Dr. Quack, Opinion & News with the harsh cry of reason.

Obama & Andy Stern, hold that thought. Pinky & the Brain,now hold that thought.

Not taking away any of President Obama's intellect for what so many in the media have declared god like, but there's one who appears to be one up on the President. And since they appear attached to the hip one might say the duo of Obama and Stern can be likened to, 'Pinky and the Brain, respectively. You know Andy Stern, he is no simpleton and no one's Pinky, he is the calculating demonstrable leader of the S.E.I.U., (Service Employees International Union.) And you know the 'Brain' from 'Pinky & the Brain' the

Emmy-winning animated television series and spin-off of Animaniacs from 1995-1999.

 

Before you get your tail feathers ruffled, I'm not saying as above, that President Obama is mentally likened to Pinky, only that he is a side-kick to Andy Stern, as the Brain. As intellectual you may believe Obama is, he is blinded by the clear and present fact, Andy Stern is out to rule the world, so to speak. We can only hope that as in the toon, 'Pinky & the Brain' that like Pinky the President in an unintentional way will ruin the plans of the Brain, to rule the world. I can imagine the President and Andy Stern during one of their so-called non-lobbyist meetings (22 or more times last year) Pinky: "Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?"

The Brain: "The same thing we do every night, Pinky—try to take over the world!" With the President just laughing the idea off, not Andy Stern, he knows what he wants and he has a plan.

 

Andy Stern may have a great smile, but wields a heavy hand, cold and calculated. His ideology is not of union bosses from time past, rather from political revolutionaries from a time, we should not, and must not forget. At (59) Andy Stern is from the old school of walk softly and carry a big stick, the swan song of socialist and communist revolutionaries. Now don't ruffle your feathers yet. I'm not calling Andy Stern a socialist or communist, but, if his ideology talks the talk and walks the walk or for you Duckeons, waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck. Just a thought, not an accusation, yet.

 

Now this duck, oops, I mean Andy Stern, has been appointed by President Obama (aka Pinky) to the just created National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Oh boy! Another government committee, another bureaucratic smoke screen to not face head on, the problems of the economy, that this government just refuses to get. Just think, if President Obama had included the word Government in the committee title (National government Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform), it would have been an oxymoron. Does this appointment of Andy Stern sound a little like a fox in the hen house or as Investor's Business daily put it, "is like having a serial arsonist organize Fire Prevention Week”. And Pinky, is holding the match.

 

As the president of the fastest growing union in America, Andy Stern and the S.E.I.U., which contributed $60million to President Obama's campaign, from one Duck's point of view, has argumentatively single handedly added more to health care costs than any single issue on the topic. Unionizing hospital workers under the S.I.E.U. has contributed to poorer care (Patient care) and extreme costs that have not argumentatively inflated the cost of health care to beyond, and to use a Left Loon term, entitlement.

 

Andy Stern is a bad choice by a President that has promised "change we can believe in" at a time when a quarter of the way through his presidency, the only legacy for President Obama at this point, is none.

 

I'm Dr. Quack, with the harsh cry of reason...3 08 10

Goodwin Liu, Obama's 9th Circuit Nominee, brilliant, perhaps, but no cigar.

I'd best trust the one who baffles me with duck dung than the one who tried dazzling me with his brilliance. I don't know about you, but the latter scares me. University of California Berkeley progressive professor, Goodwin Liu, is President Obama's nominee to the left coast (West coast's) 9th circuit court. Whenever I hear the term brilliant applied to a politician or judge you can bet a dollar to a donut that the reference is about a progressive left person of interest. Not that brilliance doesn't take form on all sides of the isle, but I find the arrogance of the Left progressive movement in America incapable of modesty and humility, which makes them hardly difficult to identify. Qualities like humility and modesty, I believe make good justices and even better politicians, with brilliance. Then, what do I know, I'm far from brilliant.

