IT'S A SPENDING BILL

So says President Obama:

So then you get the argument, well, this is not a stimulus bill, this is a spending bill. What do you think a stimulus is? (Laughter and applause.) That's the whole point. No, seriously. (Laughter.) That's the point.

At least the fiction that this is a "stimulus" bill is over.

God help us; the Democrats sure won't.

GREENHOUSE GAS

President Obama just flew Air Force One to Williamsburg for a 30-minute address to the Democrats' Congressional Retreat -- a trip that takes me an hour and a half on the freeway.

I wonder how many tons of CO2 were expended for his excellent adventure?

STIMULUS?

This is what we're being asked to pay for?

Las Vegas wants $2 million for neon signs.
Austin, Texas says it could use $886,000 to build a 36-hole Frisbee golf course.
Shreveport, Louisiana has asked for $6 million for three aquatic centers with water slides.
Chula Vista, California wants $500,000 to create a place where dogs can run without a leash.

Four more reasons to vote “NO!” on the stimulus package.

WHERE IS AL GORE?

It was subzero in Manassas when I rose this morning. The current temperature is 27 degrees, with a wind chill of 17 degrees.

I'd like to throw Al Gore in the fireplace for some extra heat, but I don't think snake oil burns very well.

KILL THE BILL

Here's what I sent:

Even the Congressional Budget Office says the stimulus bill will be harmful over the long term. I'd much rather suffer a little now than have my grandchildren suffer even more.

Kill it. Now. Please.

Call or email your Senators. Now.

YES!

Daschle bows out.

DO ANY OF THESE PEOPLE PAY TAXES?

Glenn Reynolds asks.

The answer? No, they’re Democrats.

HUH?

Jan 29, 2009: "Mr. Obama, who hates the cold, had cranked up the thermostat. 'He’s from Hawaii, O.K.?' said Mr. Obama’s senior adviser, David Axelrod, who occupies the small but strategically located office next door to his boss. 'He likes it warm. You could grow orchids in there.'”

Feb 1, 2009: WASHINGTON DC -- After his daughters got a snow day Wednesday, President Barack Obama "We're going to have to try some flinty, Chicago toughness to this town."

I guess that "flinty, Chicago toughness" only applies to people outside the White House.

HOPE AND CHANGE

The Obama administration bills itself as one of "Hope and Change" and I certainly agree -- I Hope I survive the Change.

Based on his Cabinet appointments (Lynn at Defense; Geithner at Treasury; Daschle at Health and Human Services), however, I think a better motto would be "Hypocrisy and Crooks."

RANDOM THOUGHT

For liberals, diversity of opinion is an old white male, a woman, a black, a Hispanic, a gay, and an indian, er, Native American all voicing the same opinion.

SENATOR OPRAH?

Heard on Fox & Friends this morning: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he had considered appointing Oprah to Illinois' vacant senatorial seat.

Well, at least Oprah could have bought it without using taxpayer money.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME

The NFL isn’t going to allow the military Color Guard to stay and watch the Super Bowl after the opening ceremonies?

My youngest Marine called me this morning. In the course of the conversation he made mention of being part of the Color Guard for the ceremonies at the Super Bowl. He has been part of other Color Guards at other games and has been able to enjoy the entire game after presenting the Colors. HOWEVER, this will not be the case this time. The 12 man/women color guard will be presenting the Colors and then will be escorted out of the stadium and therefore not allowed to see the game. Steven and the 11 others are quite upset about this and have asked that I see if I could contact someone and have that changed.

Well, count me out of the television audience if this isn’t changed.

POST INAUGURATION -- SOME THOUGHTS

The Fox analysts are going though their thoughts. Mine? Three things struck me.

First, it seemed to me that President Obama used his speech to dampen the expectations of his supporters, both domestic and foreign. There is no single element to the speech that leads me to that conclusion; rather it is embedded in the tone of the entire speech.

