State of the Union, Obama, Hillary

Rah Rah, yeah team, we'll get 'em next season, yada yada yada. If you haven't already guessed - that was about the sum of Obama's State of the Union address. I think it will be mitigated by his statement a few days ago that he would rather be a one-term President (not really out of context). The Republican Senators looked really grumpy as they stoically sat, frowned and otherwise looked uncomfortable as everyone else (with the exception of the Supreme Court) gave numerous stand-up ovations. Kinda like the Oscars . . . Have to admit, the guy is a good talker. Never once did he mention Hillary's efforts in her first 200k miles of travelling diplomacy. Has she been set aside as a political burden - for one term according to her. I am sure that the media pundits will have a field day analysing the speech. I have to think of it only as a pep talk: chided the opposition party, threw a zinger at the Supreme Court Justices, and called for new programs for the benefit of main street - not wall street and the big banks. Justice Ginzburg sat with her head down - wonder if she was asleep? Anyway, we'll see what happens over the next year. Jobs, economy, and war wind-downs have set the stage. Obama is still blaming the prior administration. He now has the need to take real charge, change the stuff that really needs changing, accept the stuff that he can't change (politics?), and know the difference between the two.

Obama, Haiti, Toyota, Ankle Fusion

My commentary today is threefold, First Obama: has he given up on his wide spread shotgun approach and is now deciding to concentrate on one thing at a time - jobs? Hope so. He has spun his wheels so far and needs to settle down to something he can work on and prove that he is a focused leader. Haiti is winding down as a front page item. Seems that plenty of stuff is getting there. But, the food and water is not getting distributed to all the people. Heard one woman complain that only the young strong men are getting the food, etc. as they bully themselves in the lines. Lotsabucks have been channeled to the relief effort. Hopefully it will do something to raise the standard of living in that country - not just line the coffers of the government and crooked big business interests. Toyota is really in deep do-do. All the recalls, etc. However, th cut back of sales on some models may be a boon for Toyota. The company can reduce the production lines, pay less wages, use less materials and ultimately save a bunch of bucks in advertising. The supposed tragedy may actually make money for the company. I love it.

On a personal note, the podiatrist folks want to fuse my ankle - 8 to 12 weeks off my feet. If anyone has had this done let me know the pros and cons.

Obama's first year

Well, its been one year since Obama took office. I eagerly await the pundits' scorecards on how he's doing. Seems he had a dream about health care, renewed prosperity, Gitmo's dismantling, downsizing Iraq and collecting the money lent to companies 'to big to fail'. How'd he do in his first year? My thoughts are: as well as can be expected. There is no new job growth, except in the government sector. Unemployment still is around 10%. Health care is stuck in the Senate with too many compromises to make it effective. (Death panel crap, abortion rights, and pork additives seem to be more important than health care for everyone.) Foreclosures are still on the rise - I wonder where the money went to redo mortgages? Iraq is still a killing field and we are still there because of the oil . . . Afganistan is an unwinnable piece of ground growing poppies for heroin and idealistic killers of innocent people. Guantanimo is still operating. Seems the people released back to Yemen, etc. are getting their AK-47's loaded and are happy to kill again. Obama did get the peace prize and in his acceptance speech, promised that the U.S. would adhere to the Geneva convention Rules. In other words we still will get places like Egypt to do the waterboarding . . .

captains supplimental log for today

Haiti - ganga man. had one helluva earthquake. Some are saying a 7 on the shake rattle and roll scale. (Californians are shrugging their shoulders . . .) I am sorry that this happened. But, it will ease some of the pressure on Obama for the moment. The health care bill, terrorStans, deficit and more job losses. Guy does need a break and this Haitian thing will help divert attention of the news media.