New Hampshire: America

First, I hope to have the last entry in my Psychedelic Furs tribute done soon. I'm still piecing together memories and data from the live shows. After that, I'll put together the "ultimate" set list for readers to consider before next Monday.

Here are some links that I have been meaning to post for a few weeks now. Enjoy!

The USA Today had this pretty powerful piece the other day about debt: ["Leap in U.S. debt hits taxpayers with 12% more red ink"]. This is probably the most shocking thing I have seen in a very long time. Not only are we on the hook for the federal government's largess, but look at the personal debt.

President Obama announces the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Chrysler Corporation..HUH? 

What is wrong with that statement?  WHY is the President of the US doing that?  What role SHOULD the Government be doing in this matter?  The only time the President should be announcing a bankruptcy will be that of the Federal Government (countdown now proceeding....).  Once again, it comes down to:

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified."

-President Barack Obama, 1/20/09

Well, I suppose that if your aim is to "remake America" as Obama has promised to do, I suppose the answer to this is "yes", if you review these quickie definitions:

• Socialism - when Government owns the means of production.

It must be really odd to be Charlie Bass these days.  He (wisely, imho) sits out a cycle, only to return and discover his party has marched hard to the right, and increasingly out of reach from a district such as the one he used to serve.

I mean, can you imagine the BassMaster in a NH-02 primary debate with Jennifer Horn, who twitter-cheers governors that keep help out of the hands of the unemployed during a severe economic crisis?

Or Milford's Len Mannino, who has announced an interest in the race?  On his blog he talks about how we Democrats "screw" hard working Americans.

Game. On. (email release):
Washington, DC--- Congressman Paul Hodes will attend the hearing of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises tomorrow that will focus on the American Insurance Group (AIG). Congressman Hodes will have the opportunity to question top AIG executives.

When: Wednesday March 18, 2009; 10 a.m.

Where: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2128

And below the fold, two more releases from our next Senator: one on AIG, the other a letter to Chase.
Congressman Paul Hodes' Statement on the AIG Executive Bonuses

Washington, DC - Congressman Paul Hodes released the following statement on the news that the American Insurance Group (AIG), which received over $165 billion in taxpayer bailout funds, has paid $450 million in bonuses to top executives.