In preparation for this walk, the Secret Service and the DC police brought in three dozen vehicles and shut down several streets, H Street, Vermont Avenue, two lanes of I Street and an entrance to MacPherson Square Metro station (Richie Rich, Bizblooger, Sept 18). They also sent in bomb sniffing dogs, had snipers on roof tops and put up barricades. It was, of course, too far to walk, so she was transported that block and a half in her armored limousine from the White House to the shop accompanied by her photographer and a sign language interpreter. Note that this did not include helicopters for low level protection and jet fighters for high level protection.  She did not want her lunch to cost the taxpayers too much.

Michelle graciously selected a black cabbage and a few other vegetables, permitted an assistant who accompanied her to pay for the vegetables and gave a spontaneous speech to an assembled crowd on healthy eating. 

I have tried to find the humor in this, considering adding that perhaps she had to walk through a black neighborhood, which would have made all of the protection understandable considering it was DC and what her husband had done to the black school children there, but I can’t. This incident is not laughable, it is not stupid, it is frightening. Has any empress in history been so protected? And for such a stupid publicity stunt? Face the fact that she has over twenty personal assistants making more than a hundred thousand dollars a year. They probably all have secretaries and clerks and, in addition, there is a large kitchen staff. All she had to do was say, “I want some black cabbage,” and any of those underlings would have run to the store and gotten some to please the princess. That two block trip was more than a publicity stunt, it was a demonstration of her royalty, of how important she is in relation to the common herd, of how she disdains us, including those who elected her husband. 

The problem is that this cannot be written off as the action of a sick, emotionally disturbed, perhaps paranoid woman who happens to be the wife of the President. It is true of too many of the leading aristocracy of the Democratic Party, the Party that formerly identified itself with the working class. Consider the Kennedys. I lived in Massachusetts for a few years where I learned of the special treatment that they expected (expect?) and received (receive?). Once, eating in the Oyster House, the waiter proudly told me that Jack Kennedy used to eat there. He added, “Of course, when he and the family came this floor was closed off to other customers.” There are numerous such examples if one chooses to hunt them down. The Kennedys are better than anyone else. The same appears true of Pelosi.  Her husband’s factories in Samoa were exempted from the minimum wage she forced on companies headquarters in the States.  The airplane that transported her and her entourage on a weekly or semi-weekly basis to her home in California wasn’t good enough. She wanted, and received, a four engine plane equipped like the Presidential plane, and then complained because it did not land closer to her home – it was too large for the air field. Are they simply the tip of an iceberg that could sink our freedom.

I recall with fondness President Truman’s solitary morning walks: a group of construction workers noticed him and placed a pile of debris in his way one morning. He walked around it, out into the street, while wishing them “Good morning.” He was the elected servant of the people, and he knew it. Now we are entering a time when the people serve the officials. It is not too late too change, we still have a vote but face the money and public power of organizations such as the NEA and other important unions as well as ACORN. Somehow the word must be spread. We need representatives, not rulers. 

I would never have heard of Empress Michelle’s visit to the peasants had it not been for the Limbaugh and Hannity radio broadcasts and it took a search of Google to find an incomplete report in the blurb by Rich. Where are our watchdogs, our guardians of democracy, the powerful, all encompassing press? Fawning at the foot of the wealthy and the powerful may be pleasant, but it is always temporary. They should remember that slaves, no matter how privileged and important are still slaves. 

Voters should remember that also.

If Congress truly believed in the “global warming crisis” they would ban all carbonated beverages. Consider it, every time a bottle of soda pop is opened, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. Then look at the grocery carts in the checkout counters, they are loaded with cases of soda pop. The people consuming them are probably releasing much more CO2 into the air than they did driving their cars to the supermarket to buy them. 

Members of Congress, in their seemingly infinite ability to act stupidly, passed a law requiring all television broadcasters to stop using analog signals and switch to digital signals. Most people’s television sets won’t receive such signals. At the time, I swore I would not spend a thousand dollars to watch football games, about the only programs I consider worth watching on television. Then our “leaders” discovered that most television sets would not receive such signals without new antennas and a converter box. As a result, they offered free coupons to help people buy the converter boxes – using taxpayers’ money of course. Now a new glitch appears. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal by Amy Schatz (April 2, 2009) pointed out that many people will be unable to watch television when the bill banning analog because the digital signals do not travel as far as the analog signals. She cites an example of a person living 40 miles from Washington D. C., who is unable to receive television with his new converter box and antenna. Were I running for Congress against an incumbent this coming year in a rural area – more than 40 miles from a major city – I might mention this fiasco to potential voters.

