ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist®.com: Putin Punishes Georgia</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style2 { font-size: large; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; } .style3 { height: 69px; } .MsoNormal {} h1 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } .style4 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> <table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr height="79"> <td width="133" height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="7" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="482" height="79" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="1" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="79"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="300" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="624" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style3"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#8226; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#8226; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#8226; <a href="teflon.html"> THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#8226; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> REACTIONS</a> &#8226; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="2"> <td width="133" height="2">&nbsp;</td> <td width="489" height="2576" colspan="3" rowspan="2" align="left" xpos="133" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <p class="style2">Obama&#39;s Debut</p> <p><b><font face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica">by John M. Curtis</font></b><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b><a href="books.html"><br> </a></b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b> (310) 204-8700</b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright February 25, 2009<br>All Rights Reserved. </i></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="style4">&nbsp;D</span>elivering what amounted to his first State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama served notice that there s a new sheriff in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Showing the poise, control and confidence that won him the presidency, Barack sounded more optimistic, patriotic themes, reminding his worst critics that he understands the essence of the American spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Reminiscent of the late President Ronald Reagan, Obama touched upon enduring American values of ingenuity, entrepreneurship, rugged pragmatism and diehard spirit that transformed the New World into the earth s most prosperous civilization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While the evening was designed to give reassurance about the nation s economic woes, Barack wooed the most skeptical Republicans with dazzling oratory not seen since President John F. Kennedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He put the GOP on notice that his disgruntled foes face political fallout for opposing his plans.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Since their Nov. 4 drubbing, Republicans haven t figured out how to resuscitate the Party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Speaking for the GOP following Barack s speech, 37-year-old Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal resorted to tired old Reagan talking points, blaming government for the nation s current financial mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Jindal, who said he intends to refuse bailout funds, had no problem supporting former President George W. Bush extravagant requests to fund the Iraq and Afghanistan wars yet has great reservations about Obama s $787 billion bailout plan designed to help states avoid layoffs and possible bankruptcy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He got mixed reviews, giving the GOP response to Barack s speech.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Jindal fingers Barack as a big government tax-and-spend liberal, preferring the old GOP formula of business and personal tax cuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While Barack has been in office barely 4 weeks, Jindal takes no responsibility for the current mess.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Despite addressing a joint session of Congress, Barack spoke directly to the American people, serving notice that he s working on behalf of the voters who sent him to Washington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this, said Barack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> We will rebuild, we will recover and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before, bringing down the house with applause from both sides of the aisle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Showing more optimism, Obama heeded calls to tone down the doom-and-gloom and focus on the positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He found plenty of common ground with the GOP, promising to cut the deficit in half and go after the terrorists responsible for Sept. 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Barack reminded Congress and American people that he wasn t the one responsible for the current deficits.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>After eight years of Bush, the GOP is in no place to criticize Obama s economic plan or offer old bromides for a quick fix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> The way to lead is to not raise taxes and put more money and power in the hands of Washington politicians, said Jindal, blaming Democrats for today s economic misery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Jindal doesn t quite get that years of runaway defense spending, high oil and gas prices and an unregulated stock market brought the country to the economic precipice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Jindal s rejoinder reminded voters more than ever that they made the right decision on Election Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He mirrored the rudderless state the GOP finds itself after losing significant seats in the House and Senate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Voters were treated to Obama s masterful presentation, serving notice that the White House is now occupied by a dynamic president, more than willing to communicate directly to the American people.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Barack s speech tried to make the connection between today s economic problems and rising health care costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While there s no doubt health care costs need to be brought under control, Barack did little to explain the economic collapse of 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He didn t explain why America s most respected institutions collapsed at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Barack mentioned nothing about the 1999 repeal of Glass-Steagall, the 1933 Congressional act that formed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, preventing bank holding companies from trading securities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Last year s financial meltdown directly stemmed from massive losses in securities known as derivatives by depository institutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Barack mentioned nothing about the pernicious effect of unregulated hedge funds that routinely bet against the market in what s called  short selling, making money when stocks go down.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Barack s speech sent a shot across the bow to Republicans, warning them to either go along or face the wrath of voters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Jindal reminded voters why the GOP ran out of steam in the last election:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Old Reagan talking points don t address today s economic reality requiring effective government intervention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While mentioning failures in the regulatory system, Barack failed to inform the people about how the end of Glass-Steagall caused banks wild speculation in high risk securities known as  derivatives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Nor did Barack mention anything about regulating hedge funds that contribute to Wall Street s unpredictable roller coaster ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Fixing health care or public education won t prevent banks from gambling with depositors money and causing the next financial crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Republicans and Democrats must join forces to fix the current system before the same thing happens again.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analysing spin in national and global news.&nbsp; He&#39;s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <a href="books.html"><i>Dodgingi> <i>The Bullet</i> </a>and <i> <a href="books.html">Operation Charisma</a>.</i></p> </td> <td width="1" height="2576" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="2"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="2574"> <td width="133" height="2574" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="1" height="2574"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2574"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td width="133" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="133" height="1"></td> <td width="7" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="7" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="300" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="300" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> Home</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> || <a href="articlesindex.html">Articles</a> || <a href="books.html">Books</a> || <a href="teflon.html">The Teflon Report</a> || <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> Reactions</a> || <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">About Discobolos</a></strong></font> <div align="left"> <p><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">This site designed, developed and hosted by the experts at</font><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"> <a href="http://www.cmeonline.net" target="_blank"><img height="30" width="138" src="images/cmelogoANIM.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></a></font></p> </div> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">©1999-2005 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"> Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>