Don't do it!

President Bush met with President Elect Obama yesterday. Drudge Reports that Bush is pissed about Obama's people leaking the contents of the conversation. What would you expect?

But the information leak isn't the issue. The New York Times says this...

The struggling auto industry was thrust into the middle of a political standoff between the White House and Democrats on Monday as President-elect Barack Obama urged President Bush in a meeting at the White House to support immediate emergency aid. Mr. Bush indicated at the meeting that he might support some aid and a broader economic stimulus package if Mr. Obama and Congressional Democrats dropped their opposition to a free-trade agreement with Colombia...

Bad idea Mr. President. Don't do it! Pres. Bush doesn't want to look petty, small, or like he's standing in the way of progress so he has to dance lightly. However, Barry has only one concern here... It starts with "B" end with "A" and in the middle is "arackobam".

Here's how this breaks down as I see it.

Barry is asking Bush to allocate some of the "bailout package" to help the Auto industry (it was originally to be used for the financial industry only). Obama says the auto industry is vital to the health and prosperity of the United States and immediate action must be taken.

First, the auto industry is immensely important and something needs to be done. However, throwing money at it is not the answer. What's happens when the taxpayers foot the bill for billions of dollars, and nothing changes? Have you noticed how well the stock market has responded to the bailout? Have you noticed how confidence has returned to all the banks and now they're lending freely? Have you noticed how the impending doom of our economy could be averted if we would be patriots and sign this bailout package TODAY because tomorrow would be too late? Yeah. Well what if the auto industry responds in the same way? Then what? Well, two things...

1. Government owns our car manufacturing. So what? Governments are not created to be entrepreneurial, creative, or on the edge. They are created to be stable. If we are going to compete on a global market, we have to innovate. not simply be stable.
2. We foot the bill for a sub-standard and hopelessly stuck auto industry. That's right. Our tax dollars go to support an industry that can't support itself because it creates inferior products (because of #1 above). Because it will forever be substandard, it will forever be at the teat of an ever expanding government.
   

So here's the political happenings. If Bush signs this Auto Industry bail out and it continues to flounder (and it will, just like everything else), then that will be one more "final verdict on 8 years of failed policies in the Bush administration." The Pelosi-Reed coalition (of which Barry is a Jr. member) claims victory and points to the failure of conservatism. If the bailout works (and it won't, just like nothing else has) then Obama claims savioresque leadership by swooping in at the last minute and exercising leadership over the simple minded ex-President. By giving in to Barry's requests, it's a lose-lose.

It's time for President Bush to punt. I hate to say it, but I think it's that time. Immediately ask his party what they want to do, and follow their lead. Call Rep. Boehner, Sen. McConnell, and as many conservative minds as he can gather. Call Newt, Michael Steele, Huckabee, and any other right leaning mind he can find.

We tried the bailout, much to the chagrin of tax payers across the land. We crossed a line by making American Express a bank. It's time to stop. Draw a line in the sand Mr. President. Politically it's risky, but we must make the democrats and the newly elected President take full responsibility for each of their ideas. If it works, then we all win. If it doesn't work, then we still all win because we will be able to clearly see from whence the trouble has come. Stand up, and take a bow on your way out. Give your party an opportunity to fight for much of what has been lost over the last 8 years.

*NOTE: There's change coming. Tell your friends. Realityunwound.blogspot.com is moving.

(photo was on the front page of Drudge Report)