Random Thoughts

Here are some musings about a few things that have been in the news during the past week or so.


Is Obama A Centrist?

I have noted a widespread belief among self-proclaimed moderates and conservatives, that Barak Obama is going to govern from the center . They offer as "evidence" that he (1) "is smart", (2) "wants a legacy" (being the first black President), and (3) has picked "moderates" and "Clintonistas" for his cabinet.

I am not convinced. Mr. Obama is, after all, a liberal Democrat politician. He had the most liberal voting record of any Senator. He developed his political chops in Chicago. He campaigned on traditional liberal themes, like "sharing the wealth". I think those facts trump any evidence, so far, of any inclination to govern from the center.

I think I'll wait for 6-9 months and let Obama's actions speak for him.



Continuing Media/Obama Lovefest.

One thing is certain, Obama doesn't have to worry about the media throwing cold water on any of his positions. When George W. Bush had the temerity to suggest that the economy was weak in early 2001, he was immediately and thoroughly chastised by the NY Times, Washington Post, and other liberal media critics for his "talking down the economy". Fast forward eight years and we have Barak Obama speaking of the economy in the most dire terms, including calling the current economic situation "the worst in our lifetime", yet the media lauds his fearless willingness to tell it like it is.

Except, of course, it really isn't. The current economic crisis is bad, however, lest we forget, when Ronald Reagan took office, he inherited double digit interest rates, inflation, and unemployment. Today's unemployment number was bad news, but at 7.7%, it is still significantly lower than the rate when Reagan was inaugurated.

No, the media want this to be the greatest economic crisis of all time, so that when the inevitable recovery comes, Obama will be hailed as an unparalleled leader (whether or not his policy prescriptions are the source of the recovery). My prediction: soon after Obama takes office, the economy will begin to improve, at least from the perspective of the media's "spin" on the economic news of the day. And, as the Times and WaPo opined at the beginning of the Bush presidency, people's perceptions about the economy end up driving the economy.


Analog vs. Digital TV.

As long as we are speaking about Pres. Elect Obama and his policy pronouncements, I wonder if you noticed that he wrote to Congress and asked that they delay the end of analog TV broadcasting?

My brother Dave was all over this one. He told me more than a year ago that the changeover would be delayed. I disagreed. I guess I just didn't realize that the government under Obama will even make sure that everybody gets to watch TV.