American Republic Online

Rush Limbaugh proposed a great comprise in leading the country out of this recession: Keynesian AND Supply Side economics - divvied up by voter split (54/46 for Obama in this case)  This is quite brilliant politically. Rush is calling for President Obama to put his money where his mouth is - both figuratively with all his talk of bi-partisanship and literally with his economic idealogy.

And this second part is the kicker.  If Obama and the Left are sooo convinced that their grow government tatics are the only way out of this recession - why not once and for all prove it.  Side by side with the republican’s tax cut methods - real life economic turn around data could be gathered.  Both sides CLAIM their method works, but never in history have both be tried in such a side by side manner.

How many jobs does a $100B tax cut create vs how many jobs does a $100B infrastructure program create?  Done simultaneously, you remove most of the external factors (since they would the same for both) that make such historical comparisons so difficult.  So again, if you are sure your stuff works - why not prove it?  Put up or shut up.

There’s a serious debate in this country as to how best to end the recession. The average recession will last five to 11 months; the average recovery will last six years. Recessions will end on their own if they’re left alone. What can make the recession worse is the wrong kind of government intervention….

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It’s a good thing Obama denies all of his ties to ACORN… otherwise this would look like a political payoff…

A rising chorus of GOP leaders are protesting that the blockbuster Democratic stimulus package would provide up to a whopping $5.2 billion for ACORN, the left-leaning nonprofit group under federal investigation for massive voter fraud.

Most of the money is secreted away under an item in the now $836 billion package titled “Neighborhood Stabilization Programs.”

Ordinarily, neighborhood stabilization funds are distributed to local governments. But revised language in the stimulus bill would make the funds available directly to non-profit entities such as ACORN, the low-income housing organization whose pro-Democrat voter-registration activities have been blasted by Republicans. ACORN is cited by some for tipping the scales in the Democrats’ favor in November.

According to Fox news, Sen. David Vitter, R-La., could appear to be a “payoff” for community groups’ partisan political activities in the last election cycle….

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Engadget summed this up nicely:

Shortly after Barack Obama’s transition team urged Congress to postpone the looming digital TV transition, FCC chairman Kevin Martin has hit back with suggestions to keep things on track. His primary concern is that delaying the cutover, which has been scheduled for years and advertised as such, will confuse consumers — and honestly, we think he has a point. If the February 17th changeover date suddenly becomes meaningless, we could definitely see consumer confusion about this whole ordeal hitting an all-time high. Martin was quoted at an interview at CES as saying that “there are options they can do without having to delay to get coupons flowing immediately,” suggesting that extra funding should be hastily given or that those 90-day expiration dates be marked null and void. Additionally, many broadcasters have already scheduled work to take down their analog equipment, and cancellations could be costly and disruptive.

The “crisis” is over an estimated $2 Million backlog of converter box coupons.  While I find it hard to believe that many people simply can’t afford the $40 box to make their TV continue to work (verses $10 w/ coupon), it seems like a small problem.  I mean Obama is spending $140 million on his inauguration but $2M isn’t anywhere to be seen?

UPDATE:  Obama spent $170 Million and now holds the record for the largest temporary toilet even in US history.

Seriously, if Obama’s best solution to a $2M crisis is to kick the can down the road - God help us with impending problems in health care, energy, social security, and others.  The sad part is that hundreds of millions have been spent over the last few years hammering this one specific date and switchover… Why are we going to WASTE all the money and effort to not spend $2M that we are going to go ahead and spend anyway a few months down the road?

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