"I think the helicopter is great. Maybe it's because I never had a helicopter before,..."

There are two sides to every coin...two sides to most stories...there is 'good and bad'...and the more sophisticated sword is one with two edges.

That, in my opinion, is the 'mind and character' of President Obama. There is nothing 'simplistic' about his approach to any circumstance and there is no solution set in 'unbending' ideology or 'conflicting interests' to a Government of the People.

In looking at the graph below, when it comes to fiscal and economic recovery, think of the way in which 'simple interest' is different than 'compound interest' and what achieves a higher goal of return on a faster track. That is the way President Obama is conducting his 'interest' in the domestic economic policies of the nation. By, attacking the 'real' issues of government spending he is taking his responsiblity seriously to lower the deficit as well as stimulating the economy.

It's all coming together and it will all work. Anyone that 'can't' see the light at the end of the tunnel now, is deliberately short sighted.


We have elected a man, and I can't say it enough, that sincerely loves this country. The 'round table' discussion that was open to the media and hence The American People was all had to hear.

President Barak Obama is concerned and openly concerned about the 'entire country,' not just the people that elected him. I have never witnessed sincere affection for a President in the way it was expressed by every member of the White House Fiscal Sustainability Summit.

He is a magnificent President.

I also believe he loves to learn from people that engage the opportunities that he affords them. He was open to any statements made and ideas presented. There are definately 'items' that energized him and the most prominant, noted in his body language, were places he could exert control and make immediate changes.

I believe there are issues regarding 'federal procurement' and the methodologies that DO NOT serve the best interest of the country he will 'effect' as soon as he is able to address them. He will probably ask those involved in this 'enlightment' to continue to explore the options and present those options to him in a document for his review.

The areas of 'immediate' interest to him to 'begin' to trim the federal deficit are areas of procurement and 'personnel.' The observation was made that 'outsourcing' federal 'interests' to private companies costs more than hiring and retaining well trained employees.

I have said more than once on this blog that putting federal employees back to work, especially within the military, is in the best interest of the country and our national security.

I found his 'Open Forum' to the 'inner workings' of his Fiscal Sustainability Summit more than rewarding to learn we have a great leader in the White House determined to unit this country. He noted openly there is a 'majority' that should include minorities, BUT, while majorities will rule in a Democracy, it can include minority views and priorities WHERE they are constructive and helpful rather than 'destructive' based in political rhetoric that 'harms' the USA infrastructure.

I am paraphrasing.

I am more proud of this country's choice for a President everyday that passes. If 'Corporate America' (as noted in the article at the bottom of this entry) can't see the beauty in what he is doing than we don't need them as they exist today. President Obama has set this country on a 'exponential' curve rather than a straight line equation. By aggressively addressing 'all the issues' that impact the fiscal instability of the country, he is escalating the recovery and not hindering any venue.

You have to love the guy. He's brilliant. I appreciate the way 'he brings' us into the picture at the 'important' moments of his decision making. I thank him for that.

I believe he will be a poignant President. I honestly believe he is 'the man of our time.'

I do believe there has been more than one Presidential Helicopter over the years, but, what distressed President Obama about the current helicopter is that it's procurement process was very expensive and would cost as much as Air Force One. As a nation we are concerned with his safety and that of his family. If there is need for a new helicopter to better protect President Obama as times of 'danger' changes the nation should address that, but, with his leadership it will be done appropriately and with procurement processes that will eliminate costly acquistions.


UPDATE 1-Obama: Can cut corporate tax if loopholes closed (click title of entry - thank you)
Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:34pm EST
WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said it would be possible to lower the rate on corporate taxes if the many loopholes in the tax code were closed.
"If you closed loopholes you could actually lower rates. That's an area where there should be the potential for some bipartisan agreement," Obama said at a White House "Fiscal Responsibility Summit."
He said that the tax rate "on the books" was high in the United States.
But Obama added, "In practice, depending on who it is -- what kind of accountant you can hire -- they're not so high. That's an area we can work on," Obama added.

Self Righteous - That is the 'venue' to success. Make everyone around you 'feel' inferior and therefore they are. Power Brokers, not knowledge men.

The CEOs of eight banks that received TARP funds testify before Congress. Top row, from left, Goldman Sach's Lloyd Blankfein; JPMorgan Chase's James Dimon; and Bank of New York Mellon's Robert Kelly. Bottom row, from left, State Street's Ronald Logue; Morgan Stanley's John Mack; Citigroup's Vikram Pandit; and Wells Fargo's John Stumpf. (AP Photos/Boston Globe)

There are all sorts of 'incentives' to provide CEOs of any company to 'dig deeper' to unearth new profits and new stock dividends. The 'impetus' in the USA is usually money and more money and more money. The CEOs like wealth and the 'prestige and status' of their positions to be 'felt' in a society that is suppose to 'reward' those that can 'achieve' great wealth. After all, that is what the USA is all about, right? Capitalism. And the military that secures the capitalists. Right?

