the last three Presidents as Santa Claus

Someone asked me today if I was going to watch the State of the Union address tomorrow night. No way! I'm cynical enough about politics already...

In the mid-90s under President Clinton, the Address became a laundry list of ways in which he proposed to give away our money to various special interest groups. President Bush extended the new tradition. President Obama will do more of the same-- so say the early news reports.

A billion here; a billion there; after awhile it's real money.

But it's more than that. It approaches the height of cynicism to buy our votes with our money-- and for us to acquiesce to that process.

From the AP's Ben Feller in the C-J...

Declaring America's middle class is “under assault,” President Barack Obama unveiled plans Monday to help hurting families pay their bills, save for retirement and care for their kids and aging parents...

Obama's proposals won't create jobs, but he said they could “re-establish some of the security that's slipped away.”

I don't know what that last phrase means, but I appreciate his integrity/knowledge-- this time-- that his efforts will not create net jobs or grow the economy.

The economic elements of that speech will also cover Obama's plans to boost job creation and reduce swelling budget deficits — areas of concern to the public.

Good luck with either or both of those!

Less clear was how much the programs would cost or where the money would come from.

I appreciate Ben raising that question!