The Obama Doctrine

In announcing limitations on executive compensation for employees of financial institutions that receive government assistance, President Obama said, "But what gets people upset - and rightfully so - are executives being rewarded for failure. Especially when those rewards are subsidized by U.S. taxpayers." It is very upsetting when people are rewarded for failure at taxpayers' expense. As a matter of fact, I think that this is such a great policy, that from here on, it should be know as the "Obama Doctrine"! Finally, the President and I agree on something and we'll name it after him.

However, if Mr. Obama was serious about ending rewards for failure at taxpayers' expense and enforcing the Obama Doctrine, he would announce many new policies to end such abusive rewards. First, he'd issue an executive order ending all government handouts for failure enter the country legally. Border states in particular have come under increased financial stress due to a massive influx of illegal immigration in the 1990s and early 2000s. The states are required to provide heath care, welfare and education to illegal aliens. If this isn't taxpayers rewarding failure, nothing is.

Next, the President would remove all cabinet members who failed to comply with federal tax laws. These tax cheats, after all, are being subsidized by taxpayers' on two fronts. First, they have shifted the burden of taxation to those of us who comply with the tax law. Next, they have been rewarded with a federal salary. This type of failure is not worthy of taxpayers' subsidy.

Of course, the Obama administration will immediately issue regulations ending the SCHIP program. Under the Obama Doctrine, it makes no sense for taxpayers to subsidize parents who have children that they fail to afford.

I guess GM, Ford and Chrysler better not be looking for anymore TARP money. The Obama Doctrine cannot allow the failed business model of the Big 3 to continue at the expense of the American taxpayers. Who would have thought that the car makers would have better luck getting money out of the Bush Administration - not me.

I hope that the President isn't going to extend unemployment compensation for those who lost their jobs and have failed to find new ones. As we know, employers pay unemployment insurance premiums for each employee. When someone loses his job, he is entitled to that insurance. But, if that worker fails to find new work within the proscribed time and that time is extended by the federal government, it's just another example of taxpayers subsidizing failure.

I'm glad that in only two weeks in office, the President has acted boldly enough to actually have a doctrine named after him. Think about it. It took George W. Bush at least one year and a major event that changed the world as we know it in order to have Charles Krauthammer coin the Bush Doctrine.

Satellites Equal Danger

Yesterday, we may have reached a precipice for the security of the Free World. Apparently, Iran successfully launched its first satellite into orbit. Such a successful launch means that if Iran does not currently possess ballistic missile technology sufficient to deliver a weapons payload anywhere in the world, it will very soon. The technology used in "peaceful" space programs is the same as that in ballistic missile technology. Now, in addition to worrying about Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon, we also have to worry about them having the ability to deliver it anywhere in the world, including the United States. (As an aside, this is, of course, an argument for the continued deployment of our missile defense shield!)

We now know for certain that the President's open letter to the Iranian people which is currently in the drafting process, back channel (all be it low level) diplomatic contacts and television interview on Al Arabiya have made him look weak in the eyes of the Iranian leadership. Iranian government spokesman, Gholam Hossein Elham, was quoted as saying that the request to talk "...means Western ideology has become passive, that capitalist thought and the system of domination have failed. Negotiation is secondary, the main issue is that there is no way but for the United States to change." Unfortunately, because of Mr. Obama's ascension to the Presidency, and after only two weeks in office, the world's largest sponsor of state terror is newly emboldened by his perceived weakness at a time when the consequences are more dire than ever.

President Obama must act immediately to end the Iranian nuclear program forever. He must show that the Iranians' initial perception of him is incorrect. Bold action is required now before the final touches are put on the next Islamic bomb and the ballistic missiles necessary to deliver it to our shores. At minimum, there must be a complete naval blockade of Iran in the Persian Gulf. Although it is one of the world's largest oil producing nations, Iran has very little in the way of refining capacity. Therefore, almost Iranian gasoline is imported. A complete naval blockade of Iran would have a devastating affect on the already depressed Iranian economy. This may even lead to a popular uprising against the ruling Mullahs.

In addition to the blockade, the President needs to seriously consider air strikes against the Iranian nuclear sites. While the sites are scattered and believed to be super-hardened, our newest bunker buster technology should be able to severely disable, if not eliminate, the nuclear weapons program. The Bush administration denied an Israeli request for this technology. Maybe President Obama will reconsider this request as the Israelis appear to be ready to elect a new hawkish prime minister.

Also, strong action against Iran would also stand as a warning to our other enemies that the new administration will act decisively to defends its citizens, our homeland and our allies. Al Qaeda and its enablers will then be on notice that the United States remains strong and willing to defend her interests. Remember, the detonation of a nuclear weapon in an American city will not lead to 3,000 causalities, but rather tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of casualties. We can no longer wait to see if making happy talk with our enemies will work. The stakes are too high. The Obama Administration must do what the Bush Administration didn't - rid the world of a nuclear armed terrorist state that has the ability to strike any time and anywhere.

Remember back to the late 1970s when the occupant of the Oval Office was perceived as weak by Islamic extremists. I do not think that any American wants to see that again. To avoid this, the President must act boldly and soon. If not, I'm afraid, that history will repeat itself, only on a far more deadly scale.

The Biden Patriot-o-meter Claims its First Victim

Tom Daschle has asked President Obama to withdraw his nomination. When people talk about the revolving door between Congress and lobbyists, Tom Daschle is a poster boy. I'm confident he went into public service without malintent, but 30 years of dealmaking with the public purse inevitably corrupts. Kudos to Obama, and his Sicilian messenger boy Johnny Ola...er Rahm Emanuel, for taking action.

Secretary of Commerce

In a stroke of political genius, President Obama has selected New Hampshire Republican Senator Judd Gregg to be his Secretary of Commerce. New Hampshire has a Democratic governor, which, under normal circumstances, would mean that a Democrat would be selected to fill the vacant Senate seat. However, Sen. Gregg has assured his Republican Senate colleagues that he would only accept the appointment if he were assured that a Republican would be selected to fill his seat. That's great in the short term, but New Hampshire has been trending Democratic in recent years and it puts a safe Republican seat up for grabs in 2010.

Also, Sen. Gregg was a key member of the Senate on budget and fiscal matters. With Gregg's departure from the Senate, the Republicans have lost a valuable asset for their negotiations with the White House and Democratic members of Congress.

It's not a good day for Mitch McConnell and his crew. The President seems one step ahead of them, at least politically.

Ring the Biden Patriot-o-meter!

Why is the Obama administration recruiting so many unpatriotic people?

First, the "to be fair" part of this post:

1. A taxpayer can easily make an honest mistake when filing taxes
2. An honest mistake shouldn't automatically disqualify someone for appointed office
3. People with a highly specialized skill should be afforded a little slack, given the personal sacrifices demanded of them when serving in a big time public position.
4. Republicans should tread carefully on this issue. It will, Democrats' efforts to the contrary notwithstanding, bite them one day again as well.

Now, the "tough s**t" part of this post:

1. Hypocrisy is coin of the realm in Washington. Our friends on the left are bathed in it just like they, justifiably, claim Republicans are.
2. Anyone reading this blog would be subject to prosecution for Tom Daschle's tax evasion, not toasted by his slobbering former clubmates.
3. Only reckless disregard explains why Tom Daschle, a former member of the Senate Finance Committee, neither filed nor paid legally owed taxes. His choices demonstrate he's too flawed to serve.
   

I wonder why voters are so cynical?