NO? Did someone say, no? We are supposed to be honorable, forthright, diligent, hard working. Really? Well, that might be what the 'lowly, average' citizen may consider to be important, even those that sacrifice to protect the sovereignty of the USA see 'their lives' as disposable compared to their superiors. The 'justification' of military hierarchy, is that those in 'command' are experienced enough in 'warfare' to secure the battlefield and win the war. I suppose one could glamorize 'capitalism' in the same manner, but, is it really? Are CEOs best to lead the battle or BETTER yet 'best' to follow government priorities and regulation?

Well. The 'superiority' complex that runs through the American 'fabric' is a sort of 'entitlement' issue. Do we as a society 'reward' just anyone 'assigned' to a position of status the 'right' to be godlike? We aren't suppose to capitulate a 'citizen's authority' to anyone, including the wealthy. We capitulate our 'citizen's authority' to only one entity and that is the military when issues of sovereignty and peaceful life within our borders is at issue.

A 'citizen's authority' is what protests are made of, it is what 'social outrage' conducts itself. What people like the CEOs of the BANKRUPT banks don't realize is that they are NOT in the 'golden seats' of authority anymore. They are ridiculed, penalized and shunned as any authority worth their 'place' in a country that 'operates' economically from a 'capitalist' base. Don't tell me that countries that practice freedom and democracy are the issue either, China is a huge capitalistic society and being communist they find it far more easy to 'turn profits' within that venue. That is another discussion entirely.

At hand is the fact that the FAILED CEOs want their money back. Poor babies.

I vote a resounding, NO !

As a matter of fact, these morons have capitulated their 'interest' in this country to seek higher incentives to 'cheat' people out of their homes with permission of the Republicans and the laws they provided that deregulated any PROTECTIONS for Americans. They should be 'sued' for every penny they are worth considering their 'interest' in the failure that occurred in a global infrastructure 'they designed' to 'feed the wealthy' while destoying the 'hopes and dreams' of the citizens they exploited.

I understand there is a hardware store someplace in Dallas that accommodates 'displaced' CEOs that currently Georgie is seeking employment. I suggest these men do the very same thing and come to realize as the former President ? might ? that conducting 'an average' day of work is refreshing to those that have done otherwise.

I strongly suggest they all be FIRED. Sort of the in the manner Donald Trump conducts his 'idea' of fun on TV. They should know what it is like to collect unemployment while their treasures are all sold at sherrif sales and their lives are trashed no matter how they prepared themselves to serve a country worthy of 'the best of the best' to be LEADING it to secure its sovereignty and economy.

I suggest Mr. Geithner be encouraging the replacement of these morons and instead of bowing to their 'needs' demand their replacements to humble themselves before the very 'citizens' they 'serve.' Any company that doesn't view the DEBT they have caused to this country as egregious should be dissolved and its assets auctioned so those that sincerely love the USA and work diligently to protect it and elevate its purpose can actually LEAD where these moronic companies have failed.

We don't need nor desire 'wealth merchants' in the USA, we need companies that 'serve' the citizens well and secure the nation from insults to its sovereignty. While some would see these men as valuable beyond any recognition and deserving of forgiveness, I promise you they are worthless to the ideals of freedom and justice. They worship money, not morality. They elevate their 'social worth' through sexual fidelity and value little the people of the USA. We don't need them, I promise you. We need talented people that embrace the future of citizens and secure our children from the ravage of those that would see the USA destroyed for their own purposes !

We have witnessed the 'dismantling' of the economy of the USA by an incideous 'regime' in the last eight years, and primarily 'on this count' in the past two. They have to be held responsible and I find the 'role' of Hanky Paulson more egregious than any other with his 'Unrealistic and inflated $14,000 DOW.' Let's not leave him and his cohorts out of the 'round up' of those most immoral and responsible.

...But now, with a public backlash against excessive pay and taxpayer lifelines extended to crippled companies, the idea of recouping compensation, known as "clawback," is gaining traction.
Currently there is no legal mechanism for forcing the regurgitation of past pay, so such efforts would need to be bolstered by new legislation. Clawbacks also promise to be a hot-button issue at shareholder meetings in coming months....