Osler's Razor

Re: Guantanmo -- I might be more enthused if I thought that closing the base would do anything. How about an agreement NOT to torture people any more, and not to send them to foreign countries to be tortured? But 24 has returned to TV: I suppose we "have" to torture to get information now! (Never mind that CIA interrogators have gone on the record about how torture is counterproductive).

Re: economic spending -- yes, this is the right priority, if not the top priority. The economy is in bad shape, and if it's not going to be reformed, it needs to be shored up until meaningful reforms can be enacted.

Once the economic policies are in place, the next area of concern ought to be foreign relations, not necessarily just Guantanmo. We need a scaling back of the war on terror-focused policies, a structured timetable for withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, etc.
 

1. Bolster domestic supplies of bamboo.

2. Extend panda mating festival days in Nation's zoo.

3. Fund social security in a sustainable manner.
 

Top priority should be the environment. Efforts to help the environment will boost the economy by employing people in this area. This could include Obama's plan to boost industries which make clean energy.
 

Panda mating festival? I looked for that on youtube.
 

We're all pro-stimulus now, I suppose. (stimul?)

I'd like to see him be bold and talk about serious social security and medicare reform. Those are the things that suck up so much of the Federal Budget. Now is really his only chance to make radical reforms. The window for big changes is small and it closes quickly.

Same with health care reform. If he doesn't push for something in the first few months, nothing will happen.
 

The environment is indeed important. But, in terms of using environmental reform as a means to boost the economy, I think the argument is very weak. In fact, the following argument could be used as a reason for to thow money at any industry so as to "create jobs." --> "Efforts to help the environment will boost the economy by employing people in this area. This could include Obama's plan to boost industries which make clean energy."

"Out of work, honey? Don't worry, the government will 'create' you a job. All it needs to do is borrow more money from China."
 

Top priority:

Getting all-male musical groups to embrace their macho-sensual side and once again pose for album covers like this one to ensure a smooth future path to elected office.
 

Priority Number 1 - pass legislation banning Osler from ever using that album cover on his blog again. That is just an alarming thing to see when you open up a website.

Priority Number 2 - call all of his buddies back in Illinois and have a good laugh over how well his practical joke went in appointing a man who hasn't fully paid his taxes over the past few years to be his financial strategist. That was a good one.

Priority Number 3 - call Hillary and ask her what he is supposed to do next. Lets be honest, she is running the show.

In all seriousness, I just hope that he will take a step back and look at the economy and actually try to figure out what a reasonable, measured, and appropriate response would be instead of continuing the policy of the current administration and the Democrats in congress, which seems to be "lets just throw money at this until it gets better."
 

1 ~ The guys in the cover photo could use a good trainer and a barber.

2 ~ Guantanamo should be near the top, but it will take some evaluating of who is 'really' being held and why.

3 ~ Updated regulation of the Banking /Insurance /Mortgage and Investment Banking industries. After watching CSPAN last night my eyes were opened further than before. I spent 2 to 3 hrs watching the re-play of yesterdays hearings. The new regulations need to contemplate the global market place and be dynamic so they keep pace with the industires listed above. Obama should expedite the break up of my former employer, Citigroup (but after I sell all my stock and move my 401K plan).

4 ~ I opened up my NY Times this morning only to find out that people seeking assistance in getting their mortgages worked out with the banks (trying to do right, but needing help) are being swindled again. Probably the same people who were Mortgage Brokers in 2004 and 2005 and got these people in over their heads. Perhaps they can send the swindlers to Guantanamo and torture them. They are enemy combatants in my book.

5 ~ More bamboo for the panda's at the National Zoo!
 

continued...

6 ~ Health care reform would also be nice. If you have to purchase your own health insurance you understand.

Tyring to prioritize any of them is difficult as in my view they are all problems in need to urgent review and fixing.

C'est la vie.
 

First the guy on the right is like SERIOUSLY smiling waaaay too much.

He's kind of creeping me out. Please tell me HE is not the guy in Congress..

Anyway..

I wonder if any one president or even legislative body can really FIX any of these problems? I guess they can take measures to correct the things that caused the problems but it takes forever as you know. Speed is relative in Government.

Maybe he can correct whatever rules were messed up to let all these bad loans go thru.. that is one thing. Maybe he can do healthcare reform.. maybe he can create jobs that work on the environment but I give him like three months. Then the honeymoon will be over the media will be all over him like flies on you know and they will be looking for his flaws in order to tear him down.

Its just how it works. Kinda sucks.
 

1. Cut out the fat in the federal government. In other words, most of it.

2. Slash spending and balance the budget (which can be helped along significantly by doing #1).

. . .

Wait, we elected Barack Obama, didn't we. Oh well. I wish him the best and pray for his success.
 

Craig-

Don't be so sure... Clinton slowed the growth of government spending far more than Reagan or either Bush.
 

As for Guantanamo, it was an idea that seemed like the right thing to do in that very crazy moment--but is completely unsustainable over time (like seven years).

On the other hand, the first ex-Gitmo prisoner to participate in a terrorist attack against US is going to precipitate a real PR crisis for President Obama.

Even worse, forget about the PR, you may well have a dead American on your hands.

Bottom line: these are tough calls.

As I have said before, domestically, the new President needs to stave off a bank panic in the near term (which he and his team probably will).

The stimulus gets us through the night--but it perpetuates our old problem.

If you are going to spend money, I like the idea of building bridges and other tangible infrastructure items that we can use. The 17th and 18th Street bridges in Waco are the product of the New Deal make-work programs (I assume). They have proven themselves wise investments.

I really like Obama--and I have a not-so-pollyannish hope that at the conclusion of the next eight years I will be more pleased with him that most of his more radical supporters.

However, I cannot see him addressing the real economic problem: acknowledging the limits of government and committing the USA to living within its means.

But that is the real challenge. Tough love for an incredibly spoiled nation.
 

One more thing: put me down with RRL in my preference for the permanent retirement of this album cover as Razor art.
 

This was Osler's ONLY vinyl album growing up. It explains a few things.