AMERICA NEEDS MORE...

... Paul Harveys.  The legendary broadcaster passed away today at ago 90. There was no one else like him, and his voice and views will be sorely missed. It's ironic that his "page 2, page 3" etc newspaper style was silenced as newspapers are also biting the dust. He drove many "professional" radio programmers nuts with his old-time delivery and huge chunks of time required for his daily broadcasts (like the 15 minute "news and comment" report that was top-rated for decades). Even on a bad day in recent weeks when his voice was failing he managed to cram more content into one show than some broadcasters do in a lifetime. But Paul Harvey was successful because he was unique and bold and all-American. We need more like him... and soon. God bless Paul Harvey and his rich, very important legacy.

LARSON POLL UPDATE: Details of the last poll (conducted late Dec-mid January) are as follows...

PREDICT WHERE THE DOW JONES INDEX WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 1, 2009:

Survey said: Over 10,000 - 8%, 9500 - 13%, 9000 - 21%, 8500 - 17%, 8000 - 17%, 7500 or less - 23%   So much for soothsayers.     Well, the NEW poll doesn't require as much brain power. Cast your vote by going to "Larson Poll" in the right side menu on this page. And remember you can comment on any LarsonBlog item by clicking "comments" under the specific article/item.

NEW LARSON POLL POSTED

Check it out and cast your vote!  Just click on "Larson Poll" in the menu to the right.

LARSON ON KCBQ 1170AM: Thursday March 5th, guest-hosting for Hugh Hewitt on his SRN network talkshow... heard in Southern California on 50,000 watt KCBQ.

I LAUGHED, I CRIED, IT BECAME A PART OF ME

The Speech certainly had its moments.  Lofty spots, yes. Levity (at Biden's expense) and the added attraction of watching Nancy Pelosi suck on her teeth.  But all wrapped up in the message (better than most of the President's more recent downers) was way too much government spending and control.  But he was more positive, and a national mood adjustment is what's needed most. But the usual parties are going over the edge in their Obama adoration, like CNN comparing the speech to Reagan's "Morning in America" classic. Maybe in tone at times but not at all on the same content page.

IN OTHER NEWS, CONGRESS GONE BATTY: The headline on NBC this morning was hysterical, all about some members of Congress all worked up about an apparent national epidemic in chimp attacks. (I think the "Today" show did three minutes on this pressing issue.) So much so, I guess, that one Democrat is wasting time and tax money trying to get government to ban the sale of monkeys as pets, keeping them from being transported across state lines. There's time for this as the economy burns?

I'M AGREEING WITH BILL CLINTON

That's not a misprint. I agree with him on one point (lately): That President Obama needs to be more positive and hopeful in his daily remarks. That's something I've pointed out for weeks. Americans get the gloom and doom and don't need 24/7 reminders. They're "in it".  And my, hasn't the stock market responded well to White House initiatives. Ugh. 

Back to media: I can barely stand consuming TV news right now, to the point of considering breaking out the old "Rocky & Bulwinkle" classic DVDs for relief (stuff that doesn't work for today's kids because of numerous literary and historical references in its humor).  The country needs to take a long, deep breath and rise from the negative rhetoric.  Speaking of hope and change, I hope Obama's speech tonight will help to shift gears and empower a national attitude adjustment.  

THE BEST JOB IN AMERICA?

Cranking out the bucks at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving! They presses must be running on warp speed 24/7. We're not back to pre-WW2 German standards (wheelbarrows full of paper currency to buy a loaf of bread) but it sure seems like a rehearsal for it in the USA.  VP Biden did say, after all, we're trying to "shovel as much money out the door" as we can.   Couple that with California's obsession with increased taxes to "fix" things and it's quite the fiscal stew being cooked. One note of optimism: The American people are waking up to what's going on... or isn't (especially people working on Wall Street - check the Dow today). 

AND FURTHERMORE...

Many Americans are thrilled with the new President's handling of the English language, especially when compared with Bush 43.  OK, fine. Mr. Obama pronounces "Pakistan" and "Taliban" with great skill, as if we're supposed to award extra points for not offending any bad guys by using the wrong inflection.  What should be a concern to all, not just left or right, is what's just happened with the Taliban in Pakistan. The government has caved in and given the Taliban control of the Swat Valley, a hotbed of violence and intimidation. In other words, the Taliban prevailed and Pakistan agreed to change their way of life to Islamic Sharia law.  Time to worry. This is going on in capitals of Europe, too. Its not progress. It's capitulation (another big word I'm sure Mr. Obama pronounces with aplomb).  Kudos, though, to the President on the just announced troop surge in Afghanistan. It's necessary, no matter how much it irritates his most radical supporters.