It also seemed that the inauguration attendees recognized it as well, as there were relatively few interruptions for applause.

Second was this warning: "We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you." Again, it seemed to me that it was directed as much to the extreme left within the US as to those without.

Third was this tribute to our military: "We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves."

Continuing, he said "And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all." Right or wrong, it seems to me that he was chiding the Democratic left for being anti-military.

The full transcript is here.

LIVE BLOGGING THE INAUGURATION

1240: It's over. Barack Obama is now President of the United States.

1235: The benediction -- more in line with what the crowd expected, I think. The crowd applause was the largest I heard.

1230: Now it's poetry time ... a sop to the "true believers" in my opinion. My wife disagrees.

1225: President Obama's speech is over. Althouse is a bit negative, I think.

1201: The crowd is shouting "O-ba-ma!" but it was quickly stilled. Well, he seems to be making the right statements ... certainly less partisan than I had expected; also less negative. He's promising a lot; now arguing that the American people can do it.

The crowd is quiet; I don't think that Obama is telling the true believers what they wanted to hear.

"We will not apologize for our way of life." Not what the nutroots wanted, I think.

1200: The concert is over; Chief Roberts is about to administer the oath. Obama fumbled the oath; but no matter -- he's now the President. "Hail to the Chief" is being played; now it's time for him to speak.

1154: Biden is being sworn in. Justice Stevens administered the oath; Joe Biden is now Vice-President of the United States. Now a "symphony" to introduce the next President.

1150: Pastor Rick Warren is delivering the invocation. Well done.

1145: Shadow and Daisy watch the inauguration.




0900: The traffic in Manassas is surprisingly light. WTOP, the local news and weather radio station is reporting 21 degrees in Washington, with wind chill down to the teens and possible snow flurries later this morning. Metro is reporting over 350,000 people carried; parking garages are at capacity as far out as Springfield/Franconia and Vienna/Fairfax (the end of the lines in Virginia). Entrances along the east side of the Mall have already been closed.

It looks like inauguration goers have a choice -- to attend the inauguration or to attend the inauguration parade, but not both. The parade route is limited to 350,000, and may already be at capacity.

0830: The weather is cold, but clear. The crowd estimate is for about 1.5 million by noon. Metro is reporting over 150,000 carried since opening this morning. Interesting comment by Fox News: "This election has been about change. So far the change is in Obama."

BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

On Camp Liberty.
Unfortunately I never managed to get to the races ....

CHRISTMAS AT CAMP VICTORY

The entrance to JCCS-1, where I worked, is decorated for the Christmas party.

The Operations Department. That's me at the far right.

And yes, Santa did make a stop to visit the JCCS-1 crew!

RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM IRAQ

Flying out of Baghdad enroute to Kuwait late at night, I was struck by how dark the landscape beneath the aircraft was. One could see the lights of the cities, towns, and villages, such as they are, but nothing -- absolutely nothing -- in between.

Contrast that with flying over even the most desolate parts of the US. Not only are the cities and towns visible from the air, but there is always traffic on the roads and highways in between.

That suggests to me that the greatest differentiator between first-world and third-world countries is roads. Inter-city roads. Perhaps part of the greatness of the United States can be attributed to the Eisenhower Interstate Highway system.

INAUGURATION FEVER

Just for curiousity, I drove by the Manassas Regional Airport to see how many business jets were in town for the inauguration. Here are a few of the fifteen or so I counted at the two terminal areas.
I'd be curious to know how much the owners paid for their carbon offsets. And to whom ....

KILROY WAS HERE

Anyone besides me remember the old "Kilroy was here" graffiti?

Shadow does a very good Kilroy imitation.

SATURDAY NIGHT CAT BLOGGING

Our JCCS-1 cat mascot. Coal black and very friendly, she would visit our building on Camp Victory about twice a week. Obviously not feral, we think she must have found a "tunnel" through the wall that surrounds the camp.

Here she is again, checking out the DFAC (dining facility) food I offered her.