Obama's Thanksgiving Address

Obama Holds 3rd Economic Presser, Bush Pardons Turkey

Today, Obama continues to take ownership of the economic recovery plan by announcing the formation of a new Economic Recovery Advisory Board headed by Paul Volcker.



Meanwhile, at the White House, Bush pardoned two turkeys named Pumpkin and Pecan.

Obama Economic Address

Obama's Second Weekly Address via YouTube

Sarah Palin During Turkey Slaughter - OMG!

The Slavery of Healthcare

What if you could take a chance and start your own business? Or be a consultant... or take a few months off for a break from working?

You might be able to but not if you have kids. Not if you have any type of health issue.

The current health system in the USA is squeezing innovation out of our economy. It increases risk related to venturing out and doing new things.

This is because you are afraid of losing your health care and all the negative impacts that could have on you and your family.

It reminds me of the Pink Floyd bricks in the wall music video... we have become slaves to this system.

I am just returning from a trip to Canada. I was greeted in the office with many friendly faces and it turned out that it was the day that people were getting flu shots at the office.

I thought that it was good timing because I sometimes have trouble making it to our flu shot sessions at work... so I got in line.

The process was quick and at the end I pulled out my wallet to pay the standard $30.

I got a strange look from the nurse... "no no sir, it is free".

This to me seems like the way it should be. Health care needs to be a public responsibility like roads, schools, police and fire fighting. Why should there be so much PROFIT in the American system.

Take out the profit and the cost goes down and more benefits can be provided.

Later on my trip I went to the local Real Canadian Super Store... right inside is a medical clinic. This seemed convenient. It was a busy place and there was a wait but again I thought that this seemed like the way it should be.

I took an evening trip to Niagra Falls and the major news story on the radio was about where a new clinic was being build in Ottawa. I wish we took our health care so seriously; that it was on the front burner rather than something only rarely talked about.

I am a creative person, a go getter and if I was not enslaved to corporate health care I would like nothing better to start my own business consultancy. With 4 kids and some special medical needs that is impossible. It is sad that in a country that prides itself on innovation that we have become trapped by the health care corporate barons and the politicians that support them.

From now on, when someone says beware of "socialized medicine" I am going to challenge the notion that this is a bad thing. We have "socialized" police and fire departments and that seems to work pretty good. I vote for socialized medicine... it certainly can not cost more then the lost innovation and real dollars taken out of my check every payday.

Obama YouTube Address

Welcome to 2009

President-elect Obama's office gave the media a new way to present him as Franklin Roosevelt 2.0 by announcing Friday that it will be posting weekly addresses - fireside chats for the web generation - on YouTube.

The first address will appear on Change.gov this Saturday, after it airs in audio. An Obama spokesperson says that this innovation is just the beginning of the digital, transparent presidency. The plan appears to be in the mold of what the campaign did with videos like "Four Days in Denver" and Campaign Manager David Plouffe's conversations on the state of the race. These videos allowed supporters to feel like they had a direct connection to the campaign, a connection that bypassed the media. Already, the Obama team has made good on the post-election plan. It posted a video from Valerie Jarrett, one of Obama's transition chairs, discussing plans for the new administration.

Dad in Chief

Nice to know that Obama can be a goofy dad too. My dad is goofy and I know my kids think I am goofy.

Bush & Obama

From today's meeting at the White House.

It just seems odd to see these two together.

Bush looks a bit fried. Obama looks fresh.

I don't think that January 20th can come soon enough.

New Adminstration Taking Shape

The Associated Press lists the top prospects for the highest ranking jobs in the Obama Administration here: LINK

Good news for Michigan. The Gov is sitting right next to the VP elect. This says that the auto industry is not only a key economic engine that will not be left to die but also key to the environmental and national security of the country (as in reliance on foreign oil).

A good start with some great minds... let's get the ball rolling!

Obama Radio Address #1

President Elect Obama's first radio address here: LINK

Obama's First Presser

Good Economic Analysis

Michelle Obama Painting

Michelle and Sasha Obama Listening to Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, August 2008

--- by Elizabeth Peyton.

O Team Hit Ground Running

Things move FAST for the O Team:

- O Team Ready to go under John Podesta
- Chief of Staff Emanuel accepts
- Communication Director Gibbs set up
- FBI briefing today in Chi Town
- Room 3E971 setup in Pentagon for O Transition Team
- President Elect Obama meets with Bush next week
- Economy Presser Tomorrow
- Change.GOV launches for transition transparency
- Still gets in 2-hour workout
- more we don't know about

PRESIDENT ELECT!

YES WE DID!

IMAGINE!

Imagine that you did not vote for Abraham Lincoln.

Imagine that you did not vote for FDR. Imagine that you did not vote for John F. Kennedy.

When your children and grandchildren ask you years from now, "Did you vote for a great president?"

What will you say?

Will you say, "I had a chance to make history but I shrunk from the task".

Or that, "I was afraid that our country was not ready for such change."

Will those small eyes look up at you with admiration because you did the right thing, or will you always feel like you played a "ney sayer" part in the greatest election of our time?

Cheney Endorses McCain - VOTE OBAMA!