Where Had He Been in the Last Two Years?

In a hastily arranged press conference, Obama defended his compromise package capitulation deal "a good deal for the American people." But the president also said he had little choice but to agree to the Republicans' terms to avoid endangering struggling Americans dependent on the tax breaks and unemployment benefits.

"It's tempting not to negotiate with hostage takers — unless the hostage gets harmed," he said of his talks with Republicans. "In this case, the hostage was the American people, and I was not willing to see them get harmed.''

What is the deal eventually is going to hurt the hostage even more, Mr. President?

Obama pledged to take up the fight again in 2012 when the tax cuts would expire under the new deal. He reiterated that he still opposes the Republican position that high-income earners should get the extension, delivering this message to "my Republican friends": "I'm looking forward to seeing them on the field of competition over the next two years."

He hasn't exhibited any aptitude or ability to fight in last two years, how can we trust that he would meet the challenge in two years' time?  If the congress doesn't stop this "deal", the Bush tax cuts will be permanent and more services will be cut, to reduce the ever growing deficit.  In two years' time, a new set of hostage will be produced.  Democrats senators, please don't forget that you can filibuster as well, particularly senators who survived this year's slaughter, like Ms. Barbara Boxer.  The very reason that she was sent back to Washington was to do this kind of fight.

As for this one-sided bipartisanship President Obama brought us, we can afford no longer.  It's time to draft a real fighters we can believe it. 

Mr. Obama, having achieved the historical status by becoming the first black president of America, has earned a place in history and also will be remembered kindly by averting an economic catastrophe.  But, at this juncture of history, he has proved disastrously wasted opportunity to fix the country.  He would do American a even greater favor by completing his one term and become one of the greatest ex-presidents of America.  We would thank him deeply.


Siege © Matthew Felix Sun

No More Such Bi-Partisanship, President McO!

I felt awful - though cannot say I was betrayed.  I never believed President Obama would be a fighter, as he had eloquently stated in his campaign in 2008.

It looks like that we are condemned for two more years of "bi-partisanship" of Obama characteristics. If we don't want to endure six more years of that, let's draft a fighter to run for president in 2012 on Democrats ticket. Otherwise, let's pledge to vote for Green(, again)!

No more President McO!

I made the posters below in August 2008, when Obama was walking on water.  Sadly, they ring too true now:

Presidential Carpet

NPR recently broadcast of a story by Associated Press: Oval Office Makeover Has Comfy, More Modern Feel. It is such a strange read during this depressing time.

Every president eventually puts his own mark on the Oval Office, decoratively speaking, and the White House unveiled the Obama makeover on Tuesday, just hours before a major presidential speech on Iraq from his famous Resolute Desk (still there.) Obama had long been making small changes in the Oval Office, aided by California designer Michael Smith, but held off on a broader redesign until now, mindful of the nation's economic distress.

The White House wouldn't reveal the overall cost of the new look, but said in a statement that it was "in line with the amount spent by Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush on the redesigns of their Oval Office." It added that the funds came from the nonprofit White House Historical Association, through a contribution from the presidential inaugural committee.

NPR's broadcast mentioned the man-hour needed to make his brand of presidential carpet. But that information, perhaps deemed too sensitive, was no where to be found online.

I did more searching and found it on The Detroit News:

The Obama administration declined to divulge the cost of the office makeover but said it was comparable to what other presidents have spent. It took 30 craftsmen and more than 570 man hours to produce the rug at the Scott Group. The rug, installed last week, contains 25 percent recycled wool and uses natural colors and undyed thread as part of the office's all-natural theme.

If the average salary of those skilled works are $20/hour, that makes $11,400, not including design, material, machinery, and transportation costs. Excuse me! Every time, when we have a new owner of the Oval office, a whooping amount of expenses. I would have thought that 1600 Pennsylvania have changed the name to Château de Versailles!

I wonder what happened to the previous presidential rugs. I would have hoped that Obama would stop this insane practice of wasting of material and resources every four or eight years. I guess the audacity to hope, will always get disappointed.


"Chairman" © Matthew Felix Sun
www.matthewfelixsun.com

Martha's Vineyard, What Hast Thou?

Recently, President Obama's family vacation at Martha's Vineyard made it to the news and once again, drew some tired attention to that little island. According to Wikipedia, "the island is primarily known as a summer colony, and is accessible only by boat and by air. Nevertheless, its year-round population has grown considerably since the 1960s. A study by the Martha's Vineyard Commission found that the cost of living on the island is 60 percent higher than the national average and housing prices are 96 percent higher."

It continued to say that Presidents Ulysses Grant, Bill Clinton and the former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis all had visited or kept houses there.

I cannot entertain a vacation in an isolated island, with nothing but wind, sea, and celebrities whose names or faces I don't care to know. And politicians too.

Personally, I don't care where my president and his family enjoy their vacations but I couldn't escape from knowing it, since the "news" was reported everywhere, including pictures of Obama's book purchases for his daughters, who are admittedly adorable but if I hear their names in the news again, I'd scream.

This country doesn't have royalties; it yearns for one. This country do have aristocrats, with a long family tradition, like the Bushes, or not, like Clintons. Only if people were striving to gain noble education, bearing and manners. Alas, this is a country produces nobles as entertainers.


Swamp © Matthew Felix Sun