Slightly off center.

President Obama did an interview with Major Garrett on Wednesday night. This was his first interview with Fox News since July. I was under the impression from Glenn Beck that President Obama had not gone on Fox News since January, and this is incorrect. This of course comes just a few days before Anita Dunn is scheduled to resign. I do have to wonder what Ms. Dunn thought of the interview. Was it just entertainment to her?

I think it was a great interview. It even started with the exchange of holiday wishes. But alas, Huffington reports:

The interview comes after a verbal battle between the White House and FOX News, in which the White House called the network a "wing of the Republican Party." The war of words was not brought up in the interview, which remained civil throughout.

I really would have liked to see that come up in the discussion. But really that is not a priority for the president. It shouldn't be a priority. The priority is the issues that affect this country and it's future. Those issues are far more important than an staffer condemning one particular news network. I am glad President Obama did this interview and I hope to see him and his administration on the network more in the future.

Don't blame me, I voted for McCain. As I write this, it is November 3rd. A year ago today, we as a country exercised our spirit of democracy. The result was history. We elected the first black president, a senator with three years experience. G.W. Bush of course was not even on the ballot, but he is eligible for blaming at least a few years. Now that we have almost completed a year of the Obama administration, the country is different. President Obama's campaign pledge was hope and change. Most of us are still waiting for the hope.

It seems there are two camps regarding this administration. First we have the Obama optimists (see also reality challenged) and the Obama pessimists (see also those that comprehend news) These are the two extremes that many Americans are in. There are many people that don't fit into these groups. Some people just prefer to ignore anything political or even watch the evening news. But to be a member of either the optimist or pessimist group can be mentally unhealthy.

The Obama optimists voted on November 3rd and expected miracles on January 20th. They feel the president and government itself can solve all their problems. A good example of this was the thousands of people who stood in Detroit waiting for stimulus money. Please do not try to question the facts presented by this group. They believe we are in an economic recovery even as they sit home without employment. To be a member of this group you of course have to follow the White House closely. That is where your talking points such as condemning Fox News will come from. It is easy to be part of the optimists, just listen to the president and various assorted politicians who claim to have the best interest of the country in mind. They assure us the country will prosper quickly, but only if we vote for their bill of the day. Meanwhile the optimists are not concerned about what is in the 1,000 page bills. They know it is all okay, because they were told it would be. They just go about their day with a smile plastered on their face and the Obama bumper sticker on their cars.

The Obama pessimists, arguably can actually be a worse group. Many of these people, such as myself, voted against Obama more than they did for McCain. A moderate Republican was a better alternative than a liberal Democrat. But this group is all about gloom and doom. Since they lost the election, the country has been collapsing around them. They are more likely to watch cable news and also research stories on the internet. What is being searched for is how each story fits into the Obama master plan. That plan of course is to turn us into a socialist country. The health care reform is just the latest piece to this puzzle. Then back in the dark corner of this group we still have the birthers. Those who just don't trust a birth certificate from Hawaii and are still holding out hope for a disqualification. I say this could be the worse group, because they are predisposed to a tainted view. They can not see any good this president or Congress accomplishes. President Obama could announce tomorrow that pepperoni pizza is an essential party food. This group would immediately investigate what companies are making pepperoni and how much they contributed to the campaign. This group when participating in online discussions, will have a daily list of why they hate President Obama. They will start going down that list, first thing in the morning, not even stopping for a friendly greeting. Yes, they also still have the McCain/Palin stickers on their cars. I actually removed mine so I would have a space for the Fire Congress sticker. You really have to know where the blame is properly placed.

The fact of the situation is there are at least three more years of President Obama. In one year many seats in Congress may change. As citizens we will all survive this administration. With unemployment approaching ten percent, it may not be the most pleasant years. But I encourage people to not look at an issue with a preconceived notion. Keep an open mind and don't assume there is always a hidden agenda. Look at the basis of the current events, research the facts for yourself and then use your own mind to make a conclusion. Know your candidates for 2010 and vote for the future of this country. In as much democracy built this country, it can also ruin it. Make sure you know who you are voting for and why.

czar
 –noun
1. an emperor or king.
2. (often initial capital letter) the former emperor of Russia.
3. an autocratic ruler or leader.
4. any person exercising great authority or power in a particular field: a czar of industry. source

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

US Constitution Article 2 Section 2

1.Technology Czar: Aneesh Chopra.
2. Drug Czar: Gil Kerlikowske.
3. Copyright Czar: Not appointed yet.
4. Energy Czar: Carol M. Browner,
5. Car Czar: Ed Montgomery.
6. Terrorism/WMD Czar: Gary Samore.
7. Health Care Czar: Nancy-Ann DeParle.
8. Education Czar: Not appointed yet.
9. Economic Czar: Paul Volcker.
10. Mortgage Czar: Not appointed yet.
11. Urban Affairs/Housing Czar: Adolfo Carrion.
12. Guantanomo closure Czar: Danny Fried.
13. Great lakes Czar: Cameron Davis.
14. Stimulus accountability attorney).
15. Intelligence Czar: Admiral Dennis Blair.
16. Regulatory Czar: Cass Sunstein.
17. Pay Czar: Kenneth Feinberg
18. Iran Czar: Not appointed yet.
19. Tarp Czar: Herb Allison.
20. Middle-East peace Czar: George Mitchell.
21. Science Czar: John Holdren.
22. Green jobs Czar: Van Jones.
23. Afghanistan Czar: Richard Holbrooke.
24. Sudan Czar: J. Scott Gration.
25. Mideast policy Czar: Dennis Ross.
26. Information Czar: Vivek Kundra.
27. AIDS Czar: Jeffrey Crowley.
28. Faith-based Czar: Joshua Dubois.
29. Climate Czar: Todd Stern. source

