What was that $800 Billion for again?

". . . in Brazil, India, China, Japan and much of Continental Europe the recession has ended. In the second quarter this year, both the French and German economies grew by 0.3 percent, while the U.S. economy shrank by 1 percent. How can that be? Unlike America, France and Germany had no government stimulus worth speaking of, the Germans declining to go the Obama route on the quaint grounds that they couldn't afford it . . . And yet their recession has gone away. Of the world's biggest economies, only the U.S., Britain and Italy are still contracting. All three are big stimulators, though Gordon Brown and Silvio Berlusconi can't compete with Obama's $800 billion porkapalooza. The president has borrowed more money to spend to less effect than anybody on the planet."

I got an idea. Maybe tying up $800 Billion in capital on delayed projects, breeding uncertainty with trillion dollar health reforms, proposing tax increases, and massive energy taxes in the form of carbon credit schemes isn't such a great idea to stimulate the economy. You know maybe. I would have more sympathy if the stimulus bill didn't flagrantly violate Obama's own economic adviser's (Larry Summers) stimulus parameters timely, targeted, and temporary.

Too True

Obama's inaugural choice sparks outrage

"Prominent liberal groups and gay rights proponents criticized President-elect Barack Obama Wednesday for choosing evangelical pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the presidential inauguration next month."

This is what we are talking about. The ostracising of those we don't agree with on everything. You can disagree with some of, or most of, Rick Warren's beliefs, but banning him from offering the invocation at the inaugural ceremony is the height of partisanship. It's not like he's an adviser or formulating policy.

To really cut through the crap, Jim Morin at the Miami Herald: