Obama Stop Pussyfooting!

Okay it’s time for Obama to imitate former President Truman’s “give em hell speeches.” Yes, start a fight for your chance at change. It is interesting to note that when it came to saving the banks the Republicans were oh so mild in their opposition. At any rate, the trillions went out and we are not even sure who got what. Nor have I seen an accounting of how much of these banks we, the taxpayers now own.

I did notice that we, the taxpayers, will be major stockholders in GM, together with the UAW. Now there’s an opportunity to try some new ways to run a company. Having spent many years of a long life trying to figure out a model of “Industrial Democracy” here's a real opportunity to experiment. I don’t know who might still be around who knows how to make Industrial Democracy work. The late Walter Reuther and Irving Bluestone leaders of the UAW believed in it. Forgive me as I am drifting away from my subject. More of this in another blog.

Grasping at straws the GOP has found what they think is a wedge issue. Guess what? Closing Guant’anamo. This only indicates their bankruptcy in the ideas department. I am sorry Obama got himself cornered in this mess. When you consider all the really critical problems out there Guant’anamo is pretty far down in the urgency agenda. But when cornered, the only thing to do is “give em hell.”

GOP desperately trying to come up with an opposition starts a NIMBY campaign, (“Not In My Backyard”) against moving prisoners out of Cuba to the US. Mr. President, would you please remind the folks out in Colorado at the Maximum Security lock up that it’s the Federal Payroll that keeps that town at a very comfortable economic level. If they don’t want the prison there, just ask for volunteer towns across the country: “who would like to have a brand new maximum security prison in their backyard and be on the Federal payroll for the rest of their lives.” I mean the rest of their lives cause when they retire they get the niftiest benefits until the day they meet their maker. Lot better then those GM auto workers who could lose their whole retirement when GM goes belly up. (Just ask the folks in upstate New York if they would like a Federal prison in their backyard. If you ask be ready to build it.)

I know Mr. Obama, that you are very committed to this reaching across the isle stuff. Thats fine as long as you don’t find yourself reaching for hands that aren’t even there. Long ago they have decided there was no way you were going to find a hand to grasp when you reached out. Overwhelmingly the folks across the isle from you have gone hunting to find any way they can to bring you down. So when you reach out and there’s no one there to take your hand and run with you, then it’s time to go after what you want and give the opposition hell. Look, they have made it clear that there is no way in heaven or earth that they are gong to support anything that you want on the “Change” agenda. Another Truman quote might be appropriate. “If your looking for a friend in Washington get a dog.” Mr President If your reaching out and they just ain’t there, I’m sure Bo will always be at your side. Thank Truman for that.

Mr. President one final observation. If you look carefully at how your opposition is scratching around to find issues that might energize the nutpack in the GOP back to life, it becomes exasperatingly clear they don’t have a program of their own. They are looking for some dirt, they hope will wake up the, “Grand Old Party.” Go to think of it that’s a very apt name. Go get’em Mr. President.

Thanks kate N.H.W.Y.

PS. After being rear ended at a red light a week ago, we are both beginning to feel better. Thanks for your concerns. RS