 

The problem with Goodwin Liu, is not his brilliance, but his wisdom, he has yet to serve as a judge in any court but served as an appellate litigator at O'Melveny & Myers in Washington. He clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and for Judge David S. Tatel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He also served as special assistant to the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and as senior program officer for higher education at the Corporation for National Service (AmeriCorps). All the above in less than a five year span before joining the staff at UC Berkeley. Brilliance without wisdom is like good looks without a brain. Vegetation, and in this case left wing progressive partisan vegetation, is what professor Liu represents. Every organization the professor serves in or belongs to is a left progressive movement. This is important, since Goodwin Liu hasn't rendered any court decisions, we can only review his writings (Left and Progressive) and whom he associates with (Left and Progressive). Here's the short list of Professor Liu's associations with groups; serves on the Board of Trustees of Stanford University and is Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Constitution Society. He also serves on the boards of National Women's Law Center, the Public Welfare Foundation, and the Alliance for Excellent Education. He was elected to the American Law Institute in 2008.(source U.C. Berkeley profile.)

 

Professor Liu is considered an expert on constitutional law, sounds a lot like someone else we know. Sounds like more 'Change we can believe in,' and if appointed, we will get change. Liu is another constitutional law expert, seems we have at least one or two maybe three too many already in Washington D.C., by the way, how’s that working out for you, soooo far. Seems that the tag constitutional expert is right up there with the term brilliant. Seems we have a President set on re-writing the Constitution as with professor Liu, they both believe the constitution is a living document which should be interpreted by brilliant minds for a new enlightened age, the progressive age. Similar to how the church has reconstructed the Word of God, for a more so called, enlightened time in society. Will we ever learn from history, or are we so enlightened that history doesn't give us any more of a marker for wisdom than the Bible fits with the world we live in today. God help us.

 

I'm beginning to see a Thomas Paine society, revolutionaries who blow in the wind like a feather according to, the wind. And currently it is a Left Progressive wind. A society of brilliant enlightened minds who know best. Baffle me with some Duck Dung any day than with a brilliant mind. For behind the dung is a creative, humble, modest, ethical mind waiting to be, brilliant, dare I say. It is the every day, you and I American people that baffle the heck out of me, your achievements, reason and simple common sense. Like professor Liu many Americans have walked the path he has. They may not be Rhodes Scholars and Yale Law Graduates, but they, we, are common sense Americans with a harsh cry of reason...I'm Dr. Quack with, the harsh cry of reason. 3 05 10

 

My Side Note; Here are two, worth reading FYI Goodwin Liu writings; Professor Liu's recent work includes "Keeping Faith with the Constitution" (2009) (with Pamela S. Karlan and Christopher H. Schroeder); "Rethinking Constitutional Welfare Rights" in Stanford Law Review (2008)...Source U.C. Berkeley profile...

I mention these two writings as worth reading, because there are some excellent points made by professor Liu whether you agree or not. Dr. Quack

Private Sector, Private Sector, Private Sector

With over 24 million small businesses that hire from (1-499) employees, including non-employer businesses, all private sector employers, the Government doesn't seem to see the forest for the trees when reining in the unemployment woes of America. The Obama administration is either so wrapped up in analysis and details of America's unemployment problems, or they are intentionally undermining the 233 years of America's success and growth in part, by way of individuals and their ingenuity to invent, build, create, provide and service the greatest nation on earth with small businesses.

 

There has been no Stimulus aid for small businesses in America. Tax cuts and new hire benefits are nothing of substance. I have owned small businesses for over 35 years. And never have we had to consider downsizing a business. But with all the rhetoric coming out of Washington discussing health care and taxes on (who knows what new income levels), the stability of the dollar and on, and on, for the first time we are at a no growth in new jobs, and have downsized our staff and workforce for 2010.

 

How important is America's private sector small businesses? If each of us hired just one new employee up and over our current total. America would see more than 20% of its total unemployment erased off the books. And, this could be accomplished pretty much over night. Small businesses would, if they could, come to the rescue hiring new employees, significantly lowering unemployment and once again spending money on new equipment and growth, how twofold is that? For this to happen, President Obama needs to drop the proposal of punishing small businesses for not offering health care. Many don't because they simply can't afford it, yet. But they are working on it and with the success of their business together with their valued employees will offer more benefits ensuring continued success. Many small business owners fit into the newer higher tax proposals from the Obama Administration, again blinded by over analysis of just who in America is making $250,000.00 and how far it really goes in today's economy.

