Saturday Jam

We're "LIVE"
Today's Saturday Jam includes:

Like A Rolling Stone

Bob Dylan

Angie

The Rolling Stones

Hotel California

The Eagles

Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

Elton John

White Rabbit

Jefferson Airplane

President Obama's Weekly Address

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, April 18, 2009

It’s not news to say that we are living through challenging times: The worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. A credit crisis that has made that downturn worse. And a fiscal disaster that has accumulated over a period of years.

In the year 2000, we had projected budget surpluses in the trillions, and Washington appeared to be on the road to fiscal stability. Eight years later, when I walked in the door, the projected budget deficit for this year alone was $1.3 trillion. And in order to jumpstart our struggling economy, we were forced to make investments that added to that deficit through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

But as surely as our future depends on building a new energy economy, controlling health care costs and ensuring that our kids are once again the best educated in the world, it also depends on restoring a sense of responsibility and accountability to our federal budget. Without significant change to steer away from ever-expanding deficits and debt, we are on an unsustainable course.

So today, we simply cannot afford to perpetuate a system in Washington where politicians and bureaucrats make decisions behind closed doors, with little accountability for the consequences; where billions are squandered on programs that have outlived their usefulness, or exist solely because of the power of a lobbyist or interest group; and where outdated technology and information systems undermine efficiency, threaten our security, and fail to serve an engaged citizenry.

If we’re to going to rebuild our economy on a solid foundation, we need to change the way we do business in Washington. We need to restore the American people’s confidence in their government – that it is on their side, spending their money wisely, to meet their families’ needs.

That starts with the painstaking work of examining every program, every entitlement, every dollar of government spending and asking ourselves: Is this program really essential? Are taxpayers getting their money’s worth? Can we accomplish our goals more efficiently or effectively some other way?

It’s a process we have already begun, scouring our budget line by line for programs that don’t work so we can cut them to make room for ones that do. That means ending tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas; stopping the fraud and abuse in our Medicare program; and reforming our health care system to cut costs for families and businesses. It means strengthening whisteblower protections for government employees who step forward to report wasteful spending. And it means reinstating the pay-as-you-go rule that we followed during the 1990s – so if we want to spend, we’ll need to find somewhere else to cut.

And this Monday, at my first, full Cabinet meeting, I will ask all of my department and agency heads for specific proposals for cutting their budgets. Already, members of my Cabinet have begun to trim back unnecessary expenditures. Secretary Napolitano, for example, is ending consulting contracts to create new seals and logos that have cost the Department of Homeland Security $3 million since 2003. In the largest Department, Secretary Gates has launched an historic project to reform defense contracting procedures and eliminate hundreds of billions of dollars in wasteful spending and cost overruns. And I commend Senators McCain and Levin – a Republican and a Democrat – who have teamed up to lead this effort in Congress.

Finally, in the coming weeks, I will be announcing the elimination of dozens of government programs shown to be wasteful or ineffective. In this effort, there will be no sacred cows, and no pet projects. All across America, families are making hard choices, and it’s time their government did the same.

That is why I have assembled a team of management, technology, and budget experts to guide us in this work – leaders who will help us revamp government operations from top to bottom and ensure that the federal government is truly working for the American people.

I have named Jeffrey Zients, a leading CEO, management consultant and entrepreneur, to serve as Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget and as the first ever Chief Performance Officer. Jeffrey will work to streamline processes, cut costs, and find best practices throughout our government.

Aneesh Chopra, who is currently the Secretary of Technology for Governor Kaine of Virginia, has agreed to serve as America’s Chief Technology Officer. In this role, Aneesh will promote technological innovation to help achieve our most urgent priorities – from creating jobs and reducing health care costs to keeping our nation secure.

Aneesh and Jeffrey will work closely with our Chief Information Officer, Vivek Kundra, who is responsible for setting technology policy across the government, and using technology to improve security, ensure transparency, and lower costs. The goal is to give all Americans a voice in their government and ensure that they know exactly how we’re spending their money – and can hold us accountable for the results.

None of this will be easy. Big change never is. But with the leadership of these individuals, I am confident that we can break our bad habits, put an end to the mismanagement that has plagued our government, and start living within our means again. That is how we will get our deficits under control and move from recovery to prosperity. And that is how we will give the American people the kind of government they expect and deserve – one that is efficient, accountable and fully worthy of their trust.

Thank you.

