Optics

The Dow is down nearly 2000 points since July 21st, unemployment is steady at 9%, Bank of America is slashing jobsand is bleeding red ink. Hewlett-Packard lost 20% of its value today, and the President is playing golf.

Of course, he and Michelle couldn't make it to Martha's Vineyard together. No, the took separate jets. I mean, c'mon, those evil businessmen use corporate jets, but Michell and Barack have separate jets.

The President is on vacation, the President is playing Golf. He an Michelle took separate jets and the nation is in the worst recession in years. The optics just suck on all this. We've got an imperial President and the people can eat cake.

When he comes back in September, he's going to lay out a jobs plan. After his vacation. When he comes back, he's got a couple of choices. If he proposes new taxes, the Republicans will hammer him, if he talks about cutting government, the Democrats will pillory him. As James Buchanan so succintly puts it:

The nation he leads is facing a deficit-debt crisis that comes of an inescapable truth: Whether we are talking about commitments to go to war to defend scores of nations or commitments to entitlement and Great Society programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, earned income tax credits, food stamps and Pell grants, we Americans have handed out promissory notes we no longer have the means to meet.

We can no longer deliver what we have promised.

Enjoy the Vineyard, Mr. President.