Did you think I was going to nail Jon Stewart?  Nope!  I would just like to point out that the biggest entertainers are politically bent.  Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert on one side and Rush Limbaugh and the Bobbleheads on the other.  These "entertainers" cloak themselves in this mantel to ward off any serious questioning of their programs.  This also enables them to waive off any criticism that people were following their advice.  They are entertainers.  Don't take them seriously.

It's a  very sad statement, however, that the entertainers are taken more seriously then the news networks who we should be taking seriously.  It is readily apparent to pretty much everyone here that the news is a joke and the jokes are the news.  Very sad indeed.

Just the title of the post made that spot on my forehead between my eyebrows compress tightly, almost painfully.  Republicans are determined to oversee the StimPack!  There's a trillion dollars there and they think that's something important, all of a sudden.  Here's yesterday's post by Elana Schor here on TPM for reference.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/03/republicans-who-opposed-the-stimulus-now-want-to-oversee-it.php?ref=fp7

To be Christian about it, I have to say, "Forgive them for they know not what" hypocrites they are.  Obama has declared that his Administration is going to be transparent.  Numerous steps have been taken to do just that.  But these self-righteous leaders of the free world, the ones who are sure they are the only ones who know how to spend money wisely, are determined to dispute and object to every decision this Administration makes.  They are acting as though there is something going on under cover of darkness.

There is a new Administration in the White House now.  If they want to know what is going on with the StimPack, there are web sites that detail everything.  There is no need to be a watchdog.  People can check into it for themselves now.  Looking for Joe Biden?  Well, he is not in any undisclosed location, I am fairly certain of that. 

Since Republicans all of a sudden have taken an interest in where the money goes, I do not wish to discourage them.  Maybe they can spend their time checking into where the first half of the bank bailout money went?  You know, the hundreds of billions of dollars Dubya released with no strings!  Or maybe they can look into where the money is going for all of those thousands of contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Because at last look, I believe there were still billions of dollars that have gone unaccounted.  I even recall that, early in the war, we were paying for firetrucks before they even had paint on them.  Did Republicans ever do anything about that?  They did not even know.

Based on their history, this sudden concern is easily seen for what it is, grandstanding.  It's part of the philosophy that has been spread around like a plague, that government cannot do anything right, and they put their efforts into actually making certain government never did anything right.  Might regulation of the SEC be an example?  It is truly astounding that they have the temerity to stand up now and assert some kind of concern for government spending when for the past eight years they could have cared less. 

"No stimulus for me please."  This is the response of South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford.  Very noble, Mark, but it's not about you.  It is about your citizens.  Jindal of Louisiana has attempted the same tack. 

It really all has to stand up to the same question.  "Will the people in these states be abel to reduce their taxes by the debt load of the StimPack?"  Answer, "NO!"  So why refuse the money?  There is a significant school of thought that it is the best and quickest way to turn around a recession.  History and research has shown this is true.  Oh, sorry, did I just say School of Thought.  What was I thinking?!?!?  Suddenly I realize why these guys are saying no.  Taking a cue from Rush, they will not argue the facts.  Their lost in philosophy.  I guess somehwere in the short time Rush was actually in college, he may have taken a course in philosophy to know something about it.

Sometimes when analyzing an argument, rather then simply take a contrary stance I like to let the the proposition play out in my own head and see where it leads.  Several weeks ago I wrote a post about Rush Limbaugh stating that, for lack of any opposition, Rush was the Leader of the Republican Party.  Since then, Rahm Emanuel and James Carville have taken this position as well.  Very few Republicans have suggested otherwise and the few that have, went on to express their apolgies to Rush directly on his nationally syndicated radio program.   It reminded me of a kowtow before the Emperor during the dynastic periods of Chinese history.  At any rate, it is time to try this one again regarding the free market a.k.a. private sector, the magical entity of mythical proportions that balances our economy.

If one assumes the free market will restore our economy without government assistance, now is it's chance.  Here, today, is its greatest opportunity to restore the economy.  I suggest they begin immediately as the situation is dire.  We know there are trillions of dollars in private hands that could revive the economy if only it were invested.   These privateers, or free marketeers, or mousekateers, or whatever they want to be called, have a small window of opportunity to act and save the global economy.

To be honest, and I am not putting any words in their mouths, these heroes of capitalism are loathe to agree with the stimulus plan.  There are already rumors that another massive stimulus plan is in the making.  Paul Krugman declared before the last one was passed that it would not be enough.  Therefore, if these privateers are so convinced and loyal to the thought that the free market can prevent the economic situation form becoming even more dire, DO IT NOW!!!  QUICKLY!!!  Preempt the stimulus plan and pour your own money into Wall Street and this floundering economy!  Then you will prove it is the free market that revives the economy and not the US government. 

Warren Buffet, a god among investors, has already done this.  He tapped into his patriotism perhaps and wished to restore the economy and our faith in banks.  Maybe he also thought it would be a good investment.  He's no fool with his money, after all.  Take up your flags and invest in America today!  Do it for the red, white and blue!

What?  You actually have no flag?  You only believe in gold and silver?  I see, you have no sympathy for the plight of others and feel that others can support the restoration of the economy while you sit on the sidelines.  When things are running smoothly, you will return acting as though you belong there as a member of society, and invest again.  When things are safer.  We, the people, can bear the risk and expense, but you care only for reward.  How nice it must be to be you.   A hero in your own mind.

Okay, I have explored the privateers solution to the economy.  If we seek their help, we will be waiting a long time, because it ain't coming anytime soon.  This leaves us with a governmental stimulus plan.   Here's hoping it worls, but I fear, since we have to work together and the Right is rooting for failure, it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy, and we all know how the Reich feels about prophecy.  Blame it on God because it you don't, then you only have yourselves to blame, which is not a place the Reich can go, bing responsible for their own actions.