Celebrating the Stimulus Anniversary.

Three years to this day, the benevolent one, Barack Hussein Obama, signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, aka, the Stimulus Package. With this massive government intervention of outdated and grotesquely implemented Keynesian economics, we were promised 5% growth and unemployment no higher than 8 percent.

Thanks in large part to it, every man woman and child now owes short of $50,000 (before unfunded liabilities) a piece as the Obama administration breaks deficit records. In a scant three years, 4.7 trillion has been added to the debt.

What have we gotten in exchange?

A real unemployment rate of 16%, a shrinking labor market down to 58% (whereas 65% is considered normal), near doubled gas prices, kids moving back into their parents homes with delayed opportunities to get married and start homes, a gutted housing market, and 45 million people on food stamps.

Good job Mr. President.

~David Morris~

Romney and the American Poor

Romney's gaffe on the poorest Americans currently circulates across the media.

Herein lies a teachable moment however. Though Romney's poor choice of words rightly harms his political image, certain truths about American impoverished demonstrates that the poor scarcely requires a government that increasingly "cares" for them.

In the following video, Bill Whittle communicates what is essentially the same principle behind Romney's statement. The difference being that it makes more sense coming from Bill.

Even compassionate.

Romney Gaffe

During his victory run around Florida, Romney let's slip that "he doesn't care for the very poor."

Not the most inspiring of attitudes from a potential commander-in-chief. America longs for a positive message not seen since Reagan: of an America that lifts all of it's citizens.

It's doubtful that the soundbite will cause too much damage on it's own, but it unfortunately adds to Romneys image as an out of touch member of the elite.

The Obaminable Machine

As the Republican primary carries on, the Obama Campaign quietly prepares.

With the power of a "billion-dollar warchest" that totals at around $242 million, the machine quietly reserves ad air over key battleground states, trains hundreds of campaign leaders in the art of voter turnout, and hires the best in the business in new media marketing.

The U.S.S. Obaminal has all the appearances of a mighty warship. Armed with an airwave monopoly for the crucial months of October and November, high caliber advertisements designed to cripple the opponent and embellish the achievements of the Obama administration will be poised to sell the public on 4 more years.

Such spending is all for naught if no one buys of course. History is filled with expensive flops afterall. New Coke anyone?

How about that Titanic?

As always with reelection politics, the state of nation come election day will prove the most potent advertisement of all, be it for or against the incumbent. The crew of the Obaminable has the work cut out for them on icebergs to evade.

1) The Real Unemployment Rate

2) Gas Prices

3) Obamacare in the Courts

4) The Growth Rate

Such factors play into the most significant question of all in presidential politics: is the nation moving in the right direction?

No presidential campaign machine yet, no matter how exquisite, has proven to survive where the answer has been "no."

-David Morris

Gingrich Back in Center

Newt Gingrich has once again surged following his decisive victory in South Carolina. In a true upset, Newt Gingrich secured 40% of the vote when just a week ago, Romney looked set to secure the state by 10 points.

If anything can be attributed to this gain, Newt's debate performance may once again be touted as a chief cause. The momentum gained by his address to his populist rout against the mainstream media on his personal past, always a savvy political tactic given that conservatives have learned to distrust by eighty percent margins, and just so happens to be a tactic he alone seems willing to play.

With this upset victory, Gingrich proves himself more than a flavor-of-the-month "not Romney," and early polls indicate a strong lead for Gingrich going into Florida. Time will tell if this momentum holds true.

~David Morris~

The Steady Fall of Economic Freedom

Announced last week, the Heritage Foundation regrettably downgraded the United States of America to 10th place.

To put in perspective, in 2007, a scant 5 years ago, the United States of America was rated as number 4 in the world, with a rating of 82 on a 100 point scale for freedom. Heritage has since noticed a steady decline however, now placing us at a mere 76.3, placing us below the likes of Ireland.

Much to do with democrat administration is cited as cause for this severe downgrade. In 2007, unemployment was 5.5%, the national debt stood at 8.8 trillion. Today, with an 2011 unemployment rate of 9.6% and a national debt that stands at 102% of GDP, the direction of the country is clearly on the wrong path.

Will Gingrich Demonstrate How You Handle a Spotlight?

Gingrich seems a strange political animal, as there would be as I like to call it, "many versions of him."

There's the "Regeanesque" version of Newt. The "Moderate Model" of Newt. The "viscous Newt" who shuts down the government and tries to impose labor upon children. The "friendly Newt" that reaches across the aisle to create balanced budgets and cares for the environment.

With such a career, many people will perceive Newt in many ways.

Of course, there is also the fiasco of his marital situation. Only one other president in our history has had a divorce (Ronald Reagan). However, I don't see how anyone could take political advantage of Reagan's circumstance, given that it involved a miscarriage and no ill will with his ex. Newt on the other hand...

Newt needs to continue what he's doing now: emphasize that he's had an epiphany with God since his divorce days, and keep appealing to voters as the "idea" person. There's little precedent for how a candidate properly handles personal baggage like Newt's but then again, it might be adequately old news enough for people not to care.

Fortunately for Newt, "morality appeal" is unlikely to be the decisive factor for Primary 2012. Rather, candidates seem to rise, fall, or stagnate based on whether they apostate from conservatism, fused with a general inexperience in communicating with a national audience.

Ron Paul
- An old front runner of 2008, his massive based is secured by a refreshing adherence to the constitution.

* He alienates on any instance of foreign policy. Inert overall.

Mitt Romney

- Mormonism. Little to no effect.

- "Generic." Little to no effect.

- Honed campaign skills. Source of a maintained frontrunner status.

* Romneycare. Stagnates potential. Would otherwise be frontrunner unchallenged. *Inert Overall

Rick Perry

- Racism charge connected to a rock on his ranch. No effect.

- Calls Social Security a Ponsi Scheme. No effect.

- Not the "best" at his first debate, but survives. Still a chance in future debates. Maintains frontrunner status.

* Talks about giving illegal's benefits. Suddenly crashes and burns.

Herman Cain

- Amateur Advertisement featuring Mark "The Smoker" Block. No effect.

- 999 attacked as a VAT. Defends it expertly. No effect.

- Infidelity Charges. Oddly his fund-raising goes up. Maintains frontrunner status.

* Has a series of major Foreign Policy gaffs (the "Rick Perry" moment on Libya). Throws off game. Shortly withdraws from the race.

Its most curious as to what Newt will do about his potential red flag on issues such as immigration, stem cell research, and moments such as the infamous global warming video with Pelosi.

Nevertheless, Newt seems extraordinarily adept at framing unorthodox stances in a manner that labels him as a centrist who delivers on conservative ideals.

A wily old pro in dealing with a media spotlight, Newt is not to be underestimated. Perhaps he'll show previous frontrunners how its done.

--David Morris