 

One last thought, but important to what Small business (The private sector) needs to bail America's unemployment out of the depths and over baring Federal government has put us into. Money, money, money...Provide stimulus money, no strings, call it a 'Don't ask, Don't tell' small business loan program through our local banks. Give a Government guarantee for any default on these loans. Essentially, we the taxpayer are guaranteeing our own loans, protecting the banks from the risks they may not otherwise take with small businesses. To help with the risk, only businesses that have been established for 2-3 years in the community and have filed with the IRS for each of those years would be qualified for this 'Don't ask, Don't tell' small business loan. Every business would qualify for a minimum sum regardless of current credit standing, and those with best credit could receive more. A loan of $15-$25K per qualified and of needing small business, would be miniscule in comparison to the benefit the economy would see as a whole.

 

The above is only a thought, what's yours, together our ideas can bring about change.

 

I'm Dr. Quack with the harsh cry of reason...2 23 10

The press should stop holding Tiger by the Tail...

Shame on the press, shame on the political correct and this self-righteous people of the world that find it necessary to tar and feather Tiger Woods. The same goes for those who cast stones at fallen, yet repentant ministers, teachers, and on, and on. Shame on you! Tiger Woods need not apologize to anyone other than his family and God. What happens in Tiger's personal life is between those close to him, those he harmed (The other women) and his creator if he so believes in. Not the Press, Country Club, and most certainly the whole of Americans. This is true in my opinion, for anyone.

 

I'm Dr. Quack with the harsh cry of reason...2 19 10

"Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!"

Next week’s up and coming Health care legislation show down between the Congressional Democrats and Republicans, Republicans and President Obama, Blue Dog Democrats and the President, Washington and the people of the greatest nation on earth. Once again  is sounding like the theme from the TV sitcom 'Lavern & Shirley' "Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!", with President Obama singing the theme song "Making Our Dreams Come True."  Can you picture it? Senate majority leader Harry Reid along with House speaker Nancy Pelosi  singing in the backup chorus, that's just a snap shot of  the change America voted for.  Harry Reid and President Obama have concocted Plan B to pass (ram) a health care package down the proverbial throats of all Americans with Senate's reconciliation. (So to speak). Reconciliation is when a bill (A budget bill) to be precise, is passed with a simple majority of (51) votes rather than a super majority of (60). This is what the New York Times is saying that the Obama Administration is proposing, with a formal posting of this proposal on Monday February 22, 2010 on the internet, most likely on whitehouse.gov.

 

President Obama, several times, has compared himself and his administration with that of Ronald Reagan's. However there's at least one major difference between the two presidents. Ronald Reagan quibbled and debated, sparring continuously with a partisan Congress daily. Yet at the end of the day unlike President Obama, Congress from both sides of the isle respected Reagan and President Reagan respected them. President Obama who campaigned on using Reagan compromise and bipartisan skills to bring about change in Washington, has only managed to create more diversity and distrust between himself and Congress. President Obama's blatant lack of promised transparency in Washington has contributed to this mostly. Now with the proposal of using Senate Reconciliation to pass a health care package, before ever meeting with the Republican and Independent congressional caucuses first, gives the opposition parties understandably, bad karma.

 

I favor Health care reform. But not health care reform that is politically charged, and rammed down my throat, full of government intrusion, regulation and high costs to my wallet. The President and Congress, both sides of the isle, need to take more time and work using bipartisanship to have real representation of the people in the written word of any health care bill. There is no substitution for what time and effort can do when the good of the people is truly at purpose.

 

I'm Dr. Quack, and I will have more to say...with the harsh cry of reason.  2 19 10

Terrorist or Enemy Combatant we need definition...