MEANWHILE, IN THE LAND OF STIMULUS: Does anyone really understand how much this country changed when the bill was signed today?  Yes, some parts of the package make sense. Many are just power grabs. Next stop: The Fairness Doctrine and the end of free speech... at least in some areas of life as we now know it.  I hope I'm wrong.

PUTTING A CORK IN IT, DEPT.

Think the Obama administration is not focusing on finding ways to silence talk radio (well, mainly conservative voices)? Yesterday advisor David Axelrod said he didn't want to comment about the push to return the so-called "Fairness Doctrine", saying he and Mr. Obama would "leave it up to" their incoming head of the FCC. Here's an idea: How about leaving it up to the United States Constitution... and get off this insane route?

STIMULATING AMERICA

It's good this is a long holiday weekend. Members of Congress will have plenty of time to relax and actually READ the massive "Stimulus" bill they just blindly voted to approve.   The more I read the package the more obvious it is: The only way it will "work" is if it simply makes Americans feel more confident... now. I'm not going to hold my breath on the immediate (or even near-future) benefits.

LARSON ON TV MONDAY: I'll be on KUSI TV (Channels 9 and 51) in Southern California on Monday, Presidents day, 7:20AM. We'll talk about the President, the economy and a whole lotta attempts to do some stimulatin'.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. LINCOLN

200 years already. Amazing that it's taken that long for some people to work really hard to attempt to revise history and blur Abraham Lincoln's historical image. On this very special birthday, it's a good idea to go back read Lincoln's own words and history. That will help highlight truth and keep things in context. Well, despite attempts of spin artists today, there was only one Lincoln. And I really wonder if he would have been who he was if he lived in our day of 24/7 media.

SAY WHAT?

I'm trying to keep an open mind, really, in the midst of all the urgent push for a National Spending Orgy. But was I alone in sensing a surreal (even queasy) feeling during last night's Presidential Press Conference? Seeing Mr. Obama call on The Huffington Post correspondent... and observing Ed Schwartz of left-wing radio fame in the front row... it's just, well, odd. Imagine what would have happened if G W Bush had Hannity or Rush in the front row and called on, say, Matt Drudge for a question among "mainstream" media. Ah, the "times, they are a changin'". And how about the Treasury Secretary's speech that drove the stock market down, bigtime, today?  Again, I am keeping an "open mind".

WHAT COUNTRY IS THIS?

The drumbeat for muzzling talk radio is increasing.  As Radio & Records reports today, Senator

Debbie Stabenow, (D-MI) says, "I absolutely think it's time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. There needs to be accountability and standards put into place."  On possible hearings she notes, "I have already had some discussions with colleagues and I feel like that's going to happen".    Vladimir Putin would be proud. This is insanity. With thousands of radio stations, TV, the internet, etc there's plenty of varied information out there. Television and print is mostly center-left. Radio has a more conservative voice, yes.  But there are also plenty of on-air left-of-center voices that would also come under the new enormous thumb of government pressure. That's wrong, too. Of course the bureaucrats only want to put a cork in radio while allowing cable and over-air TV and all other media off the hook. It's outrageous what some are proposing. All Americans need to watch this issue and put anti-First Amendment politicians out to pasture.  (One more note: The FCC already has "accountability and standards" in place, Senator. Get a grip.)

PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE: I was chatting with friends today about "success" for the new Commander-in-Chief.  There's plenty of consensus about wanting Mr. Obama to "succeed", as long as we find some common ground on what that means.  I wrote about this a few days ago, but I'm even more firmly convinced that his first job needs to be National Mood Enhancer. The country needs to snap out of its mental funk and soon.  In the meantime, yes--- it's still OK to debate issues and solutions.  But the cheap shots are, well, cheap.  That's always been embarrassing no matter which party's doing it. Stick to the facts, the issues and skip the easy, nasty personal hits.

THINK ABOUT IT

The country seems to be willing to allow things never-before-tolerated. Especially government infringement in private enterprise, meddling in daily affairs. It's a variation on the theme: "I'll give up some liberty TEMPORARILY... for some security".  It's never temporary when government is involved.  The concept of Uncle Sam telling private business what should be "enough" for salaries should be chilling to all of us. And, unfortunately, it's just the beginning.

I agree that companies getting taxpayer "bailout" money should be monitored, but I'm concerned that Americans can get lulled into a sense that government should have a say over everything. That's when it's time to worry.