Boston - Obama Draws Crowd of 4,000 in Cambridge – LA Times Offers Scathing Review of Obama on the Campaign Trail

The Boston Globe, reporting on Obama’s recent visit to aid embattled Massachusetts Governor, Deval Patrick, spoke of the “large” crowd of 4,000 that was filled with enthusiastic young people (the President spoke at MIT), also noting that there were a few protestors in the mix, among them, anti-war protestors. (You Tube Video of the President's Motorcade and Protestors below tell a different story, with very few supporters lining the street, and perhaps an under reported number of protestors doing the same) The Globe’s pool reporter, Matt Visor, covered the Presidential visit, citing the fundraiser and the fact that it would generate approximately $600,0000 to the Patrick Campaign, as well as Tim Murray (Lieutenant Governor) and the Massachusetts Democrat Party.

One has to understand that the President was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in one of the bluest States, where a Presidential visit would draw crowds from both the University and elsewhere. The University alone has approximately 10,000 graduate and undergraduate students (Source MIT), therefore, it appears that the majority of the “crowd of 4,000” was local to Cambridge.

This begs the question – is the party over?

Apparently, this has been occurring elsewhere, and is now referred to as ”Obama Hangover” by those very incumbents who the President is attempting to “help”. The main point of his visits to the various states has been fundraising, but to what end? The race that may be the easiest for him to “aid” would be New Jersey, where incumbent Corzine, comes the closest (poll wise) to staying in his job, although he has dismal approval ratings. His trips to Massachusetts, Connecticut and specifically Virginia, may be, for all intents and purposes, a lost cause, as Virginia appears to be lost and with New Jersey, the outcome will be settled in two weeks, Massachusetts and Connecticut, although elections are in 2010, may be an even harder sell, with Chris Dodd and Deval Patrick facing extremely tough campaigns with very uncertain outcomes. The lack of independent crowds lining the streets to welcome the President to their specific state is what may be most telling – outside of the fundraisers and the on-campus visit, there appears to be little to no interest in the President – with the exception of media coverage.

The Los Angeles Times converge of Obama hitting the campaign trail, entitled “Hello, Boston! Obama stumps for troubled pal, Gov. Deval Patrick, then on to help troubled Chris Dodd” is a scathing review of the President on the campaign trail, going into the fact that fundraising is primary, and that he is bringing in less than stellar results, along with a question as to “how much is this costing the taxpayer?” Interesting to see the growing critics coming from, for all intents and purposes, “mainstream media”, but more so the lack of enthusiasm in general for a sitting President perceived as being such a “rock star”. It is the “American Idol Syndrome” that allows for Andy Warhol’s, 15 minutes of fame, that may why those pesky “masses” aren’t appearing in droves when the President in any given state for a “Drive By”, the rest of the populace has been steadily losing patience, as his approval ratings are under 50%, a far cry from the robust 65% he enjoyed on his inauguration day, only ten months ago. This tells us that the President, as head of his political party, has lost the all-important and growing Independent (or Unenrolled) voter who will, in all likelihood, decide the races in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia.

"Crowd in Boston for Obama's Motorcade"


Protestors in Boston

Obama Labor Secretary Appointee Latest to face Taxing Questions – In One Week Polls Begin To Give GOP an Edge!

Hilda Solis , Obama’s choice for Labor Secretary, is the latest in a series of nominees who are facing questions regarding unpaid taxes. Apparently, Sam H. Sayyad, Solis’ husband, had tax liens placed on his business, which were paid off this past Wednesday. The liens, dating back to 1993, were placed on Mr. Sayyad’s business by the county of Los Angeles, and totaled approximately $11,000, a small amount in the greater scheme of things. Solis, is the fourth in a series of appointees who have unpaid taxes in their closets (or in Solis’ case, her husband’s closet). First came Timothy Geithner Treasury Secretary, who erroneously claimed his child’s summer camp expenditures on his taxes. Chucking that up to a simple mistake (and frankly, individuals who trust their accountants normally just sign on the dotted line, so one could give Geithner a pass on that slip-up. Enter Tom Daschle, legendary Speaker of the House who lost his seat and standing while pontificating on the evils of the Bush administration. Apparently, Daschle also had problems with his tax returns, which alone, were possibly not enough to keep him from an appointment, however the connection to lobbyist was culminating in a quick withdrawal of Daschle’s nomination as the Head of Health and Human Services. Daschle was followed by Nancy Killifer, nominee for Chief performance officer – once again, taxes were at issue, or the failure to pay.

There are several questions that come to mind, but first and foremost: “Who is vetting these positions?” After reviewing the lengthy and invasive employment review instituted by the current administration, it boggles the mind that those who are tagged for high level positions, are being passed through without thorough examination. One must also consider that the media has played a pivotal role in bringing these tax questions to light – not the administration. Who then, is responsible for keeping the proverbial egg off of President Obama’s face? It appears as if the President has been apologizing for appointees on a daily basis, when he is not pleading with Congress to act fast on the economic crisis (something which, without tax relief to those who are bearing the brunt of the Fannie/Freddie crisis (thank you Barney Frank), will be doomed to failure. Of course, keeping tabs on Congress at this point, may or may not prevent further revelations regarding tax evading government appointments or current members of Congress.

Which begs the question; Do these high-profile members of the party in power find taxes to be such a minor issue or non-issue, that non-payment isn’t considered abnormal? Most citizens fear the IRS (and their State equivalents) more than any other organization – and make it a point to avoid taxes, penalties, fees and the like by filing early and in concert with a double check by an accounting firm (incurring further costs for the pleasure of paying the Federal Government or the State). In conversations with “average” citizens (i.e. those who are not in the Congress, the Senate, the White House or possible appointee), it is noted that (paraphrasing) “If I didn’t pay taxes, I’d be in jail”. Good point. Now that the focus is on the Party in Charge, and the media is doing its due diligence (about time), the public has lost its initial zeal – President Obama’s job approval rating fell 15 points in one week, while support for the Stimulus Package has dropped to 37%, all of this resulting in a shift in popularity for the minority party as support for the GOP is up 3 points in a week on the Generic Congressional Ballot. In review, taxing Revelations regarding appointments, growing unrest over the “Stimulus Package” and a general drop in popularity in only one week’s time has given a boost to the GOP. With the addition of Michael Steele at the GOP helm, one can only imagine what those numbers may look like in three months should the present trend continue; at the very least, the GOP has been given enough material to wage competitive campaigns in 2010, at the most, 2010 may turn out to be much more interesting that originally anticipated.