Did you know there were that many? You probably have heard of the major czar's. But there seems to be many more. Notice #18, Iran Czar, not appointed, that would seem like an important one considering we are at war in that country. #14 Stimulus accountability- not appointed, #10 Mortgage- not appointed, #20 Middle East Peace and #25 Mideast policy those sound kind of redundant. #13 is the Great Lake czar, I had no clue what that is. According to Huffington it is to clean up the Great Lakes, and here I thought that was the EPA's job. Are we going to have a czar for every polluted body of water? Any coincidence that this is near Chicago?

And many of the czar's are controversial. Take for instance #21 Science Czar John Holdren, he has a sort of twisted method of population control.

There exists ample authority under which population growth could be regulated...It has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society.

Somehow forced abortions and birth control do not seem like the America I live in.

#16 Regulatory Czar, Cass Sunstein seems to be a animal rights wacko.

Sunstein has argued in favor of outlawing sport hunting and meat-eating, and written that animals should be allowed to file lawsuits "with human beings as their representatives."

His nomination was of such a concern that Texas Senator Cornyn has put his nomination on hold. Here are just a few sources that express concern with this czar system:

LA Times
Fox News
American Thinker
Politico

Congressional leaders from both parties are understandably troubled that Obama has installed his czars without the Senate’s advice and consent. They see it as stripping them of their constitutional prerogatives and more ominously as an arrogation of power that could be a prologue to the now-familiar abuses of executive authority that characterized the previous administration Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25129.html#ixzz0M1iGh8Xk

Technically the appointment of that many czar does not violate the Constitution, it does however violate the intent. By appointing this many czars, we have a president that has bypassed the Senate. He has appointed these individuals and they have not been vetted by anyone except himself. President Obama has in effect created his own kingdom. One in which he himself is the king and his many lords answer to his every wish. Is this what our founding fathers had in mind? I seriously doubt it. With just the few examples I have given, the need for actually examining these people's past and ideology seems to be a good idea. You wouldn't hire someone to work the local drive-thru without doing a background check just because someone recommended them to you. We should not be putting this much power in the hands of one individual without that same scrutiny. The average American should be greatly concerned about the power we have vested in these artificially created czars. The fact that we are only 6 months into this administration makes me wonder how many we will have by this time next year. This is not democracy, this is not how America was meant to be.

Here is the link to the president-elects speech transcript. I found it this morning while working. I am back to working night audit two shifts a week. Maybe I will dissect this speech on Monday. Unless I have something better.

Just enjoying the weekend for now. Sunny and cool from the most beautiful beaches in the world.

It is over. I concede. McCain has lost, as have we all. At this moment I am sick, I am ready to vomit on my screen. I am not going to place blame, I am not going to whine like the Gore campaign did.

Obama has won with twice as many electoral votes as McCain. Why? I have no idea. I could yell and scream, I could call names. But why bother? It will not change anything.

I am not going to pray for a miracle and a recount. I can only question why the delusional voters have foresaken their country.

It is over, welcome to the depression. Welcome to the change you never saw in your worse nightmare.

Monday and Tuesday are what I consider my half days off. I only work one job and that is not until 11 at night. So I was bored both days and went malling. Just window shopping seeing what I need. And of course I find the countdown to January 20, 2009 calendars. What a great idea and I just had to buy the wall one and the desktop edition.

Yes, President Bush will be out of office. I never thought I would be celebrating this, but why not? What exactly has G.W. done for this country in his last 8 years? He of course will be remembered for the Iraq war and hopefully not the Iran war that may happen in the next few months. His presidency will be like a pack of razor blades. You remember the first and last ones you use to shave but not really much in the middle.

Some may say the Democrat controlled Congress is to blame. Things were going much better when the Republicans held control. This is always the case when the President and Congress are the same party. More things get done, problems resolved, you know that silly political stuff. But a good president would rise above the Democrats attacks and get back to the basics. I have not seen this in Mr Bush.

He has let Congress control him like a really bad prom date. Except there is no dinner and the power went out on the dance. There was the one great night that Harry Reid almost stayed up all night for the sleep in. I still have nightmares about Senator Reid in pajamas. I am sure George slept soundly that night with dreams of budget reductions dancing in his head.

So adios Mr Bush, hopefully before you do something really stupid with immigration as well. How many border patrol agents are in jail right now? How much of the wall has been built? Has I.C.E. raided even 10 percent of the business that still knowingly employ illegals?

For all we know the next president in may be worse. But its a chance you got to take. It surely can not be much worse than what we have seen for the last 8 years.