Lincoln's
Penny: Needing Too Many
W
H A T W O U L D A B E D O
By
M. R. Lawrence, Publisher
0120 Hrs GMT, Feb. 15, 2009
Reprint: 
©2009
EVEN
THE PRESIDENT has
to learn to live within our means but creating an
economic stimulus by proxy through adding unrelated and overwhelming
debt of well-intentioned program appropriations, whiich financially
encumbers us and future generations, belies the
importance to act quickly, but to also move prudently while
so many Americans are seeking work.
It's a Stimulus Bill all right, and a monster of a bill at that hefting
in at just $213 billion short of $1 trillion.
But do we need House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's $25 million pet mouse
entitlement in there? The word was that it was taken out in the Senate
rewrite but slipped back in for the House conference version. Is it
true Mr. President. We don't know. House Speaker Pelosi didn't
make the 1,100 plus page bill available for public view in a timely
manner as promised.
What else lurks in the bill before you that may be more
sumptuous pork than lean and mean dollar diet deli specials?
Will we find lots of things later that we would prefer never got out of
the congressional kitchen?
A penny for your thoughts Sir ...
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Something's seriously amiss here. Not one vote from the loyal
opposition went for the House version. That's a bite-partisan message
from the Republicans that warrants a serious presidential re-read, all
1,100 plus stimulating pages worth.
And
it's not just Republicans; you lost a number of Democrats on your
side of the aisle in the final vote.
And before that there was a hissy-fit over Senator Reid's congressional
conference committee agreement announcement made without
first consulting with House Speaker Pelosi who apparently felt
blind-sided by her own partisans. Aren't we all beginning to feel
likewise?
The rumor is that due to time constraints, no congressman or senator
has been able to completely read, never mind review and evaluate, the
Stimulus Bill before voting on its merits.
And your Treasury Secretary, Mr. Geithner, says another trillion
dollars may be needed. Really! I hope he's studying the experience
of monetary regulators during Japan's economic meltdown. They
were throwing yen around with 0% interest to stimulate
their banking markets, but people saved instead of spent. When
the same phenomenon is sure to happen in the U.S., and GM, CitiBank and
the like here go wanting for more, will Mr. Geithner up it to $3
trillion?
When will you say, "Enough!", Mr. President?
What's a Chief Executive to do? The line-item veto is no longer an
option.
You could have menacingly glared at the congressional pork reps and
done a real 'Rough Rider' Teddy Roosevelt
routine talking softly while
carrying a big
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scalpel.
Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton loved the
built-in fiscal flexibility - they used it well, very presidential.
So, when do you think you might use your first
presidential
veto; now would be a good time.
Tell the Congress, and the American people, in no uncertain terms, that
inappropriate spending will absolutely not be tolerated during your
term. If not, clearly there will be no second term, no second chance.
Tell our senators you want an Eisenhower stimulus like the
labor-intensive interstate highway system he mandated.
Tell our congress people you want a massive Franklin Roosevelt public
service program, the likes which haven't been seen since the 30's. No
entitlements here, just back to the basics pickin' up by the bootstraps
work.
It's time now to coach everyone on the need to re-focus all attention
on the bi-partisan teamwork required for creating new wealth in our
nation.
And tell the American people you want the re-written Stimulus Act, not
the Bill, on your desk for your signature by Saturday next.
Abe would be proud of you. Is that a glint on his penny?
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