Lost In The Numbers

President Barack Obama will usurp tv time this week for the second time in his short presidential term. While I'm not really missing anything important tonight, this is obviously Obama's attempt at governmental transparency, plus, it's a good way to appear as though he's doing a good job.

President Obama has done a great job at turning the public's view of the White House and lifting the "Shroud of Mystery" from the Bush administration, which is something we all wanted and is long overdue. Besides, he's the everyday guy president. I mean who didn't do a little blow in college just to get by, we all know it was young Bush's drug of choice. What a lame-o Clinton looks like, Mr. "I didn't inhale". And who doesn't really love filling out NCAA Brackets for ESPN, they allow to fill out up to 10, TEN BRACKETS. And who doesn't feel mentally or physically challenged when they bowl knowing they could score 300 if they could knock all the pins down, I know I do. After all, it could be worse, as he said on the campaign trail, it could be four more years of Bush policies.

But the real question, one I hope is asked and actually followed up on, is about the ABC News report that came out last week about AIG and their generous gifts to many of our beloved politicians. And while Senator Dodd (D- Conn) is getting the brunt of the backlash due to his receiving a little more than $103,000 from the money sucking group in 2008, the question lingers, who is number 2?

The answer...President Obama who received a grand total of $101,332 in donations from the failing financial institution including a reported $23,000 or little more then 1/6th of the $120,000 in political contributions AIG made AFTER it received $85 BILLION in taxpayer bailout. But that was 2008, when he was a struggling senator from Illinois just trying, like all Americans to better his life for him and his family by finding a new job. He needed all the financial help he could get. Besides, it's not like he was alone.

John McCain was behind him receiving almost $59,500 in funds from AIG. And right behind him, receiving almost $36,000 was former first lady turned former senator turned former presidential nominee turned Secretary of State who needed financial assistance because her campaign went belly up Hillary Rodham Clinton. But AIG is an international group, so maybe this was more so she would spread the word of AIG to foreign dignitaries.

Of course, there is Vice President Joe "not in my neighborhood" Biden who only received a little under $20,000 in taxpayer money. But seeing as 7 of the top 12 politicians the received financial backing from AIG were from the Atlantic Northeast (2 from Conn and NY, 1 from NH, Del, and Penn for a grand total of $222,490 taxpayer dollars), I guess that IS what they do in his neighborhood.

Other notables include former mayor Giulliani ($13,200) and AIG hearing chairman Rep. Kanjorski (D Penn; $12,000)

to find out more, why not visit the actual article http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=7110145&page=1

Here is what I am proposing the government consider. And while it may all seem good, just keep in mind that like many Americans I have no real idea how this would affect the actual "market". But, my grand idea, since we are a nation built on credit (of which China holds an amazing 1 Trillion dollars of) why not nix $5,000 off everyone's credit. An American Credit Forgiveness Act.

While this might not even be a feasible solution to our everyday problems, this will give the American people some area to go out and rack up more credit for themselves. This would give people the chance who other wise couldn't buy a home or car due to credit issues a new lease on life (excuse the pun). I did hear talk of resetting the credit scores, which would ideally be the same. This is what the American people need. With unemployment on the rise, the American people could use this act to stay afloat.