Also instructive concerning the wisdom of our Congress is the requirement to use the new light bulbs, the ones which have worked satisfactorily for the past 70 years being outlawed. The new mercury light bulbs, despite being much more expensive, are supposed to use less electricity and last much longer. Whoops! Reports coming in cite numerous instances of these new wonder bulbs burning out much faster than those old faithfuls. There are other problems also. Because of the mercury, they cannot be put in the regular trash and, if one is dropped and broken in the house, instructions are to evacuate the room immediately, waiting fifteen minutes before re-entering and then use gloves to pick up the pieces. Congratulations Congress!

The federal government under Obama is now running the major banks and the largest two of the Detroit automobile makers. (They claim this isn’t really true, but when I was working for a living I considered anyone capable of firing me or adjusting my salary as being in charge – and that is what people in the federal government are doing.) But, back to the subject, we can now expect great things out of General Motors, Chrysler, and the banks. If you don’t believe that, consider Freddy Mac and Fannie Mae, in their years under federal control they have paid handsome salaries to their leaders, contributed heavily to Congressional supporters, and assisted tens of thousands of Americans attempting to purchase homes into bankruptcy.

Obama, in his tour around the world (while Pelosi and Reid run the nation) has apologized to nation after nation for our arrogance in giving them hundreds of millions of dollars in help when they needed it, bowed to King Saud of Saudi Arabia and described Islam as a nation of peace. Some conservatives have thoughtlessly criticized him for this. After all, if Islam wasn’t a nation of peace, Islamic terrorists would be killing innocent people around the world, in the Philippines, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, Holland and, perhaps, even one or two in the United States instead of sending charitable teams to help all people, not simply themselves. Why shouldn’t he bow to King Saud, isn’t the King the leading Muslim in the world? All Muslims bow to him. 

Actually, I like Obama apologizing to the world for all we have done to them. I only hope he follows through by changing this. We won’t need those tax increases when he stops interfering with other nation’s ways by giving them billions of dollars: in cash, material, and aid. He could start by stopping the hundreds of millions we give to the United Nations every year.

Does it give the Obama Maniacs any pause for thought that Fidel Castro, who has led Cuba into dictatorship and poverty, and Hugo Chavez, who is working diligently to do the same for Venezuela have been praising Obama’s initiatives?

The Democrats and Republicans, excluding a few Republicans, in the House have passed a bill levying a 90% tax on bonuses given to the unsuccessful leaders of AIG, a bonus which was specifically approved in a bailout bill passed by the Democrats. This is frightening. First the government hands out, then the government punishes for accepting the handout. If this latest bill, which authorizes the punishment of people who obeyed Congressional law, is not challenged and defeated in the courts, what does it mean for the rest of us? Will it be the right of the county council or state government to raise the taxes on my home and twenty-five acres to an unpayable amount and then confiscate my land because I have not paid that money in the past years when I paid in full the taxes they had assessed? Ex Post Facto laws are clearly ruled illegal in our Constitution. You cannot punish a person for a crime which was not a crime when they committed it. This newest Congressional Bill is a clear violation of our Constitutional rights and a threat to all of us.

To date, we, taxpayers, have given 17.4 billion dollars to General Motors and Chrysler. They are now in line to receive 21.6 billion more dollars. Automotive leaders have stated that they may require “considerably more” money. In effect, Congress is requiring taxpayers to pay for automobiles they don’t wish to purchase. The only consolation to those, like me, who drive small, inexpensive cars, is that while we are helping pay for those expensive cars, indirectly increasing the cost of the cars we purchased, the same thing is being done to those who purchased the more expensive Detroit cars. 

I have been watching the mislabeled “Employee Free Choice Act” as it receives Democratic support. There are some, like me, old enough to remember walking by houses to see the blood stains of non-union workers who were attacked by union thugs – union thugs, not necessarily union members. I also recall one of my mother’s friends whose husband, a union machinist, who spoke up criticizing the leadership during a union meeting. He never had employment again. If anyone thinks that some person, paid to increase union membership (perhaps an ACORN thug), is not going to pay attention to someone who publicly documents his desire NOT to join the union in writing, they have little knowledge of either history or human nature. 

Senator Harry Reid, the leader of the Senate, is pushing to have casinos in Nevada included in the “stimulus” bill because they permit, on occasion, non-profit organizations to use their meeting rooms for free. I suspect some interesting accountancy is involved here. First, the casinos can deduct a large amount from their taxes for permitting the “free” use of unused meeting rooms and then they can profit from the money these people spend at their gambling tables and in their restaurants. Now, Senator Reid wishes to give them a few hundred million taxpayer dollars as a reward. This is, of course, only for the public good, although Mr. Reid may receive a few hundreds of thousands of dollars for his campaign funds.

Nancy Pelosi is the most fascinating of our leaders however. In a time of crisis, when our national leaders were under attack, she, as Speaker of the House and third in line for the Presidency, received the right to use military aircraft without charge. The crisis is past, but Speaker Pelosi continues to enjoy weekly or semi-weekly trips from DC to California on these privileged aircraft. She has expanded this usage to include relatives, such as children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces and others. Shouldn’t her friends and relatives be reimbursing the government – known as taxpayers – for the price of first class commercial tickets for this privileged service?

