Now that President Obama's first deficit has been adjusted even further up, echos of folks complaining about the budget deficits during the Bush years ring in my mind.  Sure, we ran up enormous, never-before-seen deficits during those years, and I won't even try to justify them.  Nevertheless, at $455 billion at their height, those deficits pale in comparison to the $1.6 TRILLION deficit we are projected to swallow this fiscal year.

It is illustrative, I think, to restage that scene for this issue.  In our little re-enactment, Obama plays the part of Dundee, Bush stands in as the thug (I know my liberal readers will like that thought!), and we, the American People, are the female companion.  There we are walking hand-in-hand with President Obama, when out springs Bush brandishing his $455 billion deficit, "Eek! He's got a deficit!" we scream in dismay.  But our strong and confident Obama retorts eloquently, "That's not a deficit!"  And unsheathing his own deficit - all $1.6 TRILLION of it - he smiles and says, "THAT'S A DEFICIT!"



Filed under:  President Obama  Budget deficit

According to a new Pew poll, congressional Democrats now enjoy the favorable opinion of less than half of Americans (49%).  That figure is down 10 points since April.  President Obama's approval numbers continue to slide as well, down to 51% in the poll and in Gallup's daily tracking poll.

By contrast, the Pew poll shows Republicans standing pat at a miserable 40% favorable mark, unchanged significantly all year.  However, with public opinion of the healthcare reform plan being tossed around between Obama and the Democrats reaching all-time lows, the GOP's opposition to it will eventually see that number begin to rise.  And with Democrats eagerly rushing to attach themselves to this sinking ship, things could look much brighter for the minority party when votes are cast once again a little less than 15 months from now.  For sure, taking a go-it-alone approach on the issue will tie the Democratic Party inexorably to its fortunes much like Iraq became Bush's make or break issue.  This conservative blogger, for one, welcomes their gamble.



Filed under:  Approval ratings  The Democratic Party  Healthcare  President Obama

The movie we saw was "Julie and Julia" with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.  It's the story of Julia Child, the world-famous TV cooking pioneer, told alongside a young woman's (Julie) quest to cook her way through Julia's cookbook, blogging about her triumphs and travails along the way.  As a blogger, I related to Julie's perspective of starting a blog and her excitement as it caught on among her readers.

Right about now you may be wondering why this topic would be the subject of my blog post today.  Why would I write about some chick-flick cooking movie on my political blog?  Well, it's because somebody who had a hand in making this movie decided to inject blatant partisan politics in a place where it had no place.  Specifically, on at least two occasions, Republicans were the brunt of comments whose intent was clearly to leave the viewer with a bad impression of us and portray us as traditionalist and oppressive Neanderthals.  The comments had no place in the story nor in the movie.

And this isn't the first movie with this type of needless, out-of-the-blue conservative bashing - and I grow weary of it.  I tire of the constant character assassinations and incriminating innuendos.  I understand that movies that are political in nature will have the typical liberal bent which permeates Hollywood.  I know to expect it in films of that genre.  But, can't they refrain from polluting such light and entertaining fare as the movie we saw last night?

The real ironic - and chafing - thing about all this bad-mouthing of Republicans and conservatives is the fact that it is so inaccurate in so many cases.  I know plenty of conservatives who are nothing like what is represented on the movie screen and on TV.  In fact, I dare say the typical conservative in my circle of friends would be the first to offer you the shirt off his back if you were in need.  They are generally giving and compassionate. Sure, they (we) have ideas as to the standard by which we all should live, but who doesn't?  Bashing us in such fallacious ways is wrong and unfair - especially in a venue like a night at the movies.