Government Managed For Sure

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/opinion/31holstein.html?_r=1

Did the President ask Rick Wagonner to step down in a pre-emptive move to prevent AIG like backlash? William Holstein make sit sound like Mr. Wagonner's stepping down was a bad move. Especially in light of his named replacement, Mr. Henderson, who has more experience on Wall St. and not so much car building experience.

Even scarier is the perception of zealotry within the immediate Obama White House aides who have been quoted as saying "they are going to remake the entire G.M. board." This statement should be scarier than Freddy Kruegger on Elm St. This "we know better than you about everything" attitude is going to get us into trouble. The last things we need are political hacks messing up the economy further.

I think GM is about to get "Government Mis-managed."

GM (Government Managed)

Obama says GM, Chrysler "not there yet"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that struggling U.S. automakers had not done enough yet to become "lean, mean and competitive" under federal oversight.

Lead by example? BO is not exactly running the most efficient ship on the financial waters these days.

"We're trying to let them know that we want to have a successful auto industry, U.S. auto industry. We think we can have a successful U.S. auto industry. But it's got to be one that's realistically designed to weather this storm and to emerge ... much more lean, mean and competitive than it currently is," Obama said.

Wonder what kind of cars we can expect from Detroit once the administration completes the takeover of the auto industry. Me thinks if you want an American car with more than 100 HP and most of the parts installed and working you better hurry.

Gene

The Website

President Obama promised the Nation a website to track the Stimulus Bill money. Has anyone seen it? I sure hope they know where that money went especially after he criticized the Bush administration for not keeping track of the first TARP installment. Personally, I've never had good luck taunting or second guessing other's actions. I find that if I do taunt someone, I end up making a similar mistake in the future. I always have a moment of recognition like God flicking me in the back of the head and saying "did you just make the same dumbass mistake that Bozo did earlier?" Sure enough, it happens. If anyone finds this Stimulus website, send me the link please.

AJ

Chili Dogs and $10 Beers

The new President is getting around town. Careful, you may bump into him or his Secret Service detail!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/fashion/26washington.html?hp

My first reaction was "shouldn't you be home working on the economy?" But, everyone needs a break once in a while to keep their edge. I think its good that he's out with his family. He will stay more human and real if they can keep up their public social activities and help with the public's expectation management. We may not expect him to perform miracles as often if we realize that he likes to drink a beer at the game just like us.

Mislaid Blame And The Cost

The NY Times featured an op-ed contribution by Jake DeSantis, former VP of the AIG Financial Products division. Mr. DeSantis posted his resignation letter to AIG's CEO, Ed Liddy to the NYT. To read the full letter...http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/25/opinion/25desantis.html?_r=1. Its worth your time.

Based on this letter, there are a lot of wrongly maligned, hard working people at AIG. These people are owed very public apologies from Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Andrew Cuomo and Richard Blumenthal

Renewable Energy vs. Pristine Vistas

We have been bombarded in the last two years with infomercial after infomercial about how nuclear power, coal and oil are evil and renewable energy from the wind and sun is the future. I agree that we need to be smarter about how we generate and utilize electricity.

Well now the evironmental groups are fighting each other. One group wants to cordon off a huge are of the Mojave Desert in order to preserve the pristine vistas. Other environmentalists are helping energy companies to place solar power plants in the same are because the sunlight is abundant.

I can not make this stuff up. Environmentalists are fighting each other. Senator Diane Feinstein is on the side of keeping the views pretty. She was quoted in today's NY Times as saying “I’m a strong supporter of renewable energy and clean technology, but it is critical that these projects are built on suitable lands.” In other words, find an uglier piece of land that no one wants and build your solar power plant there. Unbelievable.

The uglier half or the power plant is the high voltage power transmission lines that have to run from the desert to the coast to supply the energy demand.

I can't wait to see which "high-minded" issue wins out.

Searching For A Good Explanation...

In 2003, Samantha Redding was strip-searched by two female school officials in search of a prescription strength, 400 mg, ibuprofen pill. Samantha was fingered by another student who was suspected of having prescription strength pain reliever, too. Samantha was 13 at the time and an honor student with a good track record at the school.

The assistant principal ordered a strip-search to be conducted after a cursory search (stop and frisk in law enforcement terms) of Samantha's outer clothes (black stretch pants and a pink t-shirt) revealed nothing.

A 1985 Supreme Court Case, New Jersey vs. T.L.O., ruled that school officials may conduct a strip search only if there is:
1) a suspected violation of a rule that places a student's health and safety at risk, and;
2) particularized suspicion that the contraband is hidden in the student's clothes.

'Particularized suspicion' seems to be lacking on the school's part. Not finding a pill in the outer garment does not mean that it is hidden in the girl's undergarments. Specific information is necessary to achieve 'particularized suspicion' to conduct a strip search.

The shear fact alone that school officials feel comfortable conducting strip searches worries me. Searching a person is tricky thing and best left to professionals who will conduct a proper search in accordance with the law. Illegal searches result in blown criminal cases all of the time. I would not be comfortable conducting a search of a student like. Better to call in the police or the school resource officer (policemen assigned to the schools for security and education reasons). School resource officers were instituted for this reason.

Samantha's case was upheld on appeal by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and will be heard by the Supreme Court on April 21. The Court of Appeals ruled that the assistant principal does not qualify for immunity from civil penalties since he acted outside the law. The courts are working in this particular case.

I hope Samantha wins next month and gets to take the School District and Principal to civil court and sue for damages. Strip-searching a 13 yor honor student with a clean record for two regular strength ibuprofen is beyond reasonable. I hope Samantha gets enough money to make her life comfortable and pay for a decent college education. I wish her good luck moving on with her personal trauma, too. I can only imagine the damage this search did to a normal 13 yor girl. What horror.

I'm chearing on the ACLU who is helping her case. Yes, I'm chearing on the ACLU. I believe in the right to be protected from unlawful searches. Go get 'em boys and girls.

As for the assistant principal and two female school officials, you guys are ass clowns.