Pelosi also continues to pursue the “fairness” doctrine, hoping to get it passed into law, which is probable considering the heavy Democratic majorities in both House and Senate. It will apply, of course, only to radio at this time, the one media which is open to all political persuasions. Newspapers and television “news” programs which elected President Obama and these Democratic majorities will be immune. My question is, if she successfully muzzles the voice of the people on radio, will she then censor the Internet? 

In the meantime, President Obama continues to do what he does best, romping around the nation, at taxpayer expense, showering praises on himself and raising money for the next election. It is a good thing Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid are running the nation so thoughtfully and so well in his absence. 

If people in business are required to give back money they haven’t earned, how about Congress?

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, on Fox Sunday morning (January 18, 2009) amazed me. I have never seen a person more adept at answering a question one way and then reversing that answer completely in a second sentence. I believe her best, but not her only, such reply was her assurance to the nation that Congress would present a balanced budget and then going into the need to “borrow” almost a hundred billion dollars of taxpayer money to start the economy. Only politicians can balance a budget by borrowing money, but few can present such a contradiction as well as Speaker Pelosi did.

The fact that police in WashingtonDC were putting up signs, “prostitution free zone” for the coronation of Saint Obama pleased me. My initial thought was that everyone was getting into the act to welcome Obama, even prostitutes were servicing for free during the holiday. Then I realized no prostitutes would be permitted in that area (I guess they wear signs). What a travesty of campaign promises. Promising to put the world back to work, to restore the economy, Democrats are depriving hard working women of their jobs for a week that would have given them their highest income of the year from all of the visiting politicians.

While campaigning, then Senator Obama said he would immediately close the GuatanamoBay recreation camp for killers who profane the teachings of Muhammad by killing and advocating the killing of innocent men, women and children of all religious faiths around the globe. Now he suggests it may take four years to do this. Works out very nicely. Three and a half years from now he can campaign for re-election by promising to close the place immediately.

There are two questions regarding the handling of these avowed terrorists. If he simply wishes to quiet the negative publicity, he should move the place from its present location on the Caribbean. Currently, critics can go, visit briefly, enjoy the luxuries of the beaches and the bars of prestige hotels and then write scathing testimonials as to the mistreatment of the prisoners. Move it to some small town in northern Alaska where summer comes on July 4^th and the rest of the year you wear coats, hats and worry about frost bite. No one would go up there to visit, the Liberals would stay home and soon the place would be forgotten. However, if he truly wants to release them where they could do no harm and possibly improve the place, turn them loose in San Francisco. Or simply behead them all as they have done to innocent people. Granted this last would create a five minute burp in publicity, but then it – and they – would be forgotten.

Phyllis Schlafly has written an interesting article (1993 All Over Again) for Townhall.com (January 20, 2009). It is interesting, but I fear she is understating the case. Our economy had been in an extended bubble, but slowed down. The President put millions of dollars into an attempt to improve the economy, but unemployment increased and rose to 7.2%. The President with a Democratic Congress enacted laws and rules to restore the glory, but all failed. Now, a gifted speaker has been elected President and the Democrats have swept Congress all on vague promises of glorious change. 

Sound familiar?  No, it was not Barack Obama, it was Franklin D. Roosevelt. His slogan was not “Hope and Change” it was “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Ask the average person, including most college graduates, if Roosevelt solved the depression and they will answer, “Yes.” In a sense he did. He and Congress poured millions of tax dollars into the economy, constructing programs for the unemployed. At the end of the first four years of his programs that 7.2% unemployment under Hoover had risen to 20%, but he was still a gifted speaker. Re-elected, the unemployment rate rose to 24%. Then he maneuvered us into the Second World War, either deliberately or through bad judgments. Put 11 million men out of a population of 150 million in the armed forces, kill off or injure a million of them, and, behold unemployment is solved. End of depression!

Now we have another gifted speaker leading the faithful with promises of hope and change. President Bush, bowing to Congress, poured several billion dollars into the economy, but things only got worse. By the end of his presidency unemployment had risen to 7.2%. Now Obama promises to pour hundreds of billions of tax dollars into the economy. I hope it works, but the precedent isn’t very good. In fact, it frightens me.

This isn’t really relevant (if any of it is) but I read a recent news article extolling Obama’s selection of Mrs. Clinton as Secretary of State. The writer exulted over Mrs. Clinton’s brilliance, claiming she had an IQ of 128. I had to laugh, but then looked up the statistics to be certain. In a nation of 300 million, which describes us, 6 million, 399 thousand and 900 people have higher IQs than Mrs. Clinton.