I am concerned that the Republicans may select an “Obama-light” candidate for president.

Just like President Obama, the candidate I have in mind has a history of supporting BIG government. Just like Obama, this candidate voted against right-to-work laws. Just like Obama, this candidate panders to certain groups in seeking to divide the American people rather than bring all of us together (this candidate favors evangelicals, less-educated, blue-collar workers; Obama favors women, union workers, ethnic voters). Just like Obama, this candidate is a former senator who has never run a business, governed a state, or held a significant job in the private sector.

Who knew American Greed referred to K-12 public school teacher and other public employee unions? Well, we all knew after reading my last blog, “Government Employees Owe Back Taxes—Top to Bottom.” (Oct. 2010; review for background information)

The Honduran constitutional crisis in 2009, perpetrated by then-President Manuel Zelaya, was not spotlighted by the media to the extent that unrest in Egypt has been, but it is just as enlightening about U.S. politics.(Is President Obama of the Opinion that Presidents are Above the Law?)

The burning question at the time asked why the United States was so eager to support Zelaya, who was attempting to become a lifetime dictator, instead of the Honduran people, who were desperately working to protect their democracy?

TIPPING POINT — It’s your money, you decide.

I can’t decide whether I’m more alarmed by the news that 41 Obama White House aides last year owed $831,000 in back taxes or that the city manager of Bell, California, was paid $1.1 million to manage a city of 37,000 people. Unfortunately both of these cases represent just the tip of the malfeasance iceberg.

When President Obama was vetting—or NOT! —his cabinet, one after another was exposed to have tax problems. Now we learn from articles in the Washington Post (T. W. Farnam) and the LA Times (Andrew Malcolm) that these folks were just showing the way.

When I was asked some years ago to write a piece about “housing,” I declined. I have a problem with the word itself. Or more precisely, I’m troubled by discussing housing outside the context of the other elements that comprise a complete neighborhood.

Words are powerful things; they can both define the present and predict the future. The world might be a very different place today if the term “housing” had never been invented. In the old days we had houses and we had neighborhoods, but housing as a concept barely existed until quite recently. (My dictionary shows the first recorded use of the term “housing project” in 1951.)

What if, instead of a Department of HOUSING and Urban Development, we had a Department of NEIGHBORHOODS and Urban Development?

We’re hearing lots these days about “Fat Cat” bankers bringing down the U.S. financial system. No doubt some of them did contribute to the failure---but many others are in line for blame as well: government regulations and regulators, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and bond credit-rating firms to name a few.

What we don’t hear much about is “Fat Cat” union leaders, who long have caused a huge drag on the economy.

BLOG THE NEWS

Welcome bloggers to NN247’s BLOG THE NEWS. These days everyone has lots to say! Why? Because there’s so much to talk about! What’s your Hot Button issue of the day? Iran? Afghanistan? The Health Care Bill? Honduras? Jobs? CIA Probe? Economy? Home Foreclosures? Tort Reform? Cap & Trade? Bailouts? Stimulus Bill? Unemployment? Finance Reform? Budget? Climate Change? Governors’ Races in Virginia, New Jersey; and how about California? Water for farmers in the San Joaquin Valley? The proposed tax overhaul?

That’s just for starters. How about your latest tech toy, nutrition tips, the World Series, the Super Bowl? Any topic that is meaningful to you will find an audience and others as passionate as you, or perhaps who disagree with you. That’s OK! We can discuss and learn and perhaps feel better for it.

Can’t decide on a topic? Peruse the NN247 BLOGROLL to stimulate fun ideas. The wide-ranging views of these provocative bloggers will surely nudge your imagination.

NN247’s team is excited to hear from you and share your perspectives, ideas, and opinions. Just a few ground rules. Let’s keep civility at a high level; profanity will be edited; personal attacks are discouraged; policy debates encouraged; efforts to support your assertions with facts will be especially appreciated. Join in. Invite your friends along. Let’s have fun and make a difference.

SHAMEFUL is the only way to describe the heavy-handed, premature support of the Obama administration for ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.

By publicly and aggressively coming to Zelaya’s defense, the administration encouraged other governments and institutions to follow its lead.

Michael Calderone (Politico)

Michael Calderone spent three years at the New York Observer as a columnist handling real estate and media beats. He also wrote freelance for several publications including The Fader and ARTnews. In 2007 Calderone moved to Washington to join The Politico as a political media reporter. A graduate of Rutgers University with a BA in English and an MA from New York University, he does not consider himself a political reporter. In an interview with Explore, Calderone explained that he does not claim authority on the subject of politics so just offers suggestions.

A.B. Stoddard (The Hill)

A.B. StoddardA.B. Stoddard is the associate editor of The Hill newspaper. After graduating from Connecticut College in 1991, A. B. became a reporter for the Potomac News in Northern Virginia. From 1995 to 1999 she first wrote for The Hill covering Congress. Stoddard’s next stop was ABC News until 2002 when she rejoined The Hill staff. She also serves as a Fox News contributor. A.B. is married to Peter Robertson.