Day one

We just finished living through a presidential mardis gras. A reported $160,000,000 was spent to celebrate the incoming president. That doesn't even include all of the fuel that was burned to get the 600 private planes to Washington for the shindig. Within hours of that financial explosion there was a pay freeze instituted on all employees of the White House making over $100,000. "Hey Rahm, I want to implement a pay freeze to show I mean business. But let's wait until my mardis gras is over. We will spend enough money to give 160,000 families quality healthcare for a year, and then we'll show the world that we are going to be fiscally responsible."
Just a short time ago somebody was ridiculed for spending $50,000,000 on their inaguration. Let's get real people. Not one person should get a pass for such stupidity and frivolity. I don't care if they're Democrat or Republican. We are being told we're in the greatest financial crisis in our history yet private parties and government can find $160,000,000 to take an oath, give a speech, sign some documents and eat drink and be merry all night. Why was this inaguration more special than any of the others? He's certainly not entering with any new vision. I guess he truly is an environmentalist though. He's entering the White House with more recycled ideas than any President in our history.
Billy Baldwin was interviewed on FOX last night and basically asked that everybody give the new President 12 to 14 months before they criticize him. Isn't it ironic? George W. Bush was being criticized before he even got into office because people felt like he stole the election. Where was the patience and tolerance then? I do agree with Mr. Baldwin in part though. Let's not sit around and criticize the President on speculation. Don't ride him for doing something before he does it. How many stupid thoughts have you had that never came to fruition because you came to your senses later on?
Where I part with Billy is here. When he does do something stupid like allowing the ridiculous budget for his frat party yesterday. Call him on that because it's a dumb idea he actually followed through on.
On the surface I like what he did today to change the lobbying rules. I'll have to dig a little deeper before I can make a final decision though.
Republicans in Washington and abroad. Give him credit where credit is due. THere is no reason to hate. But grow a backbone and stand up to him when he's wrong. In other words be honest. I know that's been a tricky word in Washington for a very long time but I can promise you that the official definition has never changed.