Indecision, backtracking, waffling. After 26 days in office, these are the words that best describe the Obama Administration. Actually, given the serial flip-flops during the campaign and then again during the transition, I am certain that Obama's inability to make a decision, communicate it clearly, and then stick to it will be the hallmark of this presidency.

His latest victim is the Car Czar idea, which he told us was necessary to shepherd the ailing Big Two automakers along the rough road ahead.

The unexpected shift comes as G.M. and Chrysler race to complete broad restructuring plans they must file with the Treasury by Tuesday. The companiesÂ’ plans are required to show progress in cutting long-term costs as a condition for keeping their loans.

The administration official said the president was reserving for himself any decision on the viability of G.M. and Chrysler, both of which came close to bankruptcy before receiving federal aid two months ago.

The automakers had been expecting the appointment of a car czar to break the logjam of negotiations with the United Auto Workers over the finances of a retiree health care trust, and with bondholders about reducing the companiesÂ’ debt.

Their mistake was believing him. This president does not make promises he intends to keep. Instead of a car czar, which I admit was a dumb idea anyway, the Administration has hired the steel workersÂ’ union's "in-house banker", Ron Bloom, as the senior adviser on the auto crisis. I expect that's going to turn out well.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 06:54 PM | Comments (72)
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Mr. Obama is designating the Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, and the chairman of the National Economic Council, Lawrence H. Summers, to oversee a presidential panel on the auto industry. Mr. Geithner will also supervise the $17.4 billion in loan agreements already in place with G.M. and Chrysler, said the official, who insisted on anonymity.

source

Correct me if I am wrong, but between November 5th and January 20th weren't we constantly bombarded by the media about how Obama had his crack team of economic experts were working on America's economic problems and they would have a plan ready to go on day 1.

If that's the case why do all these plans feel like they were anally extracted on the spur of the moment. I have visions of President Obama wiping his ass and then reading the portents and signs like some Greek oracle after slaughtering a lamb, and it's not filling me with confidence.

(Last post on this open blog period I promise)

Posted by: Open Blog at 06:46 PM | Comments (23)
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BEIJING —

Measures in a $789 billion U.S. stimulus package that favor American goods are a "poison" that will hurt efforts solve the financial crisis, an editorial by China's official news agency said.

...

"History and economics have told us, facing a global financial crisis, trade protectionism is not a solution, but a poison to the solution," the editorial said.

...

Protectionism was a key concern of weekend meetings of the Group of Seven industrialized nations in Rome. U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner assured G-7 finance ministers on Saturday that the stimulus package would not violate the United States' commitment to free trade.

Xinhua's editorial said protectionist measures taken during the Great Depression of the 1930s caused trade wars, hurting international trade.

source

It's a sad day when the commies know more about free markets than the Congress and President of the United States.

Posted by: Open Blog at 02:50 PM | Comments (107)
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I can understand why he wouldn't want the crotchety old warmonger around.

The bronze by Sir Jacob Epstein, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds if it
  were ever sold on the open market, enjoyed pride of place in the Oval Office
  during President Bush's tenure.

But when British officials offered to let Mr Obama to hang onto the bust for a
  further four years, the White House said: "Thanks, but no thanks."

Posted by: Uncle Jimbo at 01:15 PM | Comments (151)
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Got something on your mind? Tell me about it. But first, I'm gonna take a nap.

/atrios more...

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 11:51 AM | Comments (59)
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The California Senate suspended balloting on the budget measure late last night when it became clear that it would not pass. They believe they are one short of passing it and Governor Schwarzenegger wanted time to strong-arm Republican senators.

The proposed measure would increase the state sales tax and gasoline tax, impose a 5 percent surcharge on income taxes, boost vehicle license fees, and reduce the dependent-care tax credit.

So far, Republican senators thankfully aren't biting.

“It’s counter-intuitive to think that you can solve this budget problem in this economy with tax increases,” said Senator Dave Cox, a Sacramento-area Republican who Democrats had counted on to vote for the package. Democrats control both legislative chambers.

He's right. We're already in a recession. Raising the cost of goods and services now is going to retard economic growth even more. The goal of the state government should be to encourage growth, not feed the bureaucratic behemoth.