Our Readers

Some of our readers today have been in:

Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Guilford, England, United Kingdom
Oslo, Oslo, Norway
London, England, United Kingdom
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium
Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Rota, Andalucia, Spain
Sana, Hadramawt, Yemen
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Riga, Riga, Latvia
Echuca, Victoria, Australia
Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
Noble Park, Victoria, Australia
Luqa, Luqa, Malta

asa well as Germany and the United States

Daily Horoscope

Today's horoscope says:

All the self-discipline you've imposed on yourself will start to pay off in a big way today! There's an impressive finish line looming, and by the end of the day you'll most likely be across it! Get ready for some impressive people to come out of the woodwork to shake your hand and offer congratulations. They had more faith in you that you had in yourself, so be sure to thank them for all the support.

Damn, that's cool!

We interrupt this blog

We interrupt this blog for the Celidh this evening (as if we hadn't already it started at 6, well noon if you must know) and for the Games over the next two days.

Updates will be erratic (hopefully rational but with we Scots and Celidhs who can tell) for the duration of the games.

There are only so many Cabers to turn and Stones to throw. Then again making the English wet their pants seeing so many Scots in their Clan Tartans and naked steel in their hands always fills the hours.

For those how aren't in the know ... a Celidh [said Kay-Lee] is one hell of a party and if you have never been to one you have never been to a party!

Cybercriminals' new trick: Smishing

Email spam is being blocked in record numbers, but scammers are now striking cell phones.

Smishing

Also:

• Spam wastes $3 billion in electricity
• Find more info on smishing

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

The Beatles in a scene from their film "Yellow Submarine".

Council uses cows to discourage bikers

A council has unveiled its new weapon in the battle against anti-social behavior - a herd of cows.

Full Story

Man arrested for DWI hours after DWI sentencing

Houston ... we have a problem.

A Texas man was arrested and booked with second-offense driving while intoxicated only hours after he left a court for sentencing for an earlier DWI conviction.

Full Story

Woman gets shot in head, but makes tea

Don't mess with our Southern Womenfolk!

They's is genteel, but they's tougher than nails!
Also she would have never heard the end of it, if she didn't offer her guests tea!

A Mississippi woman who was shot in the head not only survived but made herself tea and offered an astonished deputy something to drink, authorities said Friday.

Full Story

Stolen library book returned after 145 years

Play Video

A book pilfered by a union soldier during the War of Northern Aggression is back on the shelves.

Stolen library book returned after 145 years

Also:

• Search for other books returned after 100 years

Mystery behind big donations unsettles schools

At least 9 universities have received millions in anonymous donations — with a suspicious catch.

Mystery behind big donations

Also:

• 'Slumdog' team's big donation
• Cheap person's guide to financial aid

Paper or plastic?

Don't stress about these three classic "green" choices because they might not make much of a difference.

Answer might not matter

Also:

• Explore how going 'green' saves cash

Three new tactics to help land a job

Play Video

These creative approaches can pay off even when opportunities are hard to find.

Tactics to find a new job

Also:

• Free hot spots for skills training
• Quickest routes to a 6-figure job

Texas secession talk sparks uproar

Governor Rick Perry's comments about the idea of the state breaking away from the union have enraged some Democratic lawmakers. (and every true American as well)

Secession talk sparks uproar

Secret song by suddenly famous singer found

This decade-old recording by Susan Boyle may be even more impressive than her star-making rendition of "I Dream a Dream."

Secret song by suddenly famous singer found

Also:

• Star offers to give her first kiss

Hey Jude

The Beatles

Greenhouse gases hurt health

The ruling leaves environmental activists jubilant and industry leaders wary about future regulations.

EPA: Greenhouse gases hurt health

Food swaps could add years to your life

These simple switches may help you lose weight and live a long and healthy life.

8 food swaps could add years to your life

Also:

• Tips for eating out
• 4 foods that reduce stress

Canada's Boreal Caribou Herds are Dying Off

From Treehugger:

Reports Says Better Habitat Protection is Required

Environment Canada released a report (six months after it was finalized by scientists, thanks to the Conservative federal government): "The study concludes 29 of the 57 remaining herds of boreal caribou are not self-sustaining. Several are at risk in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan, where logging, mining and energy development has been booming in the last decade." Will the government do something? Probably not. It went to the trouble of adding a preface to the 254-page report saying it's not detailed enough to "identify critical habitat" to protect...

Article continues: Study Says Canada's Boreal Caribou Herds are Dying Off