

The Stimulus package will ultimately be enacted and will ultimately succeed. Dem challengers to the just-say-no-repubs will be able to say - look - he/she didn't want you to have these jobs and tax relief - they just wanted to score one against the popular President. And you want bipartisanship? We did too - but the repubs just wanted to keep using the old politics playbook.

Rome won't be built (rebuilt) in a day!

Fair - Loved your minute-by-minute post from Inauguration Day. Thanks for taking the time to do this!

As for your concern on transportation projects - you may have read that the Michigan Municipal League, among others, is calling for repairs to existing roads only - no new capacity. I think MDOT is looking at a 65/35 split between repair and new - I read something quickly and that might not be exactly right. Anyway, I'm sure there will be a mix and also I'm sure there will be projects some would consider waste. But what is pork to some are needed improvements to others. The Stimulus Bill won't be perfect - nothing ever is from government, right? What is that phrase? Don't let the perfect be the enemy of good. I think my beloved Barack has quoted that a time or two . . .

No way to describe the feeling

It's easy to tell something new is upon the nation's capital city. An upbeat mood, friendliness, and a new positive mood. Good bye George W. Bush! Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey... Goodbye (and Cheney too).

Ing, I'm beginnig to be worried that the transportaiton component of the stimulus package will let folks build new, unnecessary (as I have determined them to be ;) highways and not focus on fixing the existing system. Where is the emphasis on cities and transit? Grrrrr.

My day in history

The morning of January 20, 2009

Ing and I have been waiting for this day for too long. Not only are we, among millions of others, celebrating because George W. Bush is leaving Washington, DC; PRESIDENT OBAMA will be taking office as of 12 noon today. This is an historical and exciting day in many ways.


3:10AM – Only three hours sleep, but that’s all I’ll be getting today. I have to be down to the Virginia Square Orange Line Metrorail station at 3:50am to catch my train to work. Something tells me that I will not be enjoying my time working at West Falls Church. Is it really 3:10am?!

3:49AM – There already is a line to enter the just opening station. I know I’ll have no problem as I’m heading in the opposite the direction of DC and all the Inaugural events. Wow… so many people already.

4:02AM – I learn that the first non-peak direction train won’t come for 20 minutes. I guess I’ll be later to West Falls than I thought. That’s OK, I told them I would be on the first train.

4:22AM – In rolls the first Vienna-bound Orange Line train to Virginia Square station. Wait… why is the train full? Oh, I see; it’s the ‘bars are closing at 4:00am in DC crowd’ heading home after a long night partying in the District. That explains what I’ll call the bar smell…….

4:3xAM – I arrive at West Falls Church Metrorail station. It’s packed! I was expecting a bit less this early. Folks are arriving quickly. The first Fairfax Connector and Loudon County commuter buses are rolling in to the Dulles Toll Road bus loop packed with passengers. This is going to be a busier morning than I thought.

5:15AM – I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I think we’ve processed over 1,000 people in about 40 minutes. I learn we are one of the busiest non end-of-line suburban stations. Tales of mass congestion at Vienna are told.

5:40AM – A message via Blackberry that parking lots (with over 8,000 spaces) are full at Largo, New Carrollton, Greenbelt, and Branch Ave. That’s a lot of people. Hour+ waits to board Orange Line trains to DC from West Falls Church, where I’m stationed. One of the port-a-johns begins to overflow.

5:59AM – I can’t take the cold. I need a quick warm-up break. Kudos to the operations staff that stationed one of the vans as an employee warming center stocked with a mechanic at the ready.

6:37AM – The flow of passengers just isn’t stopping. The wait is now longer than an hour to board a train to DC. Parking at Vienna is full, which should help folks load at West Falls much faster.

7:xx AM – One of the supervisors departs West Falls Church for the Government Center area. Confusion over where a bus is to collect County emergency response staff.

7:19 AM – Another round of warming up in the warming van. IT’S COLD. Buses keep arriving full of passengers. Loudon buses are arriving a bit slower – their transit center is reaching full capacity with room for no more cars.

7:22 AM – I remind several passengers headed to work in the Dulles corridor that the County’s bus system is running a Saturday service. Reverse commute bus service is very limited.

7:24 AM – I direct several angry passengers to alternate buses to get folks as close to work as possible. Thankfully the 505 to Reston was running on an enhanced Saturday schedule. About 85 percent of those waiting board Reston-bound 505 buses; the remainder head home or use the 950.

7:38 AM – “What is that guy doing?” Ha-ha. There must be something wrong with him. Back to the warming bus.

7:40 AM – Another round of directing Dulles corridor passengers to alternative commuting services, mostly toward Reston.

8:02 AM – The final Loudon County bus heads back to the Dulles North Transit Center with Loudon County staff on-board. Now’s it’s just us at north side West Falls.

8:09 AM – More direction to Dulles corridor bound reverse commuters. Who’s working today, I ask myself.

9:48 AM – BREAKFAST. A day old ham sandwich and some G-2 Gatorade. I really don’t want to have to use those porta-johns… Make that only one more sip of Gatorade.

10:xx AM – Two more small sips of Gatorade. I’m hoping for the best with this situation.

10:57 AM – Another few minutes on the warming bus. My hand and feet warmers are beginning to wear down. I’m leaving at noon I think to myself.

11:00 AM – The buses arrive less frequently, most people are already bound for the District.

11:45 AM – I walk to the New Carrollton via DC bound Orange Line platform. STILL LINES! An eight car train arrives practically full. Where is everyone coming from? Trains are arriving every two minutes. From where are all these people coming?

11:5x AM – I arrive to my apt. Feet cold, hands hurting… I lay down on my couch and turn on ABC. Out walks Aretha Franklin… the Queen of Soul from the Motor City. What a good start to the festivities on TV for me.

12:xx PM – I watch Obama recite the oath of office. One would think Chief Justice Roberts would have practiced for this event!

NAP TIME

2:08 PM – What’s that noise? It’s my cell phone. Calls from friends to head to DC to do some partying. Off I go… this time with an extra set of hand and toe warmers.

The Morning After - in a GOOD way

I was not among the millions who gathered together, on the Mall, or at viewing points around the world, for the inaugural of the first African-American U.S. President. I was just at home, with T. and the cats, with the TV on in every room of the house so that I wouldn't miss a thing. I loved how the first couple looked and as for how PRESIDENT Obama spoke - no complaints from me. I felt it was exactly the right tone and the right words for our circumstances. Some critics may say, where was the soaring rhetoric, and the memorable, ask-not-what-your-country-can-do type lines. It simply wasn't necessary. All that was really required was that HE was there, at the podium, taking the oath (bungled by the Chief Justice - who would have expected that!) and then, saying anything at all.

But what he did say, his not-so-subtle jabs at the outgoing administration - with W. sitting right there! - and his outreach - as Chuck Todd (NBC) pointed out, no other inaugural address has ever contained the word, "Muslim" - I thought it was wonderful. And it should be effective going forward.

Obama's First Big Presidential Win

I was SO glad when I learned the Senate had voted NOT to block release of the 2nd tranche of the $700 billion financial sector bail-out. The vote was 52 to 42, with 6 Republicans joining 46 Democrats. Obama and team lobbied hard and prevailed - I've heard it compared to LBJ style (that's President Lyndon Baines Johnson for you youngsters out there). BIG WIN right out the door - right before the door, actually, seeing as how he isn't Prez yet.

Keeping up this blog seems to be on the wane, doesn't it? I have the impression that blog sites tend to live online "forever" so there is no point in formally closing down. Fair and I can continue to post, if and when we want to. Keeps us with a tiny toehold in the blogosphere . . .