Here's Senator Abel Maldonado, another Republican who Schwarzenegger hoped to turn:

"I've always been a person who's been open-minded and tried to bring both sides together," Maldonado said. "But on this one, where they're asking for almost $15 billion in tax increases, it just goes against what I believe in my heart and my values."

Maldonado added, "There's nothing they can give me that would make me vote for this budget."

Schwarzenegger had threatened to start laying off 10,000 state employees if a budget hadn't passed by Friday. That is, this past Friday. He held off believing that a budget deal was close.

Simultaneous with the procedural suspension in the Senate, the Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (Democrat) locked her chamber down and refused to let anyone leave. The legislature was kept overnight, but to no avail. The budget deal is still stalled.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 10:54 AM | Comments (84)
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After weeks of pushing congress to pass his "economic stimulus" package immediately, in order to avoid the inevitable financial meltdown inaction would bring, President Obama has decided to delay signing the bill until Tuesday so he can enjoy a weekend home in Chicago with his wife M'chel Michelle.

Un-Freakin' Believable. This bill had to be printed in the middle of the night and be voted on the next day before anyone could actually read it because it was so freakin' important, but the savior can't take 5 freakin' seconds out of his schedule to sign the damn thing.

Good to know our President has the best interest of the country at heart.

On the plus side he thinks Air Force One is a "spiffy ride" so I guess that makes up for everything.

Clarification: I don't want him to sign the bill it's just that his selfish irresponsibility burns my ass.

Posted by: Open Blog at 08:36 AM | Comments (224)
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I can't believe that I'm the first one to blog on this issue, but OK here we go:

Visionary writes book: "Hot Chicks with Douchebags". Female eye-candy accompanying some of said douchebags take offense to their inclusion in the book and sue said visionary in New Jersey. Judge, realizing that a world where douchebags and their female eye candy cannot be mocked is nowhere that anyone should want to live, dismisses the case.

According to a comment at Patterico's, one of the major reasons that the lawsuit was tossed out was that the filing attorney apparently "cut and pasted" from another previous suit in California, and in the "cut and paste" process, they missed a vital reference to California law. Because California law, at least not YET, doesn't apply in New Jersey, the judge used this as a reason for tossing out the case.

You know what? I can somewhat sympathize with the counsel for the douchebag eye-candy in this case. In my work on municipal projects and stormwater runoff erosion control projects, I usually copy large blocks of text from a previous project to avoid spending an extra hour retyping the information. We make a point of having three separate people proofread all these submittals before we send them out, but we occasionally have a reference to a prior project make it past the process. Luckily, most of these plans are never read by the administrative authority. They just go into a drawer to be brought out if and when a nuisance complaint or problem arises with the project. We've never had an error that compromises the paperwork's effectiveness to make it past editing.

This victory for free speech has got my mind whirling. Since we'll all be looking for a way to supplement our "Post Unicorn" income, isn't there a way for the AoSHQ to cash in on this phenomenon?

Some suggestions after the break: more...

Posted by: Russ from Winterset at 06:46 AM | Comments (41)
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I'm guessing this plan goes in the shitter if they don't make him dictator emeritus.

(I know. Sometimes I have the jones for Chavez. He's my favorite commie clown and I love him. Also he's like Mr. Potato Head.)

The voting fraud begins today, and then the lovin begins.

In return, Chavez promises a "week of love" beginning the next day -- assuming he wins the vote, which would let public officials run for re-election as many times as they want.

"We're going to be in battle," Chavez said. "After achieving our great victory, the week of love begins."

He shut down liquor sales on Friday, so people could be contemplative and serious today, and do their patriotic duty. And while he did promise a week of hot, steamy socialist action after today, he was characteristically short on detail.

Some citizens pine for the good old days.

Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old businessman, said that prompted him to cancel plans for a romantic dinner with his girlfriend of two years.

"You should be sharing with your partner, going to eat at a restaurant, and then, well..." he said, trailing off. "I myself shall fantasize about a very romantic dinner, then I will masturbate myself to sleep, and wake up refreshed to go vote."

FN might have messed up the translation there a bit.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 04:35 AM | Comments (37)
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Hey, it's in the Koran.
Surah 4:34, to be exact:

Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.

Obviously, if he were a true Muslim, he wouldn't have beaten her for 15 hours, he would have just beheaded her.

Nice religion of peace you got there, chumps.

Posted by: Open Blog at 10:51 PM | Comments (81)
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