Friday Rant

Just a quick rant list for Friday:

- Van Jones the “Green Jobs” Czar. This is just one more example of the kind of people that the President chooses to associate himself with. This week Van Jones made news by referring to republicans using a cheap, school yard expletive. But more research into Van Jones reveals several odd things. Number one he is a self described communist. Ok, that’s a little different. He also signed on to a 9/11 “truther” petition that demands investigations into the US government and makes claims that the Bush administration at the very least KNEW about the 9/11 attacks and did nothing to stop them. Oh yah, definitely cabinet level material here.

- Rep Charlie Rangel. Under investigation by the ethics committee for failing to correctly report his income from rental properties around the world, Congressman Rangel, the Chairmen of the House Ways and Means Committee (you know the one that is responsible for tax law), gave campaign contributions to members of the ethics committee that were investigating him. Hmmm…. sounds kind of fishy to me.

- Sen Harry Reid. Recently the Senator Majority Leader endeared himself further to his constituents by telling the largest newspaper in Las Vegas that he hopes they go out of business. The paper responded with this scathing editorial that left me laughing and cheering. Combine that with the fact that Reid trails either of his republican challengers significantly, I would say the Senator Majority Leader will be looking at unemployment come 2010.

- Vice President Biden. Well, just saying Vice President Biden kind of explains everything, but this week he said that the economic stimulus package had exceeded their expectations. REALLY!? I hope someone on his staff showed him the new unemployment figures. Of course unemployment figures stop counting people who have given up looking for jobs. The official number is 9.7, but some say that real unemployment may be as high as 16%.

- The Presidential address to the school children of the nation. My first thought was, “wow, has the President already run out of groups that want to hear him speak?” Then when I read the “accompanying materials” that encouraged teachers to prepare for the speech by reading books about presidents, or a book about Barack Obama, and included all kinds of activities for kids to discuss how they are going to help the President. I don’t know the whole thing just seems creepy. My kids say that their school hasn’t even mentioned it. Personally I think the whole thing is going to back fire and the kids that do see it will mock, rather than admire, the effort.