Terrorist or Enemy Combatant we need definition... Once and for all time the United States government needs to define the difference between Terrorist and Enemy Combatant. Moreover we need a clarity on exactly what is the 'War on Terror', originally coined by the Bush administration and given a new name, 'Overseas Contingency Operation', by the Obama administration and then again President Obama said the U.S is at war with al-Qaeda. Our mealy-mouthed politicians have brought upon themselves the confusion of whose who, what is, and where in the world, the who, what, when and where are terrorists, terrorists and or enemy combatants. Who, what, when and where they are to be jailed, prosecuted, and imprisoned or executed if need be. The fight, whatever you call it against global terrorism to protect the Nation and citizens of America has been so politicized that all Americans from one side or another are calling fowl, as though all of Washington have their heads in the sand. Americans believed that candidate Obama would bring change to Washington and change as he called it meant transparency and straight talk, remember the straight talk express...apparently it was a bullet train, that stopped long enough to elect, the now President Obama, and gone as soon as the left winged wind blew into Washington D.C. a little over a year ago. Oh, forgive me, 'The Straight Talk Express' tag belonged to John McCain. What was Obama's tag, 'Change we can believe in.' That's not working for us either. Mealy mouthed politicians, that's what we've got. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed the accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks was and is an enemy combatant and a top leader of al-Qaeda. Captured in Pakistan March 2003 you would think classifying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed as an enemy of War, there'd be a military tribunal. But Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder and President Obama have decided otherwise. The 'shoe bomber' Richard Colvin Reid, and the 'underwear bomber' Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab both terrorists, neither being of any significance to the al-Qaeda organization, rather misguided individuals, yet Terrorist's. Because both Richard Colvin Reid, and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab were captured on American soil, Politicians and pundits seem confused as to under whose jurisdiction they come under. The root of this issue and the explanation for all the political cat fighting and mean spirited jabs by well educated yet simple minded media pundits is the definition of the who, what, where and when of the fight America has committed Herself too. Then staying the course of that commitment and the system and or jurisdiction appropriate to handle the matter of State. I'm going to guide you to the following LINK at TRAC, (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse) website where they have attempted to bring some clarity to these questions asked here, and I am sure with you. Read, study and become knowledgeable. I'm Dr. Quack...with the harsh cry of reason...2 09 10

Thank heavens for the small things too...No on Becker

The small vote, but bipartisan (In part) Senate rejection of National Labor Relations Board Nominee Craig Becker was a win for freedom in the greatest nation on earth. If President Obama's nomination of Becker for the NLRB last year didn't spark and answer your curiosity as to just how liberal Left the President is, what will. National Health-care, did that do it for you, or was it the transparency of this 'Change you can believe in' administration. Oh yeah, change is coming, but from behind closed doors and smoked filled rooms. Is it coincidence that Obama appointees keep trucking in for Illinois, Chicago politics, Chicago corruption is seemly taken over Washington. The one campaign promise kept by President Obama "I will change how Washington works." Obama just exchanged it for Chicago Politics. Americans as a whole, Democrats and Republicans, Independents and the now Tea Partiers all had hope in this amazing orator from the land of Lincoln, who said nothing in giving lip service to everyone, yet had the gift of giving us all hope for a better future and real time change in Washington. Obama had everything available to him to make it so, with a solid democratic Congress at his feet. Candidate Obama promised the moon and President Obama has given us a sack of potatoes. While I'm not going to play the blame Bush game, I can give President Obama a pass on any real critique of the state of the economy. It will take another year to analyze the President's policies at work. And will make for an interesting comparison between taxation vs. Reagan's tax cuts, under similar recessionary conditions. That is, provided Obama continues with his agenda of last year and doesn't make (Though I hope he would) changes reversing many of his Left ideologue plans for the economy and government intervention into American business. Craig Becker was another attempt at doing just that. Take a ride on the following LINK to a Wall Street article for more on Becker's labor union ideologue, which would pose a clear and present danger to our economy's return to strength, anytime. I'm Dr. Quack...with the harsh cry of reason...2 10 10

Sarah Palin an anomaly? Think Not...

Sarah Palin made some prime time appearances over the weekend, again putting her in the scope of the liberal press and blogs. Is Sarah really an anomaly, I think not. While I know Sarah is smart, she's not the brightest apple to fall from the tree politically, but she's learning. What she is, is you, me, the school teacher, the local electrician, the construction worker, every self-employed businessman and woman. Sarah is the everyday, ever common Joe and Jane American. She's the individualist street smart American who takes life as it comes with no complaint, until pushed into a corner and the current Administration is doing just that with Joe and Jane American, which explains the mystic of Sarah Palin and the Tea party movement. And Joe and Jane American, like Sarah, are learning real fast what it means to stand up to an obtrusive and power hungry federal government. Like many of you I'd not vote for Sarah Palin for President of the United States today. But the people of America are looking for a leader, that is Joe or Jane American, and if Sarah continues to learn on her current path too... or another like her comes along then watch our Washington, you’re in for a real wake up call. "Knowledge is power" Sir Francis Bacon...Keep learning America, read everything from both sides of the fence and learn from the past, we seem destined to repeat mistakes of every other great Nation before us and in record time. Only you can stop the 'something wicked that this way comes...' to borrow a piece of a title, from a Ray Bradbury book. I'm Dr. Quack...with the harsh cry of reason. 2 09 10

