Today President Obama expressed amazement that Washington D.C. schools (including his daughters' school) were closed because of icy conditions.
Yes, it's true, schools in Chicago, where Obama lived for a good while, would never close due to small amounts of ice. But you know what? I am well aware of the fact that school districts in warm-weather areas close if there's just the tiniest amount of snow and ice. That's no great revelation. I bet you that many other people are aware of it, too. Drivers in those areas can't handle ice; and warmer-weather states don't have the salt trucks and snow-removal equipment that, say, Illinois does. So what's my point?
This: you mean Barack Obama didn't know this? He didn't know that localities in warm-weather states close schools at the drop of a hat? Really? If former President Bush or other Republican leaders had said something like what Obama said today, they'd be slammed by many in the media for being "out of touch." But don't worry, liberals--Obama won't be.
But I wish the media and others would be just as tough on Obama as they were and are on Republicans or President Bush.
Democrats have launched a petition drive in order to express outrage against...who? Why, against Rush Limbaugh. Because Limbaugh said:
"The remarks came after Limbaugh said last week on his radio show: "If I wanted Obama to succeed, I'd be happy the Republicans have laid down. I don't want this to work. So I'm thinking of replying to this guy, say 'okay, I'll send you a response, but I don't need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails'."
Of course, the broader context of this is and was: Limbaugh doesn't believe Obama's policies, including the "stimulus" package and other things, will be good for this nation. So of course, when you think the president is doing something that will not benefit the nation, you want him to fail in trying to accomplish that. Democrats know this. So I wish that Democrats would fairly characterize what their opponents are saying, and that they would spend time on more important things, rather than launching partisan attacks against their opponents. And I think the news media should call them on these non-bipartisan, time-wasting activities.
What else is in the so-called "stimulus" package? Lots of stuff that won't stimulate the economy much at all in the near or long-term, as The American Spectator points out today:
"Another $2.1 billion is for Head Start, another program not previously known for stimulating the economy. A further $2 billion is to be spent on Child Care Development Block Grants, which provide day care. We are going to revive economic growth through the federal government spending billions on babysitting, rather than tax cuts for capital investment. A similar initiative involves $120 million to finance part-time work for seniors in community service agencies."
I wish more members of the news media would talk about these boondoggles...
Ahmadinejad of Iran rides again:
"A day after President Obama struck a conciliatory tone toward Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged Washington on Wednesday to apologize for its actions toward his country over the past 60 years and said it was unclear whether the new American administration was merely shifting tactics or wanted real change."
I wish the Obama administration would tell him to go take a hike. Or to apologize to Israel for the horrible things he's said and done to it. Preferably both.
By the way, the "stimulus" package really does contain $335 million for STD prevention.
Does anyone really think such spending will stimulate the economy??? I wish more people would speak up...
