Apparently, we have elected either a criminal or a buffoon to the presidency. Obama ran for election on the platform of hope and change and then proceeds to name mostly former Clinton people to his list of “must haves” in his administration, along with many more of the “inside-the-beltway-crowd.”
First, his nomination for Secretary of Commerce is so tainted with corruption that he doesn’t even make to the confirmation hearings. Something about “sweetheart” contracts to political cronies outside of his own state no less; at least he could feed his own in-state cronies. His nomination for Secretary of State is none other than Hillary Clinton who not only has no experience in negotiating with foreign leaders other than being a tourist and to gather campaign finance money, but who also was a participant of probably the most corrupt administration this country has ever seen; does Travel gate, for one, come to mind? Then she blithely tells the Senate confirmation committee that, no, the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars that foreign governments give to her husband won’t influence her in the least. And the cow jumped over the moon!
His nomination for Secretary of the Treasury is either too stupid to understand the tax system which he is nominated to manage or is so corrupt that he doesn’t pay his taxes; either way he should find another job. While being too naïve — his words — to pay his taxes while at the IMF, he was smart enough to collect the reimbursement provided by the IMF for taxes he never paid. Plus, he swindled the tax system out of his children’s summer camp fees; all this while blaming his accountant. The rest of us taxpayers know that whoever signs the tax return is directly responsible for what is on that form.
His nomination for the head of the justice department, the Attorney General, is another beauty. Among his many missteps, this guy approved the Clinton pardon of one Marc Rich who is also known as a convicted criminal and purveyor of sleazy deals, and who fled America prior to having to go to prison for being tax evader among his other crimes such as selling forbidden military equipment and other wonderful items to the Iranians while they held America’s embassy employees hostage. This was public information that the nominee stated he didn’t know and apparently didn’t care to discover because his boss, Bill Clinton, was publicly taking hundreds of thousands of dollars and whatever else from Mrs. Rich obviously in return for that pardon.
Stay tuned for the rest of Obama’s appointees. They, too, ought to be beauties! Let’s not even think about the flawed bailout plans.
Yes, I can hear the people sing and see them smile. It is truly a new day. I only hope the country can survive this.
Columns
March 9, 2009
STUMPTALK: What have we done?
- Columns
-
-
GARY'S WORLD: Thank our veterans this weekend
A tremendous opportunity presents itself in our community this weekend — an opportunity to honor those who served in the Vietnam War. Personally, after attending last year's first Welcome Home celebration, I wouldn't want to miss this. It was an emotional event for both Vietnam veterans and ordinary citizens. It was a great way to commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day in Tennessee, March 29.
-
RANDOM THOUGHTS: "Antiques Roadshow" comes to Tennessee
If you are one of the 10 million who watch each episode of the “Antiques Roadshow” mark your calendar. The three upcoming Mondays, March 30, April 6 and April 13, were all taped in Chattanooga last July.
- LION AND THE LAMB: An open letter to Sharon Baier I was happy to read your well-written article, printed in last week's Chronicle. It makes a strong case, in the story of Al and Jennifer, that "To make money, you have to spend money." That misguided couple thought that they ought to cut down on their purchase of supplies, to save money. They did so, week after week, until they lost their business.
- WE THE PEOPLE: Veterans storm the Hill When young men and women risk their lives and sacrifice both physical and mental health for their country, a grateful country should at least provide them with shelter, food, and health care. But there is a lot of hypocrisy between what some windbag says on Veterans Day and what the country actually does for veterans.
-
THEREFORE I AM: Kids stress out parents? Well, duh!
This just in: According to an expert, children can add stress and strain to a marriage. In other news, further expert studies have indicated that the sky is in fact blue, Paris Hilton is a tad spoiled, peanut butter and chocolate taste great together, and the Middle East has issues. Thank goodness we have experts to tell us these things.
-
INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT: With shekels come shackles
When President Obama launched his faith-based initiative at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5, he promised not only to sustain the Bush administration’s signature domestic program — but to expand it.
-
THEREFORE I AM: Jim Croce and I will keep you safe and sound
My philosophy of life is simple: When in doubt, follow the advice of a dead folk-rock star. I always found Jim Croce to be particularly handy in this capacity. Don’t tug on Superman’s cape. Don’t spit into the wind. Don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger, and regardless of how badly you may want to, do not, under any circumstances, mess around with Jim.
- STUMPTALK: Stimulating a war on prosperity and freedom Near Bush’s sunset, Treasury Secretary Paulson and Fed chairman Bernanke terrified the nation with “the sky’s falling and America is doomed” unless the government steps in with new regulations, institutional takeovers and massive lending.
- WE THE PEOPLE: Thoughts on bringing a recession to heel Responding to the recent full-throated baying of conservative “economic watchdogs,” I slogged into the swamp of their icon Adam Smith’s murky tome, “The Wealth of Nations,” to see if they had finally treed anything of value.
-
LION AND THE LAMB: Reality
Dim blue of early morning shines into the living room
while you flip through television channels. - More Columns Headlines
-
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
On Thailand Trip, Suu Kyi Visits Migrants
Raw Video: Pink Diamond Auctioned for $17.4M
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
