YOU CAN'T MAKE IT UP

The hits just keep on coming! So much rich news material... Obama won't go to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, sending Biden instead (maybe BHO feels jinxed after the push for Chicago).. then Janet Napolitano goes for the closing gig (we'll be safer if she's out of the country). Michele Obama says her husband "isn't done yet" and wants to limit what kids eat, Security Advisor Brennan claims criticizing Obama policies helps Al Qaeda and the climate control folks had to skip a press conference due to DC blizzards. Sweet.

HEAR IT NOW

The Prez speaks in DC about humility, health care, gay rights and more. And "CORPS-men".

OBAMA, MAN OF THE PEOPLE

While he says we need to tighten our belts, and he's not in it for fame or fortune... here's the latest on his net worth: www.mangoboss/obamanetworth.com

MEANWHILE: The Prez talks with Senate Dems about how he's "not in it for fame and fortune":
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2010/02/03/oh-sacrifices-obama-has-made-i-didnt-get-fame-or-fortune

SHE DOES IT BETTER...

...than Katie Couric and most mainstream media. In this week's Gnooze update, Marta talks space, explains healthcare, channels Obama, goes after Hillary and more!

DR. OBAMA CALLING

The nation's healthcare system is in need of reform, but not the way the President thinks. It's encouraging that even some members of his own party are concerned about the inefficiency and costs of a government takeover. Then there's the tax dollars promoting abortion: www.nrlc.org

What can you do to stop it all? For starters, learn about what reforms are needed, and sign the petition here: http://www.freeourhealthcarenow.com/

THE DIPLOMATIC WEEK IN REVIEW

Gnooze's Marta Costello explains it all much better than the network talking heads, especially with her impersonations of Obama and Medvedev.

WHILE WE WERE SLEEPING...

... or just distracted by the celebrity news this week, the world continues to come apart at the seams. President Obama is taking a hands-off role in far too many areas, under the guise of a "let the people decide what they want" approach. That sounds nice but it belies reality. In Honduras, for example: While the world has been immersed in non-stop Michael Jackson coverage, Zalaya, the (for now) ousted leftist buddy of Hugo Chavez, has been fighting to regain power. It hasn't worked so far, but Obama and the UN et al are acting as if Zalaya gained power "from the people" in the first place. No, he broke the rules and was trying to solidify endless authority. The people (aided by the miltary) said no, and world opinion is inaccurately shaped (if people even have this story on their personal radar at all) by continuous disinformation from those who want the left to prevail everywhere. That perception is also aided by the sycophant media. The fact is that Chavez now has deep influence in many countries in our own hemisphere... in other words, at our own doorstep.

The President (ours) seems to want the rest of the world either stay far-left or go there, soon... while the USA plays catch-up. He's also trying to pile on distractions by ramming new spending programs like health care down the nation's throat. In the meantime, the White House is eager to make more huge commitments to stimulus (and Stimulus Part II) spending so that in the near future, America will not be able to afford standing up for liberty around the globe. Such a move allows Obama to claim in the future, "Well, now we can't afford to be the world's 'policeman'". It's the very opposite of what John F. Kennedy proclaimed in his history-making 1961 inaugural speech. Obama knows exactly what he's up to, and it's high time Americans figure it out. Maybe the latest approval numbers in the polls show that's happening, but I'm not so sure. The country's summer nap is on.

This weekend, please take a little time and read some of the fine reporting coming out of publications such as the Financial Times and you'll understand what's really going on. The FT is not consistently conservative, either. Just balanced reporting and analysis and covering in depth the stories that US media consistently ignore. Here's an example: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/20e77ab8-64fd-11de-a13f-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

WHEN HANGING WITH THE FRENCH...

What were Presidents Obama and Sarkozy inspecting?

Watch a video clip on http://www.newsbusters.org/

Maybe this is all part of Mr. Obama's overall love for the ways of Europe? Or nostaglia for the go-go years of Bill Clinton's administration policies?

THAT'S BETTER

It's a start: President Obama tells Iran's regime to 'stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people'.

