News Today

You’ve probably heard a lot of conservative complaints about the Obama administration and his plans economically. That was to be expected I suppose. Over the last couple days though I personally have noted a change for the better.

Obama has been staging meetings both today and yesterday - with more planned for next week as well - to go over exactly how the large stimulus package will be doled out to the American people.

House leaders on both sides are working with Obama to revise the package, and Obama is showing that he is willing to work with both sides to work out a deal for our people.

Huh. Our politicians working together to make our lives better. What a novel idea! Why didn’t we think about this before?

So far there has been mixed opposition on both sides to Obama’s proposal - but the recently re-sworn in President is showing a willingness to work with the collective minds of our legislature to make sure we’re doing all we can to fix this situation.

Part of the Republican proposals include more tax cuts - and in a bizarro-world turn of events, it’s also part of the Democrats proposal. The new proposal being put forth by House Democrats includes an increase in tax cuts that would make up over half of the bill (they currently make up about 40% of it).

Part of these tax cuts are already being pushed through and protected. $275 billion in tax cuts cleared the House Ways and Means Committee earlier today.

The tax cuts that won committee approval included a $500 credit for workers making up to $75,000 per year. Couples with incomes up to $150,000 a year would receive a $1,000 credit. Individuals with incomes up to $100,000 and couples earning up to $200,000 would qualify for lesser tax breaks.

While the breaks aren’t exactly what the Republicans were fighting for - it is a break from Democratic “tax and spend” ideas - and it does show inclusion of conservative ideals to get us out of this crisis. Now that’s change you can see.

President Obama meets with Congressional leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. From left are House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Minority Leader John Boehner and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo by AP.

That’s how I’m beginning to look at this Blagojevich deal. Seriously, you couldn’t make this stuff up.

Earlier this week in an interview with the Associated Press the embattled Illinois governor compared his struggles to the struggle Americans had in Pearl Harbor. I know. The guy is delusional!

“Dec. 9 to my family, to us, to me, is what Pearl Harbor Day was to the United States,” Gov. Rod Blagojevich told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday. “It was a complete surprise, completely unexpected. And just like the United States prevailed in that, we’ll prevail in this.”

The governor added that he would fight these allegations until the end. I certainly hope he does. This is the story that never quits.