News 2 Me

Michael Steele is the new leader. He is the first African-American to hold that post. I am surprised by this. First Barack Obama makes history, and now this? This is indeed a sign of possible great change. I am listening to his speech right not, and it is not that bad. He speaks softly, but has some charisma to him. I am not an official Republican or Democrat, so I am not speaking under blind affiliation towards a party. I think this is a good way for the Republican party to modernize. They definitely need to regain some of the footing they have lost, if they ever hope to make a real comeback.

How successful will he be? I said this was a good step, but the Democrats did not exactly trip themselves up recently in a huge manner. President Obama has been impressing me with some of his early actions. The Republicans need to back this symbolic change with some concrete ones as well.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28897426/

Two months ago, I talked about the Postal Service feeling the sting of the economy, causing less people to send mail, and therefor less revenue. The result was less overtime and a few other cutbacks, but no job losses. The story now develops further.

One less day of getting mail may not sound like a big deal, and I do not want to imply any huge societal problems this will cause, but it is really a symbolic blow in my book. They are predicting greater losses in revenue this year than they had last year. Cutting one day will help alleviate some of the financial stress. Less people are sending mail anyway, as I said before, so I cannot really condemn the Postal Service for asking for this day off. And they do have to ask. A legislation in 1983 created the rule of six days of mail. It may not happen. If it does, it will not happen in a day. The rate increase coming up in May will not help that much. The increase last year sure did not. Support your neighborhood postal worker.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28863873/

2008 was no friend to the economy, and things look even worse for 2009. People are spending way less, more job cuts came recently from several large businesses, and the nightmares go on. What really caught my eye is the consumer confidence level. It is expected to be 39 for this month. To put that into perspective, consumer confidence was as 87.3 exactly one year ago. A huge drop, to state the obvious. With things getting worse, the figures will not be improving for a while.

There is hope from these same analysts, however. Predicting huge declines for a while, things will supposedly pick up again in the fourth quarter. The key, however, is the stimulus package from the government. So many things can go wrong there. I still do not believe it will work out perfectly in reality. Few things ever do. Nevertheless, good news will serve to help the tense atmosphere in a long way. I do not have any good news myself, but I am just saying it is true.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28808023/

I am sure most Americans are tired of this guy, but he still has some life left. His top attorney is throwing his hands in the air and giving up on him, saying, “I have practiced law for 44 years. I never require a client to do what I say, but I do require clients to listen to what I say.” Blagojevich is playing his own game, and do not deny for a second that this is a game for him. He is trying to portray himself as a victim against the system. When you break a just law, I believe the system has some kind of right to punish you as it sees fit. In portraying himself as a victim he is hoping to get the public on his side. Not going to happen. I honestly do not understand this guy. So much has blown up in his face these last few weeks, why does he not just quit? How much more will it take? Is he trying to make things more interesting for the movie deal?

The House has voted to reject President Obama’s request for the rest of the bailout fund, 270-155. Nevertheless, the Senate had decided last week not to block the release of the money. In this way, President Obama will still get his way, but knows it was not a decisive nod in his direction.

The critics of spending that bailout money are made up of both Democrats and Republicans. Public opinion is growing strong against so much spending. Obama has to be aware of this. What can he do? Some spending must be done, yet the spending done so far has not been done correctly. Nevertheless, workers will not be silent while big business gets so much help. That is why the House even bothered to vote, knowing it would not mean much.

“Why are we still voting on it?” House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank asked. “Because there is a degree of anger in the American public at what they think is a very unfair system that gives benefits unduly and disproportionately to some of those who caused the problem, while denying health care and unemployment compensation and a decent higher education for working-class people.”

A glorious day for many in the United States. George W. Bush has left Washington D.C., and President Obama is here. The celebration was huge. The stock market also had a small gift for President Obama. The Dow fell 332 points, 4%. That is the worst presidential administration start ever, even topping when Johnson took over from Kennedy on the day of his assassination decades ago. I think that puts things in some perspective. The stocks dropped on the day the nation’s top leader was killed. What is the excuse this time? It is pure financial doom. Bank of America is in danger, much like Citibank was last year. President Obama really needs to hit the ground running. Enjoy this moment for only a moment, and start getting to work. This job is more than just prestige, especially now. Good luck, President Obama.

His reign is done. What is next for George W. Bush? How about a bunch of investigators, committees, prosecutors, and other assorted Congressional minions after him? My rhetoric may make it sound like a spy adventure, but it is just common actions you can expect at the end of many terms for politicians. Bush has been a part of a global mess since the start. But is it the job of Congress to blindly support him throughout all 8 years, just to come in when it is all done to smash him and his officials when he is out of power? This is the grand “checks and balances” at work? This honestly does seem like shades of vengeance. It is a vengeance that is not needed. I can go into why that is the case, but I will let it go.

What about the next President? Obama may or may not support the hunt by Congress. If he does not, he may lose support from his own party that he will obviously need to pass his own agenda. If he does, he may anger some Republicans, not to mention possibly taking a road that may make Americans view him in a somewhat negative, vindictive light. Just move on. Let Bush go. Fix the economy. That may take all 4 years to successfully attempt to begin with.

Just a few hours ago, a cease-fire was finally implemented by the Israelis. That is a step in the right direction, do not get me wrong, but I am questioning how successful it will be. Israeli officials sounded somewhat hopeful. “Hamas was hit hard, in its military arms and in its government institutions. Its leaders are in hiding and many of its men have been killed,” Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said. Rhetoric designed to make people think you are actually winning, sound familiar? I may sound a bit pessimistic, but that is because around eight rockets hit Israel from militants still fighting. I guess they appreciate the cease-fire.

Hamas will not stop that easily. The Israeli army may have stopped firing for the moment, but they are remaining where they are. If Hamas ever stop firing, Olmert said that the military will consider pulling out “at a time that befits us.” That is vague, if I must state the obvious. It will never happen. Hamas will continue, Israel will say, “Hey, we tried!” to the world, and it will all continue. I was expecting better from this cease-fire when it first started gaining momentum. Some Palestinians are enjoying the calm of the moment, but how much longer will it last?

Since I live in New York City, always a land of adventure it seems, I will just say what everyone else must be saying, that was an amazing event that happened yesterday. Crisis hit that US Airways jet, and disaster would have surely followed, but Chesley Sullenberger did an amazing job in landing that plane into the Hudson River. As Mayor Bloomberg said himself in a press conference, this kind of stuff seems to only work out that great in the movies. I do not need to list the countless tragedies that could have resulted. Sullenberger did not only save the lives of everyone on his plane, but he saved victims and property that may have been destroyed had he crashed into nearby Manhattan. He showed great, quick thinking and a calm attitude by his actions. Of course, praise also has to go out to the rescue workers, the passengers and crew could not just stay out there for hours safely. The response was great. Events like this are honestly inspirational at times. It may sound cheesy and said too often, but I think it still stands for this case.

Vice President Dick Cheney swore in Roland Burris to the Senate earlier today. Burris will of course take President-elect Barack Obama’s old seat, given to him by the infamous Blagojevich. Many were against the controversial Illinois Governor having his way at anything, especially giving the seat to anyone, since he had originally tried to sell it. Even Obama voiced opposition, but had to relent in the end. Other Senators supported and congratulated Burris. I am happy he got the seat. Did he actually do anything wrong. You can argue it is guilt by association, and there is a lot of controversy around it, so any opinion can be supported. Some have to be wondering what Blagojevich is really thinking about this himself. Is this a final victory for him? He is finished, that is for sure. Nevertheless, here is to Burris having a better political career than the man who picked him.