"THE WORLD IS WATCHING"

So says President Obama regarding Iran's current tightening of the noose around the necks of Tehran protesters. Yes, and the world is watching Mr. Obama's continued wimpy rhetorical response to the situation (well, watching as much as possible since Iranian officials have cut most communications and media coverage). Our last president with a wide, engaging "trust me" smile was Jimmy Carter, the man who got us into the current Iran mess in the first place. The similarities in foreign policy are disturbing. Yes, the world is watching as the speech level goes from "we're concerned" to "VERY concerned".  Part of this concern, of course, is that Iran's leaders will blame the USA for "meddling" if Obama says too much to encourage protestors. That doesn't matter since the Mullahs already do that, even in reaction to Obama's tepid response so far. Isn't it better to use words to empower liberty now, rather than to have no choice but go to military action down the road because the freedom loving resistors were trampled in the streets?

Meanwhile, the Supreme Leader Mullah had no problems with his words in the mosque Friday. With Ahmadinejad and thousands of adherents in attendance, the crowd reacted with chants of "Death the America!" and "Death to Israel!"  Yes, that'll make us "VERY DEEPLY concerned" now.  Maybe.

WEEKEND READING: For important background on the Carter era (1979) loss of Iran to the Mullahs (and a possible glimpse into Obama's reaction to all this) read Mark Bowden's excellent book, "Guests of the Ayatollah: The First Battle in America's War with Militant Islam".  For more recent lessons from the Tiananmen Square massacre (1989), check out "Prisoner of the State: The Secret Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang".

Now on Twitter @ marklarsonradio

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SAY WHAT?

The White House "experts"now stake their claim to determining who's-paid-what in business across America: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Administration-Rein-in-pay-apf-15500519.html?.v=6
Oh sure, they're mostly talking about keeping executive pay in line at companies dining at the national bailout trough... for now. But today's report that Obama advisors are looking in to other compensation is very disturbing. And dangerous. It's also none of Uncle Sam's business. And we'll now have a national "Pay Czar", too. Add this latest "interest" (aka "meddling") in private enterprise to the parade of other government power grabs in recent weeks... including trashing of contracts. Hugo Chavez must be proud.

We'll talk more about the economy (and then some) with Gov. Mitt Romney, tomorrow morning at 7:05 Pacific on 1170AM KCBQ and http://www.kcbq.com/

TILE FLAP UPDATE: There may have been some guidelines for the tiles placed at Sage Canyon school, but several participants didn't know about them.
There was, apparently, a blog noting tiles should reflect the curriculum. Fine, but again the people selling the tiles didn't make that clear. And my listener who's told her kids tile (with "Jesus" on it) has to come down even asked the powers that be if it was OK to do it. She was told it was fine. And again, other participants haven't followed the subtle guideline either. Stay tuned...

AND ANOTHER REASON...

... why the Swine Flu story is reaching the panic zone: It's TV ratings "sweeps month", guaranteed to bring 24/7 hype from competing networks.  (In other news: A show of hands, please: Who has any confidence in Janet Napolitano right now?)

RATE PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FIRST 100 DAYS: Cast your vote! Click on "Larson Poll" in the menu at right.

WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON

Today's Financial Times has a story about the big increase in gun and ammo sales in the USA. It's under the headline, "Gun Sales on the Increase Amid Fears that Recession Fuels Crime". This dovetails with the current spin from government officials that the drug battles in Mexico are really "our" fault,  since American drug demand and southern flow of guns and money "create more violence". (Love how evil is rarely called evil, and no matter what the issue happens to be it will be turned around to make us feel guilty about it.)  All of this news will cause grandstanding politicians to press for more restrictions on law-abiding gun owners in this country.  That's the real issue behind the increase in gun sales: The threat of more government restrictions and bans. The Times article totally ignores the main cause of the upswing: The election of Barack Obama, whose comments on Second Amendment issues through the campaign have not exactly encouraged gun owners. There's no mention of this real reason in the story, only a quote from one dealer who notes, "The most monumental gun sale in the history of mankind has been going on since November".  Hmmm. What a "coincidence".