Sarah-Palin_1

Timothy Geithner happy with Mortgage Modifications Program...are you?

You may have benefited from the government's Mortgage Modification Program and be very happy or are you? It appears that many of these modified loans are, in essence, short term (3) years to be exact, with a bubble of their own to pop, increasing the loan to an inflated amount, sound familiar? "Matt Harvey, a mortgage-counseling supervisor at Take Charge America focuses exclusively on modifications in Arizona and has helped more than 100 owners save their homes. However, Harvey cautions that translates to only one success for every five applications." AZ Republic, November 29, 09. Referring to one of the firm's success stories in Arizona Harvey says this about his client "difficulties stemmed from having her original loans adjusted to a higher interest rate with no ability to refinance when the credit crunch materialized. Her new loan also will adjust, after three years, but that gives her time to move or refinance." This leaves the question has to just how much good this Obama administration ' Mortgage Modifications Program' or 'Making Home Affordable Programs' are doing? I am glad for those who have staved off the loss of a home, been there once many a moons ago myself. But for many, if not most seemly is a temporary fix, creating another bubble three-five years down the road. I hope, I am wrong. Let's not forget that nearly one million homes have been foreclosed on and repossessed by banks in 2009. Where was the immediate assistance promised by President Obama campaigning in 2008 "I'll put a three-month moratorium on foreclosures so that we give homeowners the breathing room they need to get back on their feet." Sources: Speech, Richmond, Va., Oct. 22, 2008 Let's take some simple numbers and a short example, that is reflective of the nation. Tim Geithner is quoted as saying Sunday 2/7/10 "This program is providing very, very substantial cash flow relief right now to more than 750,000 Americans. And we believe we're still on a path to be able to reach many, many more American households. And of course, we're going to make sure that those temporary modifications translate into permanent modifications," he told ABC's "This Week. "We're absolutely committed to make sure that translates into what we said it would, which is for eligible Americans, they're getting permanent modifications that substantially lower their monthly payment," he added. Under the $75 billion mortgage modification plan, called the Making Homes Affordable program, President Obama last year pledged that lenders who participated would be required to reduce payments to no more than 31 percent of a borrower's income, enabling as many as 3 million to 4 million homeowners to modify the terms of their mortgages to avoid foreclosure." report Fox News Geithner admits only 66,000 homeowners nationally have been helped at this time...good for them, bad for the other 1-2 million stranded after losing their homes since the mortgage bubble busted in 08-09's fiscal years. Neither President Bush or President Obama had, or has done enough to stop or prevent a foreclosure avalanche. The Arizona Republic newspaper reported at the end of November last year, that 34,000 homeowner mortgage modifications were in the works. Good, if they are ever completed, but the numbers show, that only 1 in 5 will be approved, and that Arizona finished 2009 with more than 163,000 foreclosure notices sent out to homeowners. So roughly, less than 20% of homeowners in Arizona needing assistance from foreclosure may not or will not get the help promised by the Obama administration. Homeowners got promises in words, not much in deeds done. Banks, particular the main stream larger institutions are as culpable as the Fed.. Hesitant to any kind of a freeze on home foreclosures and incandescent with the Administration's chastising and dictatorial takeover of the banking industry (So to Speak) that there has been a deliberate slow down in reducing or stopping the number of foreclosures and actual repossessions in 2009. 2010 will be the same, unless President Obama can better work with the Banking Industry, starting with getting out of its business matters, but that is another topic altogether. I'm Dr. Quack...with the harsh cry of reason....2 08 10 Phoenix Business